The Snow Centre - Hemel Hempstead - 2012 Update!

The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead is one of the UK's finest indoor snow slopes and the closest to London!.  

 

As Britain’s newest indoor skiing, snowboarding and Snowsports destination, The Snow Centre is designed to deliver the alpine conditions every skier and snowboarder dream of. Here you’ll find a huge 160m main slope as well as the largest indoor lesson slope in the UK. Both slopes are over 30m wide and maintained with a pristine snow surface – perfect for all your indoor skiing and snowboarding needs! 

Skiers and snowboarders of all abilities are welcome. We’ve created a wide range of lessons and passes, making sure there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, just beginning your Snowsports journey or simply want to have a whizz down the slopes on our Rubber Ringos, you’ll find it at The Snow Centre.

CLICK HERE to view online interactive prices!

Get all your snow outerwear needs here at S2AS!

Here at S2AS we stock all the latest snow outerwear from, snowboard pants to goggles, gloves and jackets! Not only do we stock the latest range we also have huge discounts on last year's models, perfect for if you want to grab yourself a bargain!

Check out the 2012 DC Amo Snow Jacket in attractive white, royal blue and purple. The snow jacket caters for all needs, it has the perfect fit and a fantastic waterproof shell and even comes with pockets for goggles and ipods! Here at S2AS for only
£139.99.

Save £30.99 on this 2011 DC Amo Snowboard Jacket in Gold, now only £99.00. With 5k waterproof and breath-ability rating its perfect for keeping you warm and dry on the mountains, but could easily cater for the summer months as well as it is not too heavy!

These 2012 DC Banshee Snow Pants are great, they come as a standard fit and are waterproof yet breathable at the same time, with special leg vents and DC shant control you can't go wrong. They come in three sizes, small, medium and large and with the fantastic purple colour they are perfect for everyone, here at S2AS for just £109.00!

A Simple Take on Snowboarding

The Snowboarding Dream

Snow. Gleaming white mountains and sheets of it laid down at a perfect angle. You could easily look at this pristine, white landscape, snap some photos and head back home. Maybe others can, but really you can't. That powder must be pressed under your waxed board...and it must be done as soon as possible.

Growing out of the skateboarding and surf culture of the Western United States, snowboarding has been scathing the sides of snow capped mountains since the late 1970's and early 1980's. Initially developed using skateboards with stripped wheels, the sport has come a long way, with boards of varying lengths, widths, and flexibilities, not to mention that many combinations of boots, bindings, and various other gear needed.

Unlike skiing, a snowboarder goes downhill "sideways", leading their body with either the left or right arm. This position allows them to swerve back and forth, cutting into the ice and snow, which in turn gives a modicum of control in a situation that is little more than hurling one's self on a split of wood down a bloody mountain.

Most non-professional riders will wear special safety gear such as a helmet, goggles, padded gloves, and special pants, because falling on your backside against ice and snow is never a joyous occasion. The rush you can get from snowboarding is something else; it's like parachuting, surfing, skiing, and wind sailing all rolled into one, yet better than all of them together. While snowboarding is not for the faint of heart, it is for any one fit enough to ski or perform any sort of aggressive or extreme sport.

Most snowboarding resorts also feature two types of area for the rider. The first is the traditional downhill course which may include moguls or jumps to perform tricks. The second course type is similar to street courses in skateboarding, featuring less incline and more trick-able areas, such as railings, scaffolds, or waxed wooden edges to show your skills on. Whichever you choose, the cold won't have any affect as you get better and better and find the joy of snowboarding.

A Bit of Reality - Snowboarding Equipment

All poetic ideals aside lets get back to reality somewhat and cover some of the basic snowboarding equipment you are going to need to indulge our previously described idea of heaven.

There are some essential items that every snowboarder should take with them whenever they hit the slopes. While you are going to want to take your snowboard, boots and bindings, you are also going to want to take a few other things along as well.

First up, a helmet, a good helmet is an essential item for, funnily enough, protecting your head, even the pro's fall over enough, so don't think for a second you won't. along with a helmet comes goggles; these will protect your eyes from the sun and your face in case of an accident.

Wrist guards are a must for all but advanced snowboarders. These can save you from an injury, especially whenever it's icy. However, they don't work for advanced snowboarders because they go too fast and thus can do a lot more harm than good for them. However if you are a new to intermediate snowboarder, make sure that you wear your wrist guards, because wrist injuries are not uncommon in this sport, so better safe than sorry.

Impact shorts (padded pants/shorts) will protect you from the impact (and the pain) that will inevitably occur whenever you catch your board in the ridges of the snow. I'd reommend a pair that has foam protection instead of plastic.

Foam knee pads are flexible and will help keep you out of pain whenever you are catching the edge of your board or falling down.

Thermal leggings are an essential part of keeping warm from the waist down and thermal socks will feel better and keep you warmer than if you were to try to wear 2 pairs of socks.

Heat pads will help to keep you warm. The best ones to use though are the heat patches that you put directly against your skin. If you get too hot, you can then transfer them to the outside of your socks and still stay warm. You will want to take plenty of these with you though as they are disposable.

A small, waterproof backpack is necessary for keeping your sun cream and any other small items that you need to keep with you which remind me tkae some waterproof suncream too.

So with that in mind (and we only covered the basics here) gear up and lets hit the slopes!

Liquid Force Kiteboarding 2008 is on fire!!

Greetings Kiteboarders Worldwide!! 2008 is shaping up to be the best year ever for Liquid Force!! The response to our new product line has had our manufacturing, shipping and sales teams working around the clock worldwide to build and deliver the kiteboarding products you are looking for and lusting after! Just wanted to take a quick moment and fill you in on some of the latest happenings over here at Liquid Force Kiteboarding...

Liquid Force Snow

While people have been riding on the snow with Liquid Force kites for years, it is the 2008 Line that really brings Liquid Force into snow as a legit player! 'Super easy to use', 'incredibly durable' and 'amazing performance' are things we've Surface2Air have been hearing this winter as people have gotten out and gotten stoked on the new 08 Liquid Force Havoc and Liquid Force Session Kites in the snow. Having a kite designer born and raised in Quebec surely helps.. and Liquid Force is proud to have engineer and ripper Julien Fillion heading up their design team, ensuring our products work well on water AND snow!

Liquid Force gets European Phenomenon Silvester Ruckdaeshel on the Liquid Force International Team! The Liquid Force Family is stoked to expand the International Team with new school ripper Silverster Ruckdaeshel! Born and raised in Germany, Silvester can be found these days in Germany, Spain, South Africa and the world as he travels around bringing stoke to any beach he rocks up to. Driven by a 'Ride 4 Freedom' mentality, Silvester shows up and throws down, blending the latest new school kite-loop handlepass tricks with classic style and wake tricks putting on a show that others stop to watch. Rocking the 2008 Liquid Force HiFI 5 Line - Hybrid Freestyle kites and new 2008 Liquid Force Recoil 136cm board with both bindings and straps, Silvester is one to watch.

Liquid Force Rawson Surfboards Now Available Worldwide!!

A moment many of us have all been waiting for!! The 2008 LF Project Rawson Surboards are now available and shipping worldwide!!! This has been such a great project for Liquid Force and we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of these boards since riding the prototypes last fall. Bringing 40+ years of shaping experience, Pat Rawson joined the Liquid Force team with pro rider and kiteboarding legend Mauricio Abreu this past year to develop a line of production kite surfboards with a custom feel and performance unlike any in the industry. Feel what the top pro's have been riding for years by heading down to your local LF dealer and checking out the new boards!!

More info about all the above items at Surface2Air Sports www.S2AS.com

Design and Win Your Own Pro Snowboard!

Ever fancied having your own pro snowboard? We don’t mean owning a board, as you probably already do; no we mean having your OWN pro snowboard, designed by you with your unique stamp and style on it. Well now could be your chance!

The UK’s premiere snowboarding and snow sports centre – The Snow Centre –and HEAD snowboards have come together to launch this competition for aspiring designers to create a truly unique snowboard design of their own and have it made into a one of a kind HEAD Transit snowboard. To sweeten the deal there will be a bunch of freestyle passes or lessons to give you the chance to put it to the test in one of the UK’s best snowboarding venues!

Judges will be looking for individuality, originality and flair; go wild with shapes and text and be vibrant with colours, let your imagination get a full grip and go for it! Speaking of judges it’s won’t be a bunch or corporate rank amateurs deciding who is the winner, for a start they have half-pipe specialist Dan Wakeham, the UK’s highest ranked snowboarder and the first British male snowboarders to compete in the Olympics (back in 2006). Along with Dan are the designers at free publication, Don’t Panic, The DWA (The Snow Centres park shapers and Diggers With Attitude) and Pete Gillespe, The Snow Centres director of snow sports.

So if you think you have what it takes to come up with a snowboard design this good, then just follow this link and best of luck to you! Full rules and all that can be found there along with the closing date (which is 24th November, in case you want to know if you still have time!).

For those who are looking for something slick, stylish but perhaps tad less individual, then check out www.s2as.com for our great range of snowboards, including names such as Ride, Rapture, Forum and K2

Ants Guide To Winter Seasons Abroad

So you want to know where is good to go for an awesome winter holiday? How to choose your setup? Where to get your setup? And where to learn how to shred for this upcoming winter season?

My name is Ant and have just moved back to the UK after doing season’s back to back for the past 5 years and I am going to share a little knowledge of what I have learnt whilst being away.

Firstly, what destination should you head to this winter? 

There are so many resorts and countries out there how do you know where would suit your needs?? If you’re looking for those long motorway runs with champagne powder, a good day and night life scene and limitless back country then state side is always a good option but there are resorts closer to home which are within easy access. I have recently come back from doing a season in Alpe D’Huez, France well known for its long sunny days, its famous and longest black run in Europe if not the world coming in at 16km’s long known as the Serenne and also the ever fun under the mountain tunnel. The resorts height is 1860m and rises to a 3330m glacier giving it a good guarantee for snow cover. This resort has plenty to offer on and off the piste. Mountain wise it has many spots for powder hunting which lasts for weeks and if you know where to look there are always hidden and untouched tracks to shred (which is very uncommon in France!). Sticking on the piste it is an excellent resort for beginners due to the fact that all the green runs are at the base of the mountain and also excellent for the more advanced due to the vast array of black and red runs which increase in volume the higher you go. There are many different area’s to explore such as Vaujany which gives you many tree runs, a small snow park and variety of runs from green to black. There is also another mountain to shred known as Auris en Oisans which is again great for riding off the beaten track and is also a lot less busy giving you more space and time on the mountain to ride. If you’re a park rat and want to nail anything from your first jump to those front side 7’s the park can offer an array of abilities for what you desire. Come end of January the park is usually fully built giving you the option of green to black kickers, green to black rails and even a pipe if the snow fall is good. The runs venture all the way into town allowing you to ride straight to your favourite bars and restaurants.  If you fancy getting away from the resort for a day there is also the option of a 10 minute helicopter ride to the neighboring resort Les Deux Alpes. You can feel just like Travis Rice as they drop you off on the piste and be able to ride off straight away.  Off the mountain the resort offers a swimming pool, ice rink, gym with many facilities (including a rock climbing wall!), a lively night life and a friendly atmosphere. They also host many ice car races on their ice track, which you can even have a go at if you like getting sideways! Another fun extra is to see the town on a Segway, if you think they look crazy on the road try taking them up the slope!

If France isn’t your cup of tea then another alternative close to home would be the wonderful land of Austria. Definitely one of the most beautiful countries I have been to and 100% the most friendliest! When you enter Austria you get this great feeling of this is how it should be. It is so natural and breathtaking that you will be stopping mid way through your run just to take breath at the scenery.  I worked in a resort known as Kitzbuhel which I would recommend to anybody and hosts the well known Olympic run the Hahnenkamm. It ranges from 800m up to 2000m and consists of two main mountains like Alpe D’huez. If après ski sits high in your priorities look no further. This is a place where you finish your last run of the day (some first!) and get involved in the live music and jagermeister which is flowing around, get up and have a boogey with your friends and randoms and go home having lost your boards, boots and friends! But more times than ever all those necessities will be right where you left them! Fingers crossed. The mountains in Austria have many tree’s so if it is a white out day then do not worry! With Kitzbuhel you will find that you will be travelling across mountains more than up them, like in Alpe D’Huez as the resort is a little lower. This gives you a great sense of achievement when you realize how far in distance you have travelled in a days riding and also gives you a larger variety of terrain to cover making every run a little different. The mountain offers a variety of runs largely red but if it is your first time or you like to cruise then the other mountain known as the Horn has a perfect bowl shaped peak giving you many cruisy runs and stunning views. There is also a snowpark built giving the trick hungry riders something to play with.

How to choose your setup?

Firstly you will want to decide what you want out of your kit and what area you would like to progress into such as freestyle, powder, all terrain etc. This is just due to the fact that the technology of boards has expanded so much that the designs are aimed at specific area’s but do not worry as any board will get you down the mountain it’s just whether you want to go fast, go crazy or enjoy those large sweeping carves. The technology for boards is mainly focused on the camber/rocker technology of the board. A standard camber is the shape of a frown so the middle of the board rises off the floor. This is great for speed and control as it allows you to get a hard edge on the slope as your weight is pushing down against the camber meaning that you are driving that rail edge down. This and also gives the board a lot of pop as you are pushing your weight against the board’s natural shape. Rocker is the opposite and is a smile shape like a banana. This is great as it gives the board a catch free edge feeling and you can get away with a lot more and not fall, helping you progress and feel more confident in your riding. The tip and the tail of the board will naturally rise allowing you the ability to ride powder with so much more ease, but don’t worry you can still get a hard, fast and controlled edge on rockered boards with the built in high tech designs on offer. Then you have many different cross breeds of camber and rocker such as Lowrize and Prorize with the brand Ride and Doubledog with the brand Forum. There is so much tech out there you could write a book on it! 

Obviously everybody is different for sizes of equipment due to their own build, but I will give you a size guidance of an average size man. For freestyle you would be better off getting a smaller sized board as it allows more movement and a lighter board allowing you to spin and get air with ease, sizes ranging from 150-156cm. With regards for powder a larger board would benefit you more as it would keep you afloat with more ease and allow you to surf the white stuff without getting cramp in your back leg, sizes ranging from 156-160cm. And for an all mountain board you would be looking for a board size in the middle allowing you to shred whatever comes at you. With Boots I would just try as many as you can on, the more you try the more likely you will find your glass slipper. Don’t just buy the prettiest one’s, comfort matters more than anything! An easy guidance would be that the stiffer the boots flex the more response you will get out of your board and the more flex a boot gives the less response. So if you’re starting out or like a bit of forgiveness in your freestyle a softer boot may be perfect for you but if you want a more reactive and more response ride then go stiff. Also if you ride a lot or are doing a season a stiff boot will last longer and still have that response you like after all the abuse you give them. With regards to bindings get ones that hold your boots securely and comfortably in place. The metal base plates are excellent as they can take a beating but adds more weight to your board. If you prefer a light set up then aluminum or plastic would be best.

Where to get your setup?

There are so many places out there and on the internet offering good deals for 2012 and last year’s equipment. When buying equipment it is always good to shop around and find the best price available. I have found a shop known as S2AS (Surface 2 Air Sports) which deals with many extreme sports such as snowboarding, wakeboarding and kitesurfing. There website is www.s2as.com for internet orders or if you want to go in store to check out the equipment (which I recommend unless you know exactly what best suits you) they also have a shop in Poole so you can try out the gear in person. I have found that they offer a wide range of snowboard equipment from boards, boots, bindings, bags, protection, clothing etc all from well known and recommended brands such as K2, Ride, Never Summer,Lib Tech, Forum and many more. They also had a lot of 2011 kit for really good prices if money is an issue. With last year’s kit there is not too much difference other than graphics with most brands so don’t be afraid to buy older gear. When I bought my kit off of them they were really good with sorting me out with the kit I desired and gave me an excellent deal. Highly recommended! Thanks S2AS. Just to let you know my set up is a Never Summer Evo 154 cm with Ride Capo bindings and Burton Ruler boots – happy days!

Where to learn and progress those skills?

If it is your first time on the mountain this year I would strongly recommend having a few lessons on the local dry slope so that when you are out there you can explore and appreciate the mountain with what time you have. If you are a seasoned pro I would still say why not get back up to scratch and have some fun in the UK winter scene. There are 3 main types of artificial slopes that are available to ride. You have demdex which is criss crosses of brush like material, there is snowflex which is like a carpet and then there is your artificial snow. There are many snow centre’s around the UK so I suggest getting on the net to see where is closest for you. There is usually a designated night for freestyle so if that’s what your after I would check there website for what day of the week that is hosted. The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead is a great artificial snow slope that hosts many of the UK’s winter competitions, Calshot Activities Centre in Southampton is great for beginners and yet hosts a freestyle night also with the use of their snowflex and Snowtrax in Christchurch has a variety of demdex slopes to offer.

Well I hope this helped you in deciding your choices for this upcoming season. Have a wicked winter.

Keep on riding!

Never Summer SL Snowboard Review

Never Summer claim the SL is their all-mountain, do everything dominator of a snowboard. well... they’re not wrong. Enough damping to eradicate any of those unwanted vibrations you get when the snow’s hard and crusty, a rocker/camber hybrid profile that makes carving a dream and backcountry riding effortless and a powerful but manageable flex that rewards aggressive riders with great edge hold and plenty of pop. The Never Summer SL is a great snowboard for riders who want to ride everything and anything as long as there’s plenty of carving to be had.

What Never Summer Say:

An extremely agile, high performance freestyle board that does it all, the Never Summer SL is not only versatile, but offers powerful edge to edge response and maintains a forgiving tip and tail. If you want a board that excels in the park, on groomers, or on backcountry kickers, this is it.

Year: 2011

Available Lengths (cm): 151, 153, 155, 158, 161, 164

Riding Style: All Mountain

Specifications:

RC rocker / camber profile
STS Pretensioned Fiberglass
BI-Lite Fiberglass
Carbon VXR Laminate Technology
NS Custom Flightcore
RDS 2 Damping System
Sintered P-tex Sidewall
Durasurf Sintered 4501 base
P-tex Tip and Tail Protection
Full Wrap Metal Edge
3 year warranty

The Never Summer SL Review:

The SL is Never Summer’s all-mountain snowboard aimed at the rider who is looking at boards like the Burton Custom or k2 Slayblade, a snowboard to lay waste to everything from park to powder. It has a directional twin shape, biaxial glass, extensive carbon reinforcement and more damping than a bouncy castle.

Like other Never Summer snowboards the SL uses Rocker and Camber technology, rocker between the bindings and camber at the nose and tail. The result of this match made in heaven is a softer longitudinal flex between the bindings and a stiffer and super poppy nose and tail. For intermediate riders raising the nose and tail off the snow means the SL is very stable when it’s kept on a flat base and ridden down all types of snow conditions, despite using a slightly firmer than moderate torsional flex, the SL initiates carves quite easily and on an edge the SL was extremely capable. Personally, I really enjoyed the way the board’s sidecut worked well with the softer rocker area between the bindings, I felt I could really work the SL into hard carves… and then there’s a reminder that you’ve got camber in the tail as it pops you out. The feel is almost identical to that of the Never Summer Raptor, just a little less powerful. The softer waist also means it’s remarkably easy to work the fairly firm flexing SL into tight turns on steep terrain. When you open up the SL snowboard the ride is smooth and refined, there is no snowboard manufacturer on the planet that does damping quite like Never Summer, the SL rides like a Rolls Royce Phantom on air suspension. Another great thing about the SL is the crazy float it packs, there’s no need to put all of your weight on the back of the board or set your stance back, it just seems to work in the pow.. freeriding is something the SL just eats up.

On the freestyle front, the SL was fine off kickers, as I mentioned earlier, there is plenty of carbon reinforcement in the nose and tail, so you’ve got a nice helping of pop. Carving into spins was predictable, but for those with less experience I think the SL has too much grip, so there’s no way you’ll be able to cheat and slide frontside spins off transitions. Unfortunately I didn’t get to ride the SL in the pipe, but I’m certain it would smoke it. If you want to ride rails, short of the odd board slide and box press the SL is probably too stiff to work, I’d look at the Never Summer Evo if rails are your bag.

If you’re a confident intermediate or advanced snowboarder who enjoys carving hard on groomers, getting expressive in the powder and hitting booters of all shapes and sizes in the park and off piste, you should check out the SL. The SL feels quite like the Custom flying V which is no surprise as they use similar technology. Comparing the two, the SL needs a stronger / heavier rider to get the most from it, but the damping means it’s a more refined ride at high speed and on sketchy snow. Choose the SL if you want to ride everything but freeriding is your main-stay and the Burton Custom Flying V if pipe and booters are your bag.

Other boards to look at:

Ride Society UL Snowboard

K2 Slayblade Snowboard

This Year’s Top Ski Technology – 2014 Dakine ABS Signal 25L

We have just received the new 2014 Dakine ABS Signal in the 25L – get yourselves ready for the winter season with this functional, backcountry pack complete with a fully integrated ABS Avalanche airbag system.

The back pack is split in separate sections with an avalanche safety equipment pouch which is separate from the main compartment. The main compartment contains an ice axe carry strap, bag compression straps, padded waist belt and an integrated rescue whistle with sternum strap.

Back Panel | Inside

Snowboard Carry | Cable Ski Carry

Snow Tool Shovel Pocket | Air Bag System

Features:

• Integrated ABS Avalanche system inside
• Vertical snowboard carry
• Retractable cable ski carry
• Deployable helmet carry
• Fleece lined goggle pocket
• Snow tool/shovel pocket
• Ice axe carry
• Load compression straps
• Padded waist belt
• Integrated rescue whistle / sternum strap

Volume: 25L (1500 cu. in.)
Size: 21 x 9 x 9” (53 x 23 x 23cm)
Materials: 630D Nylon and 1260D Ballistic Nylon

The 10 ABS Survival Principles

1. Out of 262 people with the ABS inflated avalanche airbag – 97% survived and 84% of them without injury
2. The original self-rescue system has been produced and tested by German avalanche specialists since 1985
3. ABS uses two airbags to give you the additional protection in case one airbag gets damaged during the descent.
4. Pyrotechnical-pneumatic activation for maximum reliability
5. Freedom to move about and an unrestricted view to enable escape from an avalanche
6. The airbags at the sides of the wearer’s body creates a wide contact surface
7. The TwinBags do not turn your body into the dangerous and helpless “bug” position
8.  In 97% of recorded avalanche accidents with an inflated airbag – the TwinBags were visible above the surface after the avalanche.
9.  The TwinBags can be repacked easily, quickly and safely, ready to use again
10. Personal practice is essential. It’s best to practice activation at home, on the slope or at your local ABS retailer.

You’re not paying for the 25L pack but you are paying for the life-saving ABS airbag system, which makes this pack an incredible piece of technology that you will want and need when you’re on the slopes.

It is now available here at S2AS – give us a call on 01202 738448

Price: Was £679 NOW £649

S2AS

OK.. So What is Snowboarding?

What is Snowboarding? Well lets cover some basics about this awesome sport.

Snowboarding is a winter sport that evolved from skateboarding, skiing and surfing; combining elements of all three of these high adrenaline sports it's not really that surprising the snowboarding caught on pretty quickly, and has evolved into a major winter sport that is rapidly gaining more and more popularity as time goes by.

Developed in the 1960s, Snowboarding was believed to have originated in the United States, where several inventors explored the idea of surfing on the snow. The sport, however, quickly evolved, and the early, rudimentary snowboards gave way, and boy were the original snowboards bad!

It's highly unlikely that there's anyone who has never seen nor heard of Snowboarding. But if you really have no idea what Snowboarding is, just imagine it as surfing or skateboarding but only on snow, or skiing on one ski... and without the ski poles!

Snowboarding is a relatively new winter sport wherein you ride an epoxy-wood core board (resembling a large skateboard) with your feet strapped on it, and manipulate gravity to go down a ski slope. The principle of snowboarding is to maintain your balance as you surf down a ski slope with both feet securely attached to the snowboard via a high-back snowboard bindings.

In skiing, skiers shift their weight from one ski to the other. In snowboarding, riders shift their weight from heels (heelside) to toes as well as from one end of the board to the other. To stop the boards' motion, they push their heels or toes down hard to dig the edge of the snowboard into the snow. Although most people compare snowboarding to skiing, snowboarding techniques are far closer to skateboarding and surfing than to skiing.

One of the most iconic moments for snowboarding, back in its relatively unknown heyday, came in the 1985 movie 'A View to a Kill', where James Bond ended up on an improvised snowboard after losing a ski in a chase scene in the beginning of the movie, and to be fair it was a great way to give the sport a big boost.

Since those early days it has become a major winter sport, with three main styles of competition exist: Alpine, Freestyle, and Boardercross. Snowboarding has even joined the Winter Olympics, having been part of it since it was introduced in 1998 at Nagano in Japan. Originally in only covered 2 disciplines - Halfpipe and Giant Slalom, but since then it has evolved to now include 3 disciplines - Halfpipe, Parallel Giant Slalom and Boardercross.

We at Surface2Air Sports hope this helps your under standing of snowboarding and we will keep adding info here.

Thanks for reading.

The S2AS Team

Great Customer Comments!

As one of the leading watersports companies in the UK, we proud ourselves on providing the highest of service to our customers and providing a personable customer experience.

Some of our great customer comments:

Snow-Camp

• "This is a great place to buy your gear. Great range in store, with some great products that are not listed on the website. Massive thumbs up!" Ross.T

• "Amazing service!" James.D

• "Massive thank-you to Angelo and the S2AS Team for today's kiting lessons, with our charity patron Graham Bell. Great instruction and a fantastic day all round. Looking forward to Day 2 already..." Snow-Camp

• "Thanx for the awesome service guys, Living ledges." Chris.D

• "Just made a purchase online, the best service I have received from any online store! I take my hat off to the Surface 2 Air Sports team! Angelo was a absolute pleasure!" Peter.O

•  "Hi Angelo and the S2AS team,
  
  I just wanted to put pen to paper (as it were) and write and let you know how pleased I am following the completion of my day 1 kite surfing lesson with Suki yesterday.
  
  Although the weather caused a few rescheduling hiccups along the way, the wait was so definitely worth it. The lesson was taught and delivered to the highest standard and I know I can speak for the other three attending the lesson with me in that we all had a thoroughly fantastic time! I would not hesitate to recommend Surface 2 Air to any of my friends and colleagues who are, or would be interested in taking up all forms of board, bike or watersports.
  
  Cheers guys!"
  Daniel.W

• "Next big thing!" Darius.D.K

• "Very friendly staff and a really good price could even beat the internet." Seamus.M

• "Great store!" Josh.G

• "I did the day 1 kitesurfing lesson at Poole yesterday. Good fun, despite the rain in the morning. We were well looked after (2 wet suits each for the water) by Kyle (excellent instructor). Highly recommended. Will do day 2 when time allows. Thanks for a fun day." Greg.A

• "Thanks for hooking me up with my 2 new kites...Great shop!" Jason.D

• "Good stock, good proces, just take a look." Abbie.C

• "These guys rock :)" Richard.P

• "5* Great store, great selection." Brandon.T

• "Awesome customer service as always. Thanks for the new kit Angelo." Leon.B

• "5* Great service. There to give the best advice and advise you on whats needed as well as isn't :)" Alex.W

Thanks for all your great feedback, we really appreciate having some brilliant S2AS fans!!

If you have experienced great customer service from Angelo or from the S2AS team, please send through your comments or leave a recommendation on our Facebook Page as we love to hear your feedback.

The London Freeze Festival 2009

Following on from last year’s huge success, The London Freeze festival returns again this year and aims to make last year pale in comparison. Quite a tall order especially as organisers are predicting around 10, 000 visitors each day over the festival weekend, but based on last year we’re sure these figures are about right.

The extreme winter sports festival, based at Battersea Power Station, is an amazing undertaking, utilising around 500 tonnes of real snow for its competitions and events. This snow will be the building blocks for the 32 metre high slope where the pro skiers and snowboarders will be battling it out to show who it the best for the delight of the crowd. It’s not just about the slope though as the whole site will be turned into a winter village.

A few of the familiar faces competing will include British snowboarders Ben Kilner and Dom Harrington, along with famous ski and snowboarding names from around the globe.

Of course a festival isn’t a festival without music and there are some big names there to keep the energy going on and off piste. Pendulum and Example will be taking the Friday night slot with headliners Orbital. Other names include Friendly Fires, Eagles of Death Metal and Chase & Status amongst many more. Oh and remember that Saturday is the 31stOctober, so if you fancy dressing up there is a retro-themed Halloween party to throw something different into the mix.

Snow if you are mad on snowboards, snowboarding, skiiing, winter sports, music or just having a goof time, then there is something for you there.

Interested? Then visit www.londonfreeze.com for further ticket information.

Tickets are priced at £35 for a day pass, £85 for a season pass (3 days), with a child’s day ticket at £15 and a child’s season ticket at £35.

The London Freeze festival at Battersea Power Station runs from 30th Oct - 1st Nov

The S2AS range of Nike 6.0

The Nike 6.0 range is a new campaign launched recently and aimed at athletes that take part in extreme sports. Here at S2AS we have a spectacular selection of jackets and snow boots.

Girls, get your snowboarding boots on! These Nike 6.0 2012 Womens Vapen Snow Boots come in bold berry and feature exactly the same technology as the Nike trainers you wear everyday. The berry snow boots ensure you stay fashion forward while also providing you with an internal heal harness, power strap, moulded tongue and so much more, conquer any mountain today, here at S2AS for only £150!

The Nike 6.0 Slainte Jacket 2012 is here at S2AS for £149.00, available in the choice of 4 sizes this jacket comes in the classic midnight blue colour. Made from 100% Polyester the jacket features 2-layer recycled twill fabric, fully taped seams and media pocket. Storm the slopes this winter with this jacket and its endless features, your sure not to be disappointed.

The S2AS Nike 6.0 range has plenty more to offer you this winter, view the entire collection here today.

S2AS' range of Special Blend snow jackets and pants

The new range of Special Blend snow jackets and pants are now available at S2AS, we also stock past season wear at discounted prices. This season has a fantastic collection, see the whole range here.

The men's Special Blend Circa Snow Jacket South Beach is available for £178.00! The jacket has a variety of pockets for all needs, from chest and cargo pockets to interior music and goggle pockets. It also comes equip with Brushed Tricot Chin Guard, Yo-Yo Pass Holder and much more.

Save £43.01 on the Special Blend Siryn Jacket, was £133.00 now £89.99. Sure to keep you warm and toasty this season, the Special Blend Line Snowboarding jacket is an insulated jacket which has a fine balance between fashion and on-mountain function.

Here's one for the girls, Special Blend Demi Pant 2011 in deep purple. The pants feature Taffeta Lining, Inseam Venting and Brushed Tricot Fly and Waistband amongst other things. The Special Blend Demi Pants are here at S2AS for the unbelievable price of £87.00 was £129.00!

S2AS Kent Store: Winter Season Remodel 2011/2012

 

The Kent snow season has officially begun with a full shop remodel for the Winter season with a vast selection of snow gear from your favourite brands at the best prices.

Call Kent Now on 01303 268269 or Pop Into Our store in Hythe To Check out all of the Latest gear and get advice from our Staff

London Freezes Over - The London Freeze Festival 09

"Well the London Freeze '09 has been and gone, and it was awesome! Hard to sum up what it is like, but the undertaking itself is amazing. I mean, come on! It had a 30 metre high slope (Actually it was bigger but i forget the exact dimensions) of real snow! In the middle of London's Battersea Power Station! This isn't some European or American skiing resort, this is an urban jungle that's lucky to get a few days of snow a year, which makes it so much more impressive. Glad to see the things we can pull together and achieve in the UK when we want too! Go GB!

Speaking of which Ben Kilner, one of our Winter Olympic hopefuls did pretty well against some very stiff competition, finishing a respectable 14th out of over 50 competitors, though he'll have to push harder next year in Vancouver, but then again this wasn't exactly a massive competition, but more of an exhibition, but that isn't to say the guys out there took it easy and there spectacle and competition was intense!

I freely admit I watched less of the skiing events, but those I did see were very good, I guess I'm just a one board guy.

So that left the music, and it was hella good! I most of the boarding, little of the skiing and every little bit of the partying and music! That alone was worth the price of admission, the atmosphere was amazing, the music baning and the crowd so up for it. Oh and as it fell on Halloween there were plenty of peeps dressed like freaks, though it wasn't as embraced as much as perhaps it could have been, but a bit more pushing of the fact might have helped.

All in all it was a blast and anyone who missed it - missed out, I know several people who have now decided they might grab themselves a snowboard and see what it's all about themselves.

If your curious about it all, then pop over to the website www.londonfreeze.com for a whole slew of vids and pics of the events and a run down of the results."

Jay

Snowboarders Hit the Slopes to Help Needy Kids

Extreme sports are ‘snow’ joke for one man, as he embarks on a snowboarding tour of England.

Dan Jesse, 23, from Gretna, will set out on Thursday, November 19 to conquer as many of the country’s 43 indoor ski slopes as possible in three days. He will be joined by hundreds of fellow skiers and snowboarders, taking part in a charity Snowball Rally.

The event has been organised to raise money for Snow-Camp, a group that offers skiing and snowboarding lessons to underprivileged teenagers.

Dan, of Africanda Road, said: “Snowboarding changes your perspective, and it basically gave me all the friends that I have now. I like the freedom and the culture involved – if you meet other snowboarders you know you’ll be able to have a good craic with them.”

Giving the lessons to youngsters is a great way of teaching them life skills like perseverance, he added.

The graphic designer will face the challenge with friends Tom Napper, Andrew Gray and Nic Claypole, all former students at the Cumbria Institute of the Arts. They will set out by car from Milton Keynes at 11am on Thursday and aim to return by 7pm on Saturday.

He added: “I saw the event a couple of months ago and I didn’t think it was possible -but then Nic emailed about it and I thought we might as well give it a go. I think it’s around 1,800 miles in total, so it’s going to be a challenge.”

The team will be awarded points for each slope based on their location, with cups and trophies for the winning groups.

“It should be fun, and it’s for a good cause,” said Dan. We were aiming to raise about £250 each, but I’ve already passed that and the others have met their targets as well.”

Also a keen mountain biker, Dan organises outdoor activities around Cumbria through his website, www.jackrabbitt.net or follow him on twitter at twitter.com/jackrabbittuk

2012 Burton Snow Gear Now Available!

Even though the sun is shining here in Europe the big boss men at Burton have just unleashed their 2012 Fall/Winter range, here at S2AS we have the best of their collection.

Click here to view Burton 2012 Boards

Click here to view Burton 2012 Bindings

Click here to view Burton 2012 Boots

Click here to view Burton 2012 Accessories

Click here to view Burton 2012 Outerwear

Click here to view Burton 2012 Clothing

SECRET: Keep an eye on the shop over the coming weeks, were starting to freeze over with the amount of snow gear thats going online ;)

For More Info Call S2AS on
01303 268269 Kent
01202 738448 Poole
01273 746836 Hove