Weird Science - More love from ESPN

We stumbled upon this article by accident and much to our delight.  Getting love from the folks at ESPN was the last thing we expected, and getting love twice within a few months was $#@%ing awesome. The dudes at ESPN obviously know whats up.

I guess we must be doing something right.  What we lack in money and connections, we make up with our passion and drive.  I guess we're on the karma payment plan.

Big thanks to the guys at ESPN for recognizing.

Jeremy Jensen Interview - Starfish Magazine

Grassroots came up big in the latest issue of Starfish Snowskate Magazine with the cover, a full page ad, and an 8 page interview with Jeremy Jensen - Founder/Owner/Designer/Shaper/Builder/Cinematographer/Photographer/Web Designer/PR Guy/etc.. of Grassroots Powdersurfing.  Jeremy is obviously a very busy man (which would explain the lack of blog posts this year) but he (I) found some time to sit down and answer a few questions about surfing powder, videography, photography, and Grassroots Powsurfers.

Peep it.

And finally, our ad.  Please help us keep the dream alive and Buy a Grassroots Powsurfer today!

"Low Tide" Episode 1- The Powsurf Chronicles

The first Episode of the "Powsurf Chronicles"has dropped!
In this episode we take a positive look at "Low Tide" early season riding on a thin snowpack and talk a little bit about OUR version of powsurfing.  We are proud to be the pioneers of taking skate style and true binding-less surf style riding into the powder and the backcountry.  Our vision is centered on progression, creativity, and truly taking advantage of not having a board strapped to your feet.

This winter season has been exceptionally dry across much of the U.S. and one might think that as Powsurfers we would be shut down completely.  But in fact the opposite is true.  We take advantage of what we do have and make what some see as a rough situation, into an awesome one.  This is what makes powsurfing so special.  Being free from bindings, the opportunity for creativity, progression and challenge is endless.  Wether the terrain is large or small, it is as fun and as challenging as the rider chooses to make it.

I could go on for days about the potential of our powdersurfers but you may as well just take a look for yourself.  Sit back an enjoy "Low Tide"

Merry Solstice!

The solstice usually comes on the 21st of December but this year it fell on the 22nd.  I was delighted by this news because I had to work the day of the 21st and I wanted to celebrate properly.  Mother nature dropped 7 inches of the lightest and driest cold smoke she had to offer and served that up sunny skies and cold temps.  Perfect timing for an epic celebration.

We keep getting holiday e-cards sent to me from anyone and everyone... so we hopped on the bandwagon and made a quick little e-card from today's session.




It has been nearly a month since a significant snowfall and this seems to be the case across much of the US.  So the conditions are still low tide and the spots with good coverage and no old tracks are difficult to find but luckily we know just where to find them.

The attitude across the country seems pretty bummed on the conditions but honestly I have been enjoying the hell out of it.  Logged at least 20 good powder days so far and I have only felt the need to strap in once.  Until the big lines fill in.. I just don't see any reason to snowboard.

These early season conditions are a big part of what spawned Powdersurfing in the first place.  Being able to take advantage of the smaller features and maximizing the fun and the challenge keeps things interesting and fresh.  This is just one of the many advantages of Powdersurfing.  If you are not enjoying the season so far, you should probably consider investing in a Grassroots Powdersurfer.  It will change your life.

Follow the Snurf - Powdersurfing some serious vert at Retallack Lodge.

Ian and Neil posted this edit the other day.  I'm always stoked on the Provo Bros edits, no matter if they are skiing, snowboarding, fishing, or powdersurfing.  Good dudes doing what they love... I'm all about it. If anyone was wondering how our Grassroots Powdersurfers handle the deep and light pow in some steep lines, look no further (or of course stay tuned for the "Big Waves" episode in The Powsurf Chronicles).

Here you go.. Ian, Neil and friends slaying the deep on their 140cm Slasher and 140cm Powder Shark.
ENJOY!

The Powsurf Chronicles - Teaser is out!

Introducing "The Powsurf Chronicles" a series of short films about powsurfing.  We will be dropping Chronicles throughout the winter season to keep the stoke running high and share with our audience the things that set Grassroots Powdersurfing (and powsurfing in general) apart from the rest of the world of snow sports.

The teaser is just the tip of the iceberg and it should give you a small glimpse of what's in store for the future.  With so many bangers, hammers and hum-dingers to sift thru, it took a while to get this little teaser done.  We are stoked to pump out a few short videos this year that offer a little glimpse into what we have been up to over the past few years.  The good times, the bad, history, direction, evolution, potential... there are so many avenues to base these films on.. the hard part is picking one and sticking with it.

So here's the tease... and stay tuned for more.  We will crank these out the best we can with the limited time we have.  Hopefully they will open some eyes and minds, and get people stoked to go outside, grab a Grassroots powsurfer, and go get a face full of powder.

Shot, Edited, Directed, and Produced by Jeremy Jensen.  

Other cameras: Josh Surna, Aaron Hunt, Craig Stevenson, Kanika Koh, Erik Haberstick, and Dave Smellie.

Radio Interview with The Ogden Outdoor Adventure Show

I received an email from Brandon Long with the Ogden Outdoor Adventure show requesting a radio interview.  He wanted to talk about Grassroots Powdersurfing.... the boards, the history, and the future.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW.
Jeremy Jensen interview - Grassroots Powdersurfing

Link the the blog post on Odgen Outdoor Adventure site:

Big Thanks to Brandon Long, the Ogden Outdoor Adventure show, and Jeff Young, who helped get the ball rolling on this.

Shapes, scraps, and customs... decisions.

We have been hard at work stocking up on boards for the upcoming season.  Over the past spring and summer we've been playing a bit with some new shapes and styles.. . taking advantage of some of the scraps that are lying around.  We are excited to get some of these on the snow.  There are a few that we just built for fun and they probably aren't the best everyday boards.. but they will have their days where they rip for sure.  Unfortunately we will have to wait for snow to fall to find out.

 "The Blue Bomber" is just one of a bunch of experimental shapes we've got brewing.  

Makeshift kick tail support for the flat backed boards.  Helps keep the feet on but we are finding that the flat tailed decks are not super playful.

We have built and tested 30+ different shapes and sizes and it's pretty cool to discover all of the differences in the way each one rides.  Some subtle and others are very apparent.  Some ride great and some will do better hanging on a wall somewhere.  Shape is key.

A small collection of the quiver that has built up over the past 4 years.. the room wasn't big enough for the whole quiv.

 We decided to stick to a few shapes and sizes that have been tried and true for the 2011 line.  


Shaping is a blast but we had to narrow down what we were going to offer to the public for now.  There are a couple more that we may release after they have been properly tested and dialed in but this will likely be the line.

Adam in AZ is an old Winterstick rider from the 70's.  He saw what we have been doing and liked what was amped to have a custom board made for him.  I customized this "Rocket" for him shaped for his height, weight and foot size.  I wish I could have taken a few rides on her before I sent it off.

Custom "Red Rocket" built for Adam in AZ.

Easter Weekend Offerings - Day 2

So much powder to slash - so little time

Day 2 of Easter weekend greeted us with blue skies and nice cool temps again. We rallied up to a familiar zone and bagged a few long north facing lines to start off the morning. Slashed a few lips, popped some ollies, shredded some ditches and dropped some rocks. So much fun. RC had to bail out early but I decided to stick around and grab a few shots I had been thinking about.

whip slash in the middle of "ditch fest" - one of my favorite low consequence powsurf runs

I sessioned this little wall hit for a few airs before moving on to a new zone. Good for a few ollies and a backside 180.

This area is well known for its numerous caves and sink holes. There are 3 huge sink holes and a big cave near this area. I got brave and didn't bother to wear a leash or anything for a few jumps.. This resulted in the near loss (forever) of one of my boards. I slammed, the board went flying down the mountain and literally rode the wall of a bottomless sink hole a few hundred feet down the mountain. Note to self... wear your leash.

My runaway board literally rode the bowl around this sink hole. You can see it's track at the bottom of the pic. I threw some stuff down this hole and I could not hear it hit the bottom... I was super lucky not to lose my board for good.

The weather warmed up a bit so I moved on to another zone a few miles away and a bit higher up to find some colder snow to ride. The light was fading fast so my options were pretty limited but I found this hump that was begging to be slashed. Notice the gloveless right hand - I snapped this with a remote shutter controller.

I took a nice break on the upper peaks, looking around for some features and making some plans for the late afternoon light. This is one of my favorite spots in the world to chill. I've been coming to this spot for over 20 years and it never gets old. It really makes me appreciate the beautiful area I am so lucky to live in.

As golden hour approached pieces of sunshine became more difficult to find. I managed to find a decent NW facing slope where I could ghostride my sled down and make some late evening turns.

High powered slash

Head plant... from trying to slash too hard.

The sun got even lower until I was limited to the very tops of the ridges for sunlight. I set up a few shots hoping to catch some golden light. (these are NOT the shots) these are frame grabs from the video I was shooting.... of me shooting the shots - if that makes sense. The light didn't pop much in these frame grabs.

Here's a shot of me getting a shot of me

As the sun dropped farther into the western skyline I scrambled to find a zone where the "golden light" would be shining. My options were limited this late in the evening but I managed to find a few features that were surfable before the sun set. It was a dark and cold trip home, I was pretty beat down from the 12+ hour powsurf session.

New Shape Test in the Mashed Potatoes

We snowmobiled for a few miles before we finally hit the snow line. It was sopping wet and it was raining/snowing. We were lucky enough to find a tree filled zone with rideable snow. A wicked rime crust had formed above 8700 feet and the rain line was at around 8000 ft. Our zone was right in the sweet spot in between.

A mix of wind crust and coastal mashed potato powder was on the menu for the day. We managed to have a great time and the new shape I just designed cut thru that shit like a hot knife thru butter.

Winter is upon us. Surf's up!

Crackin an ollie in the forest.

Winter came quick and with a vengeance in Utah this year. Before I knew it there was nearly two feet of pow in my yard and 40-50 inches up in our nearby mountains. I should stay home and keep working on this snowboard/powdersurf film that's been in the works for a couple of years now, but it is just too difficult when I know there is pow to be slashed.

The usual early season zones were in full effect so I made some time to get some powdersurfing in. A couple of quick sessions with my dog was all I needed to get me in the right mood. I came home inspired to finish up this film... so I can move on to the next project. Which will likely be a longer powsurfing documentary of sorts.

I learned to snowboard in this zone 21 years ago... I have visited this place for early season riding every year for the past 21 years. Damn, that makes me feel like an old timer.

Happy Anniversary... 21 years!

Kickflip

FS air

360 Shovit

Storm-dog looking for critters to harass.

When the sun and warm weather comes out and kills the snow quality there is still some fun to be had. We packed out a little kicker and proceeded to get our skate on.

We used to joke about one day being able to do a 360 kickflip on a powsurfer... well, today was the day I guess.

Rider: Jeremy Jensen Photo: Josh Serna

Ever year a small rail garden grows down in the campground. Kids bring up new rails and logs every year and when the road is no longer passable the rails become buried for the winter and are confiscated after the snow melts in the spring. Some how the garden re-grows every year near the same spot. This years garden was quite nice and I was able to jib and bonk a few things on the powsurfer before it got buried.

Tubular.

Fresh Beaver!

The solid early snowpack caught our local ski resort by surprise so we were able to get quite a few preseason days at the resort in. Bindinless boards are forbidden within the resort boundaries here during the season so this was our window to get some powsurfing in. Sorry to all the people who showed up opening day to an already tracked out mountain... :)

I assure you we had a great time cutting it up.

Dec 4, 2010

The 'Beav is now opened up to the public so now I am forced into the side-country runs- which is fine with me. That is where the goods are at anyways. Dave and I made it up there for some backside runs... super fun as usual, especially in the low snowpack. Baby pillows galore!

Dave blasting down the backside..

First Day of the New Season! - October 27, 2010

Oh Magog.

Nearly two feet of snow had fallen over the past few days and I was itching to get out. I had crushed my foot while moving a big boulder out of the landing of one of our jumps the day before the storm hit and my foot was swollen and in a lot of pain, but I really had to get out and slash some pow.

All the homies in town were stuck at work so Storm-dog and I had our own session. The snowpack was pretty damn good for this early in the season. We are pretty limited to the grassy slopes this time of year, so we made the most of it- Jumping the little bumps and mini rollers and slashing as much pow as possible on a couple of different powdersurf boards.

The powsurf quiver for today..

Storm is getting older and slowing down a bit, but he's still loving fresh pow

I was quickly reminded of how damn fun it is to ride these silly boards. Gotta love the simple pleasures in life.

Self portrait slasher

My mind gets board with no one to talk to up in the hills so I decided to take some photos and video of the day. Since my dog cannot operate a camera, I had to do it all myself. The action still shots didn't work out so great but I managed to get a couple of shots that were ok. The video turned out pretty good though...

Check it:

Best Powsurfing Day Ever....

The ride up
I ripped 6 backsides at the beav today on my powsurf. It was nothing short of epic. The foot and a half of pow made for nearly ideal conditions. Big thanks to Travis and Nick for catering to my needs and letting me ride the lift. Bindingless boards of any kind are strictly forbidden on the front side of the beav- but they let me have my way with the backcountry.

I shot a couple of runs POV style (if you think riding without bindings is tough try filming yourself riding without bindings) and they actually came out pretty sick. I get alot of weird looks and strange comments - "what the hell is that thing?" is a pretty common one. Pretty much anyone picking me up on the hitch hike back up thought I was nuts.

Make no mistake- this powsurfing stuff is for real. I cannot believe how much fun I had. No desire to even ride my snowboard in this type of terrain. I can't wait for next time.

chillin at the backside tree about to drop in.

Buzz helped me out and did a little filming for a run - this made the riding much better for me without a backpack and a camera in my hand. I will post the footy asap.

Grassroots Powdersurfing

Will Powdersurfing change the world? Maybe... Will it replace snowboarding? No. Does it make you feel like a little kid when you do it? Yes. Is it incredibly fun? Yes. Is it here to stay? Hell yes.

I am proud to be a part of nurturing this new sport and helping push the possibilities. I think that we have something truly unique here that may help shape the future of winter board sports. In my opinion, the advantages our boards offer over existing bindingless snowsliders is unique and completely legit. Our audience is somewhat limited to those with access to powder - but the possibilities for progression are endless.

Introducing "Grassroots Powdersurfing". A line of powdersurf boards for all types of riders. This is NOT "noboarding", this is not "snowskating"... it is "Powdersurfing". A unique sport heavily influenced by snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing.

All who have tried these boards are instantly hooked. And for good reason. There is so much fun to be had and so many possibilities.

I will be updating this blog as often as I can and will be linking to a previous blog containing Powdersurf related entries that I have logged over the past 3 years. I have poured countless hours into creating the best boards I can with my resources. Countless hours documenting adventures with photo and video. Blood, sweat, tears, time, and money sacrificed to try to make this into something we can share with like-minded people.

Moonlight Powdersurfing Repeat

It was so much fun that I had to go back for more. It's not often you get a full moon on a clear night and good snow conditions. I had a couple of photo/video ideas I wanted to experiment with. They didn't really work out- I need a couple more pieces of gear to make it happen for real.

The ghost of the big perm will forever live where there is deep snow and powdersurfing to be had.

I built a little jump that was lit well by the moonlight but not enough to make the video very clear. The photos worked OK but I need to buy some slave flashes to make it really work how I want.

This shot didn't really work. I need some flashes to make it happen. The one in my hand didn't quite cut it.