Snowboarding News - April 2006

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With the arrival of spring, the risk of avalanches is getting high due to the increasing temperature. Since the start of this month, there have already been several reports of avalanches burying skiers and snowboarders. Those who were lucky got rescued in time while the unfortunate ones met th ... Read Full Story eir deaths with thick snow above them.

Probably the most notable of this month's avalanche-related deaths is the death of skier Doug Coombs in France last April 3. Coombs, who was considered one of North America's top 25 skiers, was reported to have been swept away by an avalanche along with another man and were taken 200 meters over the cliffs. He died almost instantly, while the other man died on the way to the hospital. Other reports stated that Coombs may have accidentally fallen off while trying to rescue the same man who earlier hit an icy patch and was carried off the cliff.

On April 1, David Garcia, a 29 year-old trainee Spanish guide also got killed by an avalanche in the Southern Alps in France. He carried around 100 meters and was eventually buried by the slide. His four companions, which include two French guides were left unscathed.

Then there are the lucky ones. A man was rescued 15 minutes after being buried under the slide in Glencoe, Scotland last April 8. If luck had something to do with it, so do the statistics. Statistics show that people have between 85-92 percent chance to be rescued alive if they are rescued within 15 minutes. The chances rapidly drops from there to only 30-50 percent chance of survival if they get rescued in 30 minutes.

To avoid exposing yourself to such dangers, always check with the local authorities for the avalanche reports and follow them. Travel in the back country as safe as possible and don't be a part of the statistics of avalanche victims.

 

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The result of a study made by a Norwegian team of researchers further strengthened the assertion that the use of helmets does minimize the risk of head injuries among skiers and snowboarders. Along with other studies conducted by various organizations, it is now more or less safe to say ... Read Full Story that the use of helmets is indeed beneficial to skiers and snowboarders rather than harmful. Some critics, on the other hand, claim that using helmets give people a false sense of security and aggravates the risk of having a neck injury because of the helmet's weight.

Dr. Roald Bahr of the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences in Oslo, is the co-author of the said study. He encourages everyone who is into snowboarding and skiing to do as the Olympians do and wear helmets. He said that it does not matter whether you are an amateur or a professional as long as you get your head and neck some protection.

The study which was conducted in the winter of 2002, interviewed some 3,200 injured snowboarders and skiers as well as approximately 3,000 non-injured control group. Their study found 578 head traumas among those injured with almost 150 of them are potentially severe. The team eventually found out that using a helmet reduces the risk of head injuries as much as 60 percent.

Findings of the study of Bahr's team further strengthened what other studies before it has claimed. One of which is the nationwide study made in Sweden from 1985-1986 where the researchers found out that skiers who use helmets were 50 percent less likely to have head injuries than those who didn't. A more recent one was done by the United States' Consumer Product Safety Commission, published in January 1999. It also asserted what the Norwegian and Swedish researchers found out and stressed the risk-reduction aspect of the use of helmets.

 

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Winter may be over but there are still a lot of events slated especially for skiing and snowboarding fanatics such as the ones organized by this year's Snowboard and Ski Amateur Film Festival.

From last weekend's National Finals in Austria, the competition will then move to ... Read Full Story Augsburg, Germany on April 29, Saturday. Aside from judging which movies from Germany will move to the International Finals, there will also be music courtesy of DJ 5 Ton of the German group “Massiven Tone” and the Four Finger Sound System.

The fun will not stop there, though. There will also be a Virtual Final this coming May which will give an opportunity to those movies that did not make it to the International Finals to have another shot at it. Finally, on June 16, the much-awaited International Finals will happen in Munich. The National winners will be vying for the much-coveted international crown for amateur ski and snowboard films. That's something to watch out for.

For more information about the 2006 Snowboard and Ski Amateur Film Festival, you may go to the event's official site at www.filmup.at.

 

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Calling on all female freeskiers and snowboarders. Head on to Zugspitze, Germany today and celebrate two weeks of various activities from April 10 to 23. They will not only help you improve your game but will also let you interact with other snowboard and freeskate enthusiasts.

Th ... Read Full Story e first week will give you the opportunity to improve your style by getting tips from professional riders. Expect Tina Birbaum, Leslie McKenna and Kjersty Buaas who are just fresh from the Chicken Jam in St. Moritz, Switzerland to be there. If you wish to join the first week of this event, you may register at www.girliecamps.com. Boys need not worry because they are also invited to come to this event.

On the second week of the event from April 17 to 23, there will be top ski and snowboard coaches who will give you tips in improving your moves on the rails and kickers. Big names such as Mone Monsenberger, Bernd Mandlberger, Danny Larsen and Martin Sanberg have already confirmed their attendance. Aside from them, Ride professionals Nico Droz, Jari Tuoriniemi, Hubert Fill, Florian Illing and Benjamin Wetscher will also be there. You will also have the chance to have yourself photographed by a professional photographer and you will be able to download it later at www.zugspitze.de/bildergalerie.

Aside from the seminars to be given by the pros, there will also be an old school contest on April 22. In this event, freeskiers and snowboarders will showcase old school stunts such as handplants, rocket airs and double grabs.

To find out more about this event, you can check out www.zugspitze.de and www.girliecamps.com.

 

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Three months after it joined the snowboarding market, Surf-Rodz (SR) is pushing on with the development of new snowboards according to SR president Wayne Gallipoli.

“We're doing more research on all our products, and feel we'll have some interesting and unique boards to offe ... Read Full Story r riders later this year,” Gallipoli said.

There are currently four products being slated for a 2007 winter release. First off is the Carve 170/180 model which boasts excellent control in carving and flexibility in a variety of terrains. Another is the Cruise 165 which the SR president said gives precision edge control in groomed and light powder conditions. Meanwhile, the Powder 185 snowboard has a hybrid shape which combines the features of a carving deck and a powder ski. Finally, the Elite will be their top-of-the-line board with a modified pintail parabolic-shaped side cut.

But while winter is almost over, SR will continue with their research and development of the snowboards as well as the promotion of their summer gear. “We're getting ready to hit the pavement and get back in the water,” Gallipoli said.

 

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