Holy moly have the last few months been a blur! We’ve been busy, but it’s been fun, that’s for sure. 686 had a giant 20 Year Anniversary booth at the largest North American ski and snowboard tradeshow, SIA, which was held in Denver the last week in January. We were happening the whole time and part of that was due to the RECLAIM Contest that we held in the front part of the booth. We hand-selected three designers from around the country to come hang with us in Denver and create a jacket from scratch in 3 days on the show floor. Each designer was incredibly talented in their own right and Paul Fronckowiak from New York, New York walked away with the top prize of being able to design a few pieces for 686 for next season! Jillian Miranda, a design student at Kent in Ohio came in a close second and will be interning at 686 this coming summer. And last, but certainly not least, because his design was incredible and his personality even brighter, was Jonny Bricolage from LA. Thanks to all the designers for being so incredible and talented, we really enjoyed working with you guys!
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If you have never been to Calgary for the Burton Canadian Open I highly suggest you make the trip out next season. Usually the weather report for Calgary forecasts lots of cold weather and wind, but this time of year, a chinook usually blows through town and the temperatures rise from -30 to +10 overnight, (thats -22F to +50F for all of you Americans). So you always get sunny days with little to no wind, and amazing clear and warm nights for the Pipe Finals. And to top it al off, the hill is only 20 mins from downtown Calgary.
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The final video in “The Addiction” series featuring team rider Marco Feichtner.

This last weekend was the Legendary Mt Baker Banked Slalom in the Northwest. Snowboarding’s elite all made the yearly pilgrimage to Mt Baker for salmon, good vibes, and the legendary banked turns only the slalom can provide. Such good times even though the winter was on strike during the event. It’s been an amazing season this year up here but no snow made for some high speed turns and icy ruts. Everyone was riding amazing from the little guys to the masters division each group held their own. In the end Terje was the fastest followed by Dirksen and Temple tough crowed. Big ups to 686 rider Forest Bailey, as well as 686 representers, Matt Edgers, Mike Gagg’s and Dave Grey for holding it down at the event.

686 was nominated for the 2012 TransWorld Business SIA Booth of the Year!!
Check out the video and don’t forget to vote for us here: business.transworld.net/86169/features/2012-sia-booth-of-the-year-nominees/

Sebi Gieger takes his series ‘Different Directions’ back to his home town in the streets of Austira…

See more from Sebi: http://sebigeiger.com/blog/