The Snowsports Industry Association tradeshow in Las Vegas, at the end of January, gave the SBG Team an introduction to next year’s snowboard lines. Five of the team members made it to the show and we were all pleased with the products we saw. Many of the themes that came out this year are being carried through into next, mixed with some new and innovative looks and technologies. All combined, it is looking to be a good 07-08 season.

New reviews continue to be posted so keep an eye out. Don’t miss the recently added SBG History, found under “About SBG.”

Note: We’re currently making some changes to the articles section of the site, please be patient with the construction dust

Happy New Year from SBG!
SIA 2007 is just around the corner, and as usual we’ll be bringing you updates from the show.

Our team has been hard at work getting new reviews ready for you to read. New gear is rolling in, and our new reviews are making their way onto the site. Stay tuned!

Some of the boards we picked for this preview are here because of their innovations in design or materials. Boards like Burton’s T6, K2’s Riser Recon, and Volkl’s Selecta are trying new things and attempting to change the way we ride. Others, like the Burton’s Shaun White and Forum’s Warrior, are included because we were just captured by them at the tradeshow. Whatever the reason for our including them, all the boards in this preview are worth keeping an eye out for come winter. Continue reading…

In the past bindings have often been overlooked in the style department, and thought of more as just the means to attach feet to a board. However, the last couple of years have seen some tremendous progression in both the materials and the design of bindings. 2005 pushes this even farther, with many companies deciding to really focus on binding design, and the results are incredible. Visible this year is the “capstrap” that has everyone talking, a focus on quick-entry bindings, and new technology crammed into every bolt-hole. Here are some bindings that we think will be all the rage in 2005. Continue reading…

Helmets, those terribly bulky, unstylish, blocks of plastic that some lame-o’s wear to protect their noggins. Well, you can go ahead and trash that preconception, the helmets of 2005 look nothing like the ugly, inefficient headwear of the past. For ‘05, companies have redoubled their efforts to make helmets fit comfortably, look stylish, and even sound good, with the addition of headphones. Continue reading…

One of the smallest and lightest weight components of your riding attire, goggles have a special ability to determine how fun your day is. Everyone knows it sucks when your goggles fog on a powder day, and you’re stuck squinting at the snow as it stings your eyes. The following goggles were picked based on the use of new ideas and technology to make your riding vision better. Continue reading…

One of the downsides to snowboard vacations is all that gear you have to haul around. We picked out a few of the 2005 bags and packs that will help you make those treks without too many backaches. Continue reading…

It seems like the boot market changes every year. New material, new construction techniques, and new lacing concepts, 2005 has them all. 2005 looks like it could be one of the biggest years in innovation since snowboard boots first started fazing out Sorrels. Continue reading…

Oscar Wilde wrote, “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” All the riders in all the events of the Vans Triple Crown were there to ride - whether they wanted to be there or not- and, including those who made the “mistake” of winning, each rider came away with a different experience. Take Chad Otterstrom as an example. He woke up tired on the morning of the free style finals and told a friend he didn’t even feel like competing. His “not feeling like competing” resulted in a 4th place positioning. Continue reading…

Arctic Man is a party; a damn big party. During the weekend, Arctic Man weighs in at around 20,000 people, making it the 4th largest city in Alaska. (Anchorage is at 350,000, Fairbanks at 85,000, and Juneau has close to 30,000.). The original concept was for a team race, the team consisting of a skier/boarder and a puller on a snowmachine. The puller races up a mountain, links up with a skier/boarder, tows him/her across the top, and then the skier drops the rope and books down the other side of the mountain. This is done one team at a time, and the fastest overall time wins the purse for their division. There are men and women divisions for both skiers and boarders, and the total purse was over $100K last year. The race is one day, the party almost a week. Of course there are tons of other events throughout the week; including snowmachine and snowboard big air competitions, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Continue reading…