One of the niftier things about everyone moving into the high-speed internet era is how easy it is to communicate worldwide at the click of a button. Whether music, pictures or video... multimedia is at the forefront of online communication.

besttrick.com is an online video community or rather neverending online competition to be the number one video in skateboarding and/or snowboarding.

In addition to their global video ranking contest that continues to update as long as people continue to upload and vote, they have recently introduced the online game of S.N.O.W.

On December the 15th, 2008, the heads behind BESTTRICK bring you a new snowboard-trick-battle in Game of S.K.A.T.E–mode. Starting December 15th on on KING-OF-SNOW.COM.

The best part is: everybody can take part for free! And we really mean EVERYBODY – from all around the world!

Copy the tricks of the pros with your own skills and your own style on similar obstacles of your choice and film yourself doing it to win 5.000,- USD cash and fame and glory.

Every 14 days, one of your favourite pros shows a trick on king-of-snow.com which you should copy over the next two weeks on a similar obstacle, then film it and upload it to the platform.

To score extra points in the worldwide ranking, you should style your tricks as good as you can, because in every round (wich means every 14 days) the most hard or most stylish trick will be rewarded with a huge stuff-package.

Source: Onboard Snowboarding

Concept is simple enough... they have a pro rider set a trick then us participants have two weeks to post our video of the same trick. When you don't do the trick or don't post you get a letter, so four chances to fuck up.

Even if you managed the trick but it's really shitty, as long as it's posted within the time limit it's all good.  Just remember that the more steezy, the better ranked you will most likely end up, and that's how you get the prizes and possibly even the ca$h money!

Winner gets 5k which is some enormous winnings for an online video contest.

Could be pretty fun, games like this usually prompt some creative thinking and wacky new tricks... so why not join in?

Post up some vids, get ranked and get ready because the first trick goes up December 15th.

Even though these economic times are impacting our industry in all kinds of negative ways, from dramatic team change-ups to the demise of independent board manufacturers, there are those who have managed not only to stay afloat but to expand and progress...

Smokin' Snowboards, an independent manufactcurer out of Tahoe spent the last season working closely with Mervin to adopt magnetraction to their custom construction process. All Smokin' models for the 08/09 will come with "the biggest revolution in snowboard design history until Banana Technology", bringing this small company right par with the big dogs.

This is the start of good things to come from Smokin', a company that already makes some of the sickest park models around, and don't just take my word for it... let the numbers speak for themselves.

Smokin' recently purchased a bigger warehouse to accomodate increased production and further technological development.

What do Devun Walsh and Billy Mays have in common?

Apparently they both enjoy the ride...and they both want to spread the love of DC snowboards to help you enjoy the ride more!

I don't know how they thought of it, or whether or not Billy Mays is particularly a fan of snowboarding... but it is the most genius piece of marketing since Burton's Love and Primo graphics.

If you are like me, then you have been suckered by Billy Mays before.  Oxi-clean is great, Hercules Hooks were better and I didn't think it would be possible to beat the Awesome Auger... but I was wrong.  This guy is the most versatile salesman ever!

If these commercials were to make it past Fuel TV and onto all major network television channels, imagine the amount of snowboards DC would sell...

Do people like to snowboard? Of course they do!

Would they be stoked to enjoy the ride more? Of course they would!

Will DC Snowboards do that? Billy Mays thinks so!

These informercials are a great laugh, head over to the DC media page and check them out!

Now that opportunities to snowboard are mulitplying daily so are the opportunities to make snowboard videos.  Here are a few videos worth checking out that have been cycling around the interweb...

First up is this weeks 'weekly' video, a park follow cam on Torstein Horgmo.  I like follow cam shots because they are kind of unrehearsed and a chance to see some on-the-spot creativity.  Torstein is plain steezy, one of the cleanest riders in my book, and this video is over 3 minutes straight through Northstar's park.  Tiiight.

Mammoth Opening Weekend 08 from Mike Benson on Vimeo.

The first Knife Show flick of the season partnering with Penguin Films.  This video disproves those who think that early season riding isn't worth it.  Plus with Matty Mo and Scott Vine in the mix... technical riding at it's best.

These are the hopes for the coming winter, what only some have the privilege to experience, and who better to show it but Jeremy Jones via helmet cam from Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  I've never been there, I guess those bamboo sticks outline the runs... it looks intense, and epic.

Sandra and Terri are two of the awesome lady shreds the were hanging out up at High Cascade this summer.  Here they are getting down at Keystone opening week.  They just let loose and take advantage of whatever's there; getting stylie on a feature, popping over bushes, buttering their way down the slope and laying out a carve kicking up snow... those are usually the most fun times in snowboarding.

Bear got a nice little coat of snow last night.  Nothing good enough to open but hey, it's snow in Southern California in the beginning of November... all I can say is that Bear never looks so good as it does when it wears white:

In fact, it's got me saying "Lookin' Goood Mr. Kooottaaaiiirrr"...

It has been a warm week, and of course down here in SoCal everyone is wondering what that means for the snow Mt. High started blowing a few days ago.

The naysayers and "Negative Nancy"s are positive that it is all gone and Mt. High is the dumbest resort in the world.

The optimistics and people that actually went to Mt. High say the snow is still there, and chances are they will open in time to reap massive cash rewards for their efforts on Veteran's Day.

The free-capitalists and eccentrics say they will open on Veteran's Day for the cash and to at least give people a little bit of riding for their jumping the gun, then close again.

I don't have a damn thing to say either way except that I really want to get a few days of riding in California before my move to Colorado in December.

Oh yah, I am relocating to Frisco, Colorado in December...one month to go.  There I will enjoy massive amounts of powder, the shitty driving conditions that come with it, and being called an 'asstructer' (snowboarding instructor) at Copper Mountain.

Speaking of Copper, I guess I can look on the brightside... even if the snow in California never comes and I end up not riding until December 6th, at least that's it. 

Copper opened yesterday, so unless Lucifer rises from the underworld and reigns fire on the earth melting all of the snow, I can say 100% positively that I will be riding on December 7th... which is nice.  Here's a little 'Copper Opening Day' type video deal:

Copper Mountain 2009 Opener from Zach Hooper on Vimeo.

Have an epic Saturday and what-not.

I've been avoiding a post on this topic... mostly because it already gets too much attention for what it is.

I speak of course about the protests and public outrage at the Burton 'Love' and 'Primo' board graphics.

If you aren't rolling your eyes and saying "oh man, not another one", here is the full scoop on the events so far.

Today TWBusiness posted a Q&A session with the folks behind this completely useless attempt at enforcing corporate censorship.

After almost a month of this bullshit it is still a hot topic. I figured the protesters would give up, but they really want to talk about it... so here is my response:

“Inappropirate gory images that just don’t belong on a mountain. I know they’re out there, in video games, movies, on tv - we get that all the time. But I can turn that off. I can choose not to get that movie, I can choose not to buy a product in the store. But I don’t have that choice when I’m on a chiarlift on a montain and I’m trying to enjoy a day of skiing and boarding with my family.”

What crazy goggles do you have that can see underneath boards on the chairlift? The topsheets are going to have great big binders mounted on them, and will either be stickered up or covered in snow so no problems there. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse at the board check? But then just send the kids to the lodge and check your boards… hmmm… Seems this isn’t an actual problem after all.

“I think it’s somewhat beyond Burton at this point. It’s not about Burton stopping making these boards - that would be great, but It’s really more of the bigger picture of awareness.”

Then get off their backs… if you would like a bigger picture of awareness then perhaps your protest is better suited for the steps of the Washington monument.

“...what’s so disturbing about Burton is that they’ve lost their humanity in our culture, they’ve just become this big company.”

Just like surfing and skateboarding before it, snowboarding was about counter-culture and not being censored or told what to do…being bold enough to do something that might piss people off. Burton is perfectly in-line with that, as is obvious by your over-the-top reaction. Get over yourselves.

“Raising consciousness and awareness around issues of corporate responsibility of putting stuff out into our culture that denigrates women, that could lead to violence against women, and also just gratuitous violence. Inappropirate gory images that just don’t belong on a mountain.”

It’s your job to let your kids know what is right and wrong. Graphics don't tell kids to hurt women or themselves. You want to stop a snowboard graphic? What are you doing to make sure your kids peers aren’t filling their minds with nonsense? How about television, movies, advertisements and everything else that American children are bombarded with in heavy doses daily?

“He is trying to marginalize who we are. This has spread country-wide…I think what happens in a lot of the blogs and in the dialogue we see, people really don’t realize the impacts. They don’t understand what cutting is in our culture. We’ve always maintained we are a campaign of information. We don’t want to badger people we really just want to have a dialogue”

No, it has spread to a small group of middle-aged whiny parents who would rather spend their day protesting and complaining instead of be at home parenting. Those whose lives are affected directly or indirectly by cutting will seek out knowledge on it, and rightfully so. Those that aren’t affected by it really don’t need to know about it unless they are interested for some reason, it’s not something that should have national attention… but you’ve managed to do that. Awesome.

“But the reason Burton has been singled out is because they are our neighbor - unfortunately for them. If it was a company out in California we wouldn’t be able to muster up a protest out there.”

So… basically you are just doing this because they are “there”? Oh man, now you seem like an honest, decent human being and I am all for your cause…not.

“Part of my next step is looking into the legalities of putting soft porn into the playground of children. What’s the legalities of taking playboy magazine and dropping it into the middle of playground?”

Yah, there are none. The boards are to be shelved and sleeved in black plastic that reads “18 to purchase”, meaning little kids aren’t buying them. The boards only show butt anyway. There is nothing illegal about showing a butt. If there was, than Coppertone sunblock would be in some big, big trouble.

“When do we say this is the line, enough is enough?”

We don’t. That’s called censorship. Hey! Maybe after we ban these board graphics I should burn all of my books for fear of the knowledge they contain like in Fahrenheit 451?

“I think people should have the right to make their own choices within their own home.”

Then why are you out forcing your choices and opinions on the entire nation?

I'm not the only one who is over all of this complaining, check out what the Angry Snowboarder had to say.  The guys aren't the only ones against it either, here is lady shred ShayBoarder's take.

I hope Burton sticks to their guns and does not pull the graphics.  As to the shops that pulled the boards to avoid customer hassles, I'm sorry... chances are that with all of this free publicity these boards would sell like hotcakes and with these economic times, well...

It has been getting a little colder here in SoCal, and being the avid weather watcher I am I couldn't help but notice that perfect snowmaking conditions exist at night with mild enough day temps to maintain the night's snow.

Thankfully, MT. HIGH shared in my feelings and cranked on the snowmaking systems for realsies, producing a couple inches of snow on the runs overnight.  They will continue to do so as weather permits, blah, blah, blah but the most important thing is that they said it's possible me, you and everyone else will get to go snowboarding in a couple days!

Check out the MT. HIGH site and expect them to announce opening day really soon...

Pony Tale from Actionhorse Films on Vimeo.

Well unlike most of my snowboard blogger counterparts I am rotting in Southern California with chances of snow incredibly slim (I'm thinking still three weeks at least).  I am trying desperately to get out to Mammoth when they open in right near two weeks update: I had heard rumors that Mammoth had enough snow to open earlier, which is true... they opened today Monday, November 3rd.

Regardless I'm not riding right now and it's all that I can think about.  Tons of freebie snowboard film viewings are the only thing that eases my withdrawls, thankfully this is the biggest season of freebie films I've ever seen.

Happy Sunday and an easy work week ahead, for you viewing pleasure here is Actionhorse Films' Pony Tale, a free snowboarding flick that kicks some serious ass. 

Don't forget to head to their website and snag a download; there are three versions (for iPod, regular computer use, and an HD version at 1.3GB).  Be patient, everybody and their mom is downloading this sucker right now and things are going mighty slowlike, use the torrent if it's up.

If you are a technical computer genius maybe you can find a way to burn their HD version in HD format on an HD disc for your friend's gigantic HDTV... I tried to but things didn't work out.

That's not all of course.  Ally Distribution partnered up with ReelComp.com to give all of us broke ass snowboard fiends a taste of their all-star feature shred flicks.

Tune in to Ally Distribution's page on ReelComp.com every Sunday from here on out for an On Demand viewing of whatever video is scheduled for that week.  Ally Distribution is the go-to place for almost every snowboarding cinematographic masterpiece you could desire; peep the schedule above to see what's playing, not like you'll need to why would you pass up any free snowboard flick (if you aren't already out making your own)?

Hey while you are over at ReelComp don't forget to stop by the Crown Room and catch up on the online video competition.  They have one 'best trick', one 'best edit' and are taking votes and submissions for 'best bail'... that's something you don't even need to be good at snowboarding to win, so if you've got footage of a gnarly "mistake" why not try your luck for some free cash?

Mad thanks to AngrySnowboarder for the heads up on those freebies, an excellent find.  I can also thank Angry for introducing me to the Ally Digital Download widget, a really great way to get some of the newest and best films for an affordable price right to your iPod (for those long plane rides to exotic snowboard destinations).

Take a moment to check the widget in the Weeklys and see if there are any movies you had your eye on but weren't thinking $25... support snowboard productions, don't Limewire, that's the bottom line.  Buy 'em here, buy 'em at Angry's, as long as you buy 'em you're OK with me.

A great evil has perpetuated itself amongst a once meaningful and talented genre of artists.

This satanic spawn of the underworlds eats away at originality, creativity and artistic inspiration of any form.  It has festered and replicated itself at an enormously quick rate... to the point where full albums are created containing nothing but its poison.

This great evil I speak of is the wicked craft of music sampling.

A long time ago when I went to turn on the radio, there was a chance that I might hear something that I had never heard before.  Something that clicked, something tight I could vibe to.  A new song that I could blast as loud as possible so my friends would say, "Woah, dude! Sick tunes! Who is this?".

Now when I turn on the radio I know that the industries leading talentless rappers are going to present me with stagnant rhymes built off of someone else's music.

What do rappers like TI think they are achieving?  Take the joke of a song 'Live Your Life'.  That entire concept was stolen from a beat by some really gay dudes from Hungary or some shit.  Is TI now a more legit rapper because he took someone elses idea and made it 'better' or does he possibly have a secret thing for pseudo-gay euro techno/electronic boy bands?

He's not done yet though, he also decided that M.I.A. had a good idea with the beat in 'Paper Planes' but it was probably better suited for a hip hop track with his voice on it...now the same tune that the gangbangers used to stare you down for playing is going to be blasting out of every Cadillac Escalade on 24s, but TI is on it so that means it's better!

TI isn't the only perpetrator though.  Just exactly how many songs has Lil' Wayne made? Maybe twenty.  The thing is that every song he makes gets sampled and remixed over at least one thousand different tunes... tunes that other artists made.

Every day a new Lil' Wayne 'remix' is produced, one that is the exact same in every way except that it has a new rhythm (same tempo though).  This is 'new'; this is 'better'...supposedly.

We need to take a step back and start creating our own beats using our own fresh lyrics again.  Everyone could take a lesson from the Retro Kidz:

 
Retro Kidz "New Era" from BroBot on Vimeo.

Let's bring back the golden era of hip hop where everyone was doing their own thing and it was about hitting the scene with a fresh new attitude and jammin' song.  Let's put an end to music sampling.