All photos by Justin Kious

Brice getting a nasty method in to a powdery landing.

Sometimes you have to hike for it...but it's worth it.

Brice all tuckered out from shredding powder all day. Poor little guy.

Shawn Freyer snapping of a sweet indy at Mt. Baker.

Finishing the day off with a group powder run. Shawn, Byron and Brice get the goods.

Shawn Fryer grabs a nasty method off this Northwest cliff.

Gallery Breakdown
Photos #1 & 2 – Ryan Linnert
Photo #3, 4 & 5 – Robbie Hutton
Photo #6 & 7 Shawn Freyer
Photos #8 & 9 – Byron Bagwell

Vitamin P April Shasta Session from Arbor Collective on Vimeo.

These new downhill designs provide amazing performance at speed with unexpected around town versatility.

Arbor’s new drop-through models: the Axis Koa and Bamboo are built to provide stability at speed with amazing carve and slide performance. A symmetrical shape and more functional nose/tail profile offer highly versatile stance and switch options, while a cambered design delivers a medium flex for improved rail-to-rail reaction time and riding surface management. A snowboard inspired sidecut encourages a centered stance while tuning the flex for easier turn initiation. The Koa Axis features an artist collaboration with Hannah Stouffer, while the Bamboo version uses a stunning snowboard image from national Arbor snowboard team rider, Byron Bagwell, shot by photographer, Justin Kiuous.

“We set out to take advantage of the drop-through design’s ability to bring the deck of a skateboard closer to the ground and created a ride that is stable at speed, cornering, and drifting, yet incredibly easy to push when cruising; due to the reduced reach required to put foot to ground,” said Bob Carlson, Arbor’s President. “We also narrowed the profile to make the board lighter and super quick edge to edge.”

The Axis is built with sustainably sourced maple, koa and/or bamboo materials and gripped with long-lasting crushed recycled glass. Completes come with Arbor’s new 72mm, 75A Durometer Slalom Series Wheels (made from sucrose-based bio-urethane), 9” Gullwing Chargers Trucks, ABEC 5 bearings, and recycled plastic risers. The Axis is competitively prices at an MSRP of $199.50.

About Artist Hannah Stouffer: The contrary notions of darkness and light and the ever-present existence of the two drives Los Angeles based illustrator, Hannah Stouffer, to explore the greatest struggle that we endure, our own imminent contrasts. Facing the inevitable oppositions between love, lust and gore, decadence, wrath and fate, Stouffer’s work is an opulent, elegant and beautifully intricate mixture of decoration, nostalgic animalia and emotion. Her densely packed compositions consciously recall classical and current attractions, creating cohesively opposing arrays of imagery and embellishment. She focuses on the contrasts that exist and occur within each destined plan, and merges them together with a high regard for balance and rich, repetitive adornment. For more information on Hannah Stouffer, visit grandarray.com.

Vitamin P with a side of splitboardology from Arbor Collective on Vimeo.

WWSRA on snow demo Mission Ridge feb 2010 from Arbor Collective on Vimeo.

Vitamin p in the land of Sun Shine from Arbor Collective on Vimeo.

If this video by national team rider, Byron Bagwell doesn’t get you hyped on going snowboarding then nothing will. He scored two blue bird powder days at Mt. Baker and Crystal Mountain.

Vitamin P from Arbor Collective on Vimeo.

Byron Bagwell Powder Tour from Arbor Collective on Vimeo.

“Sitting at 10,000 feet, we watched it rain for three days straight,” said Arbor regional rider, Byron Bagwell. “Then the cold part of the front moved in and it snowed 2 inches. Dust on crust all the way to the top. It was nothing worth sticking around for so, with time on our hands, we decided to head north to the town of Farellones.”

Bryon and his crew managed to find their way to this region of Chilé via trains, buses and taxi and they were hoping that the forecast for snow would pan out. “You can get anywhere you want in Chilé without your own car. Farellones is a high alpine town that sits above timberline. The towering Andes Mountains that are home to four ski centers including La Parva, El Colorado, Valle Nevado and Farellones will humble even the most skilled rider,” said Bagwell.

Once again, the weather didn’t cooperate with the Arbor shred crew. “We got about four inches of snow on top of thick ice,”says Bagwell. “We hit up a hill called El Colorado–the marketing manager there was nice enough to flow us passes. Anything low-angle was fun but steeps and drops where tough to manage. We did what we could and then headed back to Chillan.” When they first arrived it was raining all the way up of the mountain once again, but a cold front moved in and the snow finally started falling. The snow was inconsistent and not epic by any means but the crew managed to get some shredding in before they had to head back to the states. “We’re back home now surfing and waiting for winter to arrive. It won’t be long…can’t wait,” said Bagwell.

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles National Forrest

HOME MOUNTAIN: Dodge Ridge, Alpine Meadows and Mt Baker

YEARS SNOWBOARDING: 10

SETUP: Stance: 23 inches wide, +18, -9.  I squeeze into a 9.5 boot that hurts like hell for about 10 days. I ride centered to jib and set back when Baker is firing.

ARBOR PREFERRED QUIVER: Westmark 155 most of the time, Coda 158 sometimes, Wasteland 159 when pow is deep, and Abacus 159 when pow is really deep.

OTHER SPONSORS: Dragon, Bonfire, Terramar Layering, One Ball Jay and Spacecraft

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH TO RIDE? Mt Baker Backcountry

IF YOU COULD PICK FOUR RIDERS (alive or dead) TO SNOWBOARD WITH, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Justin Kious, Sky Risvold, Robbi Hutton and Shawn Fryer. I would dig on shredding Russia or Slovakia some place where people are rocking gear from the 80’s.

WORST LIE YOU EVER TOLD YOUR MOM? I don’t know why that closet smells like piss.

WORST LIE YOUR MOM EVER TOLD YOU? One time my mom convinced me a turkey neck was a turkey shlong after she had me rip it off the turkey.

MAC OR PC? PC at the moment.

WOULD YOU RATHER BE SMART & UGLY OR DUMB & BEAUTIFUL? In the words of the slug (god loves ugly)

WHAT’S YOUR WORST HABIT? (Be Honest) Drinking tequila until my evil twin Willis reveals himself.

SUMMER TIME: SKATE, SURF, OR RIDE? Surf as much as possible, skate tranny, and hit up South America.

Arbor nothwest regional rider, Byron Bagwell is down in South America with a crew and will be reporting back to let us know how the mission is going. “We have been in Chilé for a few days know and it has been good,” says Bagwell. “We are hunkered down in the tiny town of Las Trancas  for the time being. It has been snowing all day. Tomorrow is gonna slay.”

Check back soon for more from South America and Byron Bagwell.

Photos By: Justin Kious

What would you do with this cornice? Drop it.

Clearly winter in South America is hitting right now.