Rumor has it that Burton Snowboards have been making some budget cuts this year due to the down fall brought on by Channel Islands and Alien Workshop ties.  Team members are fearing the worst as riders like DCP, Romain De’Marchi and Elena Hight were dropped from the Burton Global Team this season.  Notice that they are no longer listed in the roster.  Is this an economic recession influence?  Or Burton’s attempt to bring on new found team riders with larger paychecks?  No stories have been confirmed as of yet, but we’re sure to find out where these riders find their new home in the upcoming months.  Gigi Ruf has already made the move over to Volcom Snowboarding.  Will Romain, DCP, or Elena be next?  More to report as the story unfolds…

- An excerpt from Side Effect Boardshop -

That is right, on November 13th via Antarctica the scumdogs of the universe GWAR will be descending in on Bend, Oregon with a live performance at the premiere of Mack Dawg Productions new snowboard film Down With People Presented by K2 Snowboarding and Catapult Productions.

It’s election year again, and GWAR has captured our favorite politicians in between the senseless debates to take them on a bloody ride, and a craptacular mashup of a tour. Sleazy P Martini (GWAR Manager) has even come out of semi - retirement of managing the entire porn industry to make sure that this will be the squarest test of American presidential metal he can rig. Clinton and Obama are sure to be to be tortured at the hands of Oderus and Bone Snapper, and McCain mcskinned. All three candidates will be forced to prove their Presidential chops in the wrestling arena. Yes, all three candidates are on a fight card that also includes Bozo Destructo and Sawborg Destructo in an all out tag team match vs. GWAR. It’s rumored that GWAR may put hometown snowboarders and Down With People shredders Austin Smith and Curtis Ciszek on the fight card as well.

Danger Ehren of MTV’s Jackass will join in and host the show. Here Danger Ehren will be getting bonkers, hitting unsuspecting audience members upside the cranium with loads of product from our sponsors. Also performing is Kingdom Of Sorrow, featuring Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed/Host of MTV’s Head Bangers Ball, along with members of Crowbar and Portland Oregon’s Toxic Holocaust is set to rip open the show and get the party started.

Do not miss the bloodbath! Steal your parent’s credit card, pawn your brothers Kirby Pucket rookie card and make it to Bend, Oregon for one of the best snowboard premieres in the nation.

Sponsored By: K2 Snowboarding – Volcom – Salomon – Dakine – Skull Candy – 686 – Side Effect Boardshop – Quiksilver – Capita – Skjersaa’s – Nomis – Burton – Phoenix Inn – TransWorld Snowboarding

When: November 13th 2008 at 7:00PM

Where: Bend Oregon At The Midtown Music Hall

Ladies, grab your gear, head to the hills and dial those moves you want to show off this coming season. Nikita is bringing the Chickita to the USA and Europe once more and we’re ready for a good show.

Dates have already been confirmed so there’s no excuse to miss out:

Nikita Chickita USA 21^st February 2009, Mammoth Mountain

Nikita Chickita EUROPE 18^th April 2009, Serfaus, Austria

Nikita Chickita is an open-invite slopestyle contest, notorious for the relaxed and fun atmosphere. Up for grabs will be cash and prizes galore for both the top Pro and Am riders. As in previous years the top Am rider will receive a one-year sponsorship with Nikita. Ana Rumiha and Alice Gong, European and USA winners respectively from 2008, have had great times being a part of the Nikita family!

Nikita is stoked to let you know that Lomography is on board to sponsor both the USA and European Nikita Chickita contests with their awesome cameras. We’re already jealous of the lucky winners!! Osiris and DaKine will also be flowing sweet product to all the ladies at the USA event.

Cooler and Onboard are part of the action as media partners for Europe. Transworld Snowboarding and Venus Zine will be reporting from the USA.

To sign up for the USA event go to: http://signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=FQ2V8K7

GIGI RÜF SIGNS WITH VOLCOM SNOWBOARDING!
10/20/2008
Volcom is proud to announce that Gigi Rüf will be rocking Volcom Outerwear and riding Volcom snowboards for the 2008/2009 season and beyond.

Gigi has been a part of the Volcom family for more than 15 years. The young Austrian made his first trip to Volcom when he was just 12 years old. At that time Volcom Art Director, Ethan Anderson sent Gigi home with a hand made Volcom card. In the card EA wrote “Christian aka Gigi- Thank you for coming to America and hanging out. You rule. You are the future keep it up. Ethan”. The future is now.

Gigi is on top of the snowboarding world. At the end of this past season he ranked in the top 10 of Transworld Business’ Exposure Meter and was also in the top 10 in Snowboarders Rider of the Year issue. To see Gigi in motion check any one of his multiple video parts including the opener of Absinthe’s latest release “Ready” and Pirate Movie Productions “Overseas”. The loop jib is a must see.

Read more…

This month Burton’s movie “It’s Always Snowing Somewhere” will premiere in eleven North American cities over the span of two weeks. Each stop will also feature athlete autograph sessions and after parties. It’s Always Snowing Somewhere features scenes from a never-ending winter with the Burton team traveling from the southern to northern hemisphere, from Alaska to Argentina.

The movie features action footage from Shaun White, Terje Haakonsen, Natasza Zurek, Gigi Rüf, JP Solberg, Heikki Sorsa, Nicolas Müller, Tadashi Fuse, Frederik Kalbermatten, Jeremy Jones, Jussi Oksanen, DCP, Mads Jonsson, Trevor Andrew, Keegan Valaika, Kevin Pearce, Danny Davis, Kazuhiro Kokubo, Mikkel Bang, Mikey Rencz and Peetu Piiroinen.

It’s Always Snowing Somewhere premiere date and location:

Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge
Bowl with the team riders, free rental shoes for the first 100 guests, free food and bowling until 11:00pm.
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Movie: 7:30pm
Burton Raffle: 8:30pm (proceeds going to CHILL)
After Party: 9:00pm 21+

This fall, the Burton Movie Tour takes snowboarding to the streets, giving fans in cities around the world the chance to meet riders, see the new Burton movie and get stoked for the upcoming season. Special thanks go out to sponsors Burton Snowboards, SoBe, Corona, Ubisoft, Transworld Snowboarding and Snowboard Canada for making the tour happen.