Awesome Snowboarding

EA flaunts the praises that gaming publications have heaped upon their upcoming snowboarding game. And if words don’t convince you, more footage of SSX’s gameplay should do the trick(y).

(NSFW: Language) While you might be able to pull one off playing Shaun White Snowboarding, we’re much more impressed by snowboarder Billy Morgan’s real world Triple Heelside Rodeo flip.

Despite the fact that snowboards were designed for snow, there’s no good reason why they won’t work on another surface, like the Utah’s Salt Flats, right? Though it is a bit more abrasive than snow.

(NSFW) Sit back, go full-screen, and enjoy 34 minutes of snowboarding stunts, rail grinding, and a tour of the most exotic staircases, roofs and dumpsters of Russia.

The courses on SSX are based on real-world mountains, mapped in 3D using in-house software. We hope the graphics improve though; the popcorn avalanche looks like a shot from the PS2 SSX.

Swatch and The North Face teamed up with Xavier de Le Rue to document his quest to find the world’s best snowboarding spots. And by “best” he means the most dangerous, pants-wetting ones.

The classic snowboarding game is coming back just in time for the depths of Winter, and jumping out of a helicopter on a snowboard never looked so inviting. Though we sort of miss Run DMC.

The Art of Flight is an epic love letter to snowboarding, featuring pro athletes in remote locations; outstanding camera work makes us feel like we’re right there with them. (Thanks Zach!)

Switchback Entertainment’s charming tilt-shift video documents a bird’s eye view of teeny, tiny Whistler Village and surrounding Whistler Blackcomb mountains, making it a real life snow globe.

We all know the sick moves that Norwegian pro boarder Torstein Horgmo can execute on tour, but after seeing what he does in the off season, we’re looking forward to his 2011 tricks. (Thanks Colin!)

The classic snowboarding game gets a fresh coat of paint, taking a decidedly more serious approach than its cartoony parents. As long as the gameplay is as solid as the earlier games, we’re good.

We’re intrigued by the small bit we’ve seen in this vid for the new V.I.O. point of view HD camera; the shockproof little machine shoots in 1080p at 50 fps, has 4 recording methods and a modular mount.

What would happen if the world were invaded by 8-bit game characters? Mike Benson’s video melds great snow and skateboarding with game worlds. Portal seems a bit out of place, but still cool.

686 and Levis’ Trucker mixes denim style and technical details; it’s a snowboard jacket with taped seams, a waterproof yet breathable shell, iPod stash, and Recco avalanche beeper.

Heat up the slopes while keeping out the cold with Billabong’s Marius Jacket; it sports a blinding-hot pixelated print, 10k waterproofing, underarm zips, powder skirt, and seam taping.

Analog’s Glasgow Jacket looks urban, but it’ll serve you well on the slopes; it sports a 10,000mm waterproof poly twill shell, hand warmer pockets, MP3 sound port and adjustable hood.

Aerotype’s Hi-Tech Jacket is Hi-Priced too, but you’ll stay alive and wired: it sports MP3 and phone sleeve controls and can store surplus heat that’ll be emitted if you’re under an avalanche.

Ideal for snowboarding shutterbugs, Burton’s cavernous Aperture Pack will swallow your camera gear and then some: it also features a padded laptop pocket and tripod/skateboard carry.

Oakley’s O-Board Box is a two-fer, able to lug up to two snowboards (one w/bindings and one naked); it also includes five grip handles, sure-grip wheels and a boot compartment.

Oakley’s A Frame goggles get the L-R-G treatment: in addition to integrated surge ports, and anti-fog inner lens, they’ll get a mirror polished black finish and Gold Iridium lens.

Just in time for winter, Nike has launched a Snowboarding line. Above, their Zoom Force 1 boots are designed in collaboration with Stash and styled after their Air Force 1 shoes.