August 28, 2007
NW REP BACK FROM CHILE!!!!!!
Hey Y'all - I'm back from South America!
Here's an update from the last posting....
Had some storms roll through in Farellones and shredded La Parva and El Colorado Pow Pow in the sun! Great times with my new friends exploring and finding secret windlips, chutes and drops!
Finally ran into Jeremy, Tarek, Connie, and Lucas from Funner Films the last night in town. Enjoyed some Piscolas and a preview of the new movie - "Sentimental Values" insane!
Then it was on to the Bar where a Chilean AC/DC cover band Rocked us All Night Long!!!! The next day was a Chilean Holiday and there was a massive influx of people which made it difficult to get down the hill. An hour drive turned into 4 late into the night on our way back down to Santiago.
In Santiago we hopped a bus to Las Andes, a small town near Portillo. We lined up a taxi to take us and when it showed up - sure enough a small sedan. The 4 of us (2 Kiwis and 2 Americans) piled gear into this small car and headed up the road. We hit a road-block and sat for a couple hours - typical Chilean travel!
It was all worth it when we made it up there - PORTILLO Rocks! Amazing mountains with super steep runs. The best was the surface lifts with 4-5 pomas attached. Crazy lift - but it got ya right up in the chutes with tons of access to gnarly lines. One run even takes you over the main highway between Argentina and Chile with tons of trucks stopped for Customs.
Amazing place that Portillo - right in the heart of the Andes. It is hard to get to and most stay in the massive yellow expensive hotel on the hill. The views were worth the trip alone and the shredding was the topping on the cake!
From Las Andes the next day my Kiwi friends and I took a bus over the Andes past Portillo and on to Mendoza, Argentina. Cool town that is producing some amazing wine and has tons of outdoor adventure. Argentina has an amazing vibe and I was relieved to be able to speak some english again with the locals. We caught the 1am bus overnight to LAS LENAS with front row seats to an eerie highway through Argentina.
Las Lenas is a true resort with tons of lines. Kinda like the Whistler of South America - expensive, but worth it. Had alot of fun exploring and wishing for the pow the week before to truly use the terrain. Amazing views from the top!
Hopped back on the bus to Mendoza after a couple days shredding. Connected to the bus to Santiago and found my friends from Farellones to hang with a couple hours before the flight out.
Rocked the 159 Banana and 172 Skunkape for the whole trip. The Ape held me up in the deep snow and the banana was awesome in the steep and technical terrain!
It was tough to leave for sure, but I had a great trip with a taste of winter to bring home to the Seattle Summer!
Check the link for some photos added to Flickr!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11278836@N05/
Kyle
---NWRep---
Posted by Webmonkey at 02:38 PM on August 28, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (1)
August 26, 2007
Catch The Vapors, World Premier-Belllingham WA
Lib Technologies and Standard Films present:
Catch The Vapors, World Premier
August, 31, 2007
Mount Baker Theatre
104 N Commercial St. Bellingham, WA 98225
Doors Open: 7pm
+Opening Video! Funner Film's -Sentimental Values
Advance Tickets: 5$ Or at door: 6$
After Party @ Nightlight Lounge Special Guests: Ladies of the Night, and The All Nighters
BUY TICKETS NOW so you don't have to wait in line!
The Standard Films crew lapped the globe this past winter to the most amazing locations sniffing out the best snow, and filming the most mind-blowing shredding for their upcoming release, Catch The Vapors. To say the boys at Standard have a pretty good track record would be a hefty understatement. They’ve been producing banger videos year after year, so expect nothing less than a top shelf shred flick from them on this go around.
Locations:
Terrace B.C., Lake Tahoe CA, Whistler B.C., Haines AK, Red Mountain Pass CO, Rikgransen Norway, St. Anton Austria, Squaw Valley CA, Whistler Blackcomb Alpine Meadows CA, Aspen CO, Sugar Bowl CA, Northstar-at-Tahoe CA, Keystone CO, Boreal CA, and Hemsedal Norway.
Starring
MARK LANDVIK, JOHN JACKSON, MADS JONSSON, JEREMY JONES, KAZUHIRO KOKUBO, ERIC JACKSON, CHAS GULDEMOND, MITCH REED, JUUSO LAIVISTO, DANNY KASS, MATHIEU CREPEL, SCOTTY ARNOLD, JONAS EMERY, CHRIS DEMOLSKI, LONNIE KAUK, MASON AGUIRRE, AND MATT HAMMER
VIEW TEASER:
DOWNLOAD 8 X 10 PRINTABLE POSTER
Posted by Webmonkey at 12:59 PM on August 26, 2007 in Rippers | Permalink | Comments (4)
August 23, 2007
Totally Tokyo
By Matt French
Last month, I had the privilege of spending 6 days in Tokyo with the Volcom art crew. It was Daven, Hovin, & Eddie from the Volcom art Department, and Haculla, Jamie Lynn, and me....as the featured artist contingency. We were there to put on an art show, to promote the Volcomic book, on the last stop of the Volcomics tour: the Claska Gallery.
Welcome to the flower zone.
I've never had so bad of jetlag, or had as much fun in recent history. Along with the crazy days and wild nights, we were able to eat good, and shop in what is considered to be the number one shopping district in the world, the Sha"boo-yah" district of Tokyo. You may have seen a dinosaur wandering across a building there in the movie "Lost in Translation".
Entre Vu Tokyo
The whole time we were there, David, Monk, & Iceman were excellent hosts....paying for meals, insane taxis, and making sure we didn't get lost in the second largest city in the world.
Viva la Volcomics!
Lay-tor,
-Matt
A romantic dinner for ten.
Cameron Diaz is huge in Japan.
Robot Toilet
Pepto Cannondale
Matt wearing one of this season's hottest chokers.
Matt French, 6 am, Ebisu station, Tokyo.
Jamiezilla
Gonna make you drink sweat.
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:28 AM on August 23, 2007 in Artists | Permalink | Comments (2)
August 13, 2007
NW REP IN CHILE!!!!!!
Hello from Chile!!!
Wanted to send some photos and a bit of what I've been
up to.
I left Seattle and arrived in Santiago, Chile the next
morning middle of last week. What a long flight -
especially if you are tall and your knees jam into the
seat in front! We landed and after watching the
luggage go around and around, I gave up. 2 board bags
are MIA of course - stuck in LA. Oh well - time to go
check out the Santiago and see what the haps for a
day.
Santiago is a massive city with lots of cool things to
check out. I took a cable car up a hill to check out
the view. Amazing sunset on the Andes for sure!!
Unfortunately I missed the shot for the camera but ya
can see the mtns in the fotos. I Did get a shot of a
guy that modified his bike. You gotta check his
photo!
Santiago just had some snow for the first time in 20
or 25 years and it was muy frio! The Chileans were
making Snowmen and driving around with them on their
trunks and hoods of the cars! Crazy.
The next morning my Chilean friend Matias picked me up
and we were off to pick up my bags and head up to the
mountains. Sunny day so I was anxious to get-er. The
road to the resorts is super windy and there was at
least 70 turns - back and forth.
Pulling into Valle Nevado we could see insane lines
and the powder was looking like 2 feet of dryness!
Unbelieveable day shredding all the pow up!! Most of
the lifts are POMA and T-BAR with a couple chairlifts.
Found alot of good lines - windlips, pow slashes, and
cat-track launchers. Super fun day for sure.
I checked into my Farellones Refugio (Hostel House)
with multiple nations represented - Sweden, Ireland,
Australia, New Zealand, and of course the tall Yankee!
Super fun house and there is always something going
on. Met some cool people already in just a couple
days in this hopping ski-bum town. It's funny - I am
always asked where I am from and I say Seattle. I
either get "Oh - I Love Grunge" or "Jamie Lynn." Its
funny for sure. So many stories to go into here -
lots of characters and crazy times.
There are 3 connected resorts here - Valle Nevado, El
Colorado, and La Parva. There is a ton of snow and
Chile is having an all-time year. It's been bluebird
and now a new storm is just rolling in with good size
flakes falling.
Holding tight in Farellones for this next round of
snow and then I'll travel on to some other shred
spots! I'll keep ya posted from down here in winter
wonderland!
Kyle
---NWRep---
Links:
More Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11278836@N05/
www.ValleNevado.com
www.ElColorado.cl
www.LaParva.cl
www.Snow-Forecast.com
Posted by Webmonkey at 10:19 PM on August 13, 2007 in Kraftsmen | Permalink | Comments (5)
August 10, 2007
Lib Tech Cygnus X-1, 2008 Premium Board Test Winner
AS SEEN IN FUTURE SNOWBOARDING, 3.1
Posted by Webmonkey at 03:19 PM on August 10, 2007 in Tech | Permalink | Comments (3)
August 07, 2007
MAGNE-TRACTION TESTIMONIALS
Get off your fat short ski and get on a snowboard!
Magne-Traction the first snowboard based snowboard geometry!
Post your Magne-Traction experience by commenting below:
Magnetraction turns better, It's science, its pretty much amazing.
-Curtis Cizek., Lib Tech Ripper
I just got to demo the 160 from “The DarkSide” shop at Killington, VT last weekend . . .THIS NEW EDGE DESIGN IS ‘UN-F@%# ‘N BELIEVABLE!
The Magne-Traction would “wedge” right up the iciest of wall hits! You weren’t kidding when you said it turned ice into powder! It is the best F@%#’N board I’ve ever ridden! Now there really is no other choice for riding on the Ice-Coast (when word of this board gets out, Mervin should be completely dominating the marketplace). I would have bought the thing right then and there (if it was more in my size range). Are you allowed to say what other sizes are planned for next year? . . .This technology really has me all amped up!
-Doug V., Satisfied Customer
Holds an edge like a rock climber 100 foot up and no ropes, the biggest innovation in board design in at least 10 years.
-Dennis Nazari, Shop Owner of Salty Peaks, Utah
I can't believe how genius you are at LIB. I tried out the Magne-Traction yesterday and couldn't believe how insane the edgehold was. I have never ridden a board that had that kind of railing power. I felt like a hardbooter on a freestyle board! The only problem I can foresee is that I won't ever want to ride a normal edged board again, I'm ruined! OK, maybe i've gone a bit mental on this...but tell everyone at the factory that they have revolutionized snowboarding!
-Chris Ankeny, Team Rider Big Mountain Ripper
Fuc%in’ amazing. I’ve never been able to turn like I can now on the Magne-Traction. It seems to be engineered for people with freestyle stances, like mine (21 degrees front, -18 degrees back)....and It doesn’t hang up on rails...bonus!
-Brian Craighill, Quiksilver Snow Team Manager
I rode the new 156 magne traction and this board made my friends look like f@%$N pussies.
-Random Email
I rode Mt. Baker this past Saturday on my new Dark series Magnatraction 158. Holy crap. This changes everything. For starters it felt completely natural, broken in and predictable. Kind of like a board I've been riding for my whole life or something. It just ruled in 2 feet of fresh and sketchy lines. Two days later I rode Mt. hood Meadows on true "dust on Crust". Your tag line "turns ice into powder" is no joke. I had the best day haulin' ass around the mountain, hitting wall hits, slashing little pow stashes and charging through the crud. Call me a believer man.
-Maxx von Marbod
I just wanted to say that I finally rode the board you sent me and it was AMAZING!!!! I am a true Magne Traction believer now! I love it. Thank you Jeannine, Pete, Mike, and everyone else there for creating such fun! Thank you!
-Kale Gray, Future Snowboard Magazine
Hey, first off you guys are fucking geniuses....I bought a darkseries 161 wide with magne traction . It is hands down the best board I've ever riden. And youre not kidding when you say that it turns ice into powder. Please make more boards with this gift from god on it because if you do the snowboard marker is yours. The edgehold is crazy and you don't catch your edge as much, if not at all.This is a great all around board. I just rode it in 3 feet of fresh and 2 hours later on some hella icy runs.. Just wanted to say that you guys rock and keep up the good work.
-Croz Morrow, Wasilla, AK
After a rough start to my morning on my last year's over ridden Emma Peel, I called Ron at Unbound and told him I needed some new Lib love. He told me to come in and check out the TRice. Ten minutes later I looked at it and said, "Really?" Ron laughed and told me to try it. Straight back up the hill I go. I could not stop laughing! This thing did no wrong!!!! Having lived in Mammoth for over ten years and ridden over 100 days each year, I had never experienced a tool like this. I called everyone I knew. (They all told me to F-off because they weren't riding). Great job Mervin!!!!!!!
-Kelcey Gordon, Mammoth, CA
Ok, I am a believer. Magna Traction is the real deal. I returned a brand new burton and picked up a new TRS 159 Magna Traction for a trip to Crystal Mountain and a week up in Whistler. Kengi at Snow Board Connection in Seattle sold me on the phone and I’m glad I listened to what he had to say. I live in the east and needed one board to do it all, powder, back country and the icy slopes on the east coast. This board rips through it all, period. I put my old Never Summer in the closet and that’s where it’s going to stay. I am sold. If you’re thinking about a new board you have to put magna traction on the top of the list. By the way, Lib Tech’s TRS was highlighted on the Olympics. Koski from Finland. If you guys didn’t see it you missed a great show. Thanks for the new ride and keep eating the crinkle fries during those late night munchies.
-David Petroskey
I got the magne last year when it was a limited run, i got 9 of 500 or whatever... doesn't matter though... this is the best fucking board i have ever ridden. I've been on libs since i can''t even remember, but my first one was the old one with the kat on the back saktin on a pool, followed closely by the purple lynn mask deck, whatever though... MERVIN KICKS ASS FOR BRINGING ME THIS TECHNOLOGY, especially seeing that i now live in the icey craphole that is south/west Michigan, may as well go to the local ice rink and have someone push me... but with this board.... it would still feel like powder. Hit whistler with it about a week ago, and through the deeps it was still money.... mervin... all i can say is thanks.
-Matt Strang(e)
My first sessions on the Magne-Traction 164 were at Snow Summit (Big Bear), hardly a steep and deep freeriding resort, but the "blues and blacks" were enough to get some speed/hard turns going and the stick is the closest thing to riding a "Fishtail surfboard" on the snow that I've ever experienced...I agree with Chris Ankeny that the full rail turn stability is similar to what I imagine a hardboot rider would experience...The stability of the Magne-Traction, particularly with straight line speed is unreal, no chatter, no bounce, no vibration despite the board having so "much camber and life" built in...You can "feel the life of the board regarding the camber" as soon as you strap in and "it rewards you" by turning hard, going as fast as shit...The edges do not have that typical bouncing sensation when you have it up on rail at some "serious degrees", that feeling of cutting a steak knife through butter is no exaggeration...Taking the Quiksilver Boarding Team Captain Brian Craighill's advice, I ducked out the rear binding which further facilitated that "surfy feel" which reminds me so much of riding my fishtail big-guy tri's only on the snow...I also use Palmer Risers (due to my size 13 boots) and they further added to the boards "second to none" precise edge to edge turning ability...I can foresee my snowboarding ability and skills "going through the roof" with my Magne-Traction 164...Kudos to the "brains and vision" behind this new design that simply "blows doors" on any other stick on the planet...
-Rodger Cox
What can I not say about MagneTraction, Words can not describe it.
-Joey McGuire
MAGNE-SNIZZLES ARE THE DIZZLE MY NIZZLE!!
-bobStanislaus
I would just like to say that i recently got the chance to use the travis rice 153 mag trac and it was the greatest thing ever. i can not wait to purchase one for my self the board was just insane could move it around with such ease and never hung up on any rail or box i hit but still carved threw the trail like butter. and deff cant wait for next years brainstorm contest.
-new loyal rider, adam
magneTraction saved my life...
Not quite, but your magneTraction technology could very well make me a criminal. I borrowed Thrilla's NFR 160 magne and loved it so much I have not been able to take it back to him. I am thinking that I am gonna tell him it was stolen from outside the lodge, and just dodge him from now on. I am pretty sure that he is illiterate, so feel free to post this on your website...
-pg
My Magne-Traction Story
My name is Victor Behar, I am from Edgewater, NJ and my home mountain is Mountain Creek,Hunter,& Plattekill. This is a true story that happened in the beginning of the season. Enjoy.
First things first if your not riding magne traction, you have not snowboarded to your fullest potential!!! I have the T.Rice 153 and i WILL not ride anything else ever, if it doesn't have magne traction i am not riding it nor putting $550 towards it. I was up at Killington, VT in the beginning of January the conditions were all right but not there best, and in julio and anarchy (double black glades) it was extremely icy and the cover was thin. My friend had a Burton Custom X which is a respectable board, of course i had my T.Rice i was ripping that trail up like there was 3 feet of fresh powder on the trail, my friend on the other hand was having trouble getting 5 feet down the trail, i had to actually unstrap and hike back up the trail to get him because his custom x wasn't meeting the needs of his level of riding. Let this be a lesson to all that if you do not ride magne traction you haven't really been snowboarding. also its wonders in the pipe !!!
Sincerely,
-Victor Behar
My review of the Magne-Traction 164...
My first sessions on the Magne-Traction 164 were at Snow Summit (Big Bear), hardly a steep and deep freeriding resort, but the "blues and blacks" were enough to get some speed/hard turns going and the stick is the closest thing to riding a "Fishtail surfboard" on the snow that I've ever experienced...I agree with Chris Ankeny that the full rail turn stability is similar to what I imagine a hardboot rider would experience...The stability of the Magne-Traction, particularly with straight line speed is unreal, no chatter, no bounce, no vibration despite the board having so "much camber and life" built in...You can "feel the life of the board regarding the camber" as soon as you strap in and "it rewards you" by turning hard, going as fast as shit...The edges do not have that typical bouncing sensation when you have it up on rail at some "serious degrees", that feeling of cutting a steak knife through butter is no exaggeration...Taking the Quiksilver Boarding Team Captain Brian Craighill's advice, I ducked out the rear binding which further facilitated that "surfy feel" which reminds me so much of riding my fishtail big-guy tri's only on the snow...I also use Palmer Risers (due to my size 13 boots) and they further added to the boards "second to none" precise edge to edge turning ability...I can foresee my snowboarding ability and skills "going through the roof" with my Magne-Traction 164...Kudos to the "brains and vision" behind this new design that simply "blows doors" on any other stick on the planet...
-Roger Cox,Magnatraction is legit
Yes Maam. Windblown & really choppy. MagneTraction is legit. Flood
was bitching all day. I had a grin that left my cheeks hurting. That
board is really good. It rules looking down and not seeing my size 11's lurking too far over the edge. Plus it doesn't ride like a wide board. With the blunt nose & tail, and sickest graphics I've seen in a long time, this board is the total package I can't wait to get back up in the next few days. Thanks again Grrrrl! I'll stay in touch.
-Kev
New Magne-Traction Fan
you guys at lib are amazing, i just bought a 160cm magne-traction, i am very impressed!!! this thing frickin rocks!!! it is prefect for guys like me, half freestyle, half freeride. this things carves like a ferrari! and has amazing edgehold, i can hang at the top of a 20 foot high, icy half pipe. it truly turns ice into powder, i can smoke all of my freinds, on ice or powder. this thing is also so easy to land of any kind of jump, keep up the good work!!!!
-Ben Durack N.H.
Posted by Webmonkey at 03:07 PM on August 7, 2007 in Tech | Permalink | Comments (13)
