Memorial Day Powder & Mush

Mother nature hit the reset button

Just last week I was telling a friend that this years season came to an end sooner than any year that I can remember.  Well, it's not over 'til mother nature says it is and she just decided to deliver nearly a foot and a half of pow to the nearby mountains here in Northern Utah.  When the low clouds cleared out on a lazy and rainy sunday afternoon my eyes lit up at the sight of some surprisingly thick white stuff in the upper foothills.  I checked the snotel data and it was reading cold temps and 12 inches of snow and counting!

I pulled out my gear and got on the phone to some friends.. I'm all about these bonus pow days and I would feel guilty if I didn't seize the opportunity.  At first light the next morning I was on the road, the contrast of the green trees and hillsides covered in fresh white snow made for an awesome drive.  I left a bit earlier than the rest of the crew cause I know that May powder has a really short shelf life, and it turns to muck in a hurry.

CHECK THE QUICKIE VIDEO RE-CAP!

Rolling with a quiver for some late season R&D testing

First run of the day was the real deal.  Light and dry powder

Our powder turned into coastal style muck in less than an hour but still made for some great turns

There was practically no base under the new snow so navigation on the sleds was a bit tricky.  Luckily I had tried to go riding a couple of weeks ago so I knew where the remaining ribbons of snow were at.  I buzzed up to the top and managed to hike a couple of quick laps in the upper fields before anyone else arrived.  I could feel the snow getting thicker every run.  Any direct sun this time of year puts a quick damper on the powder slashing.  So when my friends arrived we sought out the most north-facing tree runs in the area and proceeded to throw around the powder and muck.

hucking some muck around on one of the Phish series boards

The B-line into the "G-spot" is a classic early season shot.. tight entry and high speed thru the apron. We were dealing with early season style coverage so this run was at the top of my hit list.

Grassroots Powsurfers dominate in the powder and the mush.   

DeJaVu - My powsurfing season started and ended in this exact spot.

As the day progressed snow quality plummeted.  Sunny spots became sticky and unrideable and the melting snow in the tree tops began raining down on the snow below.  That's May powder for you... it doesn't last long so you gotta be on time.   As a powsurfer, I couldn't be happier.  Instead of ending on a sour note (last week we were stranded by rocks and dry ground) we got a late season bonus dump and the powsurf season ended in style.  It's going to be a busy summer dialing in next years boards and accessories so I have a feeling that next winter will be here before we know it.

Grassroots Powsurfing - World Wide

9 boxes shipping out to 7 different countries.

After deciding a few years ago to test the waters for the public's acceptance of this thing we call "powdersurfing" we couldn't be happier with the results so far.  We made a big push this season to spread the word in whatever ways we could. Having limited time and few resources or connections, we decided the best thing to do was to let the riding and the concept speak for itself.   We did this thru the creation of a few short films (The Powsurf Chronicles) and repurposed some of our existing video content.  The power of social media was our biggest ally.  People saw something that sparked their interest and it opened their eyes to something familiar but new.  The parallels within powdersurfing and other forms of self expression such as skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing are an obvious connecting force for like minded people.  Videos were shared and word spread rapidly all over the world.

                  Emiliano was one of the first of a number of Italians to see the light.  -Italian Alps.

                                                    Ready for action in Hokkaido Japan

There seems to be a mixed bag of reasons for the acceptance of powsurfing.  Some people seem to view powsurfing as a refreshing departure from the overly plastic and manufactured state of "snowboarding" today and a return to the essence of riding pow.  Some see the potential and freedom inherent to a sport where the rider and board are independent of each other.  Perhaps it becomes more legit in their eyes because they are actually balancing (riding) on a board rather than having it strapped on, acting as an extension of their body. Others may have noticed that the ski industry that looked down on snowboarding for decades now owns 80% of it, and they want to get away from that. Some people are just surfers and skateboarders at heart and they know a good thing when they see it. There is a clear connection to the true soul of snowboarding and of riding boards in general.  Others may be intrigued by the fact that we choose to offer limited runs of an environmentally friendly handmade product rather than mass producing huge runs of disposable boards made from toxic chemicals in sweatshops overseas. Whatever the reason, we are stoked that people are digging what we are doing here.

We think that the biggest factor in powdersurfing's acceptance is the fact that it is pure.  Driven by a personal quest for fun and a passion for self expression.  You don't need a ski lift or a $1,500 kit of snowboard, boots, bindings, and matching clown suit.  You just need a board, warm clothes and some inner drive. Once you have tasted the sweet nectar that is powsurfing, you will be back for more, by whatever means necessary.

Bryan Iguchi - Tasting the nectar .

WORLD WIDE

Reaction has been overwhelmingly positive and this positivity has no borders.  Our boards are now spread all over Europe.  Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, and the UK.  The Japanese embrace the concept of powsurfing and are perhaps the most enthusiastic and accepting of all.  Canadians of course are into it, some stick with a pad and a rope on a snowboard deck (noboarding) while others are taking the next step and ditching the rope and snowboard for a board that is shaped and designed for a true bindingless experience.

Big Thanks to Go Insane specialty shop in Hokkaido Japan for keeping its shelves stocked with powsurfers this winter season.

                                    Hokkaido Japan - These guys brought the whole quiver!

If you're not falling down, you probably aren't learning.  These guys know the drill. -Japan 

USA

It seems that we have shipped more boards out of the US than we have shipped within the US.  Within the US, the East has come up surprisingly tough ... Conneticut, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, and North Carolina to name a few.  The wester states have been surprisingly weak considering the ample powsurfing conditions that exist.  Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Montana... pretty much every state west of Colorado has bought at least a board or two.  We would have expected a lot more in these areas, but it has been a relatively dreary winter season across much of the US.

It could be the combination of a lot of factors.. a poor US economy, the "Americans are lazy" stereotype, the "Americans like cheap plastic crap" theory, maybe it looks to hard, or maybe people are just content without the extra challenge or unbeatable feeling that comes from powsurfing.  We think that they just need a little more exposure to powsurfing and a chance to give it a try.  Everyone that has set foot on our boards in the right conditions has been instantly sold on it.  People just need a little taste... So as we grow, we will make it a point to make sure that people get that opportunity.

Colorado shred Bob Aubrey lost his powsurf virginity on a trip to Japan.  He caught right on and he's never been the same since.

Edred repping Colorado

It seems like people don'r realize how easy it can be to find great powsurf terrain and stashes.  It is so scalable either way, small and easily accessible terrain can be really fun and a breeding ground for creativity.  You can get more "skate-like" in the smaller stuff and take advantage of any bump or log.  Big terrain is just epic, just like with snowboarding, this is the dream terrain... high speed - high consequence big wave powsurfing.  We aim to educate and open the world's eyes to what powdersurfing is all about.  If we get them to experience even for a few seconds the feeling we get from riding these boards then our job is done, and powdersurfing can live or die within them.

Skylar G had no trouble getting his first turns in on some slushy wet sierra spring pow

Chris G from Splitboard.com getting his feet wet for the first time in the Sierras.

It pays to have a sled to get you up to where the pow is at in the late spring. The Cheetah Factory Racing racks are rigged up here to make it work.

Grassroots Powdersurfing is stoked to be working with ex pro snowboarder Dave B at Cheetah Factory Racing this summer to create a rack designed to carry powsurfers and snowboards.  

Jason H. getting in touch with his inner sledneck for the first time.

Take note of the shit eatin grin on Jason's face..... thats what we are talking about!

SIBERIA!

As I was typing this Russia was added to the list.  Ivan is the proud owner of the first Grassroots powsurfer in Siberia.  (Thanks for your help Sergey)

Sergey and Ivan taking the dogs for a walk to some remaining patches of snow in Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk krai, Siberia

Ivan couldn't wait for next years powder to arrive, he went right out and found something slidable.

The Guch is one of many snowboard legends that have caught the bug.

 We are stoked to get boards in the hands of snowboard, skate, and surf legends.  Their credibility is huge and this will really help people see the light. A little taste is all it takes and if people have even a fraction of the amount of fun we have riding these decks then this could really blow up.

Here's to the future.

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.

Goods In The Woods! - The Powsurf Chronicles Episode 2

Technical difficulties have created a bit of a delay on the release of our Chronicles Episodes but with the purchase of a new computer combined with severe sleep deprivation and blood shot eyes.. we are getting things back on track.

"Goods in the Woods" is a flashback to last years epic la nina winter season.  We didn't see many sunny days for a few months there but the snow stacked up like never before.  Stormy days forced us into the woods where the visibility improved and the snow was epic.  Enjoy a few minutes of virtual faceshots on us!

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"

Buoloco.com Interview and story

I had watched many interviews with top snowboarding pros over the years on Buoloco.com and I was stoked to get the call from Eduardo for a quick ichat and story.

Check it! 
http://www.buoloco.com/web6/content/powdersurfing-jeremy-jensen

SLOPE Magazine - double pager!

We got an nice double page spread published in Issue 3 of "SLOPE - The Snowskate Magazine" early 

this winter.  Wooo hoo!  Congrats to Craig Stevenson for snapping the shot, Jeremy Jensen (myself) for dropping the bomb and props to mother nature for suppling a beautiful day in the Utah backcountry and a nice powder filled landing.

We would have loved to see a little write up in there on Grassroots Powdersurfing to go along with the shot that sticks out as one of the best in the mag... but we can't complain.. We appreciate them contacting us and making us a part of this issue in one way or another.  Hopefully we can get some written content in there next time.

If you haven't check out SLOPE Magazine I highly recommend it!  SLOPE is a European online magazine focusing on bindingless snow sports, good friends, and good times.   Bindingless riding is big in Europe and it's only getting bigger.  These fellas are putting out a great looking E-zine every couple of months or so throughout the winter.


SLOPE Issue #3 can be viewed at http://issuu.com/slope-thesnowskatemag/docs/slope_mag_issue_3


Check out SLOPE at http://www.thesnowskatemag.com

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!

November 2011 in a nutshell - MEGA POST

November dealt us quite a few storms early on, and then things dried out for a few weeks.  We had 3 feet or so come quick but with little to no base this still made for low tide conditions.  This time of year is rad because there are so many little features and bumps that normally just get covered up.  There is an extra challenge knowing that if you slam there isn't much cushion in between you and the rocks, dirt and stumps under the shallow snow.  This just adds to the excitement.

Wackin' weeds in early november.  

The first couple of rideable days this year we had about a foot to ride on.  12 inches of snow is pushing it for a base especially in light and dry snow, but the width of a powsurfer takes advantage of all 12 of those inches and makes for a pretty sick ride.  The snowboards were carving down into the dirt, the bi-deck snowskates and powderskates were sinking to the bottom like rocks in the light deep pow, scraping the dirt and rocks,s but the float of the powsurfer made these early days awesome.

Hiking in the stoney grove

One of the things I dig most about early November pow is that it is usually super cold and dry, and the angle of the sun gives very interesting light and long shadows... it makes for some cool shots.

Milking the slivers of late light

Backside 180 over the sliver of light

We've been hitting up the classic early season spots... the hits in the "stash park" have been hitting, the tree weaving has been a blast, and the mellow grassy fields are always rad for ripping switch and trying tricks. The steep shots have been dealing up early season face shots!  Now is the time for getting into those because the snowpack doesn't really have slab layers yet.  It's just rotten "loud powder" all the way to the ground.  Love that stuff, it rides really well and sounds rad when you slash it.

Jeremy - Kickflip in the powsurf "stash park"

KICKFLIPS!

Zach Shepherd poppin' ollies

360 shuvit - Zach Shepherd

The upper fields are always holding

shooting tubes of cold smoke and rad light

Bobbing and weaving the tight trees is another familiar early season past time.  These pines are so thick that the snow stays super good and a layer of pine needles softens the ground and makes it possible to rip thru them in super shallow snowpack.  It's rad how playful and agile the powsurf rides, you can weave trees like never before.. even without bindings I can get thru spots that my snowboard would get hung up on.  There are a couple of chutes/ditches running thru these groves of trees that really get the heart pumping.  Fallen logs, shallow snow, tight  walls and no exits make for a wild ride.

Zach shooting out the end of the gauntlet

Flying out the upper gauntlet - the blur in the shot tells the story.. a fast and wild ride!

MID NOVEMBER

The snow finally stacked up enough to close down the road so at this point the sled season begins, at least for the approach.  It's not quite deep enough to climb anywhere on the sleds so a 7 mile road ride gets us to the base where the hiking begins. 30 minutes later we are on the top of some mellow grassy slopes, perfect for early season slashing.

Rolling up to the base camp packing a small quiver of powsurfs

A few minutes later we summit on foot, take a few minutes for our heads to adjust and the slashing begins

Roosting thru the upper fields

Another positive aspect of low snowpack is the amount of features that exist.  Under deep coverage these natural jumps and drops would just be buried, so now is prime time for hitting up all the features that will soon disappear. The landings can be a bit sketchy cause there is just a couple of feet to cover the dirt and rocks beneath but that is just more motivation to land on your feet and ride away.

Cliff drop/Bush Ollie bottom angle

Top Angle

FS air

Slashing in the November light

LATE NOVEMBER

Late november arrived and it still hadn't really snowed for weeks.  We were basically shredding the same pow for 3 weeks and it was becoming harder to find good snow.  It had stayed cold so most aspects were still holding powder but with only 3 feet of coverage the options were pretty slim.  We became so desperate that we decided to brave the poor coverage and creep around on our sleds.  All it takes is one big rock to do serious damage to the suspension on our snowmobiles so we crept around treading as lightly as possible.  We managed to find some good fields to test out some of our new shapes and some fun features to bag some hammers on.

Creepin' with with a quiver.  One on my back and 3 on the sled.

The Phish shapes I had designed over the summer were riding pretty cool, not my favorite ride but interesting nonetheless.  I shaped a diamond tail, a square tail, and a couple of swallow tails, all with a variety of different waist widths.  The diamond tail 130 (pictured above) rode fast and straight.  It is a relatively narrow board with a flat tail so it was responsive but still seemed to turn more like a snowboard than I would prefer, not as agile and playful as some of my favorite shapes.  But it rode fast and had it's own benefits in certain conditions.  The swallows were interesting but again, not what I'm really after... they would probably sell good to people who didn't know any better... because they look cool.
The more testing we do the more we realize how much snowboarding has confused people when it comes to what makes a good shape for a powsurfer.  People think that a long board with a giant nose and a long swallow tail is going to be the ultimate powsurf shape.. this is so NOT the case!  It's cool to have a board with a unique shape, but function always outweighs fashion if you want a good ride.  I'm not saying the swallow tail boards don't perform, they just perform differently and the ride you get is much more snowboard-like feel and not very "surfy" if that makes any sense.  As far as Grassroots Powdersurfing is concerned, we are not trying to imitate snowboarding.  We are bringing something new to the game of snow-sliding and that is what keeps things fresh for us.  If we wanted a snowboard feel, we would ride a snowboard (with or without the bindings).  We want to make boards that offer a new and unique feel, without factors that limit the way you can ride and the tricks you can do.  That is what powdersurfing is all about.

Having a snowmobile doesn't mean you don't ever have to hike to get to the goods.

Almost there...

From the top we rally some open pow fields on the way down to some features we found to play on. Slashing the fields is rad but we always want a challenge so we try to get freestyle on the way down.  Kicktails!  I don't know why you wouldn't want one.  Crusing pow is great and all but who likes to be glued to the ground the whole time?  The ability to ollie is a priority in the design of our boards adding agility to the overall ride, allowing the rider to ride backwards and putting some pop under your feet.  Even on flat slopes you can get some air time without the help of a bump or jump.

FS air on the 120 "Slasher"

Pop shuvit over a hippie track on the 140 Twin Powder Skate

Hard to tell what the hell is going on here. I'll give you a hint, its deep, sunny, and the pow is some high quality shit!

We arrive at our features and it's game on.  Slam a few times, stomp a few times.. its all fun.  If you're not slamming you're probably not learning so there is no shame in eating shit once in a while... or a lot.  I really wanted to bag some good kickflips on both stills and video so I sought out some drops with good takeoffs and got to it.

I'd been wanting the nose angle of a kickflip for a while, makes for a sick shot on video as the world spins around and the rider stays upright... trip out... (see video below)

Ollies... the root of all freestyle

One last kickflip to cap off another fun day

November was great despite the lack of snowfall late in the month.  We had lots of sunny cold days in some unique and interesting terrain.  Although our options grew smaller every day, this just meant we had to get creative, and creativity always leads to progression.