I was 15, and the snowparks era had already begun.

Changes have always happened and they are the ones that made the evolution possible. However, sampling a fairly short period of time you realize that they happen so fast.

It’s not about good or bad, but about how attached we are to our behaviors. Being already in the post-Facebook era, we all could agree in how easy it is to make us change or adapt to new habits, specially if they make our life easier (or lazier).

But bringing the topic back to the snowboarding, how aware are we about those changes that make our lives -aka- snowboarding easier?

I’m not sure if I wanna change those good old days of digging powder, getting stoked on every little hop and chasing the snow, for man maid obstacles placed strategically to make us happy, to make life (and snowboarding) easier or, again, lazier.

Views of the Dachstein Glacier this weekend

Everyday I’m more convinced that we all live in Disneyland. And for “we all” I mean all the people that somehow get to do what the most of the people would never even think it’s possible. Let me explain this better: for instance now, at this precise moment I’m sitting in a plane after a working weekend thousands of kilometers away from home. For the big majority this would be a nightmare: working on a weekend and being so far away that you have to spend all your Sunday in airports and train stations. And said like this, it even sounds awful to me. But if we do a step back and get a slightly wider perspective is when it all makes sense: when I work I feel like I’m on vacation, and when I’m on vacation, I’m bored. Thereby I’m never on vacation.

For the “mass”, snowboarding is something reserved for those special weekends, or holidays that they have been waiting for the whole year. For us, it’s part of our daily routine. And this involves a lot of other aspects that make of our small world an even smaller place to be, and without big distances there is no limits. What’s real and what’s fantasy is a whole different story, however what is clear is that all this is part of our fantastic reality. Hopefully we’ll never have to wake up.

Mammoth Hot Springs, aka the middle of nowhere

Looking back to the early Spring while working through my pictures, I can still feel the Lake Tahoe’s breeze on my face, smell the Mammoth’s hot springs water, hear my friends from Breckenridge laughing out loud and taste the white cheddar popcorn that became so necessary in our road trip to the west.

And what do I want to say with all these? Places around the world can feel so similar and so different at the same time. It’s just a matter of little details that make you realize of how different the same lifestyle can become in two separate places. But also, and most importantly, how necessary it becomes to adapt yourself depending on where you are.

But, how complicated can that be? And how natural and simple it can eventually feel…

At first, I thought it would be easier if I weren’t too attached to my roots, and after many years I’ve understood it’s not a matter of origins but of willingness to keep being yourself everywhere you go, and still share it with others, because it’s only then when memories become memorable.

Thank you Perry!

I couldn’t open this section any better: Seth Hill features the first of many “5 favorites” clips. Enjoy!

Thank you Seth!

I always feel curious about the designing process of sports, and specially, snowboard clothing, so I’m happy I can share some questions I asked to Laura Bentley, who has been a designer in many areas for 8 years and for the last one has been Head of Design for Westbeach. In her words “designing snowboarding outerwear is the best.”

What’s so special about Weastbeach?
Westbeach has going since 1979, so for a snowboarding brand it’s got a really rich heritage.  It’s been through a lot of changes over the years, but it’s has a special place in snowboarding culture, a lot of riders remember their first Westbeach jacket.  This brand endures because of its connection with the sport, its belief in what it does, and I think by being just way too stubborn not to exist!

If you could do anything, what would you like to design?
Wow- this is quite a hard question for me to answer!  How about a full Westbeach Chalet? I would design every thing in it, from your toothbrush, to the clothes in your walk in wardrobes and the full bar (obviously, there would be a bar).  I love trying anything new, so, I guess I’ve copped out of this question a bit by designing everything!!

What makes you tick? Where do you gain your inspiration?
People inspire me. Since doing this job, I have met so many amazing people who work in the snowboarding industry.  It’s really important for me to design with them in mind, I love that people will always tell me about their favorite hoody that they bought years ago, or the pants that they wore for a full season despite the fact that they were ripped to shreds.  People have such an emotional attachment to clothing, whether you realize it or not, it can really be an important part of the snowboarding experience.

The great thing about this industry is everyone is buying the product because they love it, they’re excited to get up the mountain and try it out, and you’re a part of that experience for them. I find that infinitely cool!

What’s your main focus when you design the outerwear: technical aspects, look and style, comfort…?
I start with the look and style in mind of what we want, and then add in the functional elements we need the garment to have (powder skirts / goggle pockets / fully adjustable hoods and cuffs etc), then we start sourcing fabrics.  Our fabric development is a really important part of the process, as we always have 10k waterproofing and 10k breathability as a minimum performance standard.

Then we start sampling- we always get our friends, & team riders to give them a road test, and give us any feedback.  If they don’t make the grade for technical or comfort reasons, then we either fix it or go back to the drawing board.  It can’t just look good but feel wrong- no way!

 Everyone who has been into boardsports for a while knows Westbeach from back in the day when it was still based in Canada. Now that is owned by an English company what are you doing to bring it back to the World?
We’re is a Canadian Brand at heart, in fact we still have almost as many staff in Canada as we do in the UK. (you’ve gotta love skype!)  Westbeach was originally founded in 1979, so it’s really been there from the start of the sport and has gone through many changes over the years.  We take feedback and direction  from our team riders from all over the globe, but I think the Brands soul will always be in Canada.  We are distributed in most of the markets we want to be in with the notable exception of USA, I think we’re just waiting for the right opportunity for that one.

Do you like designing sport oriented clothes or would you much rather be working in the fashion industry?
I much prefer designing sports oriented clothing.  Over my career I have worked for other brands doing more ‘fashion’ type product, but outerwear in particular is so much more challenging- there is so much to consider from a practical point of view, it can be like a puzzle getting all of the elements just right.  I actually love the complexity of it. Who wants an easy life anyway?

What new styles are coming for the next season?
For 12/13 we’ve got a great Women’s duffle jacket, which I can’t wait to get my hands on.

For men’s we’ve got the Garage Jacket which I’m really pleased with, it’s got a real street wear layered look about it, but great performance too- no compromises!  We’ve got some new t-shirts hitting the website next month too, for those who can’t wait for winter for their Westbeach hit!

THANK YOU LAURA!

What to see:
Drive all the way up north to Portinatx and watch the waves break by the lighthouse, wonder around the Dalias Hippie Market on a Saturday, walk through the Ibiza shopping street “carrer d’Enmig” on a Sunday when everything is closed, have a sun bath naked in Cala Olivera and contemplate Es Vedrá while sitting in a weird yoga position. These are some of the most refreshing and inspiring activities you can do in the White Island, and what you can’t miss is a sunset in Cala Compte. You will just become someone new.
Where to go out:
You can probably find party information in every single site that talks about Ibiza, but you know what, not in mine. I don’t have a clue and I don’t care. Ibiza is an island to experiment and recharge your energy with its naturally beautifully places. But yes! Go ahead and have fun and pay the most expensive drinks in the history!

Ibiza is the place to be, however if you don’t like the crowds avoid going from mid June till the end of August, early spring and fall are just amazing. If you have a van or a little camper van take it with you!

Give them a hand and sign in here: http://tiny.cc/saveskateparkamsterdam . It won’t take you more than 30 seconds!

This is what people from Skatepark Amsterdam have to say:

“Kinetic North Foundation has unilaterally terminated the contract for leasing property at the SkatePark Amsterdam NDSM area as of the 1st of August.

After almost 12 years they have decided to end the partnership between the Kinetics Foundation and North SkatePark Amsterdam Foundation. SkatePark Amsterdam has been the co-initiator for starting the biggest art and culture breeding area of Europe at the NDSM wharf, Amsterdam.  

Our reach since 2005 has been more than 600,000 people worldwide… and still counting. In 2011 we received over 37,000 visitors to the park and each week we gave lessons to over 100 kids! All of this possible through pure skateboarding and BMX.

We are a city youth project which is highly rated internationally and was created by skaters, for skaters. This is something we are very proud of and we believe to be the reason for our growth and success in the international community.

We pay rent and do not get government funding.

Since December 2011 negotiations with Kinetic North Foundation started with the aim to relocate the Skate Park Amsterdam, but without notice they surprised us with the recent announcement that Kinetic North Foundation will put an immediate stop to the negotiation and chose to terminate the current lease contract and in essence evict SkatePark Amsterdam from its home.

Kinetic North Foundation has made it very clear that they want to re-develop the NDSM warehouse for possible office buildings. Things the city has an abundance of and does this without supporting or relocating Skatepark Amsterdam. This action is thus destroying the community that not only uses this park locally in Amsterdam, but also destroying the community that has been created across the globe that has used and benefitted by SkatePark Amsterdam. SkatePark Amsterdam has been a destination for people of all ages, both sexes, families, communities, professionals, creatives and put Amsterdam on the map.

We need your help to band together and show the city and this foundation of development that we are a community that is willing to fight for what they love and believe in and demand to save the SkatePark Amsterdam.

Please support this campaign and sign up, promote it to your friends on facebook, everyone else’s friends on facebook or instagram, send the petition to the brands that support the park, basically to everyone and anyone who understands the importance of having this park and what it provides to the community of Amsterdam and beyond.

We ask that you sign the petition before the 1st of August to make it very clear to the tenant SKN and the Amsterdam City Council that we dont want to leave. Let us stay, lets develop together, as we have only just got started! 

Thanks from SkatePark Amsterdam“