TTR’s silver partner, Volcom is an innovative designer, marketer and distributor of premium quality young men’s and women’s clothing, accessories and related products under the Volcom brand name. Their products, which include t-shirts, fleece, bottoms, tops, jackets, boardshorts, denim and outerwear, incorporate distinctive combinations of fashion, functionality and athletic performance. They were founded in 1991 by Richard Woolcott and Tucker Hall in Orange County, California, the epicenter of boardsports culture. Since that time, Richard has led a committed and talented management team to create one of the leading boardsport brands in the world.

Be Sure to check out their web-site @ www.volcom.com where you can find their range of quality clothes and check out their blogs and events

Check out the Volcom Park Series Below

TTR’s silver partner NEFF, who produce the TTR beanies, are throwing the 3rd year of the Neff Beach Bash. When you live in Southern California you get the awesome advantage of living close to epic mountains and near some of the best surf beaches in the world.

Neff Beach Bash hits Bear Mountain April 7th, 2012. This years event will be featuring a live performance from Hyper Crush! Neff will also be dishing out $2500 in prizes. DJ Slipmatt will also be performing along with other entertainment, food and freebies.

Registration starts at 10AM – Rider meeting starts at 11:30AM – Event starts at Noon – First come first serve, event caps at 125 – Free to enter with Bear Lift Ticket

Sika AG, Switzerland, is a globally active speciality chemicals company. Sika supplies the building and construction industry as well as manufacturing industries (automotive, bus, truck, rail, alternative energies, building components). The company is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures.

The new Sika app allows users to access all Sika product catalogues worldwide from mobile devices running on Android. Further information like technical or safety data sheets can also be accessed through the app.

For more info on SIKA check at their web-site @ www.sika.com

A drunk Polish monk transcribed philosophical scrolls from Tibet and made “Staro Robota” – which means “old work” in Polish – into “Astroboter”. This mistake soon became a myth take and found its wayinto the people‘s folklore, turning Astroboter into a metaphysical resetter in the shape of a robot who is able to discharge the energies of good and evil. A role Astroboter accepted eventually and whose creator is unknown (yet?).

Armed with a Guitar and MPC (hidden in his belly), the Astroboter is witness to incidents that are caused by extreme contrarieties, but yet are so close together that it’s vexed to differ one from the other. Like a “Fail-Safe Key” he appears in various events, triggered by the beliefs & disbeliefs of human mankind. Not bound to era or location, the tale jumps from 3000 BC to the year 2013, from Amon Meru to New York.

The self titled debut album, released on TTR’s Music Partner Switchstance Recordings, tells the mythical story of Astroboter, a spiritual manifestation of Nature’s own steady metronomic dance between good and evil. Employing musical means as varied as TripHop, Krautrock, Ambient and Post Rock, the album evokes antique episodes and ponders timeless questions with its very own kind of sonic soundscapes and trickery.

In the end, Astroboter falls into a coma, forever frozen in the icy vaults of Antarctica and quite likely forgotten in the arctic nights.

To be continued…

EXTRAS (Bandcamp Edition): Interactive Booklet featuring the story of Astroboter & Liner Notes about the music; Wallpaper; Printable Filter Tips; free Desktop Game (programmed by the artist.)

RELEASE DATE  APRIL 20TH 2012

Listen to the preview of the album here: http://soundcloud.com/switchstance-recordings/astroboter-astroboter-snippet

To pre-order your copy now go to http://switchstancerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/astroboter and for more info check out www.astroboter.com.

ASTROBOTER- Album Teaser – Arctic Nights

European Snowboard Champion Gerfried Schuller set the foundation for Blue Tomato by opening a snowboarding school in the year 1988. Today, Blue Tomato is known far beyond the borders of Austria. Next to the online shop on www.blue-tomato.com, Blue Tomato is made up of five stationary shops, the snowboarding school and a test centre.

The online shop is packed with over 100.000 products by over 400 popular brands.

TTR’s gold Partner, Blue Tomato is now stocking TTR Madwax and the TTR Neff Beanies for just 17.95 €.  Make sure you get yours before they’re sold out!

Be sure to check out their web-site for great deals and take a look at their end of season sale offering up to 70% off! – www.blue-tomato.com.

The 3rd Swatch TTR Art Rules design competition attracts many designers from all around the globe. It offers artists the chance of a lifetime to have their artwork featured on the 2012/13 TTR World Tour Trophy and matching Swatch Tour Watch.

More than 2’000 participants from 90 countries registered and have already submitted a great variety of designs. Check them out in the online design gallery at www.artrules.swatch.com.

The TTR Trophy, which was sculpted by renowned “Coarse” designer, Mark Landwehr, acts as a blank canvas for artists to get creative. One lucky winner will have the honor of their design being part of snowboarding history.

The jury, consisting of snowboard and art experts Arlette-Elsa Emch, President of Swatch together with Reto Lamm, President of TTR, former pro snowboarder and co-founder of WESC Ingemar Backmann, Romain Colin founder of Fubiz and Kassia Meador, pro longboard surfer and photographer elects the winning design from all submitted proposals.

The top three nominees will be invited to the Swatch Art Rules Night on May 11^th, 2012 in Los Angeles (USA) where the winning design and artist are set to be unveiled to the world. In addition to the portfolio-building exposure, the winner also receives a two-week trip to New York City to soak up all the art and design inspiration of the Big Apple.

This year’s installment of the design contest presents a challenge to the artists of the world: submit a graphic design that expresses the themes of Progression and Style. Progression and Style are two elements that run through all aspects of snowboarding and an artist’s interpretation of these themes will make the TTR Trophy and Swatch Tour Watch aesthetically complete.

It is still possible to submit artwork until March 27th 2012, and we welcome everybody to use the share buttons on the currently submitted designs, to show the world the audience’s favorites.

For full details surrounding the contest and for instructions on how to submit a design, visit www.artrules.swatch.com.

TTR Swatch Art Rules Trophy 2011/12 – Wrap Up

In 2008 Nike were excited to sign Gigi Rüf onto their Nike Snowboarding boot team.  Four short years later they are just as excited to announce, Gigi Rüf now rides for Nike Snowboarding Outerwear!

Gigi Ruf now rides Nike Snowboarding Boots and Outerwear.

Gigi Rüf began his snowboarding journey in Austria at the young age of 15, and quickly became a pillar amongst the finest riders in the industry.

Over the years, Gigi has consistently produced standout video parts in movies from Absinthe Films, Kingpin Productions and The Pirates. With over 30 covers under his belt, Gigi has clearly solidified his place amongst snowboarding’s elite.

Gigi’s style, creativity, and humble personality have already made an everlasting impact in both the history and future of snowboarding

Nike Snowboarding is proud to welcome him to the team again..… Gigi Rüf!

For more info check out www.nikesnowboarding.com and follow them on twiter @Nikesnowboarding.

The shapers at the Kingspark in Hochkönig, Austria worked tirelessly to prepare the Chosen Series kicker after overnight snow threatened the 8^th and penultimate stop of Nike Chosen Series. The 15m step-over style jump proved challenging to all the riders and their efforts were compounded with bad visibility from the start.

A previous winner of Best Style from the German stop, Jonel Fricke, worked the mic to keep the riders and crowd stoked whilst retail partner Blue Tomato kept spirits up with warm snacks and drinks as the 24 riders braved the snow, cold and cross winds in a bid to take the MVP and a ticket to the Nike Chosen Sessions.

Ultimately the weather ruled the comp and with Finals unable to take place riders were judged on their performance in the Qualis. Peter Walchhofer took Best Style following his inverted FS7 Tailgrab, Most Creative went to Markus Bernhard by laying out a powder run to knuckle line, but handling the tough conditions by sticking everything with style and composure was Stephan Wimmer from Innsbruck – BS5s, 7s and 9s – who claimed MVP and booked his spot at The Nike Chosen Sessions in April.

BEST TRICK WILDCARD

3 competing riders from each stop will also have the opportunity to gain a wildcard entry into the finals ‘Nike Chosen Sessions’. Watch the tricks and vote for which rider you think should make the finals @ www.nikechosenseries.com

Check out the edit from Austria | Next stop on the Nike Chosen Series was NORWAY. HOCHKONIG 03.03.12

For more more info go to www.nikechosenseries.com.

If you haven’t already heard, Swatch TTR Art Rules is back! Make your mark on this year’s TTR Trophy and official Swatch Tour Watch and get your creative juices flowing. Each season TTR and Swatch come together to find the most creative design created by you, for the World Snowboard Tour Trophy and a matching Swatch TTR Tour Watch.

Last year’s winner, Frankie Leong, paid both physical and emotional tribute to that inspiring moment when the victor lifts their prize.

This year it could be your design making an entry into the history of Snowboarding! If you’ve got what it takes, then register at www.artrules.swatch.com and get started!

Check out the Wrap Up video from the 2011/2012 Swatch TTR Art Rules!

O’Neill’s Senior Snow Outerwear designers Haitske Jacobs and Michael Esser were interviewed to get a sneak preview of their FW 12/13 models. Below shows the questions followed by their answers. Check it out!

P lease describe the overall idea / general inspiration behind your 2012/13 outerwear line.

Fall Winter 2012/2013 continues the celebration of the 60-year anniversary of O’Neill. We are celebrating 60 years of innovating and progressing the surf industry since the day back in 1952 when Jack O’Neill invented the wetsuit because he “just wanted to surf longer.”

This simple invention has paved the way for O’Neill’s progression – the aim of which to simply enhance your experience in nature.

This winter, with every product embracing the innovation of O’Neill, the products on offer mean that you will enjoy your winter not only in style, but also in warmth and comfort.

60 years of shaping
Influenced by 60 years of O’Neill history in shaping the classic design of the wetsuit, as well as incorporating ergonomic lines, mean the inspiration is all about producing the perfect form.

Mid-century Americana
This design influence harps back to the time of the inception of O’Neill back in 1952, but has translated the classic look into a modern on-trend looking using the likes of classic materials including wool, boucle and tweed.

Eclectic diversity
Eclectic Diversity theme brings a modern fresh and vibrant feel – whilst playing with the established roots of O’Neill. The idea is that through innovation and original thinking – anything is possible. The look and feel incorporates colour blocking and a mix of different styles.

What is the key piece (jacket, pant or otherwise) in the 12/13 collection about which you are most excited? Why?

255020 Sparkle Jacket. This has been developed alongside our teamrider Celia Miller. Her influence on our outwear is on-trend, fresh and technically superior. This jacket stands out not only for its style – EVERYONE who has seen it, loves it – but also its material, a slub yarn combination, it’s loonger fit and its 15k/10k performance.

What fits / silhouettes will you be showing, in pants & jackets? How does it differ from last season?

Jackets: WE will be showing longer fits next to our regular fits as we see a big trend in longer parka style jackets.

PANTS: There are still two trends running simultaneously within pants. The first is a relaxed pant fit and the second is a slimmer fit pant.

What”s new in colours / prints?

With our inspiration in the time of the start of O’Neill – mid century America – we have a more muted colour palette linking to a more classic look and feel.

In the theme of Eclectic diversity it’s about new colour combinations with some brighter twists throughout.

Describe the fabrics, features and technical innovations your outerwear will be running? Please highlight *NEW* technical stories that retailers will be seeing for the first time from your brand.

1. WOOL. Working with the inspiration of our 60 year history, the idea of using wool came up. Back in the 1950’s before Jack O’Neill invented the wetsuit to enable him to surf the cold waters of Northern California without the pain of the freezing sea on his skin, surfers were going to all drastic measures to stay warm.

“Some guys wore wool sweaters, “said Jack O’Neill. “There are stories about guys putting oil on their wool sweaters to repel water, but that doesn’t make sense. If you did that, it’d get all over your surfboard.”

This is the reason we have introduced technical wool into the outerwear collection. It’s a polyester material with the outlook of a wool material with a high water column and breathability.

2. FIREWALL The O’Neill Firewall system has developed throughout the O’Neill Fall Winter 2012/2013 collection.

Ergonomic research on body mapping has shown designers where the body looses most heat, where we transpire the quickest, and where the body needs the most ventilation.

Through this research a combination of linings and insulations including primaloft, down and hyperfill, are used in every product to provide the perfect balance in warmth and breathability.

Do your jackets attach to your pants for 12/13? How?

The O’Neill Connector System is featured on every single pant and jacket in the collection. The system works with 3 buttons with loops on the snowgator of the jacket that connect to loops on the pants – perfect for powder days.

Will there be a one-piece in your 12/13 line?

Of course! The one piece is classic O’Neill outerwear. In addition as we focus on a trend for Freeski this fits in perfectly this season. Virginie Faivre has been wearing the Moonstone Freesuit (255034) with tonal but outspoken colour blocking. Also new this season and in the same trend for Freeski is the Grid Insulated Bib pant also in the same colour blocking as the full suit.

Will your 2012/13 outerwear feature any eco-friendly pieces? Please describe what you”re doing here. Do you think it really matters to the consumer whether their purchase is eco or not?

Spending winters in the mountains, working with nature and working to enhance your experience in the elements, we at O’Neill have never been more aware of the challenges facing our environment.

This season we bring recycled material and compromise absolutely nothing in performance at the same time by integrating it into the highest technical product offering in the line.

This is enhancing your experience in nature by working with it at the same time. This is recycled material with 4-way-stretch and can be found in the Harmony Jacket (255003) and Harmony Pant (258001)

For the consumer who spends their time in nature, a brand that values this and is taking active steps to limit the impact on the environment is an exceptionally valuable consideration for the consumer.

Want to here more….then click here.