Airboarding-Adrenaline Rush!

From tubing to Airboards to snow bikes, mountain resorts and guides have been looking for new excuses to get people outdoors and new diversions to keep them entertained. Reviews are mixed on whether the Airboard can bolster ski visits the way snowboarding has, but supporters talk it up as a niche snow sport that doesn't stress the knees.
Some say riding an Airboard is like ultimate sledding. People who ride the six-pound Swiss invention slide down snowy mountain slopes face first on polyurethane air cushions that look like blowup rafts with handles and a ridged bottom. Riders have been known to reach speeds of more than 80 mph.
Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon started allowing snow bodyboards three seasons ago as something new. Of the 869 season passes the ski area had sold by mid-December, two were for people who only do snow bodyboarding.
Still, it's a fun pastime for families with one person who doesn't ski or snowboard, or for people with weak knees, he said. In Aspen, more than half of winter visitors don't ski or ride, making Airboards a more inclusive activity.
It's like snowboarding. Twenty years ago, everybody thought snowboarders were the devil. Now everybody's saying hallelujah for snowboarding.
No resorts in Colorado or Utah allow Airboards, although Keystone in Colorado tried it for a season. Interest is growing though.
Emo Gear, the only licensed distributor of the Airboard in North America, started with five U.S. retailers in its first season in 2003. This year it has 90 in the U.S. and Canada, and this is the first profitable year for the Berkeley, California-based company as Airboards earn their own competitions.
It's new, exciting, anybody from 6 to 66 can do it. Unlike skiing or snowboarding, the learning curve is not as steep.
Kids models run $149, with the Airboard Classic running at $269.
Go to http://www.airboard.com and check out all the events that they have going on worldwide!!

Snowmobiling Idaho

Idaho has more groomed trails than any other western state,matter of fact,some of the most spectacular scenery you'll ever see!!
Ride freely through the freshly blanketed valleys,glide across frozen lakes and over the wide-open plains.
You can find lodging in friendly Idaho towns,many resorts and guest ranches welcome snowmobilers. You will also find plenty of slopes to snowboard...
Whatever part of the state you try, you'll find the good trails and skip the crowds,crank up your throttle and have some fun!.

USASA National Championship,March 25 to April 1,2006

The United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) has announced it will host the 17th Annual USASA National Championship March 25- April 1, 2006 at Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee, Calif. This highly recognized event will bring approximately 1,300 athletes and their families to the North Lake Tahoe region for a week of competition and daily festivities.
Each of the 36 USASA Regional Series will invite snowboarders and freestyle skiers to compete in five events; Giant Slalom, Slalom, Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Boardercross. With USASA having produced many of todays top names in snowboarding including Shaun White, this years events could predict the next great athletes to come.

California Surf Museum

An amazing resource for surfers rests at the corner of North Coast Highway and Pier View Way in Oceanside. Nestled among cafes and shops is the California Surf Museum, home to a very impressive collection of classic surf memorabilia and history.Established in 1986, the primary goal of the museum is to educate the public about surf culture and the history of surfing. This is accomplished by presenting fascinating exhibits that are free to visit. The current exhibit at the California Surf Museum is titled Early California Surfriders: A Tribute to Doc Ball and includes surfboards dating back to the early 20th century, countless classic surf photographs, the first surfing trophy ever presented to a contest winner, and the first water camera ever used for surf photography (built by Doc Ball himself). This is the 15th exhibit for the museum, and will continue being shown until the fall. Attracting 25,000 visitors each year, the California Surf Museum is an important landmark for Oceanside, for San Diego County, and for surfing culture in general. The museum exists thanks to support from the city of Oceanside and the County of San Diego, as well as the donations of museum members and visitors (a $1 donation is suggested at the door , a small price to pay for a trip back in time!). Many of the items on display are donations or are on loan from collectors or legendary surfers like Doc Ball and Tom Blake. Some of the goals for the museum in the future include more space, better funding, and more special events like book signings, film screenings, and lectures by some of the original surfers that helped shape the culture. The focus here is on the education and preservation.Many surfers and individuals interested in surfing have seen some of the classic photographs from the early days of the sport; timeless shots from Hawaii and San Onofre, images featuring Duke Kahanamoku, and groups of smiling friends posed holding 10 foot wooden boards behind them. The California Surf Museum has some of these on display, as well as many rare black-and-whites that also capture the excitement and satisfaction of riding a wave. Both famous pioneers and unknown watermen grace the walls of the museum. Also, the collection of boards and other pieces of memorabilia is very impressive. A casual visitor will enjoy strolling through the museum and admiring the old photos, boards, relics, and stories. People more interested in surf culture and history could spend hours examining these rare artifacts from a time before wetsuits, surf companies, SUVs, and contests. From photos of early female surfers and classic lineups in the water to hollow wooden boards and original surf club attire, the California Surf Museum has something for just about everyone interested in the sport. The California Surf Museum is worth stopping by for a day or just a few minutes. The hours of operation are Thursday to Monday from 10am-4pm, and admission is free (but try to give a buck or two). The museum is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For more information about the California Surf Museum visit http://www.surfmuseum.org or give them a ring at (760) 721-6876.

Shaun White Interview

Shaun White has been around forever and he's still only 19?? now? His life is practically the collective dream-come-true of every kid on earth. He doesn't have to go to school, he's swimming in cash, gets to fly around in a private jet with Tony Hawk, snowboards all over the planet, is a character in a video game, owns his own house and wins brand new trucks. I met Shaun briefly a few years ago in Carlsbad, California,along with his Mom...(he was in the process of purchasing a home, but one major problem, he was underage, so his Mom was there to handle all of the legalities.) I remember speaking with her about all the Snowboarding gear they had piled in their garage,snowboards, boots, jackets...everything was given to Shaun by his sponsors... pretty cool!! Click the photo to go to Shaun's site