BackSide? Are you sure you guys thought this one through? Sheesh. Why not just name your backcountry ski line Assless Chaps? In a rebranding move, K2 is dropping their Telemark/AT line and replacing it with BackSide Skis. As if those bearded telemakers don’t get teased enough for their knee pads and climbing helmets. The new line will be more like Black Diamond’s version of a “backcountry ski” that can be used with any type of binding system.

via The Winter Life [WildSnow.com]

The Kahtoola Microspikes are like an underpowered 4-wheeldrive vehicle trying to get you through the snow. Sure—they’re great for getting across the sidewalk safely, but it’d be a little embarrassing to strap them onto real AT boots. They slip on with an elastomer harness and no special buckles or straps. It’s a simple system that’s reasonably priced at $59, and a very easy way to tear up the inside of your pant legs from stumbling.

“While checking out a noboarding post on Snowboard-Mag, I came across this website for the Japanese snowboard company Gentem Stick. Here is a snippet from their introduction page:

“I have seen many slopes where sometimes I become in a deep awe from the amazing art of snow, a once in a lifetime encounter. When I ride a slope like that, I must lay aside all my purpose and speculation in order to harmonize with the World. Then, I obediently point my board to where the slope and the gravity lead me. Gentem, for us, is something one cannot explain its reason for existence, just like that of a thick tree trunk.“

Trippy. Hopefully, these guys’ Gentem doesn’t lead them off any big cliffs while they blindly follow “the gravity”. If you are into this sort of ideology, and you happen to be sitting on a spare Â¥178,500 (about $1900 U.S.) you can pick up one of their swallow-tailed sticks. Until then, you’ll have to settle for a similar, more affordable religious experience aboard the Burton Fish.” -Josh Poehlein, Gearhead BlogonautÂ

The New York Times has a great story about four deep sea divers that have been tapped to fix a leaky bronze valve 700 feet below the water’s surface. A few days ago the crew pulled out a 4,000lbs section of pipe made from manganese bronze and installed in 1939. They’re trying to fix a valve at the bottom of the 13.5ft-wide pipe so pumps will eventually be able to drain it and people can fix its leaks, which are losing more than 20 million gallons of water each day. The four divers live in what looks like a large septic tank for a month while breathing air made of mostly helium and scarfing down steaks. The working conditions are insane to say the least, and the amenities don’t offer much to do besides a TV and a really, really sweet Nerf basketball hoop that looks like it’d be fun for about 5 seconds. They’ll live in the septic tank for a month of working and then stay there for one more week to get used to breathing normal air again. Damn. Those commercial diving jobs look like fun.

WhiskeyMilitia is only selling snowboard gear all day today. It’s a chance to get suited up for a season of doing bong hits while driving around, finding a way to wear your goggles in a fashion that could be considered “baggy,” and sitting down in large groups in the middle of terrain parks.

“With all of the backlash over the semi-nude centerfolds on Burton’s Love Series boards, it got me thinking: ‘it’s time to set things straight, once and for all’…and where better to start than with every ski bum’s fantasy: the Lange girls. The Lange girls are solid proof that snowboarding is slowly becoming more and more uncool and conservative while skiing is, and has always been, the rich man’s rebel child. If you think about it, everything that snowboarding tries to emulate, skiing did in the 70’s or 80’s, and we’re still doing it now. One-pieces? Been there, done that. Hats with a pom? Check. Bright obnoxious colors? Try Blizzard of Aahhh’s. And as for the borderline-offensive, totally objectifying, sexually oriented marketing, we’ve got that too. In high-gloss spades, thanks to Lange and others. Bottom line? Keep trying, snurfers…maybe one day you won’t have to worry about the flats.” -Aaron Provine, Outspoken Hardgoods Buyer

Not sure what they’re going for here. There must be some jellyfish with a real appreciation for physical humor in this part of the world. It would also appear that this person is skinny dipping since you can see her tan lines.

Bland Blank Snowboards out of Salt Lake City are offering some plain-Jane boards at cut rates. You can get into their hype-free, truly Un Inc boards for $195 to $210. The new president is saying we all need to make sacrifices in the craptastic economic global meltdown; I guess I could do without graphics on my snowboard.

Blank strikes just that tone in their branding:

In response to recent economic struggles, Blank Snowboards is stepping forward to meet consumer demands for a quality snowboard at the right price. The newly formed company’s back-to-the-basics approach to manufacturing and selling snowboards, has allowed Blank to create a board that can hold up against any of the top quality brands currently available on the market, while still offering huge savings.

There was actually a predecessor to Blank that had the same idea, only they made snowboard bindings. They were called, “Blank Bindings.” They kind of disappeared, I guess this model of business doesn’t have the best history of success. Better luck this time around.

via GetOutdoors

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These guys remind me why I should just be happy that I have an office job. I would not be able to hang with this level of skate mayhem.

via How to Avoid the Bummer Life