Beginner Skiers and Snowboarders | 3 Tips to Move Past the Bunny Slopes

By: Brad McNally

Although your snowboard may look great on display in its snowboard mount, it was built for going downhill and you are probably hoping to take it out soon. If you’ve never made it off the bunny slopes yet and are looking to head to bigger hills for the first time, these few tips will help make that transition much easier.

Triple Wood Wall Surf Rack | Organize and Display Your Surfboards

By Natasha Hamilton

The other day I got a really cool surf rack for my surfboards.  I have never had a surf wall rack, so my boards were just hanging out in the garage lonely and sad.  

The wall rack shipped super fast and was really light. I was a little nervous that because it was so light it would not be very sturdy or might look bad on my wall.  Once I received the rack, the packaging gave me hope and the rack components were beautiful.  Yay, two fears alleviated!    

What to Bring on a Long Distance Bike Trip | Bicycle Gear Essentials

By Megan Maxwell

        I’m planning an 1800 mile bike trip down the Pacific Coast for this summer, and I have absolutely no long distance biking experience. When I’m trying to do things I’ve never done before, I like to talk to as many people as possible who have knowledge on the subject and read blogs by people who have done similar trips. I’ve had a biker tell me that she used Tidy Cat buckets for her panniers to save money, while other bikers have told me that I need to get an expensive touring bike.

        What to bring on a long distance bike trip largely depends on your budget and your priorities. My budget is minimal and my priority is to bring the least amount of gear possible to save weight.

Technology and Surfing | Innovation in the Surf Industry

By Rick Bickerstaff

I have a love-hate relationship with technology. Actually, like-hate relationship is a better way of putting it...

I'm that guy who gives people dirty looks when they're on their phone in a public place, or appreciates asking strangers for directions instead of using a cell phone. I still buy CDs because I like having a physical backup of music, and I don't own a tablet.

Still, I'm not too proud to admit that technology has its advantages, even applied to something as natural as surfing. So here are some technological advances that, to me, seem to enhance the sport we love.

Preparing Ski Slopes for Competition | Behind the Scenes at Sochi

by: Lauren Fry

Hosting any type of ski race takes hundreds of volunteers and days of preparation. Starting early before the sun is even up, volunteers use water cannons to ice the course, and sharp edges on their skis to slide down the course sideways to even it out and shave off the rough top layer of ice.

the alpine volunteer ski crew smoothing out the course for the men's Super-G in Sochi.
Photo: Montreal Gazette

5 Reasons Snowboarding Equipment Makes a Great Gift

By Federico Barbieri

Birthdays. Christmas. Valentines. It doesn’t matter which festivity we are talking about. When it comes to presents, there’s a whole world in front of us. It can be personal or simple, exotic or mainstream, but it must always be an awesome gift for the person who receives it.

photo: Jason Waltman

5 Snowboard Travel Tips | Planning Your Next Snowboard Trip

By: Brad McNally

It doesn’t matter if you are heading cross country or just across town to hit the slopes, you still need to prepare for the trip. This can easily become the most stressful part of the entire trip, but it doesn’t have to. These 5 tips can help you keep the traveling simple so you can get to what is really important - shredding!

Mastering the Moguls | Ski Mogul Techniques and Tips

By: Lauren Fry

A common misconception I have noticed with skiers, is that they don’t realize their ticket/pass is good for the WHOLE Mountain! No, not just the groomers, the moguls and back bowls too! Too many skiers are scared or intimidated by a long steep mogul field. Even I get intimidated standing at the top when you can’t even see the moguls below because how steep and large they are. 

Surfing with Sharks | Are Shark Attack Risks Overstated?

By: Rick Bickerstaff
Lately this meme has been going around, illustrating how you are more likely to be killed by (among other things) a vending machine than a shark. I don't know how accurate their research is, but the fact still stands: the odds are highly in your favor of having a shark-free surf. But still I know many people who are reluctant to even try surfing because they are afraid of shark attacks.

What I usually tell these folks is, "Think of all the people that go surfing in the world, every day. Now how many shark attacks do you hear about?" Few to none. But when you're on the open water, in "their" territory, it's not hard to imagine a big fin popping up in your peripherals, or a giant shadow gliding underneath you:

Video courtesy of Brad Coder.

The Coriolis Effect | The Ocean, Beach and Changes to the Shoreline

By Athair Baer
If you’re anything like me, you see things and wonder, “what happened(?)” when things have been the same way for so long, but upon your next visit seem very… Changed.  This is the sort of thing that prompted my minor in Marine Biology. When I would see all the beautiful things on my beach one day and then a week later everything from the consistency of the sand to the color of the water would be so very different. 
  

photo: Heidi Grabowith