686 The Shakedown Is Coming!!!

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:06 +0000

Check out 686 shreds Forest Bailey and Joanna Dzierzawski along with many others this weekend (March 12-13) at the Ride Shakedown contest being hosted by Summit at Snoqualmie in WA. With $35,000 on the line you won’t want to miss out. For all the details see the banner below.

WB TV Episode #15

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:07 +0000

Here’s some boardin from Forest Bailey, and friends… Check the end for a lil segway action…

Limited Edition NB/686 Giveaway @ Shayboarder!!!

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:00:24 +0000

Our friends over at Shayboarder.com are hosting an awesome giveaway for some of our limited edition 686/NB boots and shoes. Follow the link, check out the rules, send your submission, and good luck…

Click here for all the details

Adaptavie Snowboarders Fight For Paralympics

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:00:25 +0000

Check out Nicole Roundy one of our our reps flow riders who was recently featured on News 5 informing the public on her quest to have adaptive snowboarding accepted into the upcoming paralympics. Watch the news segment and read the featured article below.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Athletes fight to include snowboarding in Paralympics

March 5th, 2010 @ 6:15pm

By Amanda Butterfield

PARK CITY — The opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games kick off Friday in Vancouver with the first day of competition Saturday.

There’s one sport not in the games that a group out of Park City is fighting to get in.

The National Ability Center cannot figure out why snowboarding has not been introduced to the Paralympic games. They say boarding can be an ideal sport for someone with a disability.

Nicole Roundy is ranked No. 2 in adaptive snowboarding — and from the way she shreds the mountain, you would never guess she is missing her right leg below the knee.

Roundy had bone cancer when she was eight years old. She says she felt hopeless for a while after losing her leg — but not anymore.

“When I graduated from high school, I discovered snowboarding,” Roundy said. “I was confident again and I had dreams.”

With her coach, Nicole has traveled the world from New Zealand to Canada, competing in different events. But it’s the Paralympics she really wants to compete in.

Travis Thiele of the National Ability Center said, “Snowboarding has been in the Olympics since 1998. Here we are 12 years later, and snowboarding is not in the Paralympics.”

Thiele says snowboarding can be ideal for amputees: “It’s a lot safer and easier to learn if we get a leg amputee to snowboard.”

When skiing as an amputee, you typically have to have someone with you to help you, and you have to put all your weight on your good leg, so you run the risk of injuring the healthy limb.

In boarding, Roundy can wear her prosthetic.

“It has a spring in it,” she said. “It has one function: It’s not for walking, it’s just for boarding.”

It allows her to distribute her weight evenly between both legs when riding.

“My prosthetic is in the back, so it’s like a rudder on a boat. My front foot, with the ankle I do have, is how I turn the board,” Roundy said.

While she continues working on the slopes, Thiele and others with the National Ability Center will continue working to get athletes like her into the Paralympics. The National Ability Center is really trying to push board sports especially, because of its international and audience appeal.

Thiele says the upcoming 2014 games in Russia is their goal. “That’s what we are aiming for,” he said.

And if snowboarding is introduced as a Paralympic sport, Roundy will be going for the gold.

Original story here: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9910083

Fun Laps Through The Park With Sebi

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:31 +0000

Take a few laps throught the park at Serfaus Tyrol with Sebi…

Conny Wins Austrian Halfpipe Masters…

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:00:24 +0000

JUHUUUUUUU I did it again!!! I won the Austrian Masters Halfpipe!!!!

It was a wonderful sunny day and the pipe was in a good shape!!!

My first day riding pipe this season though… haha!!!

-Conny

Deep Thoughts With Patrick McCarthy…

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:00:58 +0000

Have you ever wondered what pro snowboarders think about while they’re not snowboarding?

Mog’ n’ Roll Teaser

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:00:19 +0000

Check out 686 riders Conny Bleicher and Sebi Geiger in the first teaser from MOG productions for their upcoming release Mog’ n’ Roll due to out this fall.

Marco Heads To Flachau

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:00:23 +0000

Hi guys!

Here’s a little update about my last trip.

The last 2 and half weeks where not so good. I got some stuff but its been super hard to get shots. Last week I traveled to Flachau because a friend told us, they should be getting around 50cm of fresh snow. When we arrived we saw that there was only 20cm of snow and it was super warm. We had four jumps lined up to that we wanted to hit. After a lot of shoveling on the first jump Arthur threw a snowball into the landing and the whole landing broke. Nice session without a landing, no fun.

On the second jump the landing broke on Sani’s last jump. The crazy thing is that there were already some tracks in
the landing!

We headed to the third jump. This jump was a pain in the ass for me. I tried one trick the entire session. I landed a few of them but none were good enough for me!

On the 4th and final jump Sani won the game (who is going first) I wasn’t too happy about that because the jump looked super sick! Sani stomped a back 5 and the whole landing broke down and sani was buried under the snow! It was a big shock for us! I was the first person to get down to him and was able to shovel him out. I can tell you it’s not much fun to shovel out a friend!!

So all in all that was my last trip- check out the photos!

All the best,

Fichtl

Design It Grand Prize Winners!!

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:31 +0000

Congratulations to both Rian Kjolso and Kyle Caird our Design It! Grand Prize Winners…

Here’s a little info on our winners and their inspirations:

Rian Kjolso, 32 Bothell, WA

“DIVIDED”

Inspiration: I got my color and graphic inspiration from my traveling through Spain and a small stint living in L.A. as I was looking for new work and gaining a new prospective on design, style and life. The fade from black came from my traveling with only a small band of clothes I had been caught in a couple of rainstorms in Coasta Brava, and Barcelona. Before becoming drenched I liked how water slowly grew up my pant legs becoming darker at the bottom and than lighter and eventually blending up into the colors I wore. Not having a easy means of washing clothes, my pants had this dark bottom cuff. The Stitching along the arms have been only a design aesthetic taken from geometric, mathematical lines. I wanted to add other shapes such as triangles and stars but this has been done and over whelming. I love clean; simple modern looks with a fun pop feel.

I call my design “Divided”, it has no real deep meaning, no real amazing story but it only represents my last couple of years.

I have been working as a graphic, product designer in the action sports community for the last 7 years; first starting out as a photo assistant on product, lifestyle and location photo shoots with a number of different sport companies.

My favorite has been that last couple of years working of Northwave/Drake in North America and Italy. I have designed binding and board graphics, accessories and have worked on all printed collateral. My most favorite project to date is the new Drake/SOS Outreach backpack (only for SOS) and the Ad campaign I developed this year for Northwave North America.

I hope once again I’ll work again in this community and environment, which is always so much fun, creative and filled with great friends.

Thank you 686 for giving this opportunity to me and the other participants as it is always great for companies to remember who supports them.

I’d like to thank my friends and family for support this last couple of years.

Thank you.

Rian Kjolso

Kyle O’Brien Caird, 25 Bloomington, IN

“SUPER CAPE”

Inpiration: Initially I set out to create a unique jacket that featured elements that could have a lasting impression, while being somewhat adaptable. My sketches began with a Peacock concept, that basically concealed an array of colorful fabrics below the base colors of the jacket by means of a series of zippers along the front chest and back. (Similar to underarm vents on jackets, that expose the mesh underneath.)

While attempting to arrive at a clean solution for this idea I thought about alternatives that fit into the perceived adaptable category. I headed over to the 686 site to check out photos of the riders and take a closer look at the existing product line itself. Between LV and the rest of the crew going huge and the comedic touches of Deep Thoughts – I figured that the only thing missing was a super hero of sorts. (Common sense, right?) I also thought about the idea of the jacket/cape in action – filming/photos. (Advancing the style from hanging bandannas and pant straps – that augment the style and size of tricks – to a full blown cape that a rider could pop out of their jacket before going off.)

I felt like I had a good concept, so I moved forward examining super hero themes and colorways. Of course, everyone knows the superman jumpsuit – the royal blue and red, iconic logo and cape. (Plus the Clark Kent scenario created a delightful commentary on the Charlie Brown Office Boy turned superhero while hucking it on the mountain.) There it was. Then I began honing in on the concept. The 686 logo seemed to replace the iconic Superman “S” with relative ease, and the pants with short shorts completed the look.
About Kyle O’Brien Caird: The heart of a design beast, graduate of Indiana University, creative director for a medical device start-up, co-founder of The Blank Canvas Studio (Bloomington, IN design co-op), Freelance designer (kyleobriendesign), and Streetwear enthusiast.

It has been tough to gain exposure in an industry that is mainly focused on the west coast, thousands of miles from Indiana. But I stay fresh by actively seeking opportunities within the action-sports industry, participating in contests like this, and keeping my fingers on the pulse of the pavement/mountain. Locally I am fortunate enough to have access to great resources that are larger than life by Bloomington’s standards. Dope Couture, a haute couture streetwear brand was founded a few years back in downtown Bloomington. They keep the action coming by hosting a range of concerts and parties in the area, while gaining exposure for the Midwest. The shop and crew are DOPE and set a tangible benchmark for my success moving forward.

As you may or may not know, recently I have experienced some decent success in my quest for action-sports clients. Winning an eternalsnow.com tee design contest, the 686/Malakye collaboration, and now this! I am stoked to have a piece in the 686 line-up, and I will look forward to working with 686 or anyone else in the industry who might be interested.
Again, thanks for the opportunity. I remember the first time a buddy of mine picked up the first 686 Smarty Jacket. It was new, innovative, and quality. I am proud to say that my feelings have not changed about 686 since – in my eyes you guys are blazing a trail in the outerwear industry – way ahead of the game. Keep it coming, and keep Louie V on the dance floor.

Thanks,
KO