Vans Jib City Nights At Mountain High

Vans Team and Pro Tec were back up at Mt High last night. We held our 2nd Jib City Night Rail Jam on January 26th. There was a special appearance founder Steve Van Doren working the grill. It was a 2-hour session on 3 different obstacles in the Mt High Playground. Top 3 riders on each obstacle got a free pair of Vans shoes. Riders were able to have 20 to 30 minutes on each obstacle to show off their snowboarding talent. Last but not least Vans gave away a pair of boots for best trick on the wall ride. This is a free event for all ages, and all of the riders that compete get a free Vans Jib City Night T-shirt. In fact, everyone that shows up will walk away with a hand full of Vans product. Next Wednesday, February 2nd come up to Mt High and join the Vans and Pro Tec Teams while we host our 3rd Jib City Night Rail Jam.

Andreas Wiig And Torstein At Keystone

Torstein Horgmo has been spending a lot of time with Andreas Wiig this season (apparently Norwegian vikings roll in packs), and much of that has been spent in Colorado. As the early season park riding center of the snowboard world, Colorado has hosted Torstein and Andreas and their filming adventures. After last week's game of "In Your Face" with Andreas vs. Aaron Biittner, this week www.torstein.net has released Andreas Wiig And Torstein At Keystone. Also posted for your convenience on www.twsnow.com, the video shows the two friends (but mostly Andreas) lapping Keystone's feature-filled A51 park and displaying magical amounts of trick wizardry. Check it out and remind yourself how good these guys really are...

Eric Willett Takes Second At Winter Dew Tour

Eric Willett. Photos: David Doomey

Eric Willett grabbed yet another contest podium over the weekend at the second stop of the Winter Dew Tour in Killington, VT. After putting down a perfect run of a Switch Frontside Boardslide 270 out to Half Cab Frontside Boardslide 270 out on the rails, he threw a huge Frontside 10 Double Cork, Double Cork Backside Rodeo to Switch Backside 10 Double Cork, all executed to perfection.

"That was the first time I'd put that run down in practice or competition, so I was just stoked to put it down," Willett said.

However, the score was not enough to beat out Torstein Horgmo, who dragged both hands on one of his Double Backside Rodeo landings. Veteran pro snowboarder announcer Todd Richards was as baffled as the rest of us with Willett's score, but nevertheless Eric had to settle for second place. You can check out a replay of the event on MTV2 later this month and see for yourself. Congrats to Eric for stomping the sh!t out of that run and good luck in the next one buddy!

Eric Willett 1080 in the finals.

Quote This! The Cheryl Maas Interview

Cheryl Maas. Photo: Vernon Deck

From Transworld Snowboarding:

In many ways, Cheryl Maas shares much in common with the trademark cats on her pro model boards, boots, and apparel. Independent in nature, they both shy from the limelight, preferring to let their deft skills speak without saying. Most importantly, as Cheryl reminds us, "they always land on their feet, no matter how you throw them up in the air." Olympian, TTR World Title, US Open Champion - the list of major contest wins goes long, but it's her ability to film everything from rails to backcountry that has set her apart for almost a decade. 2011 shows her to be healthy, motivated, and looking to push her snowboarding even further. At just 26 years old, Cheryl's got that look in her eyes and that chip in her voice once again -great news, for us all. Which begs the question: If Terje is the Sprocking Cat, does that mean Cheryl Maas is the Sprocking Kitten? - Adam Hawes.

To Read The Full Interview, go to www.twsnow.com.

Vans Jib City Nights At Mountain High

Last week Vans held its first Jib City Nights Rail Jam for the 2010-2011 season. We had a two hour jam session on three different obstacles on the Mt. High Playground where riders were able to show off their snowboarding talent on each obstacle and win a free pair of Vans shoes or boots. All of the riders that compete get a free Vans Jib City Night T-shirt and everyone that shows up walks away with a hand full of Vans product. Don't forget this is a free event so come up to Mt. High and join the Vans Team while we host our second Jib City Nights Rail Jam on Wednesday night, January 26th.

Iouri "I-Pod" Podlatchikov Takes 3rd At Burton European Open Superpipe

IPod Cab 1080. Photos: Beckna.

This just in from Vans Europe TM Thomas "Beckna" Eberharter:

"Just back from the Burton European Open in Laax. Over 400 people from 16 continents took part! I was only there for the pipe finals as we had three out of ten riders in it.

In the semi-finals Arthur Longo won and IPod and Markus Keller also qualified in the top six so I was excited and had my fingers crossed for the boys. Unfortunately we had not the best of luck in the finals as IPod broke his board after two practice runs and Arthur and Markus both took huge bails on their last hit in their first runs going for the nowadays needed Front Double Cork 1080.

In the end IPod (who by the way just signed a long term contract with Quiksilver - so no more Volcom) had to settle for 3rd place and therefore made the podium for three years in a row at the BEO.

Arthur was lucky to not get seriously hurt after his heavy bounce to the coping and onto the flat in the first run out of three in the finals, but his riding was seriously impressive and he could have easily made it to the podium, but it just wasn't his day... Also Markus Keller stood out once again and proved that style still does matter, and you should have heard the local Swiss crowd going off before his third and final run, which he was not able to put together."

Markus Keller huge Frontside Ally Oop.

Keystone's "Ride With Andreas" Contest Winner

Andreas Wiig and Aaron Cliburn.

A new VIDEO on Keystone's You Tube Channel shows the "Ride With Andreas" Contest Winner Aaron Cliburn and Andreas Wiig ripping around Keystone Resort for a day. But not just any day... the great snowfall this winter in Colorado made it an epic pow day, with Aaron and Andreas finding plenty of hidden stashes in Keystone's plentiful tree runs. After that they hit park for a little jib and jump sesh as well. And, not only did Aaron get to shred with the Norwegian Superstar, but he got hooked up with all new gear from Mandreas' sponsors too! It was like X-Mas all over again. A big thanks to Keystone for making dreams come true, and check out the video - it could be you next year.

Wallpaper Wednesday With Mark Landvik

Mark Landvik. Photo: Scott Serfas

We love Transworld Snowboarding. It seems every week their "Wallpaper Wednesday" features a Vans Team Rider in some amazing shot. This week, it's big mountain destroyer Mark "Lando" Landvik with a full-sized Alaskan air in what is surely best viewed as a full-sized photo on your desktop. Seriously, you gotta see this one BIG to appreciate the size and scale of the AK mountains. Shout out to Lando as always for putting it down for the freeriding fans. There's also some interesting tidbits of info about this date in history going back to 1816! CLICK HERE to check it out...

Eric Willett Grabs Third in O'Neill Evolution Slopestyle Finals

Eric Willett. Photos: Beckna.

OnBoard Global Snowboarding has you covered with more coverage from the O'neill Evolution Contest in Davos, Switzerland last weekend. Team Vans was killing it as usual, with not only IPod grabbing second in the Superpipe, but 6th in Slopestyle as well. Add in Eric Willett's third place finish, and that's a Vans rider with a podium spot in both events. Our Europe Team Manager "Beckna" also filled us in with news about some of our other athletes:

"O'neill Evolution Davos 2011 is a wrap, what a crazy final in the slopestyle," said Beckna. "The level went off the roof and our guys were right in it. Eric Willet took 3rd place while Ipod had to settle for 6th place although with a killer run. Top 8 have been super tight. Also Markus Keller showed some switch double BS rodeos and was the crowd pleaser. On the womens side, Aimee Fuller from the UK took 5th place in the womens finals. She's gotta be stoked, her first big result in a 6 Star TTR event."

Check out www.onboard.mpora.com for videos of the event, including the Superpipe highlights with a sick POV Video from Eric Willett and the Night Slopestyle finals.

Markus Keller. Photo: Beckna.

Iouri "I-Pod" Podlatchikov Takes 2nd At O'Neill Evolution Pipe Finals

iPod. Photos: Beckna.

From OnBoard Global Snowboarding:

Writing a news piece with the whole of Switzerland partying in front of you is a bit of a challenge, but of course they have more than reason to go crazy today - the TTR 6star O'Neill Evolution pipe contest finished with an all Swiss podium, consisting of Christian "Hitsch" Haller, Iouri "I-Pod" Podlatchikov and new up and coming rookie Jan Scherrer.

Already in his first run, new talent Jan Scherrer impressed with a huge BS 9 at the very first hit and he continued riding like that. Aged sweet 16, he already got cripplers, cab 7s and 9s on lock as if he was born doing them and bagged himself a well deserved 3rd spot at this TTR 6Star event.

But also I-Pod knew how to impress today, with super fast spinning and precise riding, that kept him in top spot until the very last minutes. Especially his second run including a Crippler, Double McTwist and FS 10 got judges and spectators hyped likewise. It wasn't meant for him today though. As after snapping his board desastering on the coping in his second run, fellow Swissman Hitsch Haller busted out BS 5, FS 10, Cab 10, FS 9 run 5 minutes before the end, overtaking I-Pod by 0.25 points, making the all Swiss podium come true and moving him up to 3rd place in the overall TTR ranking. Instead of hard feelings you only got super stoked smiles, enthusiastic hugs and combined signing of Swiss flags from the spectators.

To Read More, go to http://onboard.mpora.com.

Preseason With Markus Keller Video

OnBoard European Snowboard Magazine uploaded a new VIDEO featuring Vans Team Rider Markus Keller destroying the Laax, Switzerland Superpipe and cruising around the resort last month. In case you don't know, Markus handles business in Europe on the regs and this video proves it. In a candid interview on the chairlift, Markus breaks down his plans for the winter, his favorite trips from last season and how he ended up pantless in New York City. Take a look...

Wallpaper Wednesday: Top Ten With Andreas Wiig And Markus Keller

Andreas Wiig. Photo: Frode Sandbech

From Transworld Snowboarding:

Be merry, Transworld readers! Here's a breakdown of this past year's Wallpaper and what your comments revealed to be the most popular bangers all season! We have everything from backcountry pow to your favorite urban hammers. Riders including Andreas Wiig, Aaron Biittner, Charles Reid, Dan Brisse, Eric Jackson, Gigi Ruf, Scotty Lago, Louif Paradis, Xavier de le Rue, and Markus Keller and photos from Frode Sandbech, Andy Wright, Jeff Curtes, Cole Barash, Nick Hamilton, and Tero Repo.

The Art of Flight: Brain Farm's Alaska

Mark Landvik. Photo: Tim Zimmerman

From ESPN Snowboarding:

Two-year movie projects are all the rage, and Travis Rice's next one is surely going to set more than a couple new standards. Since the snowfall tallies in Rice and Brain Farm Cinema's Jackson Hole home are on track to break new records this season, it looks like nothing is going to hold "The Art of Flight" back from breaking new ground.

As we look forward to a new season of anticipation for next September's biggest shred movie, we thought it'd be fun to take a look at all the goodness that's already logged and in the digital HD film can. Feast on this behind-the-scenes gallery from the Brain Farm "The Art of Flight" mission to Alaska last April -- featuring Rice and Landvik, and our favorite "Olympian-turned all-around Super Shred", Scotty Lago. Launch Gallery.