Signal Snowboards teams up with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park to raise money and awareness for the Japan disaster through MusicforRelief. Inspired by Signal’s hit show Every Third Thursday, Chester hand builds a custom snowboard with Linkin Park vinyl records pressed into the board as the top sheet and graphic. The board is now being auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Japan disaster relief efforts. Fans of music, snowboarding and charity will all be satisfied watching Chester build a board from scratch with pure love. Visit musicforrelief.org to see how you can help or bid on it here – http://bit.ly/fVwxEk

Other sites to find the auction:
Signalsnowboards.com
LinkinPark.com
Facebook.com/linkinpark
MusicforRelief.org
Facebook.com/signalsnow

And to help them, all you have to do is LIKE your favourite artwork from the ‘Give A Trunk’ photo album. There could even be something in it for yourself – the three most creative comments on Facebook will win a pair of Rhythm “Checked2Peace” trunk.

The Rhythm “Give A Trunk” auction is a Charity Auction for the RHYTHM Broken Bird Foundation, where a 100% of the Auction proceeds will be donated to the good work of Didi Weichselberger in Mayrhofen, Austria, who nurses damaged and injured birds of prey within the region of Tyrol.

The winning Artist/Trunk will be included in the Rhythm Europe Summer 2012 Collection. 1% of the net sales of this product will be donated to the Rhythm Broken Bird Foundation, another 1% will rewarded to the artist.

rhythmlivin.com

Sometimes it might be a good idea to double-check if times are really that tough – or if you are blessed after all to be able to indulge in a sport as great as snowboarding. Because for some people snowboarding is far beyond their reach or even expectations. Every now and then we should leave our own petty problems behind and try help those who are truly in need.

Hang on! What’s all this pretentious gibberish? Is this Sunday school? No worries, a press release from Burton Europe just made us think a little. Basically, they went all charity and helped some disadvantaged kids get the shred on. Here’s how:

All photos: Cyril

Last Saturday a four-week snowboard program for disadvantaged kids from several aid organizations in Tyrol/Austria came to an end. It was the third time the “Chill” project took place in the resort of Serfaus. Over four consecutive Saturdays the kids had the chance to learn how to snowboard. Chill cooperated with the welfare projects “SOS-Kinderdorf BIWAK”, the assisted living community Telfs and “Nestwärme” as well as the youth probation service “Jugendwohnstart”. Chill was realised with support from Burton Snowboards, The Komperdellbahn Serfaus, the Ski school Serfaus and MPREIS/Baguette.

Goal of the Chill program has been to create a unique and positive experience for the kids. Because a feeling of success in sports and an active lifestyle have a positive and sustained effect on kids. Perseverance, the learning of new skills, falling down and getting up again, being proud: These experiences have a long-lasting effect way beyond the days of the Chill project.

The third edition of the Chill project has been a great success. 38 kids took part and were thrilled about the days in Serfaus. Their quick progress on the board helped maintain the positive vibe throughout the entire four weeks. Some of the kids had never done any winter sports in the Tyrolean mountains before. 16-year-old Latif from BIWAK Hall, said: Snowboarding and the young people are really cool. It is great fun to practice with the snowboard instructors. I am now a really good snowboarder.” Beginner Amela, 15 years old, from the assisted living community in Telfs, added: “I fell down so many times and collected some bruises. But now I can do turns. It was so much fun. I would take part again!”

And Lorenz Kerer, head of the BIWAK project, was excited about the whole event: “You can’t really say much about Burton’s Chill project: If you look into the eyes of the kids, you can tell how successful it really is.” Nguyen Minh, head of the assisted living community in Telfs and Haus am Lohbach, had this to say: “Chill does not talk about the kids’ potential. It is about offering the opportunity to really discover and show it. This is its refreshing key to success!”

Burton is grateful for the support from Serfaus – in particular the Komperdellbahn Serfaus, the Ski school Serfaus and Patscheider Sport + Mode – as well as MPREIS/Baguette for supporting the Chill program once again. Without this support the project could not have been realised.

Where: Avoriaz, France

The French über-resort of Avoriaz is about to board the often neglected charity train. On 10 April, they will be hosting the Tricks for Kids event. According to their press release it is a one-of-a-kind charity freestyle contest. All profits will go to Human Rights Watch. From what we can tell this sounds like a great idea. Read on for some more details on the whole shebang:

The aim is to allow teenagers to develop their freestyle, in a warm, relaxed atmosphere, so it is nothing like one of those prestige competitions involving professional riders which often put younger competitors off. The contest is open to amateurs, and also aims to raise awareness amongst the participants about the problems which many children all over the world have to cope with.
As a result, all of the profits made by the event will go to the “Human Rights Watch” NGO. It promotes human rights and has many initiatives designed to help children whose rights are not respected.
Registration is €10 per participant. All of the proceeds will go to Human Rights Watch. There will be prizes, donated by the resort’s partners, to be won at the end of the contest.

The riders will be divided into 2 categories: the 12 – 15 (junior) and 16+ (senior) age groups. Each category will include girls and boys, all mixed up together. The competition will take place as a jam session, so participants can choose how many jumps they want to perform. At the end of the qualifying rounds, the panel of judges made up of professional riders will choose the five best performers from each category who will qualify for the final.

The event will take place in a friendly, party atmosphere; it will be hosted by a DJ, and there will be a barbecue and drinks available.

You can register at the tourist office or even up until 11 a.m. on the day itself.

More information from lisa-at-demonium.ch.