Who Invented Snowboarding?

By Jessy Faraday
It’s always great to hit the slopes! But did you ever consider who was the first person in history to ever feel the joy of snowboarding?  Of course, the roots of snowboarding are several centuries old. Though we’ve got snowboard storage racks today, we know for sure that the modern development of snowboards was originated before the 1960s.  I’ve gathered some facts about some of the inventors of the snowboard:

4 Skateboard Storage and Display Racks Under $20

By Kyle Beck     

    Finding the perfect way to store and display your skateboard when you're not riding can be a hassle, and it can get expensive. Some display setups are going for $50 or more dollars...I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of money to display something that I use frequently. Some display setups require you to remove your trucks, which often isn't a practical skateboard storage solution. 

The holidays have passed and we are finding our wallets emptier than usual, so I’m going to give you 4 skateboard display solutions for $20 or less.

Wood Paddleboard Storage Rack | SUP Display Rack

If you got a new standup paddleboard for Christmas or the holidays, or if you've had some SUPs but realize you need to take better care of them, check out this functional and affordable wooden paddleboard rack option for storing your paddleboards. 

3 Reasons Why I Surf - And Why You Should Too

By Natasha Hamilton

Surfing is woven into my DNA.  That might sound a bit dramatic, but it’s true.  Ask any surfer who has been surfless for longer than two weeks if their body feels healthy...

In Riding Giants, Laird Hamilton compared surfing to dragon slaying.  I humbly have to agree.  There are big majestical dragons with gem encrusted bellies and there are small quick dragons that can knock you off your feet.  Each time you pull your board off your surf rack, you are embarking on an adventure of epic proportions.   

There are tons of reasons why you should surf.  Here's 3 reasons why I do:

(1) Each wave has its own story

(2) Riding down the face of a wave is a spiritual experience

(3) Surfing melts away stress

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays - from StoreYourBoard

From everyone here at StoreYourBoard, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays!  Take some time off and relax and enjoy yourself, or take advantage of some days off to hit the slopes or maybe a trip down to the Caribbean to catch a couple of warm-water waves! 

Whatever you choose, remember, Santa is always watching - and surfing, skating, wakeboarding, snowboarding and skiing!  Great powder at the North Pole!

-Josh, Carli, Ashley, Nathan, Andrew and Mike

How to Buy Your First Snowboard

By Megan Maxwell

       This is finally the year you are going to get on the slopes and learn how to snowboard! While learning how to board is in itself an exciting and painful experience, finding the right snowboard can be equally as challenging. Buying your first snowboard may seem like a daunting task, but you just have to remember a few basics to make the experience easier.

Professional Snowboarders Killing It: Austin Hironaka, Scott Stevens and Corbin Clement

By Taylor Foster

For this article I just wanted to have some fun and find an excuse to watch some snowboarding videos and share some awesome riders with all of you.  Here's 3 guys who are absolutely tearing it up in the video world and proving you don’t just have to worry about winning contests - you should be out there having a good time.

(1) Austin Hironaka 

(2) Corbin Clement 

(3) Scott Stevens

Photo: Darcy Bacha

How to Paddle Out in Big Waves and Surf

By Natasha Hamilton

It’s the morning you’ve been anticipating, the surf forecast says the surf is firing off the local  buoy at 12 feet every 15 seconds.  Time to grab your board off your surf rack and go!  

But once you get to the beach, you realize that 12 foot waves mean 12+ foot white water.  Because waves are a transfer of energy from wind; the stronger the wind, the larger the surf.  How are you suppose to paddle out through all that soup?    

Peaks

The 3 most important things to ask yourself:  

• Where are the peaks - Is there a channel?  
• Which way is current going?
• How much time in between sets?

These questions usually can be answered in 10 seconds and will save you serious time and energy. 

3 Things I Learned Surfing El Nino 57 Days in a Row

By Dave Pascoe

With January approaching and the Southern California swell finally beginning to pick up, frustrated Santa Barbara surfers are finally getting their fix. Flat spells hit every summer, when swells are blocked by the Channel Islands and parts of the Pacific turn into a lake. After such a long stretch of nothing but ripples, I can’t help but think back to the amazing El Niño winter in 2009 when I surfed 57 days in a row.

At the time, I was a freshman in college, recently relocated from the frigid waters just north of San Francisco and basking in my newfound proximity to what have become some of my all-time favorite breaks. To celebrate my good luck and the seemingly tropical temperatures - at least compared to what I was used to back at home - I made it a point to catch at least three waves every single day during UCSB’s winter quarter, and I almost made it. 

3 Things I Learned from Surfing 57 Days in a Row:

3 Things that Cause Skateboard Wobbles and How to Fix Them

By Kyle Beck

So you’ve been progressing in your riding, hitting bigger hills, gaining more speed, and you’ve found yourself face to face with the bane of the longboarder’s existence: Speed Wobbles. 

Photo Credit

Speed wobbles are a complicated phenomenon that happen when the board begins to oscillate back and forth, which can happen naturally based on many factors such as wind, draft, and the surface you are riding on. So how does a rider deal with this dreaded phenomenon? There are many different methods, and I will explain a few of them.