Submitted by Daniel on October 27, 2011 at 12:06 pm

“The Art of Flight” is the latest film from Curt Morgan and Brain Farm Digital Cinema, the same crew that brought us “That’s it, That’s All” back in 2008. “The Art of Flight” was 2 years in the making and features locations all over the world like Chile, Aspen, Patagonia, Alaska, Jackson Hole, British Columbia and a dozen talented riders.

Right from the start I knew that this wasn’t like any other snowboarding film I’d seen before. This realization really hit me in one of the first scenes when Curt Morgan manages to make waxing a snowboard, one of the most mundane tasks we face, into a visual wonder. Now imagine what he can do with a day in Jackson Hole and you get the picture. The amazing technology and skill at which each shot was filmed grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until the credits rolled.

I do however feel like I need to add a disclaimer. This film isn’t about a bunch of bros enjoying perfect riding conditions day after day and having a party on the slopes. This is the real deal, and it’s intense. Once the action picks up you never really feel safe for the rest of the film. It’s also not just back-to-back snowboarding clips; it’s as much about the nature and the journey as it is about the actual riding.

With riders like Travis Rice, John Jackson, Mark Landvik, Scotty Lago, Jake Blauvelt, Nicolas Müller, Gigi Rüf, DCP and Pat Moore, I don’t really need to go into detail on the quality of riding. These guys are going huge and taking the sport to new levels. My rewind button was begging me to stop by the end of the film. They spend the majority of their time in the backcountry, even trying their luck on some terrain that has never seen a run before, but they do manage to fit in a little time at the park.

One of the first things Travis Rice says in the film is that, “experiencing the world through endless secondhand information isn’t enough. If we want authenticity we have to initiate it.” Well, if you can’t bum a ride to the Darwin range in Patagonia, then I’d say watching “The Art of Flight” is the next best thing. So pop in the disc, rest your finger on the rewind button, and brace yourself for a wild ride.

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Submitted by Daniel on October 26, 2011 at 11:27 am

Can you strap into your wedding guestbook and shred the slopes? I didn’t think so; however, the newly married Kimberly and Robert Silcox can. They decided that their love for snowboarding was enough to justify using a full-size Blank Snowboard as a guestbook. Have you used a Blank Snowboard for anything out of the ordinary? If so, send us a photo!

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Submitted by Daniel on October 21, 2011 at 12:03 pm

We recently stumbled upon a company that we think you guys should definitely know about. Boardstix is a Carlsbad, CA based company that’s on a mission to “rid the world of boring boards.” The company started out with surfboards in mind, but I believe Blank Snowboards and BoardStix are a match made in heaven.

What we love most about them is the convenience and ease of purchasing a tried-and-true kit so you can immediately and confidently get down to business. The kit comes with a few “BoardStix” in various colors and a can of spray-on clear finish. The execution is simple. You just doodle your design, apply the clear coat and you’re done. If you’re itching to customize your Blank board, but you’ve never used a can of spray paint before, BoardStix were made for you.

So does anyone else have that one tattoo that just appeared one morning with no recollection of having it done? Did I mention that BoardStix are durable yet removable? If only everything in life were that simple. While BoardStix are removable, for best results, we do not recommend drinking and designing.

You can check out their website at www.boardstix.com, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Click here for our BoardStix art tutorial complete with pictures and video.

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