Jonaven Moore Joins Jones Snowboards

Jonaven Moore On Board with Jones Snowboards
Jeremy Jones develops innovative, new board line with emphasis on freeriding

Squaw Valley, CA (November 19, 2009) – Jonaven Moore will take on the steeps and deeps this winter with Jones Snowboards. The legendary Canadian snowboarder has been at the forefront of all-mountain riding for over 15 years, but continues to progress big mountain snowboarding from his home in British Columbia to the jagged peaks of Alaska. Jones Snowboards is thrilled to have Moore’s expertise in developing and pushing the limits of the boards, which will arrive in stores fall 2010.

“Jonaven is not only one of my favorite people to go into the mountains with, but also a rider that pushes my riding. He’s an obvious match for Jones,” says Jeremy Jones, Owner of Jones Snowboards. “To have his high level of riding representing the brand and his invaluable insight in designing the boards is an incredible honor.”

Jones Snowboards will introduce four models in the brand’s inaugural season. Moore will be instrumental in helping to design and extensively testing the brand’s preeminent all-mountain, powder and split boards. A start in the freestyle world at age 10 with halfpipe and boardercross wins is still evident today in Standard, Absinthe and Teton Gravity Research films where Moore’s style seamlessly fuses freestyle with big mountain terrain.

“Most freeride snowboards are either way too heavy to truly perform or are so light-duty that I need to bring replacements for them on a trip,” says Jonaven Moore. “Jeremy has drive and skill like few other people, so being invited to join a team that would focus on building boards for the mountains is a no-brainer. It’s an amazing opportunity to design both a solid board with Jones and a high-performance split-version.”

For the last few years, Moore, like Jones, has spent more and more time hiking around on his own steam in the mountains. This winter Moore is focusing almost all of his time on snow for the filming of “Deeper.” He’ll be travelling deep into British Columbia’s backcountry between Squamish and Whistler on the west end, and Revelstoke and the Rockies to the east. Jones boards will be tested extensively by the team in Alaska this spring.

With prototypes already in production, Jones Snowboards will make their first appearance at SIA and ISPO in January 2010. Expect worldwide distribution starting in the 2010-2011 winter season. Learn more about Jones Snowboards at jonessnowboards.com. Preview “Deeper” now at TetonGravity.com/deeper/.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kelly Schovanek. Looks like its high time for solid, new freeride board (see below) - Jonaven joins Jones

Rumor Mill Alert!!!! Nicolas Müller pulls a Gigi and will leave Burton

Newsflash! Stop the presses! Hold the phones! Put down the Droid phone! Warning: this is totally unsubstantiated. We will attempt to confirm for details.


Rumor is that the hottest snowboarder since Terje, his heir apparent, Nicolas Muller is leaving Burton after this year. One can only speculate where he'll go.

To Volcom? Lib/Gnu? To Yes/Jones/Autti/Nidecker to create his own board line? Straight up to the Noboard doods?

According to SOTN sources, it's an issue like Mandreas  where Nico's new babymomma (pictured here, totally fake, totally not true) is making him leave.

We'll keep you posted as we hear more. Don't ever say we didn't do anything fer ya.

Holiday Gift Idea #1: Quiksilver Cypher PS+ Heated Vest

Do you surf? Do you know someone that does? Last question, do they have a screw loose and surf through the winter in conditions that would make you think twice about going snowboarding in? If so, do we have the perfect gift for them.

The Cypher heated vest is the latest in surfing technology. Unlike the Ripcurl H-Bomb wetsuit, which incorporates heating elements and batteries within the wetsuit, the Cypher vest allows you to wear the vest under your current wetsuit. Utilizing FAR infrared technology (FAR is infrared heat sent through flat flexible carbon pads), the Cyper PS+ focuses on heating the most important part of your body, the core. The vest offers high and low heat settings, depending on how nasty it is out there. Since it's not connected to a wetsuit, it only costs ~$200 and offers you the adaptability of using your 3/2 or 4/3. Think of it this way, you're not spending $300-$600 on a 5/4 or 6/5.

According to Quiksilver, the PS+ vest is slightly heavier than your average rashguard. With the heat tranferred through the carbon pads, the vest allows you to flex and flow as you normally would. Charging duties are through a wall or car charger.

But Charlie don't surf, we snowboard. Rumor is that the Quik snow team has also been running the PS+ vest under their outerwear in subzero conditions. If Travis Rice and Kelly Slater approve, who are you to disagree?

The main benefit of the PS+ vest? You don't have to feel like and look like the Michelin Man when you surf. Chicks totally don't dig that. Look for a full review once the snow falls on the beach.

Things We Like Part 9: Snowboarding Now & Then

Recently I was back home in the wilds of Upstate New York to relax and basically clean out the parents homestead. Now while tossing out old banana board skateboards that were rusted to pieces and old Burton freestyle bindings I did come across a small piece of sentimental glory. My first pair of snowboard boots. Circa 1990 I took some Sorel knock offs and begin snowboarding. Needless to say my ankles quit liking that setup after about 10 runs at my local ski hill. A remedy was in order because two things were about to happen. First,the Burton Free 6 I had put on Consignment was about to come home and second - enough lake effect snow was coming to not have to pay for lift tickets. The end result I could spend 3 - 4 days hiking the local power line trails, slashing turns. Nothing major but to 17 year old me ... it was just shy of epic. However, I didn't have boots.

The funny thing is even though the high end of snowboards has evolved in 2009 - 2010 towards $1,000+ just for a deck the high end then and the middle of the road now are pretty much same price. The same way a skateboard hasn't really increased in price since the 80's neither has snowboard gear that will just simply get the job done. In 90 - 91 Burton boots were a few hundred and a board was near 400. I'm pretty sure that was without the bindings. Hence - why at the time I was buying a used deck. So, back to the story at hand, I get the deck. Snow is coming and sure enough no boots. So I ventured into the basement or garage and spied the old ski boots. I yanked the liners out and jammed them into the boot shells. Perfect fit. Actually, they were cold uncomfortable and I had enough heal lift that I could have been wearing some gold plated discos boots ala' Jim Greco. But, with a little duct tape and cranking the binders down - sur enough they worked!

Now, we didn't get that much snow overnight maybe 16 inches but I ventured out to take a few runs. I almost got trampled by a deer I spooked and eventually headed home after hiking 800 feet uphill became more work than fun. So imagine my shock and happiness 18 years later when I found the boots. I used them for three to four seasons after that first day and they worked fine. Eventually I grabbed a pair of airwalks and I'm pretty sure they did the same job my home made hack job did. So what's the point?

How about this ... 18 years later I still get excited thinking about when it may snow. I miss being able to cruise out my front door carefree of all the worries and go ride but am thrilled I now have a few kids who will be making turns in the next few years (if they want to). It is funny to look at how far snowboarding has come and the trends that are now recirculating in the industry. It's exciting to see smaller companies pushing it and breaking onto the scene. Most importantly, the same way it's exciting to hear about snow reports and people already riding - it's good to see people young and old alike getting hyped on snowboarding all over again every season. Like the seasons - snowboarding will come back every year with all it's good, it's bad and it's fun times. As for the boots? I pitched 'em in the trash. I mean the good old days were good but lets be honest - today is much, much better.

Make your vote count: SAM's 5th Annual Terrain Park Contest

Make your vote count. SAM (Ski Area Management) is hosting its 5th Annual Terrain Park Contest. Take a look at the list of participants, including, familiar suspects such as Loon, Northstar, Bear and those that you may not hear of so often like Stowe, Big Boulder and Holimont NY. Mark your top choices, perhaps the B at Northstar (featured in the B movie) or Mt Snow's Peace Pipe jam over Memorial Day weekend. Either way, cast your ballot by emailing jenn@saminfo.com. 

Your vote counts, helps recognize those hardworking terrain park snow jockeys and help justify why mountains need to invest resources into their terrain parks and features (i.e. more exposure = more riders = more money).

So in summary. Look at some terrain parks . Pick your choices. Email/Vote.

Monument Thinks Positive in VA

Yes I was lured out with the promise of a delicious foods. Dave lied. but the movie was good . Click here for the wrap up

Dear PR Flack: Generic Form Letters Get Generic Results

Dear PR Flack,
I know you are busy. Strike that, I know your are wicked busy. Wait, even better I know you are wicked pissah busy! But, lets discuss the pitches your brethren are sending my way. One would assume that in today's webtastic world of "Web 2.73" you would take the opportunity to provide a little context as to why you are contacting me or some relevancy of how your "OHMYGAWDTHISNEWWEBSITSOCIALNETWORKCONTESTFLUFFERMANUALISOAWESOMEYOURREADERSAREGONNALURVSIT" pitch will provide actual value to people who check out South of the North. So far this week I've received several pitches that had as much impact as farting in the wind. Lets review shall we?

First up the beer promotion!
Thought you might be interested in hearing about Brewery's new promotion . It's a 5-day all expense paid trip for you and three lucky friends to Name removed that includes backcountry cat skiing, lift tickets, technical gear, a custom snowboard, etc. Great beer and deep snow- sounds like a wonderful winter adventure to me!

More info is attached. Good luck!!

Fuck Yeah it sounds like a wonderful winter adventure! Hell yeah bro! I like beer, no wait, I like backcountry skiing and snowboarding, no wait I like technical gear!!! Wait - are you asking me to enter or to promote? I had so many things I like put in front of me I'm not sure what the call to action here is... other than to hit the delete button.

Hint we all read the e-mail first. It's like a job interview or a big sale and in that scenario you gotta go with the ABC. Always. Be. Closing. Hell, if you ain't selling the soul then I ain't buying. What makes you think I'll post some random contest to enhance your brand I want people who read SOTN to get something special out of this and I'm not talking about a free game of "Tune in Tokyo". There's nothing here other than a promo for a beer company and some lucky (or unlucky) fella will walk away with a beer branded K2 board. Now, At minimum the sender's note was coherent which as you'll soon find out isn't alwasy the case. So for all those who tune into SOTN lets move along there's nothing to see here oh wait ... train wreck up ahead.

I wasn't going to post anything but damn if this wasn;t to good to keep to myself. the best part others confirmed the same gaff. Nothing says total fuck up like sending out a form letter and not removing the generic pieces. Like this:

What's going on? My name is XXX and I'm working with (Note I pulled this out -I'm a jerk but not that much of a jerk) More blah blah blah We built a website to show the project to the public, and it's live now at (Again, I pulled this out -I'm a jerk but not that much of a jerk) We hope your readers would be interested in this content. If you think it's something they would like to see, it'd be awesome if you could post a link and let your readers know about it. If you don't feel this is a good fit, don't worry about it and thanks for your time. Whenever we have new updates to the site (blah) I'll be sure to keep you posted. Check out the site and let me know what you think!

The letter actually would have been perfect but the sender left XXX where their name was supposed to go. Way to make me feel special and like I am getting the big scoop. Yeah, I feel like client #10 at the Emperors VIP Club. Ew, so my replay was simple enough:

"Seriously? Did you just send me a form letter and not put your name on it? I'm confused this is like when it actually snows in Pittsburgh and the streets flow with IC Light."

Long story short upon further analysis of their response I can only surmise that in this Brandywine branders headquarters there must have been some confusion, excessive drinking, hurried work orders and consumption of long lost Biscayne bay Colombian snowstorm because the letters I received got weirder and weirder.

So lessons learned here

#1. Put your name on things you own tangible or intangible. Like e-maiL!!! If it works for my 3 year old daughter in thank you notes for a birthday party - it will work for you!

#2. tell me. Ask me. just be clear about what it is you want me to do with your press release. Show some balls for crying out loud. if I say no. I'll at least respect you in the morning.

#3. if you are pitching anything for crying out loud -- sell it. I only know of one style whisperer and man that guy can sell anything to anybody in the world of PR. he's scary good. why? He's always closing. PR isn't just sending out press releases -- it's hustling. Remember - ABC - Always Be Closing. Oh and a tip - generic form letters aren't considered closing. Until then we'll just keep up with the Dear PR Flack love.

Man - Alec Baldwin almost won an Oscar for that