Boa® Technology Adds Backbone Media, Marketing Muscle

Boa® Technology, Inc., makers of the award-winning, patented Boa® Lacing System, has retained Backbone Media, of Carbondale, Colorado, to manage all public relations efforts. The move follows the recent hiring of industry veteran Garett Graubins as Marketing Manager.boa_primary3

“We needed a partner that thoroughly understands online white label website development techniques and the many categories in which we play, knows our product first-hand, and is not afraid to challenge the status quo,” said Boa Technology Founder and CEO Gary Hammerslag. “Backbone’s ability to do all of the above impressed us and we’re thrilled to begin work with them.”

With offices in Steamboat Springs, Denver, Colorado and Tokyo, Japan, Boa Technology, Inc., is the creator of the award-winning, patented Boa Lacing System. The revolutionary Boa® Lacing System optimizes boot design and enables a more “dialed in fit”. The ultimate result is superior performance and a level of customizable comfort never before experienced in the snowboard and ski boot industry.

“Boa Technology is a highly innovative ingredient brand with a focus on performance,” comments Nate Simmons of Backbone Media. “We look forward to working with the Boa team and their partners as we leverage existing momentum and expand to new markets.”
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Cloudveil Launches Cribs Video Contest

Are you living the true dirtbag lifestyle? If so, Cloudveil wants to see it. Shoot your own Skid Crib video and email the embed to tmc@cloudveil.com. The public will vote on their winning skid crib right at Cloudveil’s Video Gallery.

prizesThe winning entry will receive a complete Cloudveil outfit, a pair of Dynastar Legend Pro Rider skis with Look bindings, and a year subscription to Powder Magazine, along with some other swag. Show us your digs, be PG-13, and maybe you can be sporting some new gear this season.

Go to www.cloudveil.com/cribs for full contest info, rules and regulations.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AKKHlzfgQY&hl=en&fs=1]

Kästle Pro Team 2008 DVD “Comeback of the Year”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ud_DzOu0qU]

Kästle is back! With a new lineup of skis and some of the world’s best freeskiers, Kästle is here to stay.

The “Comeback of the Year” DVD follows each of the Kästle athletes through their 2008 season with a fine selection of the purest snow, a sweet sound and a load of action. Featuring Hugo Harrisson, Chris Davenport, Sascha Schmid, Giulia Monego, Griffin Post as the flying Postman, Martin McFly Winkler and Willie Volckhausen as a special guest with his 2 dogs. The DVD will be released come Christmas, so check it out!

An Action Packed Weekend for Kästle

kastle-ski-shot

Last Friday, a slew of journalists hit the slopes at Copper Mountain to dust off the cobwebs and test out some of Kästle new 2008 skis. The conditions couldn’t have been better with over five trails open, no lift lines, and clear skis. Journalists were able to test out several skis while taking numerous laps with Kästle athlete, Chris Davenport.

Last Lift Ride of the Day
Also, present was Kästle’s R&D director, Oliver Binder who came especially for the event to answer questions regarding the designs and development of Kästle skis. Overall, the day was a great success; numerous skis were tested, we closed down the mountain and no one experienced their first crash of the season.
Oliver awarding Hamilton Sports

Saturday, the Kästle crew relocated to Aspen to award Bill Miller, owner of
Hamilton Sports with Kästle’s 2008 Retailer of the Year. The award recognizes the top North American Kästle retailer with the strongest Kästle sales in the 2007/08 ski season. Hamilton has been a stand out retail shop since becoming a Kästle dealer in 2007.

Congrats Hamilton Sports!!

Award

Where in the world is Chris Davenport?

New Zealand? Possibly

Argentina? Maybe

How about Chile?

Strike three. None of the above.

Kästle athlete, Chris Davenport has spent the last week climbing and skiing some of Antarctica’s super steep couloirs. Surrounded by breathtaking icebergs, thousands of Gentoo penguins, Weddell seals, and Humpback whales Chris has had quite the adventure.

Click on the links below and read more about Dav’s time in Antarctica

Red Bull Skiing

Chris Davenport’s Website

Training like Lance

Len and Lance on the Podium

Len and Lance on the Podium

Our boy Len Zanni from Big Agnes/Honey Stinger had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race with Lance Armstrong this summer at the 12 Hours of Snowmass race. Len is a typical Roaring Fork Valley sandbagger, so you’d never know it from talking to him that he’s one of the best cyclists in the Valley, if not the state. At the Snowmass race, Len held his own, riding laps just a couple minutes slower than Lance and helping their three-man team to victory.

b-town-marbleAs winter sets in here and the snow starts to fly, Len and I have been trying to squeeze in as much riding as we can, unlike the rest of the Backbone crew, which is solely focused on skiing now. (click photo on right to see our friend B-town ripping some early-season powder grass during a mission in nearby Marble with JLD last weekend).

Len and I were plotting our winter training yesterday, talking about getting in one road ride per week, with lots of gym time and skate skiing to maintain fitness. Then I stumbled across Lance’s winter training plan as explained by Chris Carmichael on Bicycling.com.

Lance’s Training Outline
2 x per week 5-5.5 hrs endurance pace
2 x per week 3-4 hrs endurance pace with 2 x 20minutes at just below LT pace (380-400watts)
1 x per week Tuesday-night ride
1 x per week 3-4 hrs with 2 sets of 4 x 20seconds max effort x 40 seconds recovery
1 x per week–day of for travel, rest.

Uhh yeah, Len, you’re going to have a tough time keeping up with Lance next year.

Here are a few reasons why choosing a recumbent bike can be beneficial for you and your family.

Worth The Read!

Christian Pondella

“I took this photo of Chris Davenport in Portillo, Chile. We were trying to capture a creative angle while skiing a classic run called the “Super C Couloir.” I mounted my Nikon F5 to my chest with a 16mm fisheye and chased Chris down the run while I triggered the camera with a wire cable in my mouth,” states Christian Pondella.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Christian Pondella, here is the beta. Pondella is an adventure sports photographer who has worked with a wide variety of companies as well as athletes, such as Kästle athlete, Chris Davenport. In a recent interview by Crash Taylor, Pondella gives the reader a glimpse into his life and most recently his adventure to the Alps with Chris Davenport.

Click on the image above to view more of Pondella photographs and his interview with Crash Taylor.

Happy Halloween

It started innocently enough – a bowl of candy and Sue in a Witch outfit. Then Mavis wanted to borrow my West Highland Terrier, Skadi, to be Toto as an accessory to her Dorothy outfit.

Just another day at the office

Just another day at the office

Next thing you know JLD is in a baby blue POC speed suit, with a Julia custom helmet and BD Megawatt skis. Things have settled down now that JLD aka Eddie the Eagle has quit his practice jumps off the sofa.

JLD hard at work

JLD hard at work

Back to work at Backbone – Happy Halloween.

The World’s Greatest Ski Pass

According to Globorati today, Great Canadian Heli-Skiing has announced a $100,000 winter-long pass that gives holders unrestricted access to British Columbia’s Interior Mountains. The Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass, valid December 26 through March 28, includes unlimited daily helicopter rides to the range’s most secluded powder and a personal powder concierge to keep you up to date on current conditions.

Ummm…. I think I speak for everyone at Backbone when I say, Yeaaaah, I want one.