Edit from last year’s test by Andy Webb, most amusing …..

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s the first information for this year’s event – we’re reworking the site at the moment, please bear with us for a few days and everything will be revealed!

click here for PDF

Hi and welcome to The Snowboard Test website. This years event is set to take place between the 5-11th May 2012, once more at the Kaunertal glacier in Austria.

We are finalising prices for this years event as I type this and the information will be up here by 25th January 2012, so please check back then. To give you an idea of how The Snowboard Test runs, please take your time to look around the 2011 website but please note that the current information is for reference only and should not be used to make travel plans.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

With less that 72 hours to go to the kick off to The Snowboard Test 2011, now is the perfect time to reflect on last years event and here is the perfect clip, as put together by Tim Warwood

I’ve been feverishly checking the Kaunertal webcams over the last couple of weeks, stoked to get out there, and as you’d expect for glacier at this time of year, there’s still tons of snow. Over the four years we’ve run the test at Kauenrtal, two times we’ve been able to ride down to the bottom lift and two times there’s not been enough snow. With just under 72 hours to go until testing begins in earnest it looks as thought the bottome section WILL be open once more!

What’s more, the resort got a light dusting light night (the image shown here was taken around 0630 this morning) and the weather forecast is for around 4cm to fall throughout the week of the test. That should mean that there’s no repeat of the socked-in, shitty weather that we endured last winter!

If you’re a trade member of the Snowsports Industry of Great Britain – SIGB – (organisers of the Slide trade show) and you’re attending The Snowboard Test, then you’re going to be stoked. They’ve announced that for a second year in a row, SIGB members who attend the test will receive cashback from the SIGB towards their costs. The breakdown is a little complicated, but looks like this

Member Distributors/Manufacturers
Cashback of £100 per Member. For example, whether you have one brand or ten, you will receive £100 back in total.

Member Retailers. Based on the number of stores and staff attending

If you have one store, you can claim for up to two attendees at the test for a cashback of £120
If you have two to four stores, you can claim for up to three attendees at the test for a cashback of £180
If you have five or more stores, you can claim for up to four attendees at the test for a cashback of £240

All claims must be made to Leemo@raremanagement.co.uk by 31st May and funds will be paid out on a first come, first served basis up to a max total budget of £6,000 – so get in quick!

If you’re not an SIGB member, don’t worry, the cashback can be claimed retrospectively, so now is a fantastic time to join the SIGB. Whatever you may think of the organisation, there are now a healthy number of snowboarders on the committee which is helping to guarantee increased support for snowboarding. And let’s face it, it’s easier to change things from the inside…

This year’s Analog party is going to celebrate the Royal Wedding – what else?

Make your way to the Zapadello bar on the evening of Tuesday 10th May for the biggest party of the week. We’re not sure exactly what they’re planning, but it’s no doubt going to involve plenty of booze, lots of stupidity and almost certainly hot women. Here’s a little gallery from last year’s shamefulness to whet your appetites!

Here’s something that hasn’t been attempted at The Snowboard Test before… Never Summer, Bluebird Wax, The Reason Mag and FBBB are joining forces to host an on-snow mini ramp jam on Tuesday 10th May. With the help of the resort, several tons of snow will be piled up near to the test area, which will then be shaped by the team into a mini ramp, complete with pump bumps, coping and some extra fun sections. The Shredneck Mini Ramp Jam will then go down in the afternoon with spot prizes for best tricks, best riders and most amounts of fun being had. This one is gonna be epic! Check the clip at the bottom for a little inspiration!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Do you like beer? Yep? Sausages? You DO!? Me TOO!

In that case, we’re all going to love the Volcom SausageFest that will make it’s triumphant return for the second year running. Make sure you’re at the Test area around 2pm on Monday 9th May to eat your fill of delicious, FREE sausages and beer… Yum Yum…