Red Bull continues to impress by putting on some of the most creative events that take place on the cold-slippery stuff.

This time it’s with their Red Bull Gap Sessions, which again, is more than your average run-of-the-mill contest. This contest isn’t entirely new though, it first took place in ‘06 and was supposed to happen last year but was canceled due to bad weather. Gap Sessions is an opportunity for riders to have a lot of fun and progress the level of snowboarding and you know by now that we love contests that promote fun as much as competitiveness.

Event host David Benedek’s idea - that if a jump was built that matched the natural path of the rider in the air - then it would be safer and allow for bigger airs which leads to more progressive tricks. The Gap Sessions jump allowed just that as riders were taking it to the next level. Which makes me wonder, how many levels can they step up before they hit the ceiling?

The contest featured winners for three different categories; longest air time(2.81 seconds) won by Chris Sorman of Sweden, best trick won by David himself stomping a double cork 1260, and best overall taken by Chris Sorman. It seemed that Chris was on fire stomping trick after trick including a huge FS 1080.

The judging format was something else that impressed and pleased riders. The competition was split into two heats, where the riders from the other heat judged the riders in the current heat. Heats composed of 9 riders each and the top 2 from each heat advanced.

Participants enjoyed other activities aside from the main contest which included; ice hockey, gambling (always a favorite), indoor surfing, guitar hero, and more. There were new activities being added daily to entertain the competitors providing fun and relaxation for all.

More than a contest this was a party for the sport and especially those riders involved. Needless to say (again), Red Bull knows how to put on an event and throw a party.

Business is all about making money right? Well, that’s certainly a part of it but Flip Seven Snowboards has a slightly different and refreshing view on what defines a successful company. Although every company has to make money to stay in business, making great products should always be the main focus and if you build great products the dough will follow.

Building exceptional products is what F7 is all about. They’re unique from others because they still believe the best products are made in the USA, not in China. Product made in the USare more expensive but, it goes to support our economy and F7 feels they can maintain a certain quality control over how each product is made when they are produced here in the good old US of A. Flip realizes that they may not build products that are best suited for everyone, however, they hope that people will consider the quality of home grown products. As far the boards go, Flip offers eight snowboards that are all constructed with wood cores, sidewalls, and 360 hardened edges.

Companies like Flip are often over looked but they still make boards that are every bit as durable and performance driven as most larger companies. Some of the best product come from smaller local and rider inspired companies. In an industry that is constantly growing there is more and more room for companies willing to get out there and share their passion through building products that stand above the rest.

As we all know, Shaun White is an X-Games superstar (with 12 medals under his belt) and is famous for his pipe and park riding abilities. Because of this, one may wonder what Shaun is doing spending all his time these days in B.C. and Japan ripping powder. Well maybe, not so much, as there’s really nothing that comes close to the sensation of shredding the pow. Would you not agree?

After the X-Games Shaun headed up to B.C. to get some time in hitting gnarly lines and shredding pillows. I guess he was just warming up for the trip he and the Red Bull crew were planning to Japan. Since landing in Tokyo on the 14th of February, Shaun and his crew have been by blessed by storm after storm, one dumping up to four feet in 24 hours. Wow! At times, they were getting so much snow that they were stuck inside the lodge and couldn’t even board.

Professional snowboarders like Shaun have a-hell-of-a job if you ask me, waiting for record snow falls to clear up so you can ride powder deep enough to sink the Titanic. Hiking, building, and hitting drops all are in a hard days work. While part of the crew has split up, Shaun and the rest are off to Tokyo to continue on with their trip, check out full stories and picture at Shaun White’s official website.

Known more as a ‘B’ list movie producer in the ski industry, Theory 3 is quickly on track to make the ‘A’ list. Both the filming and skiing from their new movie “Journal” are very impressive leaving the taste that they may not be second act much longer. Theory 3 has been working hard at really pushing the limits this year and it shows.

Check out the trailer for their new movie Journal, coming out fall of ‘08. This is already on my wish list of movies to buy. The crew is covering all the bases and producing something every ski fan can enjoy. Cliffs, powder, urban, lines, huge tricks and fun hits are the name of this game. This is a fun look into both the progression and lifestyle of the sport. Theory is stepping it up in a big way - I can’t wait to see the finished product.

Oakley knows how to throw down a sick comp as the Arctic Challenge brought out the best in the game. All the competitors were charging in hopes of taking home top honors but it was Kevin Pearce who ultimately was the man who got it done. Boosting huge double grab 720’s was his ticket to success.

Terje Haakonsen, Nicolas Muller, and Shayne Pospisil were a few of the other snowboarders on hand who were pushing the limits and going huge. Terje was absolutely killing the quarter pipe going 8 meters out and stomping backside-3s. That’s no surprise as last year it was Terje who set the world record with an absolutely insane 9.8 meter (32.5 ft) backside-3.

Still on the subject of Terje, it was him and Nicolas Muller who were both floating stylish McTwists that were a crowd favorite. The action was pumping and Oakley was hailed for putting on one of their best comps ever. It was a big night for Oakley and the 5,000 screaming fans that showed up for the show.

It would be wrong for me to write this post and not give a special shout-out to Shayne Pospisil who definitely brought his ‘A’ game. He was the only rider that landed all five of his final runs. He was absolutely on fire and he threw something different on each one of his five final runs, making sure to spin both front and backside. It’s really refreshing when riders mix it by throwing something different on each run.

Overall, the theme of the night seemed to be style, style, style. This made it a great chance for spectators to really get into the action by watching their favorite riders throw-down in a smooth fashion instead of trying the most technically difficult tricks. I personally would much rather see a stylish double grab 720 (the winning trick) than a flailed out 1260. What do you think - do you prefer stylish tricks or technical?

Oakley also has a video recap on their site, check it out.

The concept being used in the Ultimate Boarder competition is a unique one, but will it excite and attract the full attention of the action sports industry as it has set out to do? Judging by the caliber of athletes they’ve already attracted and a prize purse of $50,000, they just might.

Opening its field to both amateur and professional athletes, the Ultimate Boarder, held from April 13-19, gives unknown riders a chance to shine alongside the pros and compete for the first-ever Ultimate Boarder championship and a first place prize of $30,000. At the completion of each event competitors will be ranked 1st through 50th place. The contestant who consistently places the highest in all three sports and has the lowest number of ranking points overall will be crowned the Ultimate Boarder. Athletes must compete in all three sports in order to be included in the final event results and be eligible for the prize purse.

The snowboarding portion of the event will be held at Squaw Valley, the surfing will be done at “C” Street in Ventura, and they will wrap it up with skateboarding and the awards ceremony at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

I’ve seen variations of this format attempted before, but obviously none that have made enough noise to stick around. Take a look at some of the contestants who have already thrown their names in the hat to be the first Ultimate Boarder and you’ll see why this is a contest you’ll want to keep your eyes on. Omar Hassan, Andy Finch, John John Florence, Todd Richards, Tosh Townend, and many more have already confirmed their attendance at the competition. Follow that line-up with judges like Jim Rippey, Shaun Thomson, and Christian Hosoi, and the Ultimate Boarder has sufficient star-power to become a mainstay in the action sports industry.

With athletes more than likely dominating in their specific sport, it’s going to come down to whoever has polished their game enough in the other two categories. We all know what John John can do on a surfboard, but how will he fare on the mountain? Being from Hawaii I can’t imagine he gets too much time on the snow. This is where a contest of this nature will really get interesting.

No word yet on if Shaun White has decided to enter. If the ‘flying-tomato’ does decide that he’s in, the Ultimate Boarder may as well have a check already printed up with his name on it.

The idea for Moment Skis was, as most good ideas are, born over a pitcher of beer between friends. It’s a rider based company that thrives off of the love of skiing. Moment believes a ski should be more easily controlled thus making for a more enjoyable ski to ride. Using all the best materials, engineer’s knowledge, and rider feedback, Moment produces innovative skis that are rock solid. Moment is continually asking for consumer feedback as well so they can improve on current skis or create new models as needed.

Skis range from true twin(symmetrical sidecut) park skis, to all-mountain slayers, to reverse camber monster pow rippers. Take the Reno Rocker for example, a true twin built for both the park and back country. With dimensions coming in at 117-90-117, this is a ski that can be used anywhere your mind can imagine. Other skis include the Tahoe, at 127-96-118 it’s an all-mountain ripper. The monster Comi is a pow killer at 160-136-145. They offer also ski designs that are completely unique to Moment, like the Comi-Kazi which has the same dimensions at the Comi but also has a swallow tail for added emphasis in the powder.

Moment is a company that produces products that encourage creativity in your riding and gives you the option for something unique and different. Moment delivers with fair prices, quality skis, and designs & concepts that are all their own. Being a rider based company, you know you’re getting something that has been made well and has pride in the craftsmanship.

Well the next big comp in skiing has come to a conclusion. The first annual North American Open is over, but not before there was some insane park and pipe skiing laid down in the process.

The finals started on Saturday and things got going quick. Riders threw down right from the beginning in hopes of wining over the judges hearts. Everything from right and left side spins, switch double fronts, double rodeos, switch double rodeos and double corks where stomped in the mayhem. There were a ton of skiers going off all day and it was echoed through the athletes that this was the best open they have ever particpated in.

The all-around vibe was great and all the athletes seemed to share the same enthusiasm for the level of skiing displayed pushed by both the jumps and format. Saturday ended with Jacob Wester(gold), Jon Olsson(silver) and Tanner Rainville(bronze) standing atop the podium.

Jacob’s run consisted of a left 9(unnatural for Jacob), switch right 9 and a double cork 1260. Jon styled his way onto the podium with a fluid run throwing a switch ten to switch misty nine and finished it out with his signature Kangaroo Flip. Tanner was a constant force all day stomping a switch 7 to switch 9 double grab to a cork 9 holding the grab throughout the whole spin.

All-in-all, the slopestyle showed the highest level of park skiing ever seen in a competition. The pipe was no different story either. Simon Dumont was boosting all day and took home the gold. He was followed by Dan Marion and Matt Duhamel. All sorts of spins were thrown through out the day including both right and left side 9’s, switch 7’s and 10’s and of course 1260’s.

Lets not forget the ladies either, they held their own both days with a few of them spinning 720’s, both switch and unnatural. How is that for the girls? Talk about progression.

This comp has really set the bar for opens and both Jon Olsson and Simon Dumont are planning a bigger and better event for next year. Stay tuned for the NAO 2009!

For many of us, the snow is a way of life. We live for the adrenaline, for sticking that one trick, for riding away from that 45 foot drop, or just cruising the mountain with our friends. There is nothing else like it in the world. No other addiction is quite the same as snow. We are willing to put it all on the line for one thing alone, the rush of sliding down a frozen mountain on our board(s) of choice. In the last ten years, skiing and snowboarding have progressed in ways many thought impossible and with that progression comes an increased element of risk. Death and injury have become an accepted part of the game. It’s a side that not many like to talk or think about but it’s real and it’s ever present.

In order to appreciate what we love, we should be well informed of the risks involved. Death and injury and more common than we would like to admit. Each year, an average of 34 skiers and snowboarders die while participating in their sport. Billy Poole, a professional skier died Jan 22 this year after crashing off a massive cliff and tumbling over a series of rocks. Marc Andre-Bellevue was paralyzed after a ski accident when he also collided with rocks after a cliff drop.

As snow sports continue to grow and progress, injury and death are sure to increase. That is just one of the prices we pay for pushing the limits of human possibilities. Life in snow sports would never be the same without the adrenaline, risk, and progression. It’s that feeling we crave and love and the reason we do what we do. Just keep in mind what we are here for in the first place, fun.

Dwelling on the risk is not really an option while hoping to progress but remembering risks and those that have passed is a way to keep ourselves in check. It helps us stay in the mind set of pushing the limits only when the conditions are right and not when risk is multiplied by factors beyond our control.

Next time you are out on the mountain push it all you can but remember the risk is what makes it what it is. The risk is part of the life we chose and can take a toll on any rider at anytime. Risk is what helps us appreciate and respect the sport and those that continually push the limits of what is possible on snow.

It’s official, The North American Open is up and running at Breckenridge, Colorado. Jon Olsson has been shoveling for hours everyday to put the finishing touches on the course to perfect the jumps. Pretty impressive when you have someone like Olsson himself out doing all the shoveling, that shows he’s really passionate about putting on a solid comp.

After the first day of competition the first twenty qualifiers will be chosen with two more last chance finalists being selected tomorrow. Founders Jon Olsson and Simon Dumont are personally picking each finalist in hopes of showcasing the best park skiing in the world during the finals Saturday afternoon. All sorts of crazy tricks have been thrown which is helping riders advance to compete against the likes of Jon, Simon, Jacob Wester and Colby West. Kangaroo flips, spins and tech rail sessions are all being laid down in stylish fashion. Look for video coverage on Jon Olsson’s video Blog.