This is not about riding or having a good time in mountains, but here in Helsinki. They were building a little resort quite near downtown, but due to some arguments the project was frozen. And we got mad and wanna fight back.

Please go to Slammer mag website and sign this petition. For those of you who do not read Finnish it is about trying to get a nice little snowy playground here in the city. There is nothing for us snowboarders and skiers, and we are asking the City of Helsinki to support this cause. The more names we have, the more leverage we get. So, if you want to help us out making this happen, please go to address above and sign it, thank you very much.

So, click this link to view the petition Helsinki snowy playground petition.

For those who do not speak Finnish, here are the language essentials in five seconds.

Nimi = name
Ikä = age
Paikkakunta = place of recidence

Lähetä = submit

Thanks heaps for everyone!

Photo by prostophoto

via homeboyski.com

I just finished my Ashleigh McIvor interview a minute ago, even though it is midnight here in Finland. I got a change to chat with Ashleigh McIvor in Skype as she is promoting the The Great Mountain Giveaway. She is currently the world champion in ski cross, and she was elected to Canadian Olympic Freestyle team. Ski cross appearing for the first time at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Roots in the mountains

Just like the legendary big mountain ski pioneer Eric Pehota and his close friend Kye Petersen, also Ashleigh McIvor grew up in Whistler. In places like Whistler it is more than natural to become a skier as they provide endless possibilities to challenge yourself in the mountains. Ashleigh McIvor started skiing when he was only two years old, and only few years later she found herself fighting for the victory in alpine ski races.

“It was just natural for me to start racing. I didn’t really plan it. I just loved to compete with others“, says Ashleigh McIvor.

Ashleigh McIvor did alpine ski racing until the age of sixteen. She toured around the world and was one of the best ones, but decided to step into ski cross, which is a relatively new type of skiing competition. In a time trial or qualification round, every competitor skis down the course, which is built to encompass both naturally occurring terrain and artificial features like jumps, rollers and banks. After the time trial, the fastest 16 (in women’s events) or 32 skiers (in men’s events) compete in a knockout (KO)-style series in rounds of four. A group of four skiers start simultaneously and attempt to reach the end of the course. The first two to cross the finish line will advance to the next round. At the end, the final and small final rounds determine 1st to 4th and 5th to 8th places, respectively. 

“Ski cross is so fantastic! It’s so much fun. I love ski cross because of the adrenalin boost it gives me, and the close connection to other skiers on the track. It is such a cool sport!“, says Ashleigh McIvor when asked about her interest in ski cross.

When talking about big mountain skiing, Ashleigh McIvor prefers skiing right behind her own “backyard”. Nearby mountains of Whistler provide so much fun and challenges that she does not need to “go fishing overseas”.

“My dream day of skiing would be heli-skiing the BC mountains with a bunch of good skiers. No particular names or well-known skiers. Just a bunch of good riders and a helicopter.“

As a European I was interested in knowing where in Europe Ashleigh McIvor prefers skiing. According to her website she has visited at least Engelberg and Sweden, but where in Europe Ashleigh would enjoy the most?

“Well, I actually don’t have a reason to go to Europe as I have the best playground right behind my backyard.“

Come on, Ashleigh! Join us and we’ll take you to the backcountry of Chamonix. I bet you would be stoked in the north face of L’Aiguille du Midi or feeling like in powder heaven in Tyrol, Austria.

It is not all about snow skiing

Although Ashleigh McIvor is a pro athlete, she has time to do many other interesting things, such as surfing and mountain biking. Ashleigh is an avid surfer who can take mid-sized waves, but would be wiped out on big waves. Many people think that all great surfers hang around in Hawaii or such distant place, but how many knew that there is a great surf spot in Whistler?

When snow begins to melt, Ashleigh starts looking for her surf board and mountain bike. She is in perpetual motion. Constantly looking for feelings and kicks from outdoor activities.

Ashleigh McIvor and the Great Mountain Giveaway contest

Ashleigh McIvor is partnering together with Tourism British Columbia to tell skiers from across North America about their chance to one of the biggest skiing prizes ever offered, the Great Mountain Giveaway. One lucky winner will have the chance to bring 19 friends to share in a VIP skiing experience at one of 13 world class ski resorts across British Columbia. Winners will have the chance to pick their own prize: ranging from exclusive mountain access, to having no lift lines and their own mountain personal guides at Whistler Blackcomb. Each of the 13 mountains offers its own unique world class experience.

Make sure you participate in this contest, because you might get a change to ski side by side with the world champion.

“If possible, I will take my skis and join the winner’s group to ski BC. I can’t promise yet, but I hope I can make it“, said Ashleigh McIvor to Homeboy Ski blog.

Good deal? Yeah, not too shabby.

via homeboyski.com

Ok buddies, this is pure advertising although not a blatant sales pitch. Every now and then we receive stuff for review as companies see that we have a growing number of loyal readers. We get paid a little which helps us to pay ski passes and pay travel costs, so please let me entertain you with this little story.

Here we go..

Homeboy: “Yo, woman! Check this out. We received a box full of Perky Jerky for review.”

Wife: “What? Who’s a jerk?”

Homeboy: “No, I said they sent us a box full of PERKY JERKY. Wanna taste?”

Wife: “..don’t know. You first?”

Homeboy: “For sure.  Just wondering how they figured the name?”

Perky Jerky – Caffeinated Beef Jerky

Giselle, who works for The Performance Enhancing Meat Snack Company (PEMS, LLC) in Denver (CO), sent us an interesting package to Homeboy Headquarters. After opening the box I had a number of black and silver bags, a brochure and a letter on table. “What is this stuff“, asked my friend. “Dude, it’s Perky Jerky. Caffeinated beef jerky, as it is stated on the bag“, I replied.

It took few seconds for my friend to figure out what Perky Jerky is, because beef jerky is not that popular here in Finland. Some stores sell beef jerky, but I have seen people buying it only once. Beef jerky has just recently arrived to Finland, unlike the US where it’s pretty popular.

Perky Jerky is an invigorating caffeinated beef jerky combining premium strips of peppered beef with an energizing additive. Each package of Perky Jerky contains roughly the same amount of caffeine found in two cans of a popular energy drink.

Perky Jerky is the first ever energy jerky to be approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and it is already developing a grassroots, cult following amongst fans who insist, “it’s addictive”.

Brian Levin, the developer of Perky Jerky, said it took 3 years in the making before the product was complete: “Creating an energizing meat snack was only half the battle“. “I refused to compromise on both the taste and the effect so it took several years of trial and error to find the perfect combination of flavor and kick“, he added. At 90 calories per serving and with 22 grams of protein, Perky Jerky is also a healthy low fat snack.

Perky Jerky is flavored using a 100% natural additive derived from Guarana, a plant native to South America, and found in many energy drinks and herbal teas.

Perky Jerky review

I personally like the beef jerky they sell here in Finland, so I was interested in tasting Perky Jerky, which is sold in bags of two different sizes. I opened a small bag, and the first impression was that Perky Jerky is not as dry as the competing beef jerky (can’t remember the brand) here in Finland. Also Perky Jerky smells much different because of Guarana.

For some reason others were a bit suspicious with tasting. I took a mid-sized strip and tasted. Not too bad. It has a very own flavor because of Guarana, and I know some people don’t enjoy the taste of Guarana, but from my perspective Perky Jerky is OK.

But how about the effect of Perky Jerky? How does a caffeinated beef jerky affect your body? First of all I drink a lot of coffee. I mean A LOT, so I thought caffeinated beef jerky won’t affect me much. I was wrong. Pretty quickly after eating few strips I felt my heart beating faster. Not with the speed of tachycardia, but faster and stronger than normally. So, Perky Jerky clearly effects a human body, but I can’t say how well it keeps a person awake. I have understood that people drink energy drinks in order to stay awake, but I don’t like energy drinks, so I am not the right person to evaluate that effect.

I would say one small bag of Perky Jerky works fine. It tastes pretty good and keeps you going (and skiing), but two bags in row does not taste good anymore. Probably the taste of Guarana is so strong that at least my limit comes after one bag.

We still have a number of Perky Jerky bags on table, so next time I head to the backcountry, I’ll grab a bag of Perky Jerky with me.May be it gives me an extra boost when tired.

The great thing with Perky Jerky is that it combines both, a beef jerky snack and an energy drink effect. You quickly get a nice boost that helps you to continue skiing and climbing. Each 2 oz pack of Perky Jerky contains roughly 150 mg of caffeine, or slightly less than the caffeine amount in 2 Red Bull cans.

Hey, how do they get caffeine in Perky Jerky?

We wondered how the heck they get caffeine Perky Jerky, so I had to call the company.

Homeboy: “Hey, we received the Perky Jerky package and tasted already, but we are just wondering how you guys get the caffeine in Perky Jerky?”

Perky Jerky jerk: “Well, it’ really is a trade secret, but we feed the cows Red Bull.”

Homeboy: ..long silence..

Perky Jerky jerk: “NOOOOOOOT! Actually the caffeine comes from Guarana.”

Homeboy: “Right.”

Perky Jerky is available on the web at www.perkyjerky.com and will soon be available in stores in United States. Perky Jerky has a suggested retail price of $4.99.

via homeboyski.com

Nike is placing the power in your hands to vote on your favorite city shred spot. The winning feature will be re-created in Mt Seymour’s terrain park. Rails, wall rides, monuments…whatever.

So anybody and everyone who is in the Vancouver area, roll into Coastal Riders, Second Wave and The Boardroom (North Vancouver and on West 4th) and cast your vote.

via updownmagazine.com

Greetings from the Midwest…all has been well since my last post about the fire scare with Zac. We’ve been moving right along day after day, night after night. The locations have been non-stop as well as the work hours…we’ve been logging 15 to 16 hour days then chill (sleep) for 7, and then do it all over again. The type of snowboarding madness I really enjoy.

As the year 2009 comes to a close, I want to thank each and every one of you for checking into the website on the daily, emailing in requesting stickers and of course a huge thank you for repping and placing the sticks. I’m super hyped on the support.

I hope everybody enjoys their New Years celebration under the blue moon; we’ll be out in the Midwest streets ringing in 2010 with a few photos and film shots. Also, sending my prayers out to Kevin Pearce who suffered a bad snowboarding crash today while riding the half pipe, send him your best wishes for a speedy recovery.

All the best in ‘010! Click “Continue…” for the rest of the photos.

www.blottophotto.com

via updownmagazine.com

via updownmagazine.com

via updownmagazine.com

To Strong, wise 4% body fat, Kevin Pearce. May the crew be with you KP. Stay Solid. frendsvision.com

via updownmagazine.com