686 and Scion Racing Debut “Numeric” Snowboarding Concept Car

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 14, 2011) – 686® and Scion® are pleased to introduce the world’s first and only car solely dedicated to snowboarding, “Numeric”. Built for snowboarders by snowboarders, the car is the caveat in the 20th anniversary celebration for 686.

686 teamed up with Scion Racing® and Spin Imaging® to develop the one-of-a-kind custom winter masterpiece. The Numeric is based off of Scion’s xB model. Never before has a car been re-created, re-developed and re-invigorated in such a unique manner. Each aspect of the build was directly inspired from a product and brand that’s progressively pushed snowboarding to new levels.

Each involved brand brought a unique twist to Numeric’s look. The snow specific tires reflect NB686® snowboarding boots and are branded as New Balance® tires. The top of the car is designed like a Bern® protective carbon fiber helmet, complete with their patented brim technology. The windshield is designed from Dragon’s APX® frameless goggle and offers full peripheral view inside the car. The Sparco® modified seats are inspired from actual Union® team snowboard bindings and are constructed in a high-back cup shaped form. The sound system is engineered and designed by the Skullcandy® team, which used their premiere Aviator headphones as inspiration. GoPro® came in with their POV expertise in visual racing mirrors and interior mapping. Vestal® watches and their ZR-3 Chronograph inspired the custom built time gauges. The devil is in the details and Freewaters® sandals clearly did this in the first ever heated floor mats. BOA® Technology added their “dialed” in fit to the cars heating and cooling system. Recco® Avalanche Rescue systems supplied their sophisticated radar technology on the road and mountain terrain. Blind® skateboards legendary artist, Marc Mckee provided his custom touch to the interior panels. To finalize the winter shred story, 686’s technical textile background pushed manufacturing boundaries by successfully wrapping the world’s first and only fully functional waterproof and breathable snowboarding outerwear vehicle, complete with stitched panels, laser welded seams, waterproof zipper and mesh venting.

“The 686 Scion Numeric is a dream come true,” says Michael Akira West, president and creative director at 686. “What better way to celebrate our twentieth anniversary by doing something that’s never been done before? Every part of this build has a story and a separate product that it was inspired from. I’m psyched we were able to show it to the world, our way.”

“The 686 build is incredible,” says Steve Hatanaka, Scion auto show and special events manager, “The collaboration of the action sports lifestyle and automotive is a perfect fit for the Scion brand! The hard work of so many people and brands came together to make it happen, and we are very proud of the outcome. It is one of the most unique cars we’ve done to date and the synergy of the final product is amazing. We look forward to showcasing it during the auto show season, with tuner fans and at the action sports shows around the world.”
The action sports industry will get its first look at the vehicle in the 686 booth at SIA in Denver from January 26-29, 2012.

Sponsors and participants include: 686 technical apparel, Scion Racing, Spin Imaging, MV Designz, Rokform,Roland Sands Designs, Light Force, Skullcandy, New Balance, Freewaters, Motegi Wheels, GoPro, Union Bindings, Cadence Apparel, Dragon Alliance, BOA Technology, Bern Helmets, Vestal Watches, Blind Skateboards, and Recco Avalanche Rescue System.

Video link: http://vimeo.com/31978817

Photo Credits: Scion/686 and Brandon Shigeta/Hypebeast

SIA’s 2011 Youth Market Intelligence Report Released
SIA Breaks Down Where Kids Spent $296 Million in 2011
MCLEAN, Va. (November 4, 2011) – SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is excited to announce the release of the 2011 SIA Youth Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report. This report offers a vast array of insights on snow sports participants ages 17 and under. Kids are a highly influential demographic in the snow sports market, what they are doing and purchasing today drives innovation and ultimately the products of tomorrow. Last season, kids-specific snow sports products represented over $296 million in sales. In the 4th annual edition, SIA Research taps into the information that you need to know about this demographic including top product trends, participation and retail sales.

“If you need to take a closer look into the kids’ snow sport market, this is the place to get everything you need,” said SIA Director of Research, Kelly Davis.

Today, kids have more choices than ever before, so how do you keep their interest in snow sports and your brand’s products? The Youth Market Intelligence Report offers detailed information and insight for the demographic that wants to do a little bit of everything. Below is a sample of findings in the 2011 Youth Market Intelligence Report.

2011 Youth Intelligence Report Highlights:

The most popular snow sport for kids is snowboarding; with boys dominating participation.
The only youth apparel item that outsells adults are alpine suits.
Specialty shops bring in the most youth snow sport sales; accounting for $191 million.
Youth ski systems were up 15% in 2010/2011.
Despite the decline of snowboard sales overall, freeride boards were up 38% in sales.
739,000 kids participated in cross-country skiing last season.
Girl’s snowshoe popularity grew last season, translating to a 114% increase in girl’s snowshoe sales.
With high safety concerns for the youth market, helmet sales continued to increase; up 17% in unit sales last season.
The Youth Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report is available at no cost to SIA members and $425 for non-members. Be sure to check out SIA’s other Market Intelligence reports covering both women and the overall industry.

SIA provides research that covers all aspects of the snow industry, including demographics, consumer opinions and behavioral patterns, weather patterns, snow sports participation, overall market analysis, and more. Learn more. Be sure to check out the State of the Industry Research Videos that highlight the record 2010/11 winter season. If you have any questions or need research assistance please contact Kelly Davis, SIA’s Director of Research at KDavis@snowsports.org or by phone at 703.506.4224.

- SIA -
SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is the national not-for-profit, North American member-owned, trade association representing suppliers and service providers of snow sports products with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities. Established in 1954, SIA annually produces the SIA Snow Show, the largest snow sports industry trade show, on-snow demo and networking environment globally, while delivering invaluable data/research reports including the Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, SnowSports RetailTRAK and Executive Market Summary. SIA helps grow the industry with consumer initiatives and websites, snowlink.com and wintertrails.org, marketing products, services and programs helping our Members operate more efficiently, bring their products to market and increase participation in snow sports. For more information, check out snowsports.org. SnowSports Industries America, 8377-B Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102-3587. Phone: 703.556.9020, Fax: 703.821.8276, Email: PR@snowsports.org.

Burton Snowboards and Lucasfilm Bring the Force to the Mountain with Limited Edition Star Wars™ Snowboards and Youth Helmet
BURLINGTON, VT (November 7, 2011) Burton Snowboards and Lucasfilm have come together this winter to bring Star Wars™ snowboard gear to groms everywhere. Just in time for the holidays, Burton is offering a super limited run of two new youth snowboarding products inspired by Star Wars, including a RED youth helmet called the ‘Avid Grom R2-D2’ and a limited edition series of Chopper Star Wars™ snowboards for kids.
The Force is definitely with the new Avid Grom R2-D2 helmet, which is designed after everyone’s favorite droid sidekick, and features a lightweight in-molded polycarbonate shell. The collectible new RED helmet also includes the Spin Fit System that allows riders to easily adjust the fit and helmet’s circumference. Other standard features include Airvanced Ventilation™ to customize venting and a goggle gasket to keep goggles in place. Little groms can impersonate the classic Star Wars character both on and off the mountain since the helmet can be worn on snow, for skateboarding or on bike rides. Available in limited quantities starting November 15th in Burton Flagship stores and snowboard shops around the globe, the helmet is the perfect gift for Star Wars fans.

Available now is the series of limited-edition, youth-sized Chopper snowboards that showcase eight different iconic images from the original Star Wars trilogy, including Yoda, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and the original movie poster. The Chopper Star Wars™ youth snowboards come in small sizes that range from 80 cm to 130 cm long. Offering the softest flex possible and lifted edges all the way around, the Chopper allows even the lightest riders to master balance and board control. In addition, the three smallest sizes in the series come complete with grippy foot pads and the Riglet Board Reel accessory, so parents can tow their youngest rippers around until they’re ready to rock bindings.
The Chopper Star Wars™ board series is available now for a suggested retail price of $189.95 each. The Avid Grom R2-D2 Helmet is arriving in stores in mid-November with a suggested retail price of $99.95. Both are available in super limited quantities at Burton Flagship stores and local dealers worldwide.

About Burton
In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards out of his Vermont barn. Since then, Burton has fueled the growth of snowboarding worldwide through its groundbreaking product lines, its team of top snowboarders and its grassroots efforts to get the sport accepted at resorts. In 1996, Burton began growing its family of brands to include boardsports and apparel brands. Privately held and owned by Jake, Burton’s headquarters are in Burlington, Vermont with offices in California, Austria, Japan and Australia. For more information, visit www.burton.com.
Lucasfilm, STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
Follow our line at facebook.com/burtonsnowboards and twitter.com/burtonsnowboard

Today is one of the more exciting days in my home snowmaking
career, for two reasons. First, after years of selling snowmakers
out of necessity, I no longer have to do so. Second, this means
I can go back to how things originally were and give away the
plans to my snowmakers to everyone for free.

I’m not talking about the guys that have “free” plans then make you
buy the parts from them. Rather, I list the exact places we’ve
been buying parts from all these years so you can get the best
deals and show some love to the companies that have been so helpful
to us during the last decade.

Here’s a link to the plans:

http://www.snsnowmaking.com/

The plans cover what parts you need and a few of the most
affordable places to buy them, how to assemble those parts, what
other equipment you’ll need, and how to put the whole thing
together to start making snow.

Once you make snow, head over to our Facebook page and share the
news. I’d love to see pictures of your machines in action as well
as your snow.

As a quick background, for the last decade I’ve been selling home
snowmaking machines to people all over the world. This was never my
plan, but money was tight and people wanted snowmakers. Now, I’m lucky
enough to longer need the income which is why I have made the plans
for our snowmakers free so everyone can enjoy snow, just like it
should be. No more selling, just lots of people enjoying the snowy
fun of winter like it was when I started 12 years ago

Last of all, many of you are probably wondering who won the free
snowmaker. We’ll be giving that away in a few weeks and will send
out more details then. Thanks for all your support these last few
years. Enjoy your snow

Gregg Blanchard

Vail Resorts Announces Passage of Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act in U.S. Congress

BROOMFIELD,Colo.—Oct. 18, 2011—Vail Resorts today announced that the United States Senate unanimously passed the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act, which follows passage by the House of Representatives by a vote of 394-0. This bill updates the statutes governing how the U.S. Forest Service regulates the use of public land by ski resorts and permits new year-round recreational uses, such as zip-lines, mountain biking and ropes courses.

The bill was first introduced into the House of Representatives by then Congressman Udall during the 110th Congress (July 2008) and subsequently reintroduced in the House by Congresswoman DeGette during the 111th Congress (2009-2010) and Congressman Bishop of Utah during the current 112th Congress. The Senate companion has been championed in the Senate by Senator Udall during both the 111th and 112th Congress. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Obama in the upcoming weeks.

“The passage by the Senate of the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act marks a major milestone in the ability for ski resort operators across the country to offer appropriate, year-round recreational activities on U.S. Forest Service lands. The bill will allow ski resorts to add new jobs during the summer and will help increase employment in rural mountain communities across the country. This opens up new opportunities for the entire ski industry,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. Katz added, “We are incredibly appreciative of the outstanding leadership shown by Senator Mark Udall in shepherding this bill during the last three-anda-half years in both houses of Congress. We are also thankful for Congresswoman DeGette and Congressman Bishop for their sponsorship of the bill. It is heartening to see the leaders in our nation’s capital working together in a bipartisan manner to create jobs and help so many local economies. We hope the Forest Service will act quickly to craft regulations that allow for the full realization of the benefits of this bill, while ensuring that we protect the spectacular natural environments which serve as the backdrops for mountain resorts. We look forward to expanding our partnershipwiththe USFS to create new recreational opportunities for kids and families that encourage engagement in outdoor activities.”

About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in theUnited States. The Company’s subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts inColorado, and Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in theLake Tahoearea of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company inJackson Hole,Wyo.The Company’s subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across theUnited Statesand in theCaribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New YorkStock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and the consumer website is www.snow.com.

The North Face launches KNOW Boundaries series to promote snow safety
Skiing and snowboarding athletes head out on a 14-city tour to educate about backcountry dangers

SAN LEANDRO, California — October 19, 2011—The North Face today launched a 14-city KNOW Boundaries Snow Safety Tour, which partners top athletes, including, snowboarder Lucas Debari and mountaineer Conrad Anker, with The North Face and REI stores around the country to provide valuable insight on the knowledge, skills and training required for safe backcountry travel.

“Over the years, we’ve seen that backcountry exploration in the winter months has grown in popularity, and when you’re exploring new zones, having the right gear is essential. But understanding how far you can push the limits can mean the difference between coming home safely or not,” said Aaron Carpenter, vice president of marketing for The North Face. “Our mission is to provide insight on how to stay safe when heading off the beaten path and into the backcountry.”

The North Face, the original big mountain company with a heritage steeped in snow sports, also partnered with Teton Gravity Research to create the video series. The series five-part KNOW Boundaries video series is designed to raise awareness about snow safety and the real dangers of avalanches and features TGR Lead Guide Kent Scheler, The North Face athletes, including Mark Carter, Xavier De Le Rue and Jimmy Chin, as they educate viewers about various aspects of snow and avalanche safety. The 3-5 minute videos focus on topics including weather, snowpack, terrain selection and red flags of the backcountry, as well as personal tips from the professionals who have first-hand avalanche experience.

“There are a lot of things you can do to keep yourself out of an avalanche. Having just survived one, I can tell you that you really don’t want to be caught in one, because you’re no longer in control at that point,” said Jimmy Chin, The North Face skier and mountaineer who survived a 1,000 ft. avalanche slide in April 2011. “The best advice I can give is to take all the variables that are within your control to avoid an avalanche.”

For years, The North Face has incorporated Recco® avalanche rescue reflectors into its line of innovative outerwear products to support safe snow sports activities, as featured in the Enzo Jacket ($449 USD) new this fall. The North Face now offers the brand’s most versatile and convenient technical piece for skiers and snowboarders on the go – the Powder Guide Vest ($189).

Originally designed to meet the demands of hardworking ski patrollers, the Powder Guide Vest enables skiers and snowboarders to carry all of the necessary essentials for sidecountry excursions without the need for a pack. Constructed with ballistic nylon, the Powder Guide Vest fits over the wearer’s shell and features a collection of purpose-built carrying systems and pockets that provide secure and balanced weight distribution for avalanche gear and skis or a snowboard.

Convenient features like a ski/snowboard trap system, external snowboard/ski securing straps and a dual internal media/security pocket improve mobility, while safety features like an exterior shovel head securing system, pocket for your probe, and Recco® avalanche rescue reflector allow skiers and snowboarders to be prepared.

Also new for this fall is a “Snow Safety Checklist” inner label that appears on select Summit Series® and Cryptic® snow sports gear. The icon-based label reminds consumers what to bring and how to prepare before heading into the backcountry. Icons include a map or compass, food and water, first aid kit, shovel, probe, fire, avalanche beacon, multi-use tool, headlamp or flashlight, extra layers, an emergency blanket and communication (tell a friend of your plans).

Get Informed: For more information about snow safety, visit www.thenorthface.com/knowboundaries to watch the KNOW Boundaries safety videos. Visit www.avalanche.org for more details on an avalanche rescue clinic near you.

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snow sport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snow sport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

SIA’s 2011 Women’s Market Intelligence Report Released
Women Influence 80% of Consumer Spending

MCLEAN, Va. (Oct. 11, 2011) – SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is pleased to announce the release of the 2011 Women’s Market Intelligence Report, which provides an in-depth look into women’s spending in the snow sports marketplace. Women are responsible for more than 80% of all consumer spending and despite the fact that more skiers and riders are male, the snow sports market is no exception. Last season women spent a record $941 million on snow sports gear made specifically for them, and had a hand in most other purchasing decisions for their families. SIA breaks all this down and more in the 4th annual edition of the Women’s Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report giving companies an accurate snapshot of what/where/how women were buying in 2011.

“This report is the only place to get women-specific snow sports data including participation, sales, demographics and more,” said SIA Director of Research, Kelly Davis.

Women can be a tough market to crack, but SIA Research has worked hard to pull together this data for companies to better understand the women’s market and adjust brand strategies accordingly. The easy to follow report, including charts and numerical breakdowns, gives companies a competitive edge. Below is a sample of findings in the 2011 Women’s Market Intelligence Report.

2011 Women’s Intelligence Report Highlights:

The top-selling ski in 2010/11 was a women’s ski-the K2 Tru Luv
The typical female snowboarder is between ages 25 and 34
Thirty-four percent of women cross country skiers report household incomes of $100K+
Women’s AT/Randonee boots saw an increase of 214% in unit sales last season
Alpine ski equipment represents 68% of women’s snow sports equipment purchases
Women can fully outfit themselves for skiing or riding for less than $2,000
Snowshoeing brings in the most female participants, making up 46% of the category
Women prefer to shop in specialty shops, where they look for expert advice
The Women’s Market Intelligence is available at no cost to SIA members and $425 for non-members. The 2011 Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, a wide-ranging report of activity in the snow sports marketplace during the 2010/11 season, is also available. Make sure to look out for the 2011 Juniors Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, coming soon.

SIA provides research that covers all aspects of the snow industry, including demographics, consumer opinions and behavioral patterns, weather patterns, snow sports participation, overall market analysis, and more. Lean more. Be sure to check out the State of the Industry Research Videos that highlight the record 2010/11 winter season. If you have any questions or need research assistance please contact Kelly Davis, SIA’s Director of Research at KDavis@snowsports.org or by phone at 703.506.4224.

- SIA -
SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is the national not-for-profit, North American member-owned, trade association representing suppliers and service providers of snow sports products with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities. Established in 1954, SIA annually produces the SIA Snow Show, the largest snow sports industry trade show, on-snow demo and networking environment globally, while delivering invaluable data/research reports including the Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, SnowSports RetailTRAK and Executive Market Summary. SIA helps grow the industry with consumer initiatives and websites, snowlink.com and wintertrails.org, marketing products, services and programs helping our Members operate more efficiently, bring their products to market and increase participation in snow sports. For more information, check out snowsports.org.

Burton Snowboards and Carhartt WIP Team up on 2012 Outerwear Collaboration

BURLINGTON, VT (October 10, 2011) Burton and Carhartt WIP officially launched their new 2011/2012 product collaboration today, with the arrival of co-branded outerwear in select stores around the world.

This is the second project between the two brands, and for 2011/2012 the partnership includes a jacket and pant in a collaborative Burton x Carhartt WIP signature design, blending the technical performance of Burton with the utility-driven workwear look iconic to Carhartt.

The Burton x Carhartt WIP jacket is based off of one of Carhartt’s most popular and rugged designs, aptly called the Traditional. For this project, the special co-branded edition is constructed from a double layer GORE-TEX® Performance Oxford shell featuring fully taped seams protected by 13 mm GORE-SEAM® tape. Further, the authentic work style cut of the Traditional has also been modified, to create a better streetwear silhouette and overall snowboard fit. Other design features include a removable contour hood and corduroy detailing, as well as chest and hand warmer pockets.

The Burton x Carhartt WIP pant is modelled after Carhartt’s classic Single Knee pant, also slightly modified by the collective design team for a better snowboard meets streetwear fit. Fabrication on the pant is also second to none, featuring the double layer GORE-TEX® Performance Oxford shell and GORE-TEX® taped seams. The Burton x Carhartt WIP jacket and pant can be connected via a removable waist gaiter with jacket-to-pant interface for added protection. Both pieces are offered with Burton’s lifetime guarantee.

Available in traditional Carhartt Brown or Black, the Burton x Carhartt WIP jacket and pant are available starting today in key Burton Flagship stores, Carhartt stores and select retailers.

About Burton
In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards out of his Vermontbarn. Since then, Burton has fueled the growth of snowboarding worldwide through its groundbreaking product lines, its team of top snowboarders and its grassroots efforts to get the sport accepted at resorts. In 1996, Burton began growing its family of brands to include boardsports and apparel brands. Privately held and owned by Jake, Burton’s headquarters are in Burlington, Vermont with offices in California, Austria, Japan and Australia. For more information, visit www.burton.com.

Follow our line at facebook.com/burtonsnowboards and twitter.com/burtonsnowboard

Have you ever put on your 686 jacket and wondered how the pattern was made or what the original sketch looked like? Or maybe how it was sewn and how all the parts like zippers, snaps and liners came together? We thought it was time to let you know what goes into each garment, so we created “The Process”, a new in-depth video showcasing the creation of our pieces from start to finish. Cutting, sewing, computer drawings and original sketches, packaging, shipping – you get to see all the components for the first time in our almost 20 year history.

Rider owned and operated, Westlife Distribution USA LLC is the parent company of 686 Clothing Company. Since 1992, Westlife has provided the riding community with innovative, progressive, and technical outerwear and apparel found only in specialty retail locations throughout the world

Log onto www.686.com for more company information

Special Blend 2012: Dedicated to Pushing What is Possible

From First Chair to Last Call, Special Blend’s 2012 website is dialed with all your snowboarding needs. Check out this season’s offering of SB outerwear and apparel for both men and women, then catch up with the team that backs it: Jake Welch, Stevie Bell, Nic Sauvé, Daniel Ek, Niko Cioffi and Austen Sweetin.

New for 2012, Special Blend presents a collection of snowboard outerwear with every piece in the line tailored to fit consistently from the “Revolver” slim fit to the “Freedom” relaxed fit, while providing a flawless match between the garment’s specific look and its on-snow rideability. “Like” your favorite SB jacket or pant on the new site for a chance to win an autographed Vacation poster, tee and video package. For more information, go to http://www.facebook.com/specialblend.

Also, catch Special Blend’s first video release of five starring Jake Welch as he ups the ante charging all day, all night, all season … no matter what. Check back regularly at www.special-blend.com for more from the team and all the latest on Special Blend!