5 Offseason Snowboard Maintenance Tips

By: Brad McNally

It is easy enough curse at the spring and toss your precious snowboard into the garage, but with a little bit of effort upfront you can get a jumpstart on next season because your board will already be ready. Taking care of some maintenance items now means you can be sure your board will be in the best shape possible for the upcoming season and the full life of your board can be extended as much as possible. 

Here are 5 things you can do this offseason to be sure that your snowboard is in the best shape possible when the first powder hits this winter:

How to Triangulate the Peak | Wave Catching Tips for Surfing

By Natasha Hamilton

Catching waves is an integral part of surfing. To catch waves, you need to be able to find the peak. This task is sometimes easier said than done. Often, the peak is easy to locate from the shore but finding it once you are in the water can be frustrating. So it is essential that you know how to locate a peak.  

The Dangers of Surfing Alone | Huntington Beach Pier

By Athair Baer

It would seem the days of every other season bring about the same invigorating bliss and care-free enthusiasm that the warmer months of the year trend in contempt of how bright the sun may not actually be. One can’t help but be envious of people who live anywhere else when the dead of Winter bares the light as bright, the deep sand warms your feet, and the breeze kisses your cheek just enough to ignore the near 90 degree temperature. The Orange County beaches of Southern California really are my personal heaven. 



sunrise surf session on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier

Top 5 Apps for Snowboarders

By: Brad McNally

A cell phone on the slopes when I first started snowboarding was something that you didn’t really see. Now, years later, it is common to see a phone - typically a smart phone - in nearly each person’s hand at some point. While it can be a distraction, it can be extremely beneficial out on the slopes, assuming your battery lasts through the day. Here are five apps that any snowboarder should have - or at least try out.

Quitting Your Job for a Long Distance Bike Trip down the Pacific Coast!

By Megan Maxwell

This June I will be quitting my job to spend six weeks biking down the Pacific Coast with my mom. Our route will take us from Vancouver to Tijuana, and we will travel by the ocean for the majority of the trip.

you enjoy a lot more sunsets when you're not working inside!

It might seem risky, giving up a dependable paycheck to go on a summer vacation, but I’m going to stand by my decision - I can't wait!

How to Set Up a New Skateboard | Deck, Trucks, Bearings and Wheels

By Jake Walnut

Few things are as fun as setting up a new skateboard.

Of course, you can always have your new skateboard set up for you at your local shop, but there are a number of benefits that come with doing it yourself. These include:

• A familiarity with each of the components.
• The option to pick and choose between individual components.
• The ability to fine-tune each component as you see fit.

photo: calsk8.com

Below are a few tips on how you can assemble your new skateboard deck without breaking a sweat.

Portillo Ski Resort | Ski and Snowboard in Chile, South America

By Federico Barbieri

If Easter Island isn’t awesome enough, Chile has something else to offer adventure seekers. Located only 150km from Santiago, Portillo Ski Resort is everything a snowboarder dreams of.

Portillo holds the title of “oldest ski resort in South America.” The resort was built after the birth of railways in Chile. They were forged by English people who, during the construction, practiced skiing as entertainment. But it wasn’t until 1910, after the inauguration, when professionals started showing up.

5 U.S. Bike Routes Along the Water | Cross Country Bike Travel

By Megan Maxwell

While there are dozens of amazing bike routes across the United States, which go over mountains, through quaint villages and major cities, over rolling hills, and down rural roads, there’s nothing quite like spending a few weeks at the beach. If you are torn between a demanding outdoor cycling adventure and a few weeks by the water, then look no further than one of these United States bicycle routes, which is the best of both worlds.  Get geared up for a road trip, because you probably won’t have to travel far to find one of these long-distance routes.

photo: www.fhwa.dot.gov

Paddleboarding in the Outer Banks | 3 Flatwater SUP Spots

By Holland Buchert

Whether you're new to paddleboarding or are an experienced paddleboarder looking for a new spot, look no further than the Outer Banks of North Carolina. OBX is known for its beaches, and as one of the best spots to surf on the East Coast, but it's also got a variety of different flatwater areas that are great for paddleboarding. Here are 3 spots to check out on your next visit.

Photo: Holland Buchert

Why You Should be Blogging About Your Favorite Sport

By Megan Maxwell
It seems like anyone with a smart phone and a Wordpress account can call themselves a writer nowadays. While this might be bad for career writers, it is good for amateurs. If you are planning a long trip, a winter at a ski resort, or you just like to participate in your favorite sport regularly, you should be blogging about it.

going on an outing?  someone out there is looking for a review of that lake!

Surfing Big Waves | Pride Comes Before You Wipe Out...

By Rick Bickerstaff

They say pride comes before a fall...but they didn't mention anything about the washing machine tumult after the fall, followed by gasping for air and a long swim in.

A large storm swell has been hitting Southern California, with waves in the 20+ foot range at some breaks. My friends and I shared bloated surf reports through texts and social media the week leading up to it, excited for the potential glory ahead. But deep down, a tiny nagging worry was there in the pit of my stomach asking if I could handle it. Of course I could handle it...right?

Photo courtesy of Brian Esquivel.

The Zen of Snowboarding | Stay in the Moment, Enjoy the Ride!

By: Brad McNally

Many sports are seasonal, and snowboarding is one that is forced to be due to weather conditions in most places. To most people, this means that the end of the snowboarding season can be a sad time and it might feel like a long wait until you can get out on the powder again. This can also make those last trips to the mountain slightly bittersweet, as it won’t be long before spring is here and you are thinking about next season.

photo: http://zenshredding.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/wb-2010-0691.jpg

This is exactly why snowboarding can be a lesson in Zen Buddhism: the belief that reclaiming the present and being here in the moment is important. By remembering this, you can fully enjoy the last days on your board enjoying the moment instead of dreading the oncoming summer. Although there are places to travel and snowboard year round, many people don’t live near these and need to follow the seasonal path.

Tips for Spring Skiing | Shred the Slush

by: Lauren Fry

The snow on the mountain can only last so long, and summer is fast approaching.  Skiers and snowboarders everywhere are battling the slush to squeeze in ski days before the end of the season. Here are just a few tips to make sure you do not get slowed down by the slush.

5 Beginner Skateboard Trick Videos | Skateboard YouTube Clips

By Jake Walnut

Beginners in every sport have to start somewhere. In skateboarding this means starting with simple tricks.

It is generally a good idea to learn these tricks first on flat ground before progressing to obstacles. Before attempting these tricks, you should also have a solid command of the basics. You should have a smooth stance, be comfortable pushing around, and be able to kick-turn.

How to Patch a Bike Tube | Step-by-Step Bike Maintenance

By Megan Maxwell

If you start biking regularly, you are going to pop your tube every now and then. It’s good to learn how to patch it yourself, otherwise you will be stuck going to the bike shop and buying a new tube every time there’s a leak. It takes some practice, but it gets easier every time you patch a tube.

Snowboard Travel Tips for Airplane Travel | Pack Your Snowboard Bag

By Jake Walnut

Safely storing your snowboard at home is easy. All that you have to do is keep it firmly in your snowboard rack to know that it is safe and sound.

Traveling with your snowboard, on the other hand, is not so worry free. This is especially true if your next winter trip involves a plane ride. Keeping your snowboard safe on the plane is important. You want it to get from point A to point B in one piece so that you can fully enjoy your long-awaited snowboarding holiday.

Ski Shapes Explained | Ski Camber and Rocker

By: Lauren Fry

There are a few major components to becoming a successful skier. Skills and training are one thing, but the equipment you are using is important as well.  It's about time to ditch the vintage, no one should be shredding on a pair of skis that belong in a museum. Plus, some old worn down skis won’t showcase all the hard work you put into your technique. They could even make skiing harder than it has to be!

Off-Season Snowboard Training | Snowboard Exercise and Workout Tips

By: Brad McNally

Unfortunately for snowboarders, winter comes to an end at some point. Unless you happen to live close enough to a year-round resort, this is a hard reality. Some snowboarders are looking forward to their next sport, but if you are just hoping to get back to the slopes, waiting can be rough. Just because the powder is gone from your local resort doesn’t mean you have to stop working on your skills. Here are a few ways to be sure you are ready when the snow comes back next season.

photo: Wolfemouth.wordpress.com

Paddleboard Garage Wall Rack | Triple SUP Storage

The month of March may be hitting like a lion right now for some of our customers, but know that spring is right around the corner.  We've been seeing a lot of people ordering garage wall racks for their surfboards, paddleboards and wakeboards in order to get a jump on spring cleaning and get organized. 

Check out the pics of this triple paddleboard storage rack and the review by one of our customers from Utah.

Bottom Turn Tips for Surfers for Longboards, Shortboards and SUPs

By Natasha Hamilton

Bottom turns are  the first step in taking your surfing or paddling from the rookie stage to pro status.   Bottom turns are critical to successful trick transitions.  Mistiming this maneuver causes a loss of speed and forfeited opportunities.   Drops, barrels, reentries, floaters, and aerials are all reliant on a solid bottom turn.  So here is what you need to know about nailing bottom turns.

photo: SurferMag.com

Clear Plastic Surf Wall Rack | Surfboard Rack Garage Installation

By Rick Bickerstaff

The folks at StoreYourBoard.com were kind enough to send me this surf rack. The rack features a very simple design with hardly any hardware -- just two screws and two washers -- making it super easy to install, and a really solid choice for board storage.

 

The first step is to figure out where you are going to mount the rack, which means you need a stud finder. I ended up installing the rack in my garage, which has exposed studs, making this part easy (I'll likely need to install this same rack in an interior location at a later date, so I'll update the photos after that).