Hasta La Ideas

Two action sport leaders thank you for being you with a new collaborative snowboard boot and skate shoe

The latest project from two of action sports’ most influential companies, the Holden and Vans collaboration snowboard boot and sk8-hi shoe are sure to pique the interest of any style-conscious boarder. Unlike most collaborations, the two pieces take a subdued design approach with an all-black upper and minimal branding. But their values are there, in both Holden’s allegiance to contemporary style and progressive materialization, along with Vans’ timeless look.

Known for leading the snowboard industry in fashion and fit, Holden has inspired countless trends—from Scotty Wittlake’s pioneering tight-pants-and-hoodie combo to the clean and fitted outerwear stylings of Northwest pretty boy Darrell Mathes. Their new-school approach fits well with the classic surf and skate style of Vans, which remains relatively unchanged and just as relevant since ’66.

The Sk8-Hi is essentially an upgraded version of its usual self. A combination of premium leather and waxed canvas make for a much sturdier shoe than the average Vans. The sleek blacked-out look is subtly accented with stitching just above the standard vulcanized sole in a cream color that matches the leather interior.

Sharing low-profile appeal with the Sk8-Hi, the Holden snowboard boot sports a slim sole for more board feel and a skate-style silhouette. The boot features premium leather and the same 59% recycled nylon found in Holden’s outerwear line. Inside the Quadfit x Thermal liner, you’ll find a gel toe box—branded with iconic Vans checkers—for heavy impacts and additional pressure cuff ankle padding to help prevent foot fatigue. All of this along with a soft, traditional lace-up boot and an old-school look make the boot perfect for lapping the park and all-mountain cruising.

Head to Vans or watch Holden’s video explanation for more information on the collaborative snowboard boot and Sk8-Hi shoe, which are available online now for $230 and $80 respectively.

A few words with the artist behind a new line of handmade snowboards

Bored with the current direction of mainstream snowboarding, artist and professional snowboarder Corey Smith decided to do something about it. The resulting line Spring Break Snowboards brings the sport back to the basics with handmade wooden snowboards meant for making beautiful powder turns and reviving a love for nature.

Not only do these wooden beasts look like a blast to ride, Smith hand shapes and paints each for a one-of-a-kind board worthy of hanging on a wall. The “business model” is unconventional too; rather than buy a board, Smith asks interested parties to donate to Spring Break to replenish materials and otherwise keep the company alive. Five hundred bucks gets you a board of your choice from the “collective” quiver, but existing and future work will sell at to-be-announced Spring Break art shows next fall.

Smith, current Art Director of COMUNE clothing, has always been a strong presence in the evolution of style and individuality in snowboarding (pioneering today’s “tight pants” movement), and may very well spark another trend with his newest venture. We recently caught up with the mastermind behind Spring Break Snowboards to learn more.

What made you grab a hunk of wood and carve a snowboard?

I was in Tahoe for most of the winter filming for the upcoming
COMUNE snowboard video. It didn’t snow for the month of January and I was getting cabin fever, just dreaming about riding fresh powder. I thought, “Why not see if I can make some handmade boards?” Once I had a few boards built and realized they were functional I decided to start a fake snowboard company as an art
project. .

What inspires the look?

I was reading a book about this surfer in the ’70s named Bunker
Spreckels and how he shaped really unique boards. It really
inspired me to think differently about contemporary snowboard design. Many
of the shapes come from conversations with friends and just thinking about
what kind of wild shapes we can come up with. The pill shape seems to work
really well. I was surprised how well the powder holes in the back worked.
They really allowed the tail to sink in the deep snow just like a swallow
tail board.

Is the process closer to shaping a surfboard or snowboard?

Well, I’ve never shaped a surfboard. I grew up in Portland, OR
skateboarding and snowboarding so surf culture is pretty foreign to me.
I am really interested in learning more about surf history and board
development though, since snowboarding and skateboarding were born from that.

What materials and techniques do you use in the production process?

I really just use wood, fiberglass, polyurethane and the
t-bolts for the bindings. I’m embarrassed to even let people know the
redneck technique I use to bend the shape into the boards haha! It’s
really just been trial and error learning how to make a functional
snowboard by hand.

Where are you based?

I live in Los Angeles in the summer and Lake Tahoe in the winter. I’d really like to build more boards this summer so I have a bunch for all my friends next winter when I hope to return to Tahoe.

Why are Spring Break Snowboards worth checking out?

It makes deep fresh powder accessible to anyone. Since the boards float so well in powder you can ride mellow, relatively avalanche safe terrain. If you ride a traditional
board in deep snow you can only move on steeper terrain. With these boards
you can just hike stuff off the side of the road, you don’t need a
helicopter, snowmobile or even a lift ticket.

Thanks to Comune and Kevin Castanheira for helping make my vision a
reality and documenting it.

Photos by Kealan Shilling

Clean, smart graphics from freewheeling designer Aaron Draplin

Portland, OR-based designer Aaron Draplin is the upshot of a stubborn dedication to chasing dreams. A role model for anyone with uncompromising passion who refuses to let social norms interfere with their goals, Draplin started his current career path from very humble beginnings—with a single graphic for the company Solid Snowboards. For the 19-year-old Midwestern refugee, landing the gig was a shock to his system. “Let me tell you, I lived off that $300 for months,” he told CH. “It was the first building block in this new world that suddenly became clear in front of me. You can actually do this. For loot. For fun. For cool people.”

The logistics of turning a distinctive vision into a paying career eluded Draplin for awhile, including one memorable summer in which he worked at a carnival. But a few years later, he packed up his gear and moved back to the middle of the country, obtaining a degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Soon after graduating, he was hired as the Art Director of Snowboarding Magazine in what he refers to as “Shithole, Southern California.” Soon after, he moved to the much more accommodating climate of Portland, OR, and in 2004 began Draplin Design Company as an umbrella for his freelance projects.

Since then, he’s cobbled together an impressive array of clients, including Burton, Ride, Forum Snowboards, Coal Headwear and Absinthe Films. With friend 
Jim Coudal, Draplin launched the now-ubiquitous Field Notes notebooks, modeled after the simple memo books he uses on the road. The productive designer also gives talks on contemporary graphic design and produces innumerable one-offs for events like this past weekend’s “Push: Skatedeck Art Show” in Bend, OR.

Draplin’s designs are characterized by a clean, bright, street-smart aesthetic that looks equally at home on a skateboard deck or letterhead. Besides a fearsome work ethic—”It only feels like work if I’m under the gun,” Draplin says—he attributes his success to a simple philosophy: Do good work, for good people.

“I like to think of my target demographic as ‘adventurous motherfuckers who love what they make, and are willing to roll the dice on the DDC’,” he says. “That’s been the goal all along: Work for the people you love. Nothing sucks more than hating the chump on the other end of the project. And I’m proud to say, there’s only been a few of you over the years. You know who you are, fuckers.”

Check out Draplin’s work and online shop on his website.

See Burton’s latest terrain park in the POV video pro rider Stephan Maurer shot for us

The Burton Stash at Jackson Hole takes terrain parks to a whole new level. We toured their Stash in Killington a few years back and were super excited to hit the snow in their latest project. The natural surroundings blend beautifully with Stash’s features—and there are a lot of them. With four different runs and over 54 features in all, it’s a serious ride that’s perfect for the skilled boarder

At over 13 acres Stash has something to offer everyone. The trails—Antelope Flats, Deer Flats, Ashley Ridge and Campground—are all packed with log slides, jumps, pillows, and even a vertical wall ride suspended in mid air. From the Dancefloor to the Rollercoaster all the runs’ features mesh seamlessly into the hillside and offer a truly challenging, fun riding experience.

We spent some time exploring Stash’s runs with some of Burton’s riders and got to see the ins and outs with pro guidance. Stephan Maurer was kind enough to don a helmet cam and show us how to tear it up on some of the hottest features, check out the video below.

photography by Adam Moran

A selection of snowboarding gear that’s old, new and from the future

Whistler Blackcomb, an ideal destination for trying out new snowboarding gear, has 8,000 acres of snow-filled slopes that include six terrain parks and long, gladed runs. Following the first story on my favorite resorts and spas, this review surveys the gear that kept me moving downhill all day. Stay tuned for one more this week on apparel.

Salomon XLT 2012 board

I tested four different 2012 boards this year, but the Salomon XLT ($650)—super light and full of pop, but still solid at high speeds—really rocked my world. It’s a traditional camber board, which I now know is just right for me. I’ve tried rockers and rocker-camber hybrids and I see why people love them, but for all-mountain riding with minimal tomfoolery, I guess I lean toward the older school. The XLT gets its lightness and strength from Salomon’s Ghost Construction which combines honeycomb core components with carbon stringers—new tech for 2012.

Nike Kaiju 2011 boots

Admittedly, I was hesitant to give Nike’s snowboarding boots a try, but there’s something to be said for the fact that they’ve been a footwear innovator for decades. This year’s Zoom Kaiju boots ($350) have an air midsole, internal Flywire ankle harness and simple-but-smart lacing stays to optimize fit. The boots are moderately stiff making them versatile enough to play in the park and race down the steeps. Buyer note: the lining compresses almost a full size so buy them tight and by the fourth ride they’ll be perfect.

DFP Podium Custom Footbeds

As everyone’s foot is different, it’s a bit challenging for a bootmaker to create a footbed that will fully support you. I decided to give Dynamic Foot Positioning‘s custom-molded Podium insoles ($150) a try. The customization process happens in under 20 minutes at select dealers and basically entails heat-molding a blank to your foot. After trimming excess material away, you’re good to go. Walking out of the shop, I immediately felt an increase in comfort and support in my boots that resulted in happier feet on the mountain.

Salomon Cypher 2012 Bindings

The last thing you want to do with a light, fast board like the XLT is weigh it down with heavy bindings. That’s why the carbon-based Cypher ($200) compliments a fast board perfectly because it’s not only lightweight, but also strong.

Oakley A Frame Goggles

My mainstay for years, the Oakley A Frame goggles ($130) are distortion-free, glare cutting and super comfortable. Best of all, they never fog up.

Bern Carbon Baker Helmet

Light, comfortable and lined with EPS hard foam to meet safety certifications, Bern‘s carbon fiber Baker helmet ($230) looks good while protecting and insulating. The snap-out knit liner can be replaced with a lighter headband for summer biking as well.

Seeblade Goggle Wiper

A simple but necessary item for the often wet snow that falls at Whistler, this mini wiper blade ($5) straps on to your thumb for easy goggle squeege-ing. I bought one in one of the shops on the mountain only to discover that Seeblade is a Whistler company—necessity does breed innovation!

Ski Tracks GPS Tracking App

Launch Ski Tracks, hit start and this app will take regular GPS readings, even when running in the background. That data is interpreted on the fly to show you number of runs, number of lifts, total distance, top speed and more. Your day can even be visualized on a map and exported to Google Earth. Impressively, while it runs in the background all day, it doesn’t consume much battery life at all. At only $1 in the iTunes App Store, this one’s a steal.