Don’t bail on the planet, dudes! You can hit the backside, frontside and freeride on sticks that are better than those beat ones with gnarly chemicals. And don’t forget the new, phat outerwear that’s made of tight, eco-friendly hemp and recycled polyester.
Whew. How did I do?
Snowboarders with a conscience need to check out the ALT, Roundhouse and Push snowboard Arbor Sports. Natural bamboo veneer is used as the topsheet material because it’s a remarkably sustainable resource (organic with no pesticides or chemical fertilizers). Great carving performance is guaranteed by locking in dense bamboo fibers with resin. The company says this creates a composite element that structurally enhances a board with added return, resilience and weight reduction. The boards also are embellished with Zen motifs (presumably to help boarders achieve their big mountain chi).
When your favorite snowboarder is spacing out, rolling down windows and crashing into innocent skiers, why not make a green fashion statement in the Burton GMP ALS jacket, made of recycled poly combined with eco-friendly DWR coated laminated fabric ($152.95 at U.S. Outdoor Store). The dudes can don the Holden classic pant made of hemp ($141 at Porters Tahoe), an alternative to waterproof gear sealed with toxic chemicals.
Outerwear technology is getting a boost, thanks to manufacturers who identify with the mindset of their nature loving customers. Cowabunga! (An avalanche of cringes resounds…)
Image: frozen chipmunk