Moxie Metal Rail Jam

This past weekend Sugarbush Parks hosted the Moxie Metal Rail Jam, and it was surly one to remember. The weather was amazing and there were plenty of Moxie Energy drinks to go around. The Rail Jammers were all hungry to win that $300 grand prize and were ready to throw down. All participants killed it and by the end of jam the judges had a hard decision to make. Luke Haddock and John Lyke ended up tying for third place and Chris Rotax ended up grabbing a close second. The man who took it all home was Jeff DeForge. This kid slayed it all day with super consistent runs and flawless style. As the rail jam came to an end no one wanted to go home and participants and spectators ended up cruising the Sunny D lift until closing. As the day came to an end every one on the hill seemed like they had a blast. The day was an overall success and I just want to give a huge shout out to the Sugarbush Staff. You guys have been slaying it all year and I’m sure I can speak for the whole Sugarbush community in saying that we all can’t wait till next year's season. Thanks for a great season.

The Stickers Get Sicker

This will be a new weekly installment to Madness on the Mountains. During the second week of March a couple of buddies and myself worked at the 2011 Burton US Open as “peddlers” in the US Open tents. During the week we were required to hand out stickers and free swag to all spectators. Of course we kept some of the goodies for ourselves. Collectively we realized that we all had a ton of the bumper stickers left. Therefore, each week I am going to release 2-3 of the stickers for online viewing so that everyone who couldn't attend won’t miss out. Burton really killed it this year guy and I hope you will all enjoy.

Could You Ask For 2 Better Days at Loon?

The East Coast On Snow Demo this year took place at the one and only Loon Mountain located in Lincoln, NH. This event attracted hundreds and hundreds of eagerly awaiting shop employees that were all waiting to see next year’s 2012 product lines. With all of the edgy new snowboards and hardgoods, shop employees couldn't wait to strap into the products and start taking turns down the mountain. If the overwhelming amount of new product on hill wasn't enough to get the shop employees pumped about the event, the weather sure was. Over the course of the events two days the weather was 45 degrees and blue bird. On the East Coast you really can't ask for better weather conditions. To say the least the atmosphere was super positive and everyone really seemed like they were having a blast. At the end of first demo day sprits were high and Loon Mountain even provided shop employees with a little treat by having an under the lights wall ride contest, followed by a free buffet, and a Red Bull after party. By the end of the first day it seemed like no one wanted the party to end. The second day ended up being just as beautiful as the first. It was sunny and warm and no one really wanted to leave. All good things have to come to an end though. This event was one for the ages and not one person wasn't sporting a smile by the end of it all. Everyone at the event said their goodbyes to Loon and left town with a lot of great memories and stories to tell the shops. Now all there is to do is patiently wait to have a blast at next years On Snow Demo. Thank you Loon you guys killed it this year!

The Original Magazine

Snowboarder Mag. was founded and created by Pat Bridges.  His original idea was to create a magazine that gave snowboarders a reputation to no longer be a bunch of snowboard bums, but rather a community of riders brought together by the love of the sport to create an "actual sport."  That is exactly what Pat did.  Snowboarding today is a billion dollar a year industry that has even made its way into the Olympics.  Over the past 30 years snowboarding has really changed from an outcasts hobby to a full-fledged Olympic sport.   What Snowboarder Mag. does that is so different from all other magazines is that they utilize all types of media power tools to effectively sell magazines.  When you first look at any Snowboarder Mag. the limbic part of your brain is initially activated.  At first glance of the magazine you typically see the most up to date “gnarly” photos of riders riding the most unique and creative features out there.  The magazine also really tries to stay up to date when it comes to the use of technology.  Therefore, they use a technological shift to keep readers interested in the Mags. content by offering an online magazine you can subscribe to with the newest video edits, and up to date blog articles.  This type of technology really helps the magazine keep up with the times.  Production techniques are also used in the magazine to keep readers interested.  In fact creative directors are paid specifically to keep up to date with new production techniques like font styles, colors, and symbols to create an up to date and artistic magazine.  In fact these techniques are something Snowboarder prides themselves on.  The magazine has an avid following but to generate new potential readers they use a variety of persuasive techniques to help sell magazines.  Snowboarder also uses techniques like flattery, the bandwagon approach, and group dynamics to get interested prospects to subscribing.  The magazine is flattering enough just by looking at the front cover but there are also all types of colors and amazing photos to really flatter readers.  The bandwagon approach and group dynamics are other types of persuasive techniques used to get readers to feel like by purchasing the magazine and by keeping up to date with what is going on in the snowboard community they really become a part of that community.  Being a snowboarder myself I remember when I was younger and really wanted to become a part of that community and by buying Snowboarder that idea really seemed to become a reality.  No matter what techniques they use to sell magazines Snowboarder has really been killing it over the years.  By staying with the times the magazine will only grow and hopefully be around for a long time.

Sugarbush Update

Over the past week Sugarbush Resort located in Warren, VT has had a total snowfall accumulation of over 3 feet.  Not only has Sugarbush received all this new snowfall but their pride and joy, the terrain park, has added several new and interesting park features.  Including things like the Cabot rainbow box, the battle ship rail, a double down rail line, and a 30 foot single barrel down rail.  If Sugarbush hasn't been killing it enough with all the new snowfall and the new park features they also had the Main Event Park Contest at Sugarbush last weekend.  The park crew at Sugarbush built quite the amazing setup for the contest and kids came from all over to throw down.  To say the least Sugarbush is really putting in work this year and if you are interested in having a great day on hill then head down to Sugarbush Resort.

Beginning of the Madness

PHOTO: Tommy DeLitto


Hey,

My name is Colby Sears I am from New Haven, CT. As far as media experiences goes over the break I got to enjoy probably one of the best movies I have ever seen, True Grit. The funny thing about this media experience is the fact that while attending the movie I got to experience first hand exactly what I love about the 21st century and also what I hate. While watching this movie I got a text message from my Dad that said, "In CT we were going to be expecting a huge blizzard." I love how fast and easy technology can be utilized yet, as I was reading the text message in the movies the lady behind me kicked my chair and told me to put the phone away. This is also what I hate about the 21st century. Technology is so plentiful and easy to use that it can be litterally used everywhere and it is very difficult to break away from technology. In the future I really have no idea what I want to do. I believe that not knowing what you actually want in life is half the adventure of it. I get to wake up everyday having no clue where my day is going to take me and honestly I couldn't be more happy about it.

Dude Ranch 4 - Blue Hills, MA from Dude Ranch on Vimeo.