There is no denying it now, winter is on the way. For those cold days ahead – whether hiking or just on the go – the L.L. Bean Rugged Ridge Parka will make it a little easier to brave the elements. It features waterproof TEK2 fabric to keep you dry, while the high-lofting PrimaLoft insulation will let you stay warm. This jacket offers a fully insulated hood, fleece neck warmer, articulated elbows, D-ring for lift tickets, plus drawcord at the waistband and Velcro-closure cuffs. It will keep you warm on the slopes or just on the driveway so you can dig out and get to the slopes.
Category: Snow Sports
Weekend Reading List (11.17.2012): Don’t Sit, Resistance is Not Futile, Row the Boat, South Pole Cold Play
Don’t Sit
From Runner’s World: Too Much Sitting Linked to Heart Fat
Too much sitting can lead to fat accumulation around the heart, even in regular exercisers, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (11.17.2012): Don’t Sit, Resistance is Not Futile, Row the Boat, South Pole Cold Play
Every Third Thursday Hears the Call
httpv://youtu.be/tH6xYYoZ-JU
Life is more than just snowboarding, even for the guys at Signal Snowboards. There are video games to play and ‘tis the season of the biggest releases, with Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 arriving in full force. So for this month’s Every Third Thursday the gang set to create a Black Ops 2 Bulletproof Snowboard.
Study Snow Sports Need Brain Bucket
It is all too easy to think of soft fluffy snow, something that isn’t so bad to land on while skiing or snowboarding. But a new Johns Hopkins-led study, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the American College of Surgeons’ C. James Carrico Fellowship for the Study of Trauma and Critical Care, has founded that the use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders decreases the risk and severity of head injuries. It can also save lives.
More importantly, the findings also debunk long-held beliefs by some that the use of helmets could in fact give wearers a so-called false sense of security, or even promote dangerous behavior that might increase injuries.
“There really is a great case to be made for wearing helmets,” says Adil H. Haider, M.D., M.P.H., an associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the leader of the study published in the November issue of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. “By increasing awareness and giving people scientific proof, we hope behavior changes will follow.” Continue reading Study Snow Sports Need Brain Bucket
Find the Spot
Need to find the best place to skate or snowboard? The Spot Digger app will help you out. This location based social mobile app and Internet service lets users search, find, share and rate the best places to skateboard or snowboard. Favorites can be added to the map, and users can even create content for the site and app by adding their own spots.
The concept for this app came about when the founders became frustrated when trying to find places to hit the decks in distant lands. The solution was to create a social network that could be accessed through an app. Video after the jump
Snow (Wrist) Guard
Wrist guards have long been recommended for use with roller blades, but these can be useful in any sport where you can fall at high speeds. The catch is making sure that the wrist guards don’t interfere with the natural motion or restrict mobility. Hence, wrist guards aren’t really useful in cycling there these could impact ability to steer and maintain balance.
Likewise in skiing the wrist guards could be a problem as it could make using the poles difficult, but in snowboarding where arm movement is really just needed for balance protection can be utilized. And as snowboarders often hit the slopes at high speeds, which can mean high speed crashes and wrist injury. Continue reading Snow (Wrist) Guard
Snow Coming to L.A.
The City of Angels doesn’t often get snow, but that doesn’t mean that residents can’t take in their fill of snow sport related sporting goods. Ski Dazzle, which will run from November 15-18, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will feature more than 200 exhibit booths showcasing ski and snowboard related products. Given that last year’s ski resort season was a bit of a bust, resorts and the industry as a whole are hoping for a White Christmas and a blow out season. We’ll be sure to report on the latest happenings from Los Angeles’ big snow sport related event.
This is just one of several upcoming “snow shows” – here are some others not to miss:
- Boston Globe Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Boston, MA, November 8 – 11
- Sacramento Ski and Snowboard EXPO, Sacramento, CA, November 10 – 11
- Los Angeles Ski Dazzle, Los Angeles, CA, November 15-18
- Silicon Valley Ski & Snowboard Festival, Santa Clara, CA, November 17 – 18
Pump Up Jacket
Utah-based Klymit is full of air, not necessarily hot air but air none the less. The company introduced an inflatable sleeping pad for campers a couple of years ago, and now the company is looking to bring out an inflatable windbreaker. This jacket has a valve in the hand pocket, which can be used to pump up the jacket’s air chambers, which makes it go tight against the body to add insulation. Video after the jump
Let it Snolo
Those college kits who take to the snow covered trails on cafeteria trays won’t know what hit ‘em, nor will even the grade schoolers with their classic sleds. The Snolo Sleds Stealth-X is the Ferrari of sleds, made with a carbon fiber mono shell sitting area, single front ski with foot pegs and connecting arm. The Stealth-X is reportedly capable of reaching speeds of 40 mph on average gradients.
Of course to get this kind of speed – and the thrill that goes with it – you’ll have to lay out $3,000 (not counting emergency room visit of course). But with this you’ll be the first to the hot coco at the bottom of the hill. The website doesn’t proclaim “extreme sledding” for nothing!
Nike Snowboarding Boot Ready to Fly
We’ve been hearing a bit about Nike’s new offerings for winter, and these include the Nike Zoom DK QS Double Tongue Snowboarding Boot. That’s quite a name, but it is also quite a boot. It was developed with collaboration with snowboarder Danny Kass so it can stand up to the worst that winter can throw at it.
It features classic American military aviation artwork so it is also looks ready to take a bite out of the slopes! Video after the jump
Sanpei Optics Produces Its Audio Adaptable Glasses
At the SIA Snowsports Show in January we got to see an early model of the Sanpei Optics audio-adaptable glasses. It’s a combo pair of sunglasses and earbud headphones that work together to discretely fit into the ears. Sanpei Optics is currently running a crowdfunding program on Indiegogo.com, and will begin shipping its product soon. Continue reading Sanpei Optics Produces Its Audio Adaptable Glasses
Jacket to Take You High
When heading to the slopes you need to go up before you go down, and the Aether Altitude jacket will be ready to go as high as you like. It features three-layers with Schoeller C_change fabric that dynamically adjusts water vapor permeability as the temperature changes. This means it will keep you warm even as things cool down, and should you heat up the jacket can respond according.
It offers an ergonomic fit with waterproof zippers, adjustable hood that can fit over a helmet and even pit zip vents and interior pockets for with a gasket for the headphone cord. What more could you need on the slopes except perfect powder?
Oakley Gets Some Air(wave)
Recon Instruments has had various data transmitted directly to the lens of its ski goggles for a while now, but beginning soon Oakley is looking to get in the game with its Airwave goggles. These will feature a heads-up display that was developed by Recon Instruments – so we know what to expect – and users can expect integrated GPS< Bluetooth and a variety of onboard sensors.
Snowboarders and skiers will be able to view jump analytics, pinpoint their location on a map, and even see information such as distance traveled, altitude, speed and vertical descent. The Airwaves can be paired with a smartphone to take incoming calls and see text messages, and stream music from Bluetooth-enabled devices. Video after the jump