One of my favorite parts in the Video is at 1:23 of the video, watch how the head continues to look around…

Enjoy.

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1. Hot Wax 101 for skis and snowboards

While some of you out there may be veterans to waxing your skis, snowboards or chest hair, some folks may have unanswered questions about hot waxing their gear. This video done in the Tahoe City tune shop with John Huston will hopefully clear the air on how to properly wax your sticks!

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TEAM DRIVEN DARK FORCES AT WORK

The Darko continues to prove itself as the boot our team reaches for time and time again. Never slowing down on feature upgrades and fine-tuning the 2011 Darko rocks a redesigned outsole and asymmetrical cuff liner.

The patented K2 CONDA System allows you to tighten, loosen or adjust your liner on-the-fly – from outside of the boot! The first time you try this, you’ll wonder how you ever rode without it.

How it works: A Boa® is attached to the CONDA minimized harness is securely built into the shell of the boot and tightens around the liner to lock your foot in position. Focus is on the superior ankle support and heel hold. The harness lace is threaded through a floating tongue lace guide, allowing riders to customize fit for maximum comfort.

HEELS REJOICE

Formulated for long lasting impact absorption and vibration killing, the same Harshmellow material used in boards and bindings can be found in our boots. Integrated in the heel and forefoot areas of our top boots, minimizing rebound and making landings softer and more controlled.

Intuition Control-Foam 3D

Superior heel hold and refined comfort

• A blend of high and standard density thermo-forming Ultralon® foam
• Internal/external “J” bars for increased heel hold
• Fast-In™ liner lacing system
• 3D molded EVA insole with HARSHMELLOW pods

Performance Outsole With Harshmellow

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1. 2012 K2 UFO boot review and tech
2. 2011 K2 Snowboard Boot Tech
3. 2011 ThirtyTwo Boot Tech Overview

WALK AWAY AND FIND A NEW VIEWPOINT.

The 2011-2012 K2 Panoramic Snowboard is your ticket to the drop out and hike out mindset. Three years in the making our developers brought it all to this lightweight, Bambooyah™ cored backcountry tool. No half stepped plain graphics either. Keeping it core and true to snowboarding in every way.

All Terrain Rocker

All Conditions Versatility

Designed for use throughout the mountain, All Terrain Rocker allows for effortless turns on hardpack but also provides ample float in softer snow and crud. A setback stance and medium rise through the tip and a lower rise in the tail defines this multi-purpose freerider.

Hybrilight Construction

Less waste, more shred!

K2’s exclusive Hybrilight construction features a thin, constant thickness sidewall designed for maximum performance and minimal material usage. The result is a lighter, more advanced snowboard with significantly less waste produced in manufacturing. Better on hill and greener for the hill.

Carbon Web

Connect to the web

Always improving the feel and energy return of our boards, the R+D group releases the CARBON WEB rider input/output system. Offered in two levels of sensitivity. Resulting in a more connected feedback loop from terrain to rider.

Bambooyah Blend

A little Bambooyah goes a long way.

BAMBOOYAH® expands out into more models in this it’s second year. We now offer the all new Bambooyah Blended cores. Created for models that could benefit from just a little bit of Bambooyah’s incredible strength. A little it of Bambooyah goes a long way.

Triaxial Glass

A glass laminate with diagonal layers that stiffens the board torsionally. Giving you improved edge hold and increased stability for those off-axis landings

Hyper Progressive

An infinite number of different radius are blended together flawlessly from mellow in the tips, to more aggressive in the center. The result is a super predictable feel that never hooks. Responsive at high speeds and smooth enough to butter your way from the peak to park.

4000 Sintered

• Fastest natural base material available

• Exceptionally Durable

• Absorbs deeper & retains wax longer

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1. Splitboard bindings: An interview with Bryce from Karakoram
2. 2012 LIB Tech Attack Banana Review
3. 2012 Burton Snowboard Board Tech

ONCE AGAIN THE BEST EVER

The 2011-2012 K2 Ever snowboard binding is the convergence of all of the best K2 binding tech in one ultra-quick, lightweight binding. Canted, cored, Air-locked and Harshmellowed the Ever is stacked deep with tech. Topped off with the patented K2 Auto™ system, you can have it all

AUTO

HARSHMELLOW-BINDINGS

CANTED FOOTBEDS

• Angled inward 3 degrees to match your natural leg position during riding.

• More support to the outside of the foot provides improved control and ollie pop.

• Reduces fatigue allowing you to ride longer and stronger.

Gap Eraser Highbacks

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1. 2012 Burton Cartel Re-flex Binding: Review
2. 2012 K2 UFO boot review and tech
3. 2012 LIB Tech Attack Banana Review

The flagship model of K2’s all new Endo Construction offering. The all-new 2011-2012 K2 UFO snowboard boot is the most durable and solid flexing boot we have ever made. Closure is controlled by K2’s DB system. Boasting a Boa® Coiler frontal closure with the Patented Boa®Conda™ liner tightening for on the fly fit control.

Boa Conda

Fit on the fly

The patented K2 CONDA System allows you to tighten, loosen or adjust your liner on-the-fly – from outside of the boot! The first time you try this, you’ll wonder how you ever rode without it.

How it works: A Boa® is attached to the CONDA minimized harness is securely built into the shell of the boot and tightens around the liner to lock your foot in position. Focus is on the superior ankle support and heel hold. The harness lace is threaded through a floating tongue lace guide, allowing riders to customize fit for maximum comfort.

Endo Construction

A BREAKTHOUGH BOOT FLEX & CONSTRUCTION

A complete rethink of how a boot is constructed and flexes. Based on a urethane endoskeletal structure that focuses the flex into a single part as apposed to stressing synthetic leather and stitch lines to get flex. Using one engineered part opened up a world of purpose-built flex design that our engineers then spent hundreds of on-snow hours tuning until they arrived at the perfect flex for each model.

Harshmellow – Boots

HEELS REJOICE

Formulated for long lasting impact absorption and vibration killing, the same Harshmellow material used in boards and bindings can be found in our boots. Integrated in the heel and forefoot areas of our top boots, minimizing rebound and making landings softer and more controlled.

Vibram

Legendary durability & grip

Known for their deep heritage in the outdoor footwear industry, Vibram outsoles provide the absolute best in tread performance. Focusing on lightweight, superior grip and long lasting durability these exclusive designs and rubber compounds can’t be topped.

Boa Partnership

10 years of boa® history

K2 introduced Boa® lacing systems to the snowboard market 10 years ago and now, more than ever, K2’s decade of partnership with Boa® is a stand out advantage. For 2011 we continue to lead the charge, featuring our exclusive K2 Boa® CONDA, low-friction, low-profile guides, Boa® H2 reel closures, as well as many other advancements within each Boa®-equipped model. K2 continues to offer the most progressive, comfortable and fastest Boa® systems on the market.

Intuition Pro-Foam 3D

Precision fit and dialed riding performance that holds up to pro abuse.

• High density thermo-forming Ultralon® foam
• Internal “J” bar and external “J” bar with full body reinforcement for heel hold and powerful control
• Integrated power strap for extra support and stay-tight closure
• 3D molded DUAL EVA insole with HARSHMELLOW pods

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1. 2012 K2 Darko Boot Review and Tech
2. 2011 K2 Snowboard Boot Tech
3. 2011 ThirtyTwo Boot Tech Overview

The 2011-2012 K2 Happy Hour Snowboard is the result of leaving the team alone to do what they want with each and every element of this all-new deck. A bit scary really. We are lucky no one was hurt. But the end result is the most bizarro, genius fun board we have ever ridden.

Tech:
Flatline

The Perfect Balance

Demanded by the K2 International Pro Team and proven through multiple awards, K2 pioneered the Flatline base profile. Preloaded, stable, and turn-ready, Flatline creates a supremely balanced, smooth ride for both aspiring and accomplished pros.

Ollie Bar

Pop comes pre-loaded

The Ollie bar is a totally new approach to adding pop to a snowboard. Built in place in a pre-loaded, cambered shape it solves the concern that rocker board don’t have the pop camber board have.Made with a secret layup of carbon, Kevlar and urethane layers, the ollie bar is positioned in the center of the board between the binding inserts. Strong ollies and pressing power doesn’t come from the tail alone. The backbone center section is actually more critical for smooth even pressure. You gotta try it to believe the pop.

Carbon Web

Connect to the web

Always improving the feel and energy return of our boards, the R+D group releases the CARBON WEB rider input/output system. Offered in two levels of sensitivity. Resulting in a more connected feedback loop from terrain to rider.

WH3 Core

Lightweight honeykomb core technology

Using the same wood lay up as the W2 core; Our WH3 adds` two strips of Honeykomb material between the bindings and the rails.

Triaxial Glass

A glass laminate with diagonal layers that stiffens the board torsionally. Giving you improved edge hold and increased stability for those off-axis landings

Hyper Progressive

An infinite number of different radius are blended together flawlessly from mellow in the tips, to more aggressive in the center. The result is a super predictable feel that never hooks. Responsive at high speeds and smooth enough to butter your way from the peak to park.

4000 Sintered

Fastest natural base material available• Exceptionally Durable• Absorbs deeper & retains wax longer

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1. 2012 K2 Snowboard Camber Profiles
2. 2012 LIB Tech Attack Banana Review
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The snowboard season of 2002/2003.  Burton releases a binding called the Mission GT. Its basically a regular Mission, but on the highback the are “wings” that wrap around the outside of your boot.  The purpose is to give better leverage and response for freeriding, as it provides the upper part of the highback with never before seen support to the outer part of your legs.  At the time, a very short lived concept that never really caught on.  Fast forward to 2008-2009.  A handful of professional riders, such as Keegan Valaika, Lucas Magoon, and Chris Bradshaw among others, began getting their hands on these old Mission highbacks, taking the wings off, and fashioning them to their current bindings.  Their purpose, however, was not just for freeriding, but for better leverage in the freestyle world.  Support for pressing/buttering, and more stable landings from jumps is what the wings now provided, as well as the originally intended increased freeride response.

This team driven binding concept has since been reintroduced to the market originally in the form of the Burton Infidel, and the Technine Lucas Magoon Pro Scrubhook.  These are the only two companies who have taken a serious approach to the resurgence of this tech, but now the question is, what is the difference between the two models and does one work better than the other?

When the Burton Infedel first came out, I grabbed a pair and continued to ride them for a season and a half.  I noticed the wing when locked in a press, and the support it provides when freeriding around, but there’s a lot of play and flex in the wing itself.  I always thought the idea was good, but maybe a stiffer wing would create better performance and leverage.  Enter the Technine Scrubhook.  I recently was able to get my hands on a pair of these, and noticed the difference in the first turn I made.  Just bending the wing with your hand, you can notice the difference in flex from the two.  I really noticed it when pressing.

In my opinion, the Technine Scrubhooks do a better job at providing support in and outside of the park than the Burton Infidels do, due to their stiffer flex.  If you’re into riding winged highback bindings, I would highly recommend taking a pair of Technines out for a spin.  The next debate and difference in these two binding models is riding either a metal heelcup on the Technine, or a polycarbonate one with the Burton, but that easily is an entirely different debate for another day.

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1. Is Burton Snowboards Squeezebox the next snowboard Game Changer ? [OPINION COLUMN]

Quickly becoming the industry standard language that cuts through the Rocker confusion, K2 Baseline is an easy to understand system of base profiles that aims to take every riding style to a new level. Baseline is simply the line the steel edge makes on the bottom of the board and can be made up of Rocker, Camber, Flat or any combination of these. We offer five different Baselines each tailored to a different type of snowboarding.
Built into every board we make, Baseline is a great way to begin looking for yo ur perfect board. From the responsive and poppy feel of Flatline all the way to dished up Powder Rocker, there is a Baseline that perfectly matches your individual snow sliding style.

FLATLINE

Available in: Protohype, Slayblade, Happy Hour, Life Like, Playback, Wolfpack, Fling

THE PERFECT BALANCE
Demanded by the K2 International Pro Team and proven through multiple awards, K2 pioneered the Flatline base profile. Preloaded, stable, and turnready, Flatline creates a supremely balanced, smooth ride for both aspiring and accomplished pros.

CATCH FREE ROCKER

Available in: Brigade, Moment, Kandi, Mini Turbo, Lil’ Kandi

EASY GOING & CONFIDENT
By bringing the contact points out of the snow, turns happen before the edge bites and – voila! – no catch. This small amount of Rocker results in
more confidence throughout the learning curve and unlocks faster progression on all terrain.

JIB ROCKER

PARK & RAIL AUTHORITY

Available in: Fastplant, Parkstar, WWW, VVV, Vandal

Jib Rocker is a versatile twin Rocker built to dominate the park. Just enough rise in the tip and tail to create a loose, buttery feel on all types of terrain. Contact points stay well off the snow until engaged – eliminating edge hook while maintaining fun pop.

ALL TERRAIN ROCKER

ALL CONDITIONS VERSATILITY

Available in: Panoramic, Turbo Dream, Raygun, Eco Pop, Lunatique

Designed for use throughout the mountain, All Terrain Rocker allows for effortless turns on hardpack but also provides ample float in softer snow
and crud. A setback stance and medium rise through the tip and a lower rise in the tail defines this multipurpose freerider.

POWDER ROCKER

PERFORMANCE IN DEEP

Available in: Gyrator

Powder Rocker delivers the most Rocker for the most snow – enabling you to float through anything while still maintaining a high-level of performance on groomed terrain. A stiffer nose and tail ensure stability in an otherwise maneuverable and lively package.

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1. The 2012 Early Release Burton Nug Snowboard – Part 1
2. 2012 Burton Snowboard Board Tech
3. Rocker Vs. Camber Snowboards

Freeskiing Rocker Designs

Big Mountain

ELP FULL ROCKER

WHAT IT IS:
A smooth, gradual bend from tip to tail with matching sidecut and flex.

WHAT IT DOES:
Extended Low Profile (ELP) gives the skier all the benefits of added maneuverability in soft snow while also delivering smooth, graceful arcs on groomed terrain. How? By matching the flex and sidecut with the full rocker (long, gradual bend from tip to tail) profile, the skier gains full, uninterrupted edge contact. The more you put the ski on edge, the more effective the edge becomes. The resulting smoothness and predictability is truly uncanny.

TIP-ROCKER

WHAT IT IS:
An early-rise tip design.

WHAT IT DOES:
For high performance all-mountain freeskiing, the combination of an early rise tip and a classic camber profile in the rest of the ski provides easy, smooth turn entry regardless of conditions. In softer snow the ski is incredibly forgiving, floats better, and requires less energy to ride.

TIP & TAIL-ROCKER

WHAT IT IS:
A slight rocker bend in the tip and tail, complemented by traditional camber under foot.

WHAT IT DOES:
With a slight rocker in the tip and tail, combined with a classic camber profile under the foot, Völkl engineers have created the ideal blend for firm snow. Easy, smooth turn entry and exit, with acceleration and rebound as well. While not as maneuverable in soft snow as our full rocker designs, this rocker design is best utilized on hard snow or in the park and pipe.

[Show as slideshow]

Shop for Volkl Skis here

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