world lines

SNOWSKATE AND BOCKWURST

Photo by Kurt Zapata

Hi Folks

I want to give a MASSIVE SHOUT OUT to all the people I've spoken to in the snowskate community in the last couple of weeks and all the new views from all over the world.

First off, Kendra Wilson for being so helpful. Btw 4inch Rockers for anyone with a Lib Tech. whooho. Gergis Maximus for joining the Blog and being a Super Cool Dude if anyone has not checked out the link yet then get on with it. Ken Smuck for adding me on Snowskate Ontario. Larry Rollag for having a nice chat and Jimmy Churri for the invitation to the Leise Bretter 03 in Austria. Can't wait. Thanks alot mate.

I also want to thank the companies that were up for answering a few questions: Zak, the boss at PAROLE BOARDS Jim and Melissa from PREDOG who shared the LOVE and being totally Cool, Kurt from MINUS SEVEN for cracking me up, Mike at 0910 Brian from ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER, FUSE SNOWSKATES Craig from PIONEER and last but definitely not least Danny from RALSTON.

Danny at Ralston.(photo by ralston)

1. How long have you been snowskating?
   RALSTON: 2003. bought my first skate from pat bonser. gnu skate.
   MINUS SEVEN:My brother-in-law gave me a snosk8 that he had made in November, 2000.
   PAROLE BOARDS: On and off for about ten years in the last 5 years I've really been all in.
   PREDOG: since 2006ish
   0910: the 0910 team has been snowskating for about 10 years now.
   FUSE: 10+ yr
   ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER: 9 years
   PIONEER: this is my ninth year,
   
   Kurt from Minus 7 (photo by minus 7)
2. Do you still snowboard?
   RALSTON: have not strapped in since 2005.
   MINUS SEVEN: Hell no! that didn't take long
   PAROLE BOARDS: Not at all my snowboard is covered in dust. Haha
   PREDOG: no, not really will ski before I snowboard or telemark
   0910: Honestly...no. dont strap anymore. Once you know about freedom it is hard to go back to chains...
   FUSE: yes, need to beat all the powder hounds at my home mt
   ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER: nope. haven't strapped in since Utah, March of 2007
   

   PIONEER: hell no!
   
    Parole logo (photo by parole boards)
3. How long has your company been on the go?
   RALSTON: started prototyping shortly after buying the gnu in 03. ralston has been official since 2005.
   MINUS SEVEN: I got our business license on 07/07/2007
   PAROLE BOARDS: It's been a brain child of myn for about 5 years. It has only been legally a company for a year. We've been around, just quite on the east coast. Next year expect to see alot of new exciting stuff.
   PREDOG: officially, formed an LLC May of 2011 unofficially, since 2006ish, when I first stepped on a snowskate ever since then have been making my skates drilling, shaping, frankenskating...
   0910: The first snowskate was sold in 2009 but we started working of prototypes since 2007.
   FUSE: since '04
   ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER: we've been around since 2003, printing shirts and hoodies and we started making leashes 4 years ago based on the fact that I couldn't find a leash that I liked, so I started making leashes.
   PIONEER: five years and growing,
   
    Predog (photo by predog)
4. What does the future hold for snowskating?
   RALSTON: not sure? i believe it will keep growing but i think it will peak out before it becomes too mainstream. it is a lot harder than snowboarding so a lot of people will not get involved due to the skill required. i am sure it will get pretty popular but it will never boom like snowboarding did.
   MINUS SEVEN:This gonna take a while... Parity. Snowskating will be as popular as any other winter action sport, with the attendant media hype The trick is self-efficacy. It either happens to us or by us.
   PAROLE BOARDS: I hope the future holds unified resort acceptance. And the chance for new company's to prosper. The level of riding is getting better every year. I would say the future of snowskateing is bright.
   PREDOG: Go big or go home.. It will be huge I think resorts will start allowing and it will exponentially grow in popularity. competitions
   0910: There will be more snowskaters worldwide and more media exposure for sure.The level of riding will keep progressing. More contests, more videos, more insane tricks and above all ...the same fun!!!
   FUSE: freeride skate line!
   ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER: the future is wide open. Once you see what some one with some skill can do on a snowskate it's hard to deny that we are a viable mountain riding option. But we are going through our growth period just like snowboarding did back in the day. I know some people want to see us a big media contest sport like the X games, but I believe the core riders that have helped snowsk8ing grow are going to keep it core, you know ride for the sake of riding. But it all depends on the progression too, over the last few years we have some riders that have been pushing the binding free envelope!
   

   PIONEER: progression of the sport with better skate designs and hopefully a job,
   
    Mike from 0910 (photo by 0910)
5. What is santa bringing you this Christmas?
   RALSTON: hopefully santa stops by early grabs boards for all the good little boys and girls.
   MINUS SEVEN: Snow please
   PAROLE BOARDS: Hopefully lots of snow and more people to snowskate with!
   PREDOG: Hopefully predog completes from belt to snow! for all the good boys and girls I am kind of hoping that predog will be santa this year! I already have the ad designed for Starfish Magazine! Going to be sick
   0910: We are currently working on a new collection. It might take a while to have it dialed but the wait will be worth it for sure. It is going to be something really different from what is in the market now. Hopefully a new team trip and a visit to Tahoe.
   FUSE:( no answer ,they have been bad boys.)
   ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER: If I'm good, I will be getting a new Ralston. But my quiver still needs a Pioneer 49er too and a Boyd Hill.
   PIONEER:happiness! 
   
   
     Fuse (photo by Fuse)
   
   
   
    Brian from Anonymous Snowskater (photo: Gergis Maximus)

pioneer(photo by pioneer)

God I´m Soooo Jealous... Last week the Biggest snowskate event of the year The Ralston Cup saw another year and Holy smoke the guys and girls are kicking ass. One guy inpaticular Mark Spicolli landing what has been coined the tree60  tree60 video and later landing an awesome christ air Christ Air Video( did he read an older post of mine about Nick Visconti???? well I was right, I quiet often am)HaHa. is there no end to this boys talent? Lets Hope Not. Watch out snowboarding your heading the same way as the dinosaurs . Ha. As well as The Ralston Cup there was another comp layed on by Minus Seven snowskates

which I'm sure was equally as awesome. Well done to Kendra (project snowskate) and to Mathilda(Predog) on placing in the top three at both of these events.

 Photo by Predog

As I was saying I have been invited to Leise Bretter 03: Snowskate Rodeo which is in Austria in April and I'm fully excited about meeting some snowskaters more or less for the first time. This is an annual get together of snowskaters which started back in the day and has been revived recently the orginal organisers have fallen by the way side and were all from a long board background the event. For an annual fee of 10.80 € you can join the Leise Bretter club which is also in aid of charity a donation will go to help women in 3^rd world countries with microcredits.....so this is all a worthy cause.

21/03/2012

Steinplatte

Another day at the Stone plate and this time it was slushy fun. After a couple of runs and a big lose my hat tumble on a red run I was a bit down hearted but my mood changed when Beanie and I decided to hit the fun park. My bailing was far from over thou as a nasty snake box thingy that was uneven in the snow was just not letting me pop off the end and spat me off three times(bitch) had to give that one a miss and then turned my attention to this

which proved to be more successful and boosted me up. After that it was sesh on and had three or four really fun runs sliding over boxes and popping off little kickers and Beanie even got in on the action(yeah). All in all another great day out inthe sun was held by all. Only got one grumble thou and hear it is. This excuse my french F#“/$R of a lifty who has already pissed me off a little last time I was here said skiers snowboarders and ( me ) foot passengers (this really pissed me off) shouldnt be coming up the chair together and to Get Off Immediatly! What a Prick! Next time he will be a passenger on the end of my foot. The last time he had a problem it was at the bottom of the same chair lift and he told me that I should be sitting on the right hand side of the chair and thats exactlly where I was sitting this time. Anyone who wants to name and shame idiot lift operators can do so here I would like to start a SHIT LIST. Its time for change right now! im bloody sick of being looked at as second rate. We have as much right to be up the hills as anyone else. Anyway apart from that the whole day turned out to be pretty awsome the sun the slush and as always some great food and for a change Beanie got out of her stabilizers and got out for a bit of strapless fun,Hoorah.

 On the left Germknödel(Glenshee) and on the right Kaiserschmarrn(The Alps)

PASSPORT?

STUFF TO CHECK OUT

1.LIB TECH SNOWSKATES Lib Tech Snowskate

2.RALSTON SNOWSKATES/RALSTON CUP ralstonsnowskates
3. PREDOG http://www.predog.com/
4. MINUS 7 http://minus-7.com/
5. PAROLE http://www.facebook.com/paroleboards
6. ANONYMOUS SNOWSKATER Brian's facebook
7. FUSE http://fusesnow.com/web/index.php
8.0910 SNOWSKATES 0910 Homepage/ Webzine

9. LEISE BRETTER 03 http://www.facebook.com/leisebretter03

10.STEINPLATTE Steinplatte homepage

11.GERGIS MAXIMUS PHOTOGRAPHY Snowskate Party Mountain check out his entire youtube channel! Snowskate Video 
12. KENDRA'S PROJECT SNOWSKATE http://projectsnowskate.com/

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BIG

THE BIG BLOG

Check out the competition at the end of the blog.

01/03/2012

Hello again Folks,

Just back from a half day snowskating with a friend Jasmin (snowboarder) at Spitzingsee which is around an hour or so from Munich. It was a complete contrast from my last time out at Steinplatte as it was baking hot when we got there. After the first couple of runs we were both a bit on the sweaty side.

Jazz and Myself chilling on the sun lounger in the sky.

Sitting on the chair up was like sitting in the garden on a summers day. It was not a day for sitting or falling about in the snow though, as I found out after a wee tumble (Rather wet). Although the snow was wet it made for some wicked snowskating and Jasmin and I blasted about through the slushy moguls and down some of the most enjoyable runs I've done.

(Anyone without a Passport should be sending it off in the post this week) Wow so much fun. Burton have a funpark at Spitzingsee the third biggest in Germany. Sounds amazing right? Well Jasmin and I somehow missed the whole thing maybe it was sun stroke ?or it could have just been the amount of fun we were having ripping about elsewhere. Who cares it was an Ace day. Cheers Jazzer. Spitzingsee is a really good resort and I had no problems with the snowskate and as usual more interested people curious to know more. Cant wait to see more skaters up the hills.

Unfortunatly Beanie is really busy right now writing and was unable to join us but did manage to get out for a little snowskate practise when she picked me up. Spitzingsee is also open at night for boarding/skiing from 18.30 to 21.30. Under floodlights. What more could you want? My new SALOMON(Toundra) boots got there first outing and they were the buisness. Super lightweight like wearing slippers with awesome grip and far better than the NORTHFACE boots I had before which were not at all bad. Like most things connected with snowskating its a bit about personal preference which gear you have, trial and error. Reading online about other peoples ideas and preferences is always good to help make up your mind. These are things you want to think about and things you definitley need:

1.) SNOWSKATE what kind of riding do you want to do?

ALL MOUNTAIN PISTE.then you sould go for a 39inch ski.

POWDER anything bigger

PARK you might want something smaller but 39inch is a good all rounder.

Libtech,Ralston,0910,Pioneer ,all make Double Deckers.

2.) LEASH

this is an ESSENTIAL piece of kit not only for resort riding but also for back country riding you dont want to lose your skate nor do you want to cut someones head off. Its cool in Highlander but not in real life. Working as a lifty I've seen plenty of runaway snowboards with idiots running after them laughing Its NOT funny. But well this was. Beanie learning the hard way in the early days, lucky we were at the golf course. Cutting a golfers head of would be pretty funny though, even in real life 

Predog,Ungi bungi,or you can also use a dog leash which im using at the moment.

3.) TRUCKS

All boards come with their own trucks but as far as I can see there is only a couple of brands worth looking at for an upgrade.

Rocker, and Predog

4.) GRIP

Grip is another thing that boards come with but at some point will wear out but again you might just want to upgrade.

www.the snowskate shop.com

5.) BOOTS/SHOES

If you want to ride the whole mountain or go hiking and have dry feet then use a good mid length boot and if you want to ride the park and pop about then either waterproof your skate shoes or buy some specific snowskate shoes. Beanie did a few years ago from Vans but they were about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike (they did look cool). Whatever boot/shoe you buy something with a flat sole and good grip would be best. Once you have all that sorted either winter gear, hats and gloves or leather jacket and jeans depending on how PUNK ROCK you are.

04.03.12

Well Im a lucky F....R thats for sure. Three days after being out with Jasmin at Spitzingsee Im getting to go out again and back to Austria with Beanie and her Dad Karl. After leaving me in Spitzingsee Jasmin drove to Fieberbrunn and thats where we planned to meet up.

The very first thing I spot from the window of the gondala to my amazment Two snowskaters ripping down the slope, think I almost pissed my pants with excitement of the prospect of going riding with them but unfortunatlly I didnt see them again and wasnt quick enough to film them either.(pity)At the top of the hill we met up with Jasmin and Ursula.

True Original and Jazzer

Ursula is a snowboard instructor at Fieberbrunn and has been instructing for several years and is also a pro not to mention a true Original and lots of fun to be around. Check out her run at this year's Freeride World Tour Stop in Verbier:

 After another gondala ride we all took a nice ride to the new gondala which is really pretty impressive the views are sensational.

This picture doesnt do it justice.

The Motley Crue, Big pin and the Forbidden snowskate slope. HaHaHaHaHa Whatever.

The heated seats however were really not needed as it was another scorching no jacket day for me. After another ride we took a chair lift which I wouldnt have been allowed on if it hadnt been for Ursulas good charm, so I felt privileged to be going up but also a bit pissed off. ( will go into this in full later) Anyway we arrived at the top of the forbidden 6060ft high run and needless to say the views were again amazing as always.

Again picture not doing the view justice.

I took a bit of o shittie bail about a quarter of the way down and shaved my arm with my edge but hey,(no falls no balls). The rest of the run was good and we rode that one again and felt pretty good about it. The rest of the day was quite challenging for everyone as the pistes were mogul fields and we all had a fall or two I think apart from Ursula she spent most of her day waiting for us as you would expect.Ursula also took a shot of the snowskate she said she had tried a smaller skate before and found them a bit tricky but seemed to have no problems with the LIB TECH 

 

NO problems

Some of the runs were great though and its always good to be put through your paces with some trickier runs. After a long afternoon Beanie and Karl set off back to Munich and Jasmin and I hardcored it right till the very end and I managed to get one single run down the easy fun park and nailed the jumps and hit a couple of small rails Awesome,found myself saying YES outloud as I popped off the end of the last rail, felt about 12years old. One more really fun run down with Jazzer ended a very varied day and like most resorts this one maybe more than others has something for every level of rider they have a huge kicker and saw the locals 720ing like it was a piece of cake.

This is a BIG piece of cake from Cafe Schmid in Waidring soo good.

PROJECT SNOWSKATE

Project Snowskate is a blog written by Kendra Wilson its very informative as well as being up to date with whats going on in the States and the rest of the world. Kendra raised an issue last month and until now I didnt want to bring it up but here we go. Since Ive been in the Alps Ive not had much problems getting up the lifts but there has been a couple of liftys at Steinplatte but that was more about making sure i had a leash which is understandable but now comes the infamous Fieberbrunn no snowskaters allowed on this run bullshit and I get a flash back to the 80s and the whole skateboarding is not a crime thing and that really pisses me off big time. SNOWSKATING IS NOT A CRIME.Fieberbrunn actually hire out snowskates which puzzles me further???? check out project snowskate for more on the debate Or leave a comment on here if you have had similar problems.

Cant believe I got permission to put this one up. Brilliant What a dirty wee boy. Anyone else with rude snowmen/women/ladyboy pics are more than welcome to send them here for display. The winner will recieve a FRESH LINES (here comes the summer what a bummer) T-shirt. But by the looks of things Steve might have already won that one(btw Steve you will have to pick that up here yourself if you win ha.) second place will get one too. (ALL FRESH LINES competitions will run from start of DEC to end of APRIL.) All pics must be sent by the end of APRIL. Next years competition prize will be an all expenses Heli skate trip to a destination of your choice or something less expensive.

Beanie Bares Big Bruised Bum

As Beanie said last time she has just bought herself a new FLOW set up which she loves btw.

While at the FLOW warehouse buying her new board and bindings which she bought as a result of her binding breaking at Stienplatte(sign one) Beanie decided rather than walking down the stairs she would go down on her arse and suffered for it.Ouch.(sign two)watch out bad things come in threes ooooh.

BINDINGS ARE DANGEROUS BEWARE.

Sorry but we havent found anyone for naked snowskating yet and Skully is nowhere to be found. Still waiting for a comment and a new member to join.

STUFF TO CHECK OUT

1.LIB TECH SNOWSKATES Lib Tech Snowskate

2.RALSTON SNOWSKATES/RALSTON CUP ralstonsnowskates; Ralston Cup on Youtube

3.CHAIRLIFT SKEPTICS YOUTUBE Awesome CS Video

4.SHUT UP AND SNOWSKATE YOUTUBE Youtube video

5.MARTY SPECTRUM SPORTS Spectrum Sports

6.BLUE TOMATO Blue Tomato

7.STEINPLATTE Steinplatte homepage

8.JOE BENDER Boosie & Joe

9.SMX SHIZOFANATIC Great SMX Video!

10.GERGIS MAXIMUS PHOTOGRAPHY Snowskate Party Mountain check out his entire youtube channel! Snowskate Video

11.RALSTON 2009/10 Snowskate Video

12.CRUSIN A RALSTON Ralston Video

13.SNOWSKATING IS TOO MUCH FUN Awesome Video

14.FLORIDA SNOWSKATES Florida Powderskate Homepage

15.0910 SNOWSKAES/SLOPE MAGAZINE 0910 Homepage/ Webzine

16.THE AWAKENING HD Snowskate Video

17.STARFISH MAGAZINE Starfish Magazine

18. BOCKERL The Böckerl Thanks to Michl and the Dancing Queen for that one!

19.SPITZINGSEE http://www.alpenbahnen-spitzingsee.de/

20.FIEBERBRUNN http://www.bergbahnen-fieberbrunn.at/

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