Freedom ain’t free.
The freestyle board has come a long way in the last ten years. First,everyone thought cutting the nose and tail down would reduce swing weight.Then there was the whole “let’s see who can make the lightest board”phase, which resulted in hundreds of kids hiking down the mountain holdingonto two separate chunks of what used to be one snowboard. Oh, wait-remember those boards with dual camber? What the hell was that all about?Or how about the ones with the four edges? I mean, really, what in goodgravy were they thinkin’?
Thank the sweet lord above that during the last two or three years,freestyle snowboard design has reached its apex. That’s with the exceptionof Travis Parker’s new CAPiTA pro model. “Put your seat belts on, kids, it’sthe world’s first-ever double-swallowtail freestyle shred machine, and it’smeant to get nasty,”says CAPiTA Owner Blue Montgomery. Well, at leastthey’re not serious.
But like everything else in snowboarding, picking the right board for youis all personal preference. Do you like to turn between jumps? A shredcyclewith some sidecut is what you’re going to need. Maybe the jib bug bit yourass, and all day long dreams of back-lippin’ a 40-stair handrail are bouncingthrough your head. Then you should look for something that is soft and forgiving.
Speaking of handrails, all you urban shredders should know that companiesincluding Forum and Burton have gone ahead and gotten rid of those nastyedges for ya. “The Dominant Slick gives you added confidence,” saysJeremy Jones. “But don’t be fooled, you still need to put it on the rail right.I’ve locked up just as hard on the Slick as I have on any edge board. But it’shelpful for the mind, fo sho!”
And last but not least, all you dudes and dudettes out there in Shredville,take all the time necessary to pick out your new sick stick, ’cause no onelikes spending 500 dollars on something that sucks.-Chris Coyle
FREESTYLE
Andreas Wiig
Age: 23
Height: 6′
Weight: 170 pounds
Home: On the road/Oslo, Norway/CostaMesa, California
Roots: Oslo, Norway
Sponsors: Vans, Agency, Planet Earth,Electric, Jeenyus, Grenade
Stance: Regular, 23 inches wide, with 21degrees on the front foot and negativefifteenon the rear.
Board: Jeenyus The Woods 159 ($420)
Boots: Vans BFB, size nine ($190)
Bindings: Agency Eleven34 ($160)
Goggles: Electric EG1 ($79-$90)
Jacket: Planet Earth Andreas Wiig ($250)
Pants: Planet Earth Andreas Wiig ($184)
Gloves: Grenade The Napalm ($34)
Riding style: “Like someone just threw thecat off the balcony.”
Danny Kass
Age: 21
Height: 5′7″
Weight: 150 pounds
Home: June Lake, California
Roots: Vernon, New Jersey
Sponsors: Gnu, Quiksilver, Grenade,Vans, Agency, Jack’s Garage, Propaganda,Boost Mobile
Stance: Regular, 22.5 inches wide, withfifteen degrees on the front foot andnegative-twelve on the back.
Board: Gnu Danny Kass 153 ($489)
Boots: Vans Danny Kass, size 9.5 ($210)
Bindings: Agency Tro’it ($200)
Goggles: Grenade Danny Kass model($32-46)
Pants: Quiksilver MAGDA pant ($100)
Gloves: Grenade DK-Pro ($64)
Riding style: “Jibtastic.”
David Benedek
Age: 24
Height: 5′9″
Weight: 145 pounds
Home: Innsbruck, Austria
Roots: Munich, Germany
Sponsors: Salomon, Bonfire, Anon,Ratiopharm
Stance: Regular, with twelve degrees onthe front foot and negative-nine on the back.
Board: Salomon David Benedek 155($550)
Boots: Salomon David Benedek ($260)
Bindings: Salomon SPX Pro (220)
Goggles: Anon Figment ($70)
Jacket: Bonfire Optic Balance ($270)
Pants: Bonfire Optic Balance ($170)
Gloves: Bonfire Spring gloves ($50)
Eddie Wall
Age: 22
Height: 5′8″
Weight: 155 pounds
Home: Mammoth Lakes, California
Roots: Rome, Pennsylvania
Sponsors: Jeenyus, Agency, DC,FourSquare, Smith, Grenade, Jack’sGarage, Mammoth Mountain, Snowcreek
Stance: Goofy, 23-inches wide, with eighteendegrees on the front foot and negativetwelveon the ar.
Board: Jeenyus Rental 153 ($300)
Boots: DC Judge, size nine ($249)
Bindings: Agency Implants ($180)
Goggles: Smith Fuses ($85)
Jacket: FourSquare Lowin ($180)
Pants: FourSquare Satyricon ($180)
Gloves: Grenade Eddie Wall ($50)
Riding style: “Hella tight.”
Chad Otterstrom
Age: 27
Height: 5′8″
Weight: 157 pounds
Home: Breckenridge, Colorado
Roots: Shoreview, Minnesota
Sponsors: Academy, Smith, FourSquare,Active Ride Shop, DEFCON, ThirtyTwo,Etnies, Alycium, Bluebird Wax, DelphicDesigned Hats
Stance: Goofy, 22-inches wide, with eighteendegrees on the front foot and negative-nineon the back.
Board: Academy Chad Otterstrom 156.5($475)
Boots: ThirtyTwo Lashed, size nine ($189)
Bindings: Burton with mixed-up parts
Goggles: Smith Prodigy ($95)
Jacket: FourSquare Tandon ($230)
Pants: FourSquare Arak ($190)
Gloves: DEFCON Goliath ($66)
Riding style: “Freestyle.”
FREERIDE
Erik Leines
Age: 24
Height: 6′1″
Weight: 165 pounds
Home: Salt Lake City, UtahRoots: Big Lake, Minnesota
Sponsors: Ride, Volcom, Vans, Oakley,Celtek, Nixon
Stance: Regular, 24 inches wide, withthirteen degrees on the front foot andnegative-nine on the rear.
Board: Ride Theory 159 ($520)
Boots: Vans Hi Standard, size ten ($130)
Bindings: Ride Flight Tomcat ($250)
Jacket: Volcom EKG Puff ($220)
Pants: Volcolm Inspector ($210)
Gloves: Celtek Weapon ($50)
Goggles: Oakley Wisdom ($95-140)
Lukas Huffman
Age: 25
Height: 5′6″
Weight: 140 pounds
Home: Around the way
Roots: Montpelier, Vermont
Sponsors: Nitro, Legion, Anon,Northwave, Drake, Bakoda, HurleyStance: Regular, 21 inches wide, with21 degrees on the front and negativetwelveon the rear.
Board: Nitro Suprateam LH 157 ($479)
Boots: Northwave Vintage, size 8.5 ($179)
Bindings: Drake Mikey LeBlanc ($159)
Jacket: Nitro Ride The Lightning L1 ($269)
Pants: Nitro Creeping Death L1 ($229)
Gloves: Bakoda Kevin Jones ($65)
Goggles: Anon Figment ($80)
Riding style: “I ride whatever’s in front ofme on the way to the jump I spotted.”
Tyler Lepore
Age: 24
Height: 5′7″
Weight: 145 pounds
Home: Vancouver, British Columbia
Roots: Gibsons, British Columbia
Sponsors: CAPiTA, Oakley, ThirtyTwo,Etnies, DaKine, Lifetime, Alive AthleticsStance: Regular, 21 inches wide, with 25degrees on the front foot and five on the rear.
Board: CAPiTA Yeti 161 ($459)
Boots: ThirtyTwo Forecast, size nine ($220)
Bindings: TechNine Scott E. Wittlake ($189)
Jacket: Oakley Detonator ($725)
Pants: Oakley Filter ($360)
Gloves: DaKine Cobra GT Mitt ($70)
Goggles: Oakley A Frame ($120)
Riding style: “I like to ride fast and just use the whole hill.”
Bjorn Leines
Age: 27
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 157 pounds
Home: Salt Lake City, Utah
Roots: Big Lake, Minnesota
Sponsors: Forum, Volcom, Oakley,Celtek, Circa
Stance: Regular, 22.75 inches wide,with eighteen degrees on the front footand negative-eleven on the rear.
Board: Forum BJL Warrior 158 ($440)
Boots: Forum Freestyler, size nine ($200)
Bindings: Forum Freestyle ($200)
Jacket: Volcom Carpal Tunnel ($240)
Pants: Volcom VMX ($190)
Gloves: Celtek BJL Signature ($55)
Goggles: Oakley Wisdom ($95-140)
Riding style: “All conditions.”
Mark Landvik
Age: 24
Height: 5′9″
Weight: 180 pounds
Home: Bellingham, Washington
Roots: Juneau, Alaska
Sponsors: Lib Technologies, Scott USA,Volcom, Vans, Drop, Boarderline AlaskaStance: Goofy, around 23 inches, with23 degrees on the front foot and negativeeighton the back.
Board: Lib Tech Phoenix 157 ($489)
Boots: Vans BFB, size nine ($190)
Bindings: Bent Metal BMX ($199)
Jacket: Volcom Hanz And Franz ($180)
Pants: Volcom Nation ($125)
Gloves: Drop DP Webb ($50)
Goggles: Scott Messenger ($55)
Riding style: “Snowboarding on snow.”
WOMEN
Annie Boulanger
Age: 24
Height: 5′6″
Weight: 128 pounds
Home: Whistler, British Columbia
Roots: Montreal, Quebec
Sponsors: Salomon, Billabong, Anon, Drop
Stance: Goofy, 21.75 inches wide, with fifteendegrees on the front foot and negativesixon the back.
Board: Salomon Ivy E.R.A. 154 ($470)
Boots: Salomon Women’s F22 ($280)
Bindings: Salomon Antidotes ($180)
Goggles: Anon Figment ($80)
Jacket: Billabong Butterfly ($120)
Pants: Billabong Blondie ($120)
Gloves: Drop Se§orita ($50)
Anne Molin Kongsgaard
Age: 25
Height: 5′3″
Weight: 122 pounds
Home: Kongsberg, Norway and CostaMesa/Mammoth Lakes, California
Roots: Kongsberg, Norway
Sponsors: Burton, Oakley, Gallaz, Nixon
Stance: Regular, 22.5 inches wide, with21 degrees on the front foot and negativefifteenon the back.
Board: Burton Troop 151 ($400)
Boots: Burton Emerald, size six ($180)
Bindings: Burton Mission ($170)
Goggles: Oakley A-Frame ($120)
Jacket: Burton 2L Strategy ($240)
Pants: Burton Strategy ($200)
Hana Beaman
Age: 21
Height: 5′9″
Weight: 170 pounds
Home: Mammoth Lakes, California
Roots: Big Bear Lake, California
Sponsors: Rossignol, RS Clothing,Grenade Gloves, Vans, Smith, Red Bull,Boost Mobile, Mammoth Mountain,Pharmacy, Atmosphere
Stance: Regular, with eighteen degrees onthe front foot and negative-twelve on the back.
Board: Rossignol Premier 156 ($480)
Boots: Vans Hi-Standard, size nine ($130)
Bindings: Rossignol Amber ($230)
Goggles: Smith Fuse ($85)
Jacket: RS Unit Parka ($230)
Pants: RS Elevate 2L ($180)
Gloves: Grenade 1969 ($64)
Riding style: “PH balanced-strongenough for a man, but made for a woman.”
Kelly Clark
Age: 20
Height: 5′4″
Weight: 140 pounds
Home: Mount Snow, Vermont
Roots: Mount Snow, Vermont
Sponsors: Burton, Smith, Mount Snow,RVCA
Stance: Regular, 20.5 inches wide, witheighteen degrees on the front foot andthree on the back.
Board: Burton Raven 152 ($500)
Boots: Burton Sable, size seven ($250)
Bindings: Burton Mission ($170)
Goggles: Smith Fuse ($85)
Jacket: Burton AK Essence ($190)
Pants: Burton Exposure ($150)
Priscilla Levac
Age: 23
Height: 5′2″
Weight: 110 pounds
Home: Whistler, British Columbia
Roots: Quebec, Canada
Sponsors: Ride Snowboards, RideOuterwear, Northwave, Drake, Bakoda,Nikita, Spy, Gallaz, Atlas Snowboard Shop
Stance: Goofy, 22 inches wide, withtwelve degrees on the front foot andnegative-nine on the back.
Board: Ride Vista 148 ($400)
Boots: Northwave Vintage, size six ($179)
Bindings: Drake F-50 ($129)
Goggles: Spy Soldier ($100)
Jacket: Ride Cab Parka ($190)
Pants: Ride Frontside Half Vent Cargo ($160)
YOUTH
Elena Hight
Age: 14
Height: 5′
Weight: 110 poundsHome: South Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaRoots: Kaua’i, Hawai’i
Sponsors: Burton, Oakley, Hurley, U.S.Snowboard Team, Shoreline Sports
Stance: Goofy, 21 inches wide, with fifteendegrees on the front foot and negative-nineon the rear.
Board: Burton Troop 146 ($400)
Boots: Burton Sable, size six ($250)
Bindings: Burton Lexa ($200)
Jacket: Burton 2L Strateg jacket ($240)
Pants: Burton Metro Pant ($190)
Gloves: Burton Basic Leather ($55)
Goggles: Oakley A Frame ($120)
Jamie Anderson
Age: 13
Height: 4′11″
Weight: 99 pounds
Home: South Lake Tahoe, California
Roots: South Lake Tahoe, California
Sponsors: Salomon, Velvet, 686Enterprises, DaKine, Sierra-at-TahoeStance: Regular, 21 inches wide, withfourteen degrees on the front foot andnegative-thirteen on the back.
Board: Salomon Ivy 144 ($470)
Boots: Salomon F20, size six ($230)
Bindings: Salomon Antidote ($180)
Jacket: 686 Girls Smarty Jacket ($139)
Pants: 686 Girls Smarty Pant ($119)
Gloves: DaKine Comet GT ($60)
Goggles: Velvet Flurry ($100)
Tyler Flanagan
Age: 11
Height: 4′5″
Weight: 72
Home: Mammoth Lakes, CaliforniaRoots: Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Sponsors: Gnu, Volcom, Vans, Celtek,Smith, Sobe, Mammoth Mountain, DemonStance: Goofy, eighteen inches wideoots: Montreal, Quebec
Sponsors: Salomon, Billabong, Anon, Drop
Stance: Goofy, 21.75 inches wide, with fifteendegrees on the front foot and negativesixon the back.
Board: Salomon Ivy E.R.A. 154 ($470)
Boots: Salomon Women’s F22 ($280)
Bindings: Salomon Antidotes ($180)
Goggles: Anon Figment ($80)
Jacket: Billabong Butterfly ($120)
Pants: Billabong Blondie ($120)
Gloves: Drop Se§orita ($50)
Kelly Clark
Age: 20
Height: 5′4″
Weight: 140 pounds
Home: Mount Snow, Vermont
Roots: Mount Snow, Vermont
Sponsors: Burton, Smith, Mount Snow,RVCA
Stance: Regular, 20.5 inches wide, witheighteen degrees on the front foot andthree on the back.
Board: Burton Raven 152 ($500)
Boots: Burton Sable, size seven ($250)
Bindings: Burton Mission ($170)
Goggles: Smith Fuse ($85)
Jacket: Burton AK Essence ($190)
Pants: Burton Exposure ($150)
Tucker Drimal
Age: 12
Height: Short
Weight: 78 pounds
Home: Ludlow, VermontRoots: Long Island, New York
Sponsors: Gnu, Electric, Quiksilver,Grenade Gloves, Capix Helmets, Ipath,Okemo Mountain School, WindellsSnowboard Camp
Stance: Regular, twenty inches wide, withsix degrees of angle on the front andnegative-six on the back.
Board: Gnu Danny Kass Spook Show137 ($339)
Boots: Northwave Freedom, size 6.5 ($159)
Bindings: Drake Mikey LeBlanc ($159)
Jacket: Quiksilver Greenskeeper ($110)
Pants: Quiksilver Band Camp ($120)
Gloves: Grenade Napalm ($34)
Goggles: Electric Eg1 ($79-90)
wide, withthirteen degrees in the front and negativethirteenin the back.
Board: Gnu Danny Kass 122 (prototype)
Boots: Vans Mantra, size 4.5 ($100)
Bindings: Drake F-50 ($129)
Jacket: Volcom Wedgi-Chain ($130)
Pants: Volcom Snow Bro Pant ($90)
Gloves: Celtek Feather Weight ($35)
Goggles: Smith Fuse ($85)
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