A new contest format erupted on Mt. Hood this week with the underground launch of the HCSC Spin Cycle Classicâ„¢. The premise is simple: which rider(s) can cycle through all four directions of spinning (frontside, backside, switch frontside and switch backside) from 180º to 900º with the least mistakes and the best style. Ian Thorley tied for first with Heikki Sorsa in the inaugural rotational event, and earned himself a Cobra Dog, Volcano Cone, Huck Shake, and his name permanently engraved on the iconic Spin Cycle Classic golden washing machine, the major appliance version of the “Stanley Cup of Snowboarding”.

Ian Thorley, Ethan Morgan, Niki Korpela, Jake Welch, Cameron Pierce, and Niko Cioffi

Stay tuned for more updates

Stratton Mountain hosted the 29th Annual US Open Championships, and along with most other established (and not-so-established) competitive snowboarders, Forum sent some representatives of its own to put into the mix. One such competitor, Daniel Ek, happened to land himself a podium finish in Friday night’s Quarterpipe event. A huge front 9, McTwist, Michaelchuck, and several large backside airs brought him into the number 2 position and a check for $5000.

At the US Open. More to come.

Daniel Ek, Greg Bretz, Ian Thorley, and Trevor Jacob were all in attendance for the final stop of the 2009 Winter Dew Tour, held in Northstar-at-Tahoe. Although no one won anything, or even placed for that matter, they all looked good hanging out. Actually, they looked great…

For’ams, Daniel Ek, Greg Bretz, Ian Thorley, and Trevor Jacob spent some time in Breckenridge, Colorado for the first stop of the Winter Dew Tour. With temps dipping well below the -15 degree mark, the riders still managed to bring some heat to the contest. Daniel and Greg both finished 8th in their respective disciplines. Daniel Ek threw a backside 7, frontside 10, and attempted his first ever backside double-cork 1080 on this first run in finals. He nearly put the double-cork down, but a small hand-drag and revert kept his score outside of the podium.

Greg Bretz made it to pipe finals, and took one hell of a spill in his first run, decking on a 1080 and firing himself to the bottom of the pipe where he split his helmet open. After shaking off the whoozies, Greg dropped in for his second run and stuck a great line from top to bottom. Unfortunately, some of the other heavy hitters bumped him into 8th position as well.

Here is some recent coverage from Snowboard Magazine’s “Year in Photos” issue. Included in this issue are shots of Eddie Wall, Peter Line, Jake Blauvelt, For’am, Ian Thorley, and a write-up with Forum Staff Photographer, Cole Barash.

Recent editorial coverage from the January issue of Snowboarder Magazine. Highlights include Superpark coverage from Pat Moore and Peter Line, Peter Line’s Colon, and Twenty Paces with John Jackson.

This video from Snowboard Revolution (featuring a For’am Ian Thorley interview) does a real good job capturing the Icer Air that took place in the Port of San Francisco, California.