Snowboard Reviews, Articles, News & More
Maggie
(0 comments, 169 posts)
This user hasn't shared any profile information
Home page: http://www.sbgmag.com
Posts by Maggie
09-10 DC BFF2 Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Women's Snowboards
I would suggest this to new buyers who want a board that will be used to cover a lot of varying terrain, in addition to girls who are already on boards that sound similar because the transition is really easy.
The BFF2 is a fun ride for all mountain and works well in a range of conditions. I like a reliable ride that isn't going to buck me around because it is too soft all over but also doesn't feel like a dead fish or a gangplank. Sometimes getting on a new board makes you have to think about what you are doing for the first few runs, but I felt at home straight away on this one. The BFF2 eases smoothly into turns while holding a solid edge. It is great in powder and rides well through choppy snow. It has spring for jumping off things and enough support in the tail that I was super comfortable landing.
It rides true to size and as a firm believer in shorter boards, I wouldn't go over a 148 if you are between 5'5" and 5'9 because it is plenty of board. It has cute graphics on it that look like a bunch of bubbles and remind me of a colorful aquarium. All it needs is fish stickers.
09-10 DC Lotus Review
02 years ago
The ideal for this comfortable boot would be to add an additional Boa that tightens the heel area for a better overall fit.
The Lotus boot is stiffer at first but has a really soft, comfortable liner and breaks in easily. The cushion under the heel sort of squishes when you walk, which is great because it absorbs impact. Looks-wise, they are gorgeous. The royal purple with a near-electric turquoise color, combined with a very subtle outside pattern (looks like flower petals) is all very attractive and I got several comments about them.
The boot is not heavy and tightens with a Boa system instead of laces. A single Boa is responsible for tightening the entire boot from a wheel at the calf, rather than a double Boa that allows for tightening the general boot/ upper level and the heel/ lower half. The challenge with these boots is that with only one Boa I am limited in how precise I can be in pressure management, espcecially around my ankles. Though the boot is very well crafted, provides support through ample cushion in the heels/ liner, and has inner laces, it is hard to get a specific fit around the heels. What this means is that I am fine walking around, but riding hard all day long every day without the heel restraint sometimes makes my toes shove up into the front of the boot more than is normal. However, my suggestion would be to not discredit this boot and to actually try them on and see how they fit to your specific foot. At the expense of not getting a more tailored fit, you do get a really quick on and off boot and in the interest of convenience, I really like how easy it is! It is great to not deal with laces, and it is such a quick tightening process while on the hill.
09-10 DC Sutton Review
0The Sutton is a beautiful work horse of a jacket.
This jacket has style, length, comfort and will very quickly win you over in its functionality for snowboarding. The sophistication comes from its large buttons, a high neck , and a belt (which you actually have to secure when you wear the coat because it looks funny just hanging). The external wrist cuffs are styled out, while inside there are cuffs that disallow snow from going down your sleeve. One oversight in the visual presentation of this jacket is found along the front zipper. A flap with artificial buttons zips up the front and makes it look really cute without the effort of needing to button multiple buttons. However, there is so narrow a strip of material to cover the zipper that it gives away the fact that it isn’t actually a jacket that you button at all.
Hot or cold, it is a heavier shell and will go well over a t-shirt or over several thick layers. Its length is great for covering up the days when you want to wear butt pads and don’t want to look like you have gained 10 pounds. With the low sitting belt and the bottom of the jacket coming down to the thighs, you could wear pillows underneath your snowpants and nobody would know.
Inside and outside there are large, numerous pockets, including one to put your music in. The high neck is lined with really soft fleece-like material and has magnets to close it and keep you snuggly. One drawback is that adding your own bandana or neckie to your layering won’t work well because the magnets can’t reach each other to close. It does come, however, with a built in balaclava that snaps in and out or folds into a small pocket!
I am impressed with the soft feel of the fabric and protection it provides from the elements. Though it could serve nicely as a town-coat, it really is created for snowboarding and being on the hill all day.
09-10 Alterna Action Elektro Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Snowboard Movies
Elektro is colorful, beautifully done, and a well-rounded snowboard movie, but it blends in too much withing the greater snowboard film realm.
Elektro consists of the things you should expect from current snowboard films if you have watched even half a dozen. It is heavy on the blue sky, mountains, powder, massive backcountry booters, big avalanches, huge wrecks, and my favorite, a travel section which in this video is primarily shot in Slovenia. All of the footage is really high quality, the editing is stellar (especially Craig Beaulieu’s part which is really fast paced and mixes it up a bit), and it is relatively consistent in theme-appropriate music (though, not sure about how Benji Ritchie’s hip-hop bit fits). Plus, it is full of wicked awesome neon. I actually came away from the movie more excited about the gear in this year’s product lines than anything else. It’s all loud plaids, neons, and craziness, so put on sunglasses!
Alterna Action's films have set a high bar over the years in terms of clean shots and great editing. Elektro continues this trend, and is a great film, but it seems to fall somewhat short by those very standards Alterna has helped set. It is short but feels long – let me explain. Having a short snowboard movie, with pretty generic extras, is not a crime in and of itself. The 34 minutes of its entirety is a beautiful product in videography and editing, but it begins to feel cyclical. None of the spins, grabs, or riding is small-scale; it is all really really good. But the majority of the rider parts are so balanced in content and general similarity, excluding the interlude in Slovenia, that it feels like a loop and nothing really stands out. For Alterna Action it is very formulaic. Basically rider in neon hits big back country kicker on a gorgeous day. . . and repeat. Again, it is weird, how it still makes for a GREAT movie, and I really like the head-cam shots, I just wanted something to stand out a little bit more. Moments I liked best include the near-opening shot of Matt Beardmore’s 360 and 540 wallride spins on a dam, Craig Beaulieu’s part has a bit more diversity to it, and the dual Vince/ JF Fortin section. But again, each section was hard to weigh against the one before or after itself.
So, would I recommend it? Yes, because anyone who hasn’t seen a snowboard movie will love it, riders will be greatly inspired by it, and there is nothing outright bad to say about it. But, put against the host of other movies that are out there (including some stand-out Alterna Action videos from prior years), I don't think makes a case for itself.
09-10 Think Thank Cool Story Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Snowboard Movies
Cool Story comes along and totally blows the other Think Thank videos out of the water.
Think Thank has always brought the style of Parkour to snowboarding. For me, it has never been a question about whether or not the Think Thank films have had some of the most creative, progressive urban footage in past years, but with their last few films, the presentation and editing has not done it for me. This year is different.
It takes a while to get used to home-movie type subtitles (they grew on me) and the well-edited, but more down to earth, approach; and at the beginning I found myself wondering if it would be a similar experience to past years. But then, it only gains momentum. Ice blocks, trees, canoes, swing sets, pipes, storage containers, walls, wooden pallets, grocery carts, snowboards, fences, alleys, drainage ditches, TVs, bedroom furniture…whatever they find they jib. And snow helps, but isn’t a major requirement. Rarely have I seen such a wide range in usage of different inanimate objects that are turned into sweet features, and not just in one part, but in each of the rider sections. One of the qualities is the quick switch around between the different jib shots and backcountry, deep pow-pow, one quick steeps part (Matt Edgers), trees, and other stuff. The constant mixing of it all is what held my attention so well.
I also really like the process of it all. You don’t see guys hitting huge kickers and gnarly jib features to then experience in a mass block the conglomeration of their misfortunes in full on wreck scenes. Cool Story takes the time to include some of the practice that then leads up to stomping something. Or, in the case of Gus Engle, he doesn’t even get what he is trying to achieve at the beginning of his part, but it is a crack up to watch him keep trying however many hundred times.
My favorite part is a toss-up, but probably falls to Chris Beresford. Pat Milbery is another really pure example of a strong Think Thank section. And actually, I am just going to stop listing people, because I was impressed with it all. Travels to Japan and Alaska are pretty sweet and tie into it all very well. Music was good. Mixed and sometimes on the slower end, which sometimes made the 1 hour plus movie seem a bit long, but well timed and well matched per part.
I am impressed and hoping to see more of the same, but different, in the Think Thank future.
09-10 Jmills Ent Stance Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Snowboard Movies
Fresh and motivating, Stance caters to a female crowd that doesn't necessarily need all the pomp or pink to emphasize their ability.
Stance is a great video to start the season off with, male or female. It is short and to the point, coming in at about 30 minutes, but artfully done. . . especially for a female flick. Having seen a large assortment of girl-targeted snowboard movies, I thought this was the most understated and didn't over compensate in effort to make a great movie with girly girl hype. It has big air by strong female riders, like Kimmy Fasani, decent pipe, and some lovely backcountry pow. Most importantly for females, it is a demonstration of what may be attainable. Stance as a title is very appropriate because the girls ride beautifully, even if they are just slashing snow. The lack of pressure displayed for such a kick ass girls' movie makes it especially enjoyable.
I like the soundtrack a lot.Check it all out online for free and decide for yourself.
Think Snow!
02 years ago
by Maggie
in From the Editor
Yep. It is nearly that time of year! How was your summer? The SBG team summer went quickly. We never fail to be fascinated by the fact that we can measure how quickly time passes just by counting seasons on snow. The onset of September means it has been over 10 years of SBG. It’s time to start getting in snowboard shape, especially if you have just been a bum all summer. It is also time to start thinking about what gear fits still, what you want to buy new, and where you want to shred, if you don’t already have that figured out.
SBG is undergoing a “Fall Facelift” so keep checking back and one day soon you will see the new site re-vamp. We are stoked.
09-10 The North Face Medusa Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Jackets & Coats
If I could only have one single rain jacket in my closet to cover the variety of my activities, this would be a very reasonable candidate.
For being highly technical rainwear, the Medusa is also a gorgeous jacket. The subtle floral design combined with the contrasting zipper color makes it extremely eye catching. In addition to the color and pattern scheme, the cut of this jacket is very comfortable and simplistic. There is a little bit of flair out around the waist, which tightens with elastic, and it has good-length sleeves with Velcro cuffs. One of the features I like most are the zippers and their pulls. The zippers are sealed so nothing gets wet, but it you don’t have to fumble around with flaps over pockets or on the front of the coat.
The only thing I dislike about the jacket is the hood. It is relatively shallow, especially if you have a hoodie on or a ponytail in your hair, so that even when tightened down it does not come fully out along side the face. Not having all that material surrounding the face is good for peripheral vision, but not as ideal for trying to protect your face from driving rain. Also the elastic pulls at the front of the hood are challenging and require two hands instead of a single tug to tighten, because they lock easily and then are hard to unlock. I do like that the hood is part of the jacket and that it doesn’t have a lot of zippers and snaps and extra stuff attached for it to detach.
The durability and feel of the material, in addition to breathability, make it a multi-purpose rain jacket. It is great for sports, recreation and life in general when it is raining.