I have a lot of ski and snowboard gear. There’s no other way to call the collection of equipment, both current and sentimental, that has… Read More »Rocker Ski Rack – The one-size fits all solution to ski and board storage
I’ve almost always had a pow board in the lineup. In the late 90s and early 2000s it was an Option Signature 162. After moving to Steamboat and playing around with the Burton Fish and Vapor, I fell in love with the Malolo and rode it as my deep-day board for a few years. Then the Sherlock arrived with a twin shape and Flying V, and I was sold on a twin-shaped powder ride. And then the Flight Attendant arrived, and again redefined what I want in a board primarily ridden in the soft stuff.Read More »2017 Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard
Lots of companies talk about work-life balance, but few do it as literally as Fluidstance. Fluidstance makes a series of balance boards designed for working at a standing desk, or anywhere you want to add a little movement into standing tasks.
I’ve been using a standing desk in my home office for several years now, ever since the “Sitting is Killing You” infographic came out in 2011. The infographic makes some rather bold announcements like “Sitting increases risk of death up to 40%,” and “Sitting makes us fat,” but does a really good job of highlighting some of the changes we’ve experienced as our jobs have become more dependent on computers.
I enjoy being on my feet. I guess it comes with the territory when spending 150+ days snowboarding and skiing, and another 50 days a year paddleboarding, surfing, hiking, and camping. But along with the adventures comes plenty of time at a desk. Whether it’s sitting down to type up a recent adventure, or at the computer for my role as Manager of Training for the Vail Ski & Snowboard School, there’s no escaping some amount of time spent in front of the screens.
With Burton’s big reveal of the Step On, snowboarding’s worst kept secret of the last year is finally official – the step in binding is back.
Photo: Gabe L’Heureux / Transworld
For the last few decades, many of us have been deriding step-ins. They were heavy, clunky, unreliable, poor performing, pieces of junk that were just as likely to accidentally release as they were to ice up and refuse to attach. Similar to binding “advancements” that swivel the front binding, add levered brakes, or automatically close the ankle straps, step-ins were just another great intentioned, but overly complicated invention. As a result, they were unable to compete with the simplicity, weight, and reliability of traditional straps.
Despite the disdain mainstream snowboarding threw at them, step-ins found a niche of die-hard followers that put new liners in their beat up old boots, search for replacement binding parts online, seek out gear at garage sales, and post in forums about their love for step-ins.