BaseNZ.com Video Gear Guides - Snowboard Binding Technology

Hey Crew,

 another Video Gear Guide is ready for the masses. This time we're looking at new snowboard binding technology for 2009. Plenty of good stuff in there so check it out.

If you have any questions about snowboard bindings or anything you see in this video please get in touch, matt@basenz.com I'm more than happy to talk tech on bindings.

www.BaseNZ.com

Good Stuff, Online - All The Time!

Turoa Snow Conditions Update 27th July

Hey Crew, we've got another update from our roving North Island reporter Kingsley, sounds like Turoa is going off right now, read on

With another storm out of the way, and an epic bluebird weekend on the
cards, it was a sure thing that we would make a run for the mt on
saturday, until........My wife reminded me we were out all day. Oh man,
the was ripping. Anyway, we decided that we would make it up on Sunday. So
Sunday morning came around, up at 5.30am and we were on our way.
I have a friend who has currently got a Swiss exchange student staying
with them, so we decided to get him up with us this time. So, the drive
was cool, chatting with him about the swiss alps and the snow over there
etc. Turns out he's been boarding for 5 years in the swiss alps in 2m deep
powder!!!! We felt rather sheepish right then taking him to our humble ski
area. As we approached the Mt on theses words came from his mouth 'oh, it
looks very........cute'. WHAT THE!!! What on earth does that mean.
Anyway, we hit the mt with much excitement. The fresh snow was great. The
turoa staff have obviously been working hard cutting new trails for the
season so there was plenty of choice. Once finally up the High noon we
opted for a run out west towards 'The old T' and man was that the right
choice!!! The runs were awesome. Shot down a small trail that had been cut
for access, over a ridge and into a huge plain with freshies galore. Once
riding that out, we joined up with the 'Why nots' which is a natural gully
which catches all the wind blown, so the conditions in there were even
better. After carving that to pieces hooked up with the 'Boneyard' which
was in it's typical boneyard state (choppy and powdery). Through the upper
learners and beginner trails and back on the lifts again (approx 30 min
run)
Swiss boy asked if there was anything different to ride. So I eyed a few
people heading out through the Glacier entrance out east and off to the
back country. So we followed. He was astounded that there was such vast
bowls of smooth, fresh snow on a volcano!! It was ankle deep fresh, some
spots shin deep, and it was niiiiiiiice. So we shredded our way down
through there. Yehaaaing the whole way. But of course!!! Up there you
don't get runs like that for free. At the bottom a mad trek was waiting.
So after making it back to the base lunch time and a bit of a rest was
welcomed with open arms. The afternoon was filled with sticking to the
piste.
Anyhow's all in all, it was a mad day. Awesome conditions, bluebird and
fresh. What more could we really ask for. So, 1.5m base or 5m base, who
cares. We have the cover now for the majority of the mt available and
backcountry looking good. If anyone's up this way, be sure to check it
out. Don't be put off by the fact that it's only 1.5m and not the 5m we
had last year. In fact, I think for the piste, 1.5 is nice, heaps of
gullies to ride and alot of varied terrain, 5m filled them all in and it
was just flat plains.
It's pretty epic at the moment, and with another 3 days of snow on the
forecast, I can't wait till next time.
Check the photo's attached.

~Kingsley~

Treblecone Opening Day is a blinder

personally it was a day i had been waiting for longer then most, after a knee injury it had been 23mths since my last day at Treblecone, and it didn't disappoint. After busting thru the cloud inversion that has kept wanaka in perpetual darkness the peak loomed up with only some high wispy cloud above tinting the sunshine, it promised to be a cracker of a day. Once on snow you could see the weather lately has been kind to the snowpack with plenty of good coverage across the front basin and the saddle. The more shaded faces held sweet pockets of dry chalky snow, the main trails stayed fairly firm most of the day. Despite both carparks being quite full the slopes seemed comfortably empty and the cafe had no lines. There was some hold ups with eftpos services due to phone line overloading but overall the service was good. The TC beef burger i had for lunch, although not a bargain at $11.50, was super tasty, I'd highly recommend it, tomato sauce and mustard was the way to go.
My knee held up well to the days shredding and getting some turns in in the sunshine stamped a grin on my face a mile wide. Great to see a lot of locals getting out for first runs of the winter too.
Overall Treblecone Opneing Day 2009 was one of the best i've seen in 10 years.

matt

It's Here!!!!!!!

That's right crew, That's it That's all is finally here, after numerous delays in production and shipping i have just sent out the first pre-ordered copies and we've got it running on loop in the store too. For those of you not in on what the big deal is Red Bull and Quiksiler dropped a rumored 3 million big ones on producing That's it That's all making it easily the most expensive Snowboard video of all time. Was it worth? Definitely, the cinamatography is amazing, the locations spectacular and the riding is off the hook and there's not a single street rail in the whole thing. It actually starts off like Tourism NZ video with amazing heli footage of the fiords and westcoast, it seems like more then half the footage is filmed from choppers with angles and perspectives like you've never seen. But don't just listen to me, go out and get it. Or at least watch the teaser below.
Peace out
matt

Cantebury Mission

What an amount of snow. The Canterbury high country is so loaded this year that first ever lines are are having tracks left down them.

I packed up my car, Magoo jumped in the back seat and we headed to Methven. The weather was no go on Saturday which made for preparation for the Annual Casa Del Caird party and Jemu's house.

Yes, it lived up to its reputation and was a fantastic night.

Sunday the weather was great but we were a little late rising so missed out as the road closed due to full car parks and no doubt way to many people.

Then Monday came along. Another beautiful day. As we drove up I was amazed and the amount of snow up at Mt Hutt. I had done many a season at Hutt over the years but have never seen it like it is this season. Prob the best since the infamous 1992 season.

We had a great crew shredding, Q Diddy, Werhle, Big T, Young Josh Brown and myself. As I went to get my camera we met up with Miles Holden (photographer), so gone with my cam.

Under the car park down to the triple chair has some of the most fun terrain around. We shredded it hard. Rock drops, Hips and still bits of fresh. Lovin it.

Then we walked along the road a little and dropped in for some fresh lines. We pottered round and did some work taking photos. Grom boy (Josh) had the line of the session dropping from a rock and landing between rocks. Freaked him but he stomped. Young courage ah..... Super fun session.

Q Diddy was also on the vid cam for a little getting the shots. Keep a check on www.snowflick.co.nz for a video of the day.

Another day was on the cards but the weather was again turning bad so I decided to head back south. Lucky I did as I woke to snow in the backyard. What an epic winter so far.

Stay tuned for more action. Next time I hope to have some photos.

Thanks.

Niels C

All time

It doesn't get better then this. woke up to more new snow, got an early start and hit the gondola first up with Chris, Lee, Tom and Adam. Bombed the tree lines off the gondola first up getting fresh lines thru 40-50cm of fresh untracked pow all morning. Made our way to the non mtn affiliated cafe under the gondola run by the cool old Japanese family and found some of the best lines of the day on the way there with super deep snow all the way. It was still snowing by the way, still is, hasn't stopped in 5 days. Just while we ate lunch another 15-20cms fell, it just kept snowing so hard today it was unbelievable, the hardest I've ever seen snow fall. More then 40cm would have fallen during the day easily. We were getting face shots riding the groomed trail back to the gondola! After lunch we hit the lines we found on the way to the cafe over and over in waist deep pow, then decided to venture out wide again where we'd been in the morning, and all our tracks had been filled in and there was no one out there. We had to hit it a couple of times the snow was so good, crazy dry, ridiculously deep and untracked. I had 2 of the best runs of my life after 2.30 in the arvo!!?? Nuts! By that stage we were totally thrashed, laughing and hooting all the way, half frozen and totally stoked. There's no better place to ride pow then here, period. best day riding ever.

And tomorrow?? Well it's still snowing so more of the same.... sweeet

Matt

Delayed, Rerouted, Lost

It began well, with an easy couple of flghts up to Ak from Wanaka, then a great BBQ with Hamish on Thursday night. Then early friday morning ew headed to the airport for our flights to Japan. we met lee at the airport, checked in, then chris and Lee left me to take their airnz flight to Osaka. I boarded my qantas flight to Osaka via Sydney. Then, there was a problem, a technical problem. So we sat on the plane for 2 hrs, then we disembarked. by this stage i had missed my connecting flight in Sydney. Then we waited another 2 1/2hrs before flying off to sydney. once in Sydney i find that i have been rerouted thru singapore to Osaka, landing 1 hr before my next connection thru to sapporo. so rather then arriving at 8pm sat night and spending a night in osaka, i'm landing at 7am the next day. So i wait in Sydney for another 4 hrs before boarding my flight to singapore. I get thru Singapore smoothly, then get on my next flight to Osaka. I go to collect my bags, and...... no dice. Actually no bags. I fill out the missing bags forms and rush to meet the next flight and find Chris and Lee waiting. we get thru to sapporo easily then wait for another 1 hr before the 2 hr bus ride to Niseko. 34hrs of constant travel and i finally make it to Niseko. Despite having to rent board, boots bindings and pants, and buy everything else the whole crew, myself included have a killer day riding today, with blue bird conditions ( see right) making it easy for all to get their bearings. Forecast is for a lot of snow over the next few days.
Current baggage status is, board bag might be here tomorrow night. Suitcase is missing in action. Thank god for travel Insurance.

Matt

One more Sleep!!!

Gday Team,

well there's only one more sleep before Chris, Myself and Brentski start our journey north to the wonderful powder haven that is Niseko on the north island of Japan. Keep an eye on the blog as we will be updating daily( if not too wasted from shredding shoulder deep mega pow) and adding pics and hopefully video as well. We have a crew of 17 of us over the 2 weeks in Niseko so there should be plenty of action to report on.
We should be cutting our first turns sometime sunday morning, and should be looking a lot like this guy to the right here, but with a bigger grin.

peace
Matt