Travis Rice is the Jerry Rice of Snowboarding

Travis Rice is the Jerry Rice of Snowboarding. You might say he kills it. The Jackson Hole native cut his teeth on the gnarliest terrain this side of AK, so it’s no mystery why he’s one of the most well rounded riders on the planet.

Last season Travis hosted Natural Selection. It was the first contest created by humans to incorporate terrain-park style into a burly, all-mountain venue. The conditions were perfect for it too — two feet of blower pow for the invitation-only roster. Rice claims he sold his soul for a blizzard during the contest. His deal paid off with a win.

Beyond shredding, Rice fills his schedule with filming. His latest project, That’s It, That’s All, wraps up 4 years of traveling and filming in Canada, Alaska, Jackson, Utah, and pretty much anywhere else it snows in the world. Expect this one to blow the doors off. The trailer may be too rad to handle, so be warned.

T Rice also beats the crap outta Lib Tech boards for a living—Lib calls it product testing though. After Travis puts the boards through the paces, he tells Lib what sucks and what can withstand his punishment. You get the stuff that makes it. Check out more about Travis’s Lib board with Magne-traction and Banana-traction.

Now You Cant Even Skate in our own Backyards?

I ask you to sign the petition... This is an abuse of power.

Fill out the Petition and Show your Support!

On August 7th, 2008 the Salt Lake Valley Health Department passed a new ordinance which prohibits the use of any skate ramps on a residential property. The reasoning they have used to issue this ordinance is based on "Noise Pollution".
The ordinance can be found here on the SLVHD website. It is Regulation # 21, and reads as follows...


4.5.21. Sporting Ramps. No person shall build or use nor shal any person cause, allow, or permit anyone to build or allow anyone to use any skateboard, roller blade, bicycle, or snowboard ramp or half-pipe or similar configuration within 800 feet of a dwelling, except within facilities that have been designated for such use by government entity.

This is obviously unjust, and anyone who has ever used a backyard skate ramp knows that it that it would be an impossible argument to say that a Mini-ramp produces any more noise than a backyard swing set, trampoline, swimming pool, basket ball hoop, or a family backyard gathering for a nice summer evening barbeque.

Skateboarding is illegal in most public venues. Now our local council has made it illegal to enjoy this activity in the privacy of your own backyard. They have stated an argument that anyone who skateboards can now enjoy the several public skateparks that many of the numerous counties, cities, and communities have assembled throughout Utah. For this reason they feel it is only fair that we are prohibited from skating in the privacy of our own backyards. Though it is very true that many skate parks have in fact sprouted up, and any of us who enjoy skateboarding are quite grateful for continued growth in skateparks. However, this doesn't change the fact that this is completely beside the point. Why haven't they made noise ordinance that states families can no longer enjoy their backyard pools due to excessive noise? There are public, and community pools to enjoy instead, right? Or perhaps you can no longer shoot hoops in your driveway because the city provides baskets at the neighborhood park, or school? The fact remains that they have no just reason for passing this ordinance. A mini-ramp produces no more noise then any other general backyard activities that take place on a daily basis in thousands of backyards across our city every day. It seems clear that this ordinance is biased towards Skateboarders. Skateboarders have been segregated specifically in this matter. Speak up, and voice your opinion in this matter. Let our officials know that you are unwilling to stand by, and be told that you are no longer able to enjoy skateboarding in the privacy of your backyard. Take back, your back yard. Sign our online petition to urge our city, and county officials to address this issue. Email this page to all your friends, and family. Spread the word.

Window Shopping

Basically, I don't have anything to write right now. You may say I am window shopping. I am looking out at the Wasatch, Rain is falling and I am at work. Now you think I would love to be at work all day everyday but I am kind of dreaming of a powder day right now.





How much fun would it be to be on milli chairlift or whatever lift you like to ride and just be heading to your favorite bowl for a 2 foot fast powder day that just everything out there you can jump off of. I know just writing this makes me stolked. Do you think Winter Will be here early? Do you think we are going to get hammered across this country like we did last year? I sure hope so.

May we all pray for lots of deep days because the deep days are what we do this for.

Safety 1st

I have officially seen everything.

I was checking some e-mail tonight and I saw a little Google ad right above my mailbox. It said: Dog Helmet for biking - www.hunterk9.com - Dog Helmet has adjustable strap, 4 sizes and foam lining.

Serendipity. I was horrified to know my Weimeraner would have to ride Porcupine Rim totally unprotected... Until now.

I had to go to the site and check this thing out. Here's the product description:

Designed with safety and comfort in mind, "The Helmet" can protect a pet's head from wind, windblown objects and other irritants when riding on a motorcycle, in a car, truck or boat.

Excellent for blind dogs or any pet that requires protection from minor head trauma when bumping into things. Does your dog have stand-up ears? Not to worry....."The Helmet" was designed so that it does not rest flat on the head. The customizable foam pads that are included fit between the ears, not over them. This prevents "The Helmet" from pushing the ears flat to the head. The dual adjustable chin strap lets you custom fit "The Helmet" for almost any pet dog or cat.

Available in: "Bone" White, "Wet Nose" Black, and "Panting" Pink.

To insure a proper fit, measure your pet's head-across the forehead, around to the back of the head. If your pet has floppy ears, make sure to include them when measuring. Select a size from the chart below that most closely matches this measurement .

This poses another question. When did dogs start receiving better healthcare than most humans? I personally know two dog owners with cancer-survivor dogs. This would not be the case in my house. If one of my dogs became terminally ill when I was a kid, I know what my dad would say.

"You can get a puppy after this one dies. Cats are still better than dogs though."

And I most certainly know what my grandpa would say.

"You know what would cure that dog cancer? A lead aspirin would do."

My point is: If you have more money than sense, the Dog Helmet might be for you.

Gearin' up for the season

I'm maybe 1/16 as good as Eric Pollard, but I do ride Sir Francis Bacons. They're the most amazing ski I've ever ridden. Before I made my trek to Atlanta, I skied 'em everyday: groomers, pow, jumps, crud, trees- they slay pretty much everything. And they're so stable, you can straight-line groomers pretty much anywhere.

But the ski really shines in the Pow. I came to the Bacon from the Line Mothership Flites- the ones with the boombox chick. Those skis killed it. The Bacon ups the ante though. It has more pop, it's wider, the turn radius makes it a lot surfier in the deep stuff- I'm talking slashing Brighton's Rock Garden, Milly, GW.

It's been awhile since I rode em, but I cannot wait to get back on the Bacons.

Global Warming I think I may like it.

Well I get stoked. It is Sept 2ND and the snow began to fly in the mountains of the Wasatch. Snowbird Reported Snow, Alta Reported Snow and now all us Utahan's can only pray about is another year like last year. Could you imagine that. If we are able to pull of weather patterns again like last year we are going to have two of the best years of our lives in the great state of Utah.

Global warming doesn't mean "according to all these brilliant scientists" that it is going to get warmer everywhere. there are places because of global warming that will go into an ice age due to the oceanic currents. This is what gives me hope. We had more snow then we have had in the mountains of the Wasatch last year at such a consistent rate that I had like 30 pow days and 3 or 4 hard pack days and that is because I couldn't go on every powder day I wanted to.

Bring on the global warming because my powder days have been amazing.