Snowboard

As we work in the snowboard industry, we are involved in our favorite activity, snowboarding, more or less all year round. So much for the theory. Here's how it can actually be.

Travel information: Who, what, when, where¿?

Going snowboarding in Iran?¿ Our friends look at us with doubt and shake their heads when we tell them about our plans. Where are you supposed to be able to snowboard there? Isn't it just desert and war? And if so, it's surely a tour for people who have finished with life. But we experienced exactly the opposite?

A jet of fire hisses from the exhaust above the hatch and the turbine of the old MI-8 transport helicopter slowly starts to move. Driven by the flight officer's hop-hop-hop calls, we climb aboard at a run, past the dented external tanks, and squeeze into a row on the two benches inside.

The same thing every season? You probably carry your skis or snowboards out of the dark cellar into the daylight full of anticipation. Oh dear: the edges are slightly rusty and the base is showing light spots. Here and there, deep gashes even reach into the core of your treasure. In order to prepare it for the demands of a wide range of conditions, i.e. to make the boards optimally rideable, only one thing helps: spit in your hands and get to work!

Numerous snowboarding legends have announced their attendance at the tenth anniversary of the Longboard Classic in Stuben: Chuck Barfoot, owner of the snow surf and skate company of the same name and one of the four founding fathers of snowboarding. Terry Kidwell, the "Godfather of Freestyle", four-time Freestyle World Champion and legendary Sims team rider, and Shawn Farmer, the freeride legend who showed us what it means to be an Alaskan local in the late 80s.

...finally we are sitting in our "cheap plane" after all - because shortly before everything looked as if we would only just get near an airplane. We were at check-in on time, but Micha, who had the shortest journey, once again couldn't tear himself away from his desk and simply didn't show up. The charming lady at check-in finally gives us two more minutes - and as ordered (too late), Micha turns up (after exactly two! minutes). We can just about persuade her to check us in. Lucky us! Maybe next time we'll fly on a scheduled flight again - or just get to the airport earlier...

If you want to get down, you have to get up first. What sounds so simple is actually a hurdle or two in practice. Here we show you what aids are available - especially for single-board athletes. And always take a deep breath!