Image taken on 2009-01-21 18:05:07 by samantha celera.
Archive for January, 2010
jacket
Sunday, January 24th, 20106 months health insurance in Canada?
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
I am staying in Canada on a visitors visa for 6 months and would like to get some health cover / insurance for this period as i will be doing allot of snowboarding and driving around and wondered if anyone had a solution for this as all the holiday insurance i could find back in the UK will only cover you for a max of 30 days??
Snowboarding Wax: What Should Be Done!
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Have you ever been cruising your way down a mountain just enjoying the ride, the scenery and everything else, when suddenly along comes a nasty wide open expanse of flat. Do you ever wonder why it is that there always seems to be a whole load of people, some on the worst rental boards you can imagine, that manage to overtake you with ease, just managing to maintain enough speed to get over the ridge and carry on down the mountain? At times like these, which all of us have experienced, you may wonder what you are doing that is not quite right. Well, this darn unfortunate occurrence may be due to you either having poorly waxed your board, of worse still, not having waxed it at all! This brief article looks at the why’s and how’s of waxing your snowboard.
Why bother?!
Simply put, if you don’t wax your board you are missing out on a smoother, faster and therefore more responsive/ enjoyable ride. Wax can make a huge difference, if done properly. Waxing is one of the easiest ways to improve board performance adding the benefits of less tiresome riding and extending the useful life of the base of you board. Waxing is best done in combination with other board enhancing procedures e.g. edge tuning.
How to wax your board
Equipment you need (buy or borrow it!):
– Waxing iron (flat with no steam holes!). An old iron works just as well – Plastic wax scraper to remove excess wax – Ideally a good, level bench with two level stands or clamps (plastic or metal) – Good range of waxes for different temperatures – Soft and a hard brush for polishing – Ideally a well ventilated dry room, or garage, or simply outside if you have to – Ideally an old sheet for the wax to drip on to
Waxing method
If you’re lazy and slightly loaded, with time on your hands you could abort this article right now and wax your board the easy way, by getting someone else to do it. Today it is very easy to either post it or hand it to either a local snowboard shop or specialist service that can do a multitude of waxing and other board enhancement procedures.
If you feel the need to gain an extra, very useful, skill read on. Choose the appropriate wax for the temperature of the snow. Hard wax is typically used for cold conditions, is harder to administer and lasts least. Warmer conditions use softer wax that is far easier to put on you boards base. If unsure of what the temperature is outside you could use a general snowboarding wax suitable in most conditions.
Lay the board upside down, in a sturdy position. If there is old wax you would like to get rid of then use a wax removing solvent spray on the base. This stuff stinks, so use a very well ventilated area. Absorb and wipe off the wax with a cloth. Ideally this is done the night before the waxing proper. Removing the old wax is done mainly so that the correct wax for the conditions will end up on the board. Melt wax droplets with the iron in a snake fashion from tip to tail, slowly and methodically. Gaps of about 1-2cm between drops work fine for me. It helps to drip the wax off a corner of the wax block. Remember not to let the iron get so hot that smoke is produced.
After having applied the drops of wax you must next proceed in a wax on wax off style from tip to tail, nice and slowly with the iron. Spread a thin, almost un-noticeable layer across the board. A great method for embedding the wax evenly and deep into the base of the board is to use roughly circular, real slow motions from side to side and along the base. Don’t spend too long on one area of the base or the base may get a little damaged.
Leave the base to cool for as long as possible e.g. 12 hours is fine. Cooling for only a few hours will work, if you have to. This gives the base time to really absorb and retain the wax through the resultant cooling/ hardening.
Next you must scrape the base of the board in a tip to tail direction only with a firm, straight plastic or metal edged scraper. Try to remove all wax to create a perfectly smooth flat base. This part is the most tiring, but also very important. To remove particularly stubborn sections of wax you can momentarily bend the scraper a little to focus your energies on a smaller area.
When the excess wax has been removed its then time to polish the base with a soft bush in the same fashion as when ironing. Afterwards sternly use the harsh brush (often have metal protrusions) in a tip to tail only fashion to add structure to the base.
There you go, its ready to ride!
Generally it’s a good idea to wax your board once every 3 days of use. Waxing should be more frequent if you ride really hard or enjoy ice or hard-packed snow conditions. To reduce the board damaging effects of oxidation of the base from UV radiation/ other influences from the environment why not wax the base for transport and long snowless summers.
If you want to know more information on night snowboarding visit http://www.snowboardwax.info/Snowboarding-At-Night.php .
Snowboard Gloves
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Image taken on 2004-01-03 15:06:09 by mamastal.
There are headphones and then there is Skullcandy!
Friday, January 22nd, 2010For anyone who has been checking out what headphones to buy you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen Skullcandy.
As the name suggests, these are not your standard plain, black headphones. In a wide range of colours and designs, Skullcandy really are a fashion statement. Aimed at the extreme sports market, skateboarding, skiing, surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, bmx, moto cross, basketball and motor rally, they really have the designs to suit the market they aim at.
Skullcandy recently announced the Snoop Dogg Skull Crusher, the only headphones with their own sub woofer. Their recent announcement of partnership with NBA will have basketball fans going wild. Available in December the headphones will carry the names and team logos of six of the NBA’s hottest players with plans to launch more in the coming months.
Another innovative idea from Skullcandy is the new iPhone app with a surf report, snow report/forecast, streaming music, Skullcandy videos and skatepark finder.
Skullcandy make every kind of headphones available and in every colour imaginable. They even make wooden bud earphones, the Holua. They also sell loads of merchandise from tee shirts to bandanas, stickers to sweatbands. You can really go for the whole Skullcandy look.
So if you’re choosing headphones and you’re into extreme sport, there is only one – Skullcandy.
But don’t forget all you NBA fans, the best is yet to come.
Even if you’re not into the sports, there is a range of in ear, on ear and over ear headphones, all in terrific colours, you just have to pick the ones to suit your style.
Tom Jacobs is a consumer electronics writer and specialist. Tom has held a number of senior roles in the industry, before becoming a writer and adviser at ZenoStore.com
Snowboarding Helmets and Brain Wellbeing
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Style and personal wellbeing are two things that have, sadly, always been at odds. If you look at any average snowboard park at a resort, the odds are that most of the riders there will not be using snowboarding helmets. It certainly isn’t a funds issue since a good bit of these snowboarders are rocking this year’s park board and jamming out to an mp3 player that sells for just as much, but they didn’t throw down fifty bucks to shield their cranium. And the figures back up what you witness. Less than 50% of skiers and snowboarders even own a helmet. For children, nearly two thirds are dressed in helmets because their parents are proactive about their wellbeing, yet the parents believe that they are skilled enough that they can dodge possible injury.
Anyone can give you reasons why a helmet is or isn’t a necessity on the slopes. Perhaps a prior crash has made someone come to a decision they will always wear a helmet. Concussions are not unusual among riders. If you’ve had one before, you most likely realize that the danger of considerable brain injury doubles with every successive concussion you incur. After two concussions, you’re running a significant risk of serious problems later on in life such as memory loss and even possible mental illness.
Even as snowboarding helmets don’t assure your life will be saved in the occasion of a bad crash, it does offer you protection that you otherwise don’t have. But what do riders who don’t use helmets have to say? Sure, no one is campaigning to stop riders from wearing helmets, but there are some people who would never wear one. Lots of riders have had unpleasant experiences with helmets that were too weighty and caused neck pain. Perhaps they just wore a helmet that didn’t fit well and was bothersome to have on. Some riders just don’t like the way they look. They’d rather be seen in a bandana or a idiotic hat. It may be personal preference, but for many of these riders the only thing that will get them into a helmet is finding out the hard way why they are so suggested.
Some high profile deaths such as Sonny Bono or, all too recently Natasha Richardson have made more evident that you can get hurt on the mountain in many unique ways. Even a lesser knock to the noggin can set off a reaction in the brain that may later be fatal. In fact, it is these lesser smacks, the more common ones, that helmets are intended to safeguard you against. Missing a rail can go from headache to infirmary if you’re not using a helmet. Even snow, which seems to be designed for soft landings, can be deceivingly solid. Packed snow, unseen ice or a piece of snowboard park equipment can end your snowboarding very quickly if you choose not to look after your head.
It’s a never ending argument as to whether or not snowboarding helmets can ever be fresh. What is important is what matters the most to you. A helmet may be gawky at first and it may make your head overheat or scratchy and, yes, you may get the feared point and snicker from your friends. But the truth is that a helmet is just a way of safeguarding your snowboarding future. Lacking a helmet, you may possibly end up with a life-threatening, but avoidable, injury that might terminate your season or worse. The social consequences won’t be as significant as you might think and you will be able to have the benefit of your favorite pastime for a long time to come.
To find great deals on top snowboarding helmets from the like of K2, Bern, Rossignol, Salomon, Pro-tec, Red and more visit www.boardriderlounge.com
Tips When Buying Snowboarding Pants
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Like any piece of al fresco sports’ wear, snowboarding pants serves one main purpose and that is to ensure your protection from injury, weather conditions, and any other external force. There is generally an accepted method to maintain your core temperature and prevent you from cooling off easily and this is known as the Three Layer System. This system is composed of a base layer, an insulation layer and an outer shell. The base layer is the only layer directly in contact with your skin and its sole purpose is to turn the moisture away from the skin. On top of the base layer lies the insulation layer which is also intended to get rid of moisture away from the body but its more important function is to insulate your body by confining your body heat. The outer shell is the layer directly exposed to the environment. It is expected to be waterproof, windproof and has also a breathable outlet for moisture.
Most snowboarding pants combine 2 or contain all the 3 layers in one piece. Most will also have waterproofing, a thin outer shell, and an efficient insulation layer.. During warmer conditions, you have the option to wear only the snowboarding pants. Meanwhile, when the weather turns colder, you can add a base layer bottom beneath your snowboarding pants. However, when the weather goes extremely cold, have the liberty to wear all three layers while wearing a layer of extra insulation between the base layer of your bottoms and your snowboarding pants.
Before buying your snowboarding pants, consider these tips.
-Never make the mistake of wearing normal pants for snowboarding. You really need to buy your snowboarding pants especially if you are just a beginner. Remember that if you are a neophyte, you are most likely to be the one stumbling most of the time on your knees or on your behind. Hence, if you happen to be wearing casual jeans then the ice will melt every time you fall on the snow and you will eventually get soaked and cold. This is not a good way to learn.
-Although you can use ski pants as an alternative when you don’t have a snowboarding pants yet, it will not allow you to do the movements that you can normally do using a snowboard pants. Unlike the snowboard pants, ski pants are not intended for tricks like aerial spins or jumps. So unless you only want to do what a skier does, stick to the ski pants. So when you’re buying a snowboard pants, look for one that does not pinch in the crotch area or one that has enough room for you to do your tricks.
-You need to anticipate a few rough falls. So, one important aspect that you need to look for snowboarding pants is extra padding especially on the knee and buttocks area since these are the parts that commonly catch your plunges. Having extra padding will not give you enough protection to minimize the chance of any injury plus the possibility of getting your pants damaged thus losing their waterproof capacity.
-Go for quality and not for the price. You want enough protection and durability. Don’t go for cheap pants that will be ripped off after a day of practice. If you want to be a pro, get yourself the right snowboarding pants that will last you until you become one.
-Choose function over fashion. Although it’s good to be noticed for your cool clothes, it’s a lot better to be to be wearing something that gives you adequate protection and provides you with great comfort.
At the Ski Trip Planning website, you can read more about ski tips and skiing vacations.
New Snowboard Gear for Cheap! Cash in on End of Season Savings
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Snowboard technology changes from season to season, so if you are still riding the same snowboard and boots you did years ago then you need to buy some new stuff…
Especially if you have old boots. The facts are that no matter what your snowboard boot, the liners are only going to live to see about 60-65 days of riding and after that, because of the constant wetting and drying, they will expand and eventually stop your riding dead. Snowboards are constantly being updated and innovated with new sidecuts, new lightweight materials, different flexes, and base patterns. Just like in the computer world, if your snowboard is more than two seasons old than it is probably outdated.
It sounds crazy but I recommend purchasing a new set of snowboard boots each season and a new snowboard every one to three seasons depending on how you ride (the more you ride the earlier you should buy, you may even break your snowboard before three seasons is up). Since boots are easily $150-$400 and snowboards $300-$600 you probably aren’t seeing that happening soon.
The good news is that I could not have picked a better time to let you know, because now that the end of the season is here and summer is upon us you can expect deals up to and possibly more than 50% off! I’m not just talking about used product or things that are from seasons ago. Brand new merchandise from last year usually goes on a huge price cut right about now. Get a new set of everything for under the cost of the snowboard alone! Boards, boots, bindings, and outerwear are all given away for huge end of the year discounts.
To get the goods to go to the top next season all you have to do is check around your local skate/snowboard shops first. If you live in an area where snowboarding isn’t the prominent focus then you can usually land the last seasons top snowboards for the cheapest prices right at home. If you don’t have a shop near your home than you can go through the Internet. There are tons of online snowboard shops and rest assured that they all participate in the end of season savings. I personally recommend DogFunk.com, which has an enormous selection of snowboard gear not to mention some huge end of season savings and the best prices on the hottest snowboard gear all year long.
Take advantage now or suffer the full price consequences next season. It’s your choice
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Burton Snowboard For Sale!?
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Anyone here interested in buying a burton snowboard with bindings?? let me know and ill send ome pics!
Aspen Ski Rentals – Gear Guide – Aspen & Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Rentals
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Don’t you just love the sound of your skis clicking into your bindings and the squeaky sound of ski wax on Colorado snow? There is something so invigorating about gearing up for a day of skiing or snowboarding. Read tips and information for selecting the perfect ski and snowboard equipment for your Aspen, Colorado vacation.
Many visitors find that ordering Aspen ski and snowboard rentals online in advance saves them a lot of time by not having to wait in line. The following information will also help guide you through selecting the ideal gear for your Aspen, CO vacation.
First, when selecting Aspen ski rental and equipment, you need to sort out what type of terrain you will be skiing, what are the current conditions like and the all important question “What type of skier are you”? These factors will determine a number of things when it comes to fitting your Aspen ski rentals.
As most avid skiers know, today’s equipment is far superior to yesterdays gear. With this advancement in technology, renting the ideal Aspen ski equipment can seem like a daunting task. You will most likely need to get fitted for boots, skis and poles. Some say, a proper fitting ski boot is the most important part of progressing in your skier ability.
Getting fitted for ski boots
Comfort isn’t king when it comes to renting ski boots. To improve your skiing ability and to progress to the next level, it is imperative to rent boots that support every inch of your feet. You want to prevent having what is known as sloppy feet. Sloppy feet happens when there is too much room in your boots which will lesson the amount of control you have on your skis. You obviously don’t want to strangle your feet so you can’t feel them, but you definitely need your boots to be tight. This will maximize your sensitivity to the terrain and increase your control.
Often times, ski rental shops in Aspen will size your poles for you, but if you’re an advanced skier, you might want to be aware of a couple of things. The ideal pole size changes with what type of terrain you prefer to ski. If you’re a big fan of ripping up fresh corduroy then you need to get a standard sized pole. You can measure what size pole you need by turning the ski pole upside down and grabbing directly under the basket. If the pole is correctly fitted, you’re arm should be bent at a 90 degree angle.
On the other hand, if skiing zipper line bumps is your thing, make sure you get smaller poles so you can plant correctly while bashing those bumps. Get the poles to long and planting on the mogul will push your shoulders back which will cause you to either be kicked to the back seat or redirect your skis. Since you want your upper body to be “quiet”, short poles will enable you to simply flick the top of the mogul while skiing through the line.
Skis are the number one question when renting gear for your Aspen, Colorado ski vacation. Common questions include:
1)How long should my skis be?
Length of skis depend on your skier ability. If your standing up, ideal ski lengths for beginner to intermediate skiers tend to fall anywhere between your upper chest and nose. For advanced skiers who tend to seek powder stashes, skis are generally longer to support their body weight while in the deep snow.
2)What’s the difference between powder skis and groomer skis?
Floating in Aspen, Colorado’s deep powder stashes is what a ski vacation is all about. In order to ski powder, it is essential you have skis wide enough to carry you on top of the snow. If you are on narrow racing skis, you will tend to sink too deep. Thiis will turn your powder day into a long leg workout. On the other hand, if you’re into carving flawless turns in Colorado cordoroy, then you need to rent skis that are a little narrower which will hold the line tighter while leaning into your turns.
3)What does parabolic mean?
Parabolic skis have revolutionized the ski industry. They have enabled beginner skiers to advance to intermediate while intermediate skiers have enjoyed tackling advanced terrain. Basically, parabolic skis enable for quick edge to edge turning radius. Simply pivot your knees, put the skis on edge, and they do the rest of the work for you.
4)What’s the difference between a flexible vs. stiff ski
Stiff skis are great for holding an edge on hard packed snow. They also allow a skier to ski faster without the skis from loosing an edge. Flexible skis are great for blasting through the crud and blazing over moguls.
To book your Aspen and Snowmass ski and snowboard rentals call the Colorado Travel Company at 970.372.4628. You can also book Aspen lodging and Aspen CO Hotels.