10 Gifts for the Snowboarder in Your Life
Styling out your snowboarder from head to toe means outfitting the body and mind.
The Gift of Giving
One of my favorite holiday “gifts” is giving to organizations that do good in the world. Donate to organizations like Boarding for Breast Cancer and Protect Our Winters—or to individuals in need—on behalf of your special shred. b4bc.org; protectourwinters.org
Hestra Leather Fall Line 3-Finger
Snowboarders tear through gloves like rabid wolverines, but Hestras withstand hand drags and tree grabs better than the rest. The 3-finger design maximizes warmth and dexterity, so riders don’t have to fumble around in the lift line with ratchets and zips. $145
Zeal HD2 Camera Goggle
The price may be tough to swallow but the dual-pronged performance is not. The HD2 from Zeal combines top-flight, all-conditions optics with an HD camera that’s perfectly positioned for faceshots and follow-cam angles. Plus: it shoots hi-res photos, too, and comes with an 8GB SD card. $499
AIARE Avalanche Class
Every snowboarder can benefit from boosting their mountain knowledge, whether they ride the backcountry or not. AIARE offers levels 1, 2 and 3 as well as refresher courses.
Columbia Packed Out II Flannel Moccasins
These winter-ready slip-ons are clutch for everything from après chillin’ to sub-zero backcountry basecamping. The reflective liner makes them toaster-oven warm and a rugged rubber outsole tracks well on slick surfaces. $50
Peach St. Distillers Colorado Straight Bourbon
This bourbon is so delicious I smuggled a bottle from Colorado to Vermont in a snowboard boot, just so I could share it with friends. Distilled in Palisade, Colo. from the finest ingredients—including Western Colorado’s famous sweet corn—this bourbon leaves your average belly warmer in the dust. $65 +/-
How Many Dreams in the Dark?
Chris Brunkhart is one of snowboarding’s most revered photographers, and this book chronicles his exploits around the globe documenting the evolution of the sport from its infancy to its explosion into the mainstream. $55.95
Trew Backcountry Button Up
Gotta love slope-to-street steeze that doesn’t leave you dressed like speed skater after hours. Polyester and wool make up the main body of the button-up shirt, while strategically-placed DWR-treated nylon fabric deflects moisture from the shoulders and upper arms. $110
Patagonia Nano Air Hoody
Puff, puff, breathe: this plush hoody helps regulate core temps by breathing during aerobic activity and insulating when you’re standing still or shredding downhill. The outer shell is treated with DWR and a bit more rugged than your average paper-thin puff protection. $299
Totally Board Box Set Volume 1
From 1992-2001, Standard Films produced 10 snowboard movies that captured “the uprising in snowboarding.” These timeless vids feature the likes of Johan Olofsson, Kevin Jones, Terje Haakonsen, Dave Downing, Tom Burt and many more. Need I say more? $79.95
