The Forum Shaka binding.

Seeing as they’ll shortly be closing their factory doors for ever, we thought it would be good to present this week a product that has been one of the best evolutions lately in the Forum product range. RIP Forum… and perhaps worth noting that the customer service and warranty will still work for the next year.

The Shaka binding was a huge hit straight as it came out, thanks to it bendability and adaptability. With its disk in two parts and the flexible base –  tech composite mix of 30% glass fibers and high-grade nylon, the binding bend under your feet to the flex of your board, and it make a very good natural flex feel on any terrain, on any turn or landing you can make. This is what make the Shaka binding stand out from the rest especially: the continuous flex feel of your board. But the rest of the features are pretty top level too: the customizable freestyle strap allows maximum freedom and provides adjustable increased medial/lateral support so you can decide how you feel your strap’s vibes. Using the tool-free adjustment, remove the straps and put the right on the left and vice versa. As the toe strap is design to fully cover the tip of your boot in order to maximize the support and response.

A tech composite mix of 30% glass fibers and high-grade nylon allows for maximum power transfer while still providing underfoot feel and dampening.

The clever Shaka disk that comes in two parts.

The Simmer Down foot pad and adjustable spoiler.

On top of this, you get all the customization possible: adjustable baseplate,forward lean, spoiler and heel hoop. Connectivity between your binding and your board has never been so high, this is the ‘good vibes’ feeling Forum is talking about in their product presentation. But after trying it, it really does work! And this is why it’s our Product Of The Week!

Overall flex range: 4. Oh, and if you don’t like orange, the Forum Shaka also comes in black and in white. Get one pair while you still can!

See the Shaka binding and it’s video here. And don’t miss the über tech Honeypot technology informative clip by Pat Moore. Unless you prefer the Good Vibes feeling explained by Nic Sauve and his pretty toit friend.

Tim Peare is a US-based photographer who for the past few years has been on the payroll at Forum Snowboards, charged with documenting the team’s antics both on and off the hill. Recently the plug was pulled on Forum but in honour of the good times, Tim’s released this rad slideshow of his photos. You can check out more of Tim’s epic shots in the current issue of Onboard, where we pay tribute to the influence Forum’s had on snowboarding with our Forum Forever gallery…

Photo: Tim Peare.

Here’s what Tim himself had to say on the slideshow. Make yourself a brew, hit full screen and enjoy 9 minutes of epic shred snaps.

I originally created this slideshow for a presentation at the Lake Tahoe Digital Photo Institute in South Lake Tahoe summer of 2012. Ian Ruhter and myself were the head presenters. Since then, Forum Snowboards, my employer, has been shut down and has now become a permanent piece of snowboarding history.

The slideshow is comprised of 3 parts: Part I is my first year on Forum during the making of “Forever”. Part II are portraits and lifestyles with many of the people I have had the pleasure to have worked with. Part III is a closing segment with many of my favorite images. Please take a moment to watch the slideshow and reflect on the fleeting nature of the moment now.

*there is only one non Forum image in the entire slideshow, however, that image, is the true launching point of my career. It’s the first action photo in Part III

Music in order of appearance:
Moby – “Everloving”
Panda Bear – “Comfort in Nautica”
M83 – “Moonchild”

Here it is, one of the greatest snowboard movies of all time featuring one of the greatest teams ever assembled: MDP’s The Resistance with the Forum team in their pomp. This legendary slice of shred cinema dropped in 2000 and showacased the Forum team when they were arguably in their prime. Line, Walker, Jones, Malmi, Walsh… it doesn’t get much better than this.

Whatever your opinion is on the brand and it’s recent demise, one thing’s certain: they certainly made some legendary movies in their time. RIP, Forum.

This all-fresh online part from Niko Cioffi is full of bangers and gangsta sheet. Check it now…

This is not in or from the Gremlinz 2 The Refried Batch.This is Niko Cioffi’s OnLine Part.
JSLV I GBP I ARNETTE I ROCKSTAR ENERGY
Filmed By. Forum,The Gremlinz
Edited By. The Kid
Gbp-Gbp.com

We just heard the sad news that Burton, who own ‘The Program’ brands of Forum, Foursquare and Special Blend, has decided it will “exit out of The Program brands in winter 2014″. With no plans to sell the companies, it looks a near certainty that these brands are headed for the Great Trashow Hall in the Sky. Read more…

Burton took the reigns of Forum, Foursquare and Special Blend when the company who previously owned them, Fourstar, went tits up. At the time the move was viewed with more than a couple of raised eyebrows as many of the brands’ riders quickly ‘found themselves other sponsors’, but Burton’s insistence that they were slowing “the trend of ski companies buying up snowboard brands” was valid, along with the support they offered the brands in terms of service, distribution and logistics. Arguably Burton’s takeover helped steady the ship in troubled waters.

Now, due to a large scale restructuring, Burton has decided that at this time it’s prudent to focus on its core business and, sadly this means The Program will be put out to grass in 2014.

This is from the press release: “Also part of today’s restructure, Burton announced it will transition out of its Program brands (Foursquare, Forum and Special Blend), which were purchased in 2004 with the intent to keep snowboard companies in the hands of snowboarders. Burton has supported these brands for eight years and will continue to support them over the next year through warranty service, dealer support, marketing and inventory. The company will exit out of The Program brands in winter 2014, in order to better focus on and invest in Burton.”

In essence, they want to back their winners and for the B that would be Burton hardware and outerwear. Strictly in business terms it’s an understandable move in a tough economic climate, but for the brands and the people involved it is a bitter pill to swallow.

Reaction from both riders and industry heads has been flooding in across the social networks, perhaps best summed up by this from Alek Østreng on Instagram: “Really sad to hear the news that Forum Snowboards has come to and end. I am going to miss all the good times with the homies at Forum. I have only been there for 3 years but that has been the best years of my life.”

With Burton’s insistence that they will not sell the brands, a campaign to give Forum back to founder Peter Line has quickly been doing the rounds. This would be perhaps the happiest of endings, but whether anything will come of it – or whether Line would even want it if it is even possible – remains to be seen.

Here’s the press release in full, including Burton’s plans for Analog, Gravis, RED and Channel Islands. #giveFORUMtopeter

Burton Realigns its Family of Brands for Long-Term Success

BURLINGTON, VT (October 23, 2012) Burton Snowboards today announced that its senior management team has elected to alter the structure of Burton owned brands to better position the company, its retail partners and stakeholders for the future. The current family of brands includes Analog, Gravis, RED, anon, Foursquare, Forum, Special Blend and Channel Islands. During a company-wide meeting today at its headquarters inVermont, Burton Founder and CEO Jake Burton explained the new structure and how it will allow Burton to focus on what it does best: make and support products that set the bar for snowboarding development and further progress the sport and lifestyle.

Specifically, Burton announced the following changes to its structure and subsidiaries. Over the next year, Analog will return to its roots of being a pure snowboardingbrand based at its original home in Burlington, Vermont. Analog has a deep heritage in snowboarding from the day when Greg Dacyshyn (Burton Chief Creative Officer) and the late Jeffy Anderson (Team Rider) gave birth to the brand in Burlington, and as such, will revert back to being a winter-only brand. Burton’s Gravis brand will ultimately move its headquarters to Tokyo, Japan and moving forward will be solely distributed in Asian markets selling lifestyle shoes and bags. Gravis was established in 1998 as the company’s first independent lifestyle brand, and since then, Asia has been by far its most successful region. As a result, Gravis will now focus purely on this market and opportunity. Further, in a move that Burton has been planning for several years, the company will also start developing protective headwear under theanon brand name. Burton will continue to offer its RED helmets on a limitedbasis, but the bulk of helmet and optics product lines will be combined under the anon brand, which has become synonymous with quality riding accessories.

Also part of today’s restructure, Burton announced it will transition out of its Program brands (Foursquare, Forum and Special Blend), which were purchased in 2004 with the intent to keep snowboard companies in the hands of snowboarders. Burton has supported these brands for eight years and will continue to support them over the next year through warranty service, dealer support, marketing and inventory. The company will exit out of The Program brands in winter 2014, in order to better focus on and invest in Burton.

Finally, Channel Islands, which was acquired by Burton in 2006, will be unaffected by this brand realignment and will continue to design, develop and manufacturebest-in-class surf hardgoods products in Carpinteria, California.

In addressing all of these changes, Jake Burton had this to say: “Burton has experienced several years of income growth since the recession and paid outbonuses to employees over the last two years,” said Jake. “That said, the economy has a voice of its own that we all have to listen to, and the message is clear: do what you do best and focus purely on it. In our case, that means to narrow our focus to the sport and lifestyle that got us here – snowboarding. We will continue to support Channel Islands in its endeavor to make the best surfboards in the world and Gravis in its new home in Japan, but when you walk through the front door here in Burlington, Vermont, it will be all snowboarding and snowboarding lifestyle all the time – driven by the Burton, Analog and anon brands.”

Jake went on to share that one of the key factors that led senior management to these decisions includes the success of Burton’s entry into the apparel and bag/pack business on a year-round basis, which has grown significantly in all seasons. The message Burton has taken from the marketplace is that for long-term success, this is the direction that the company should be pursuing, along with its core hardgoods and outerwear business.

Increasing the company’s focus on Burton has also been demonstrated by recent significant investments in Burton’s headquarters and infrastructure. These include the acquisition of the building next door to its Burlington, Vermont headquarters where the company not only built Craig’s, a new 10,000-square-foot R&D and prototype facility, but also Area 13, a 6,000-square-foot Burton/anon/Analog wholesale showroom. Craig’s (named after the late Craig Kelly) is known as the most advanced and sophisticated snowboard prototype facility in the world where ideas are conceived, built and on-snow in less than 24 hours. Area 13 is Burton’s marquee showroom where retailers from all over the world can come to Vermont to see future product lines. Like today’s announcement, both of these examples demonstrate the company’s commitment to the long-term growth, progression and success of the Burton snowboard brands.

In closing, Jake went on to state the following: “I take full responsibility for the decisions that led to the creation (or acquisitions) of these ancillary brands, and I similarly am the individual ultimately responsible for the decision to realign and focus more purely on what made this company from the start. Clearly, the most difficult aspect of this decision and transition is the people affected. The employees and team riders associated with these brandshave poured their guts into making it happen. Their level of commitment hasbeen extraordinary, and we will do everything we can to help support them through this transition. There is never a good time for moves like this, and we could have delayed the announcement, but it isn’t our style to perpetuate a myth. Clearly this transition will pose challenges along the way, but in the long run, everyone will see the results of our commitment to our core business.”

Forum, Special Blend and Foursquare’s latest team movie, #Forum, features some mind-altering riding from their heavyweight list of riders. And they’re streaming it here for FREE until Thursday October 25th. So be quick…

We watched this in a boozy school disco-like party the other day in Neustift and can safely say it’s definitely worth the price of admission. It’s even worth more than that as you’ll see Andreas Wiig’s freakish kicker skills with more dubs (7, count ‘em) than you’ve had hot dinners, and Pat Moore’s beasty ender where he pushes the ‘well-rounded’ moniker way the hell out. There’s heaps more sickness from Jake Welch, Nic Sauve, Cam Pierce, Austen Sweetin, Mario Käppeli and Daniel Ek to blast your eyeballs with, so click play while you can…

Check this edit of Euro Forum dudes Denis Leontyev, Jesse Augustinus and Sindre Cottis putting the beatdown on some of Holland’s fine indoor rail parks.

October has come with our favorite euro trips from one contest to another one, and between all that chaos going down lately Denis Leontyev, Jesse Augustinus and Sindre Cottis had a few indoor sessions in the parks of Holland (SnowWorld Landgraaf and Zoetermeer).

Judging by this teaser, Forum, Foursquare and Special Blend’s latest team movie, #Forum, is gonna be insane. Crazy urban action mixed in with more double corks than you’ve had hot dinners…

Here’s the communique…

#FORUM #TEASER presented by Special Blend, Forum, Foursquare brings you the best from #andreaswiig #patmoore #jakewelch #nicsauve #austensweetin #campierce #danielek #mariokaeppeli

#WORLDPREMIERE on October 10 – Southern California

During October and November there will be numerous national #FORUM premieres throughout Europe so be sure to check out @forumsnowboards.com, @special-blend.com and @foursquareouterwear.com for the premiere and release dates.

In the meantime, get your social media game on lock and make sure to #FORUM. You catch us on Instagram @Forumsnowboarding.

Yes, you read that right. Forum, Foursquare and Special Blend have gone all-in for social media and have announced their new team flick will be called #Forum. Judging by their recent efforts, we’d say this film will be #banging.

If you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to have a look at the full parts from Vacation – their movie last year. Bangers for days.

Here’s the official communique…

#Forum (pronounced, should you be wondering, “Hashtag Forum”) is the brand new flick dropping October 2012. A short film of A-grade bangers is sure to please the most internet savvy riders, as well as the not-so-digitally inclined. Already start following the hype online as one of the best teams in snowboarding does it again.

Available only on iTunes as digital download, #Forum brings out the best from #andreaswiig #patmoore #jakewelch #nicsauve #steviebell #austensweetin #campierce #alekoestreng #mariokaeppeli #danielek and a few more #riders. More info on teaser drop dates, tour schedule, and world premiere coming soon. In the meantime, get your social media game on lock and #Forum.

For more on this year’s new short film, check out the World Wide Web @forumsnowboards.com, @special-blend.com and @foursquareouterwear.com.

Young Norwegian powerhouse Alek Østreng had a breakout season of sorts last winter. Finals at the WSC, first major career win in the slopestyle at the BEO, a joint part in Forum’s Vacation, and a profile in Onboard magazine. Here is said profile from issue 127 with some added video gaga…

We think it’s safe to say that this is just the beginning for Alek. Heavy skills and a heavy style have the habit of taking you a long way in snowboarding, and the 20-year-old Østreng has them both in spades. This profile was originally in Onboard issue 127.

RAW TALENT AND STYLE

[Words: Uli Köhler]

An exceptional work ethic, a strong set of shred skills, and an ever-growing presence in Forum’s team videos: Alek Østreng might just be the next big thing from Norway. Time for Onboard to shed some more light on the versatile redhead who also goes by the name of ‘The Donkey.’

BATTERY BATTLE EDIT – 2009

It all happened on a trip to New Hampshire, where the Forum team went to film for last season’s team video Fuck It. Alek Østreng had been to the States before, and wanted the crew to stop at a Dunkin’ Donuts. Only he didn’t remember its name and kept asking if they could go to Donkey’s Donuts. That’s why Kevin Keller, his US team manager, started calling him ‘The Donkey.’ Somehow, this name seemed all too fitting for a rider whose snowboard skills might seem boundless, but who more often than not ends up in comical situations. “He is such a cool and funny guy,” his European team manager Chris Patsch tells us. “Not funny as in cracking jokes… more unintentional stuff… he is funny without trying to be. He is nice and polite, but never quite knows what’s going on around him.” Alek’s long-time friend Olav Stubberud uses the words “kind, weird and strong” to describe the 20-year-old Norwegian. But when it comes to his riding, there are no doubts about his exceptional talent, which was already evident from a very early age.

TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE PART – THEY CAME FROM… – 2009

Alek grew up in an unassuming suburb of Oslo called Rykkinn. In fact it is so peaceful and quiet that urban developers from around the world visit the place for inspiration for their own perfect suburbias. However, it was there that he started snowboarding and where he met Onboard’s staff photographer Olav Stubberud: “We met at a playground outside of where we live, I think I was four and he was five,” remembers Olav. “It took some time until we got to know each other because he was too afraid of my sisters to come and visit me at my place.” But soon this changed, and when his grandfather gave him a snowboard for Christmas, it was all about gliding on snow for Østreng and his mates.

Turning Heads

Quickly he progressed his riding, and garnished it with an abundance of talent and style – just as so many world-class snowboarders from Norway before him have done. Kevin Keller has his own theory for what makes Norwegians excel at snowboarding: “As a Norwegian, he [Alek] gets to drink the water up there that makes everyone from that country an amazing snowboarder. People from everywhere else in the world have to work a lot harder to become that good.” Maybe it also helped that from early on he had riding buddies like Ståle Sandbech and Torgeir Bergrem – all outstanding snowboarders in their own right. Alek himself believes it was also down to the local infrastructure: “We have small hills so people get a lot of runs. The hills are also opening in the evening, so kids snowboard pretty much every day after school.” Not surprisingly, it did not take long until Alek got his first sponsors: “I got kind of recognised in a shop. They asked me to give them a video and they were stoked on it I guess.”

YOUNGBLOODS PART – F’ IT – 2010

As most successful Norwegian riders he was also a student at the famous snowboard school in Geilo, from which he graduated in the spring of 2010. But even before that he had many heads turning: partly due to his growing success at local and European contests (most importantly a third place at the Andreas Wiig Invitational in Geilo in 2009) and partly through his solid video appearances. He had filmed for Factor Films’ They Came From (2009), and Video Wizards’ I’m Here Out There (2010), and delivered impressive appearances in both. It was not long until he attracted more sponsors, and in 2010 he became part of Forum’s Youngblood team.

To Olav this success was no big surprise: “Alek has a board feeling that is from another dimension. He can ride anything, and by that I mean literally anything. You can give him a stick and he can kill it. His style is unique, and he is a perfectionist when it comes to how a thing he does is going to look, and that shows.” When we asked Kevin Keller what Alek’s greatest assets as a rider are, and what made him stand out from all the other young riders, he replied: “To answer both questions: raw talent and style.” His short but strong video part in Forum’s latest team movie Vacation is a testament to this sentiment: From front 12s in the park to rail trickery, from backcountry doubles to monster backside 1s – Alek puts every trick in the book down with apparent ease.

RK1 CREW CRUISING AT HOME - 2012

Holding High Standards

When asked about his own style, Alek finds it hard to find the right words. “That’s a hard question. I like to ride all kinds of terrain: Park, powder, rails, transitions.” One has to watch his video parts to understand just how good he is in each of these environments. Chris Patsch is less reserved with his own response: “This might ring hollow as it comes straight from a team manager, but I believe Alek Østreng will be ‘the next big thing’ from Norway. He just knows so many different tricks. When he rides contests he does not show a standard trick with the easiest grab. He is more likely to throw down that one extraordinary trick that nobody else is able to do.” Not only does this make him stand out from the crowd, it also pays off result-wise: he bagged a couple of podiums over the past seasons, and most recently won the TTR 5-star big air competition at the 2011 Livigno River Jump.

WINNING SLOPESTYLE RUN – BEO – 2012

Olav, who spends a lot of time nowadays shooting his childhood friend, points out another of his outstanding characteristics – his relentless work ethic: “You will always get something done when you shoot with Alek. If you don’t it’s because he either ended up in hospital or you broke your camera.” Which makes us doubt Kevin’s “Just add Norwegian water” theory even more. That’s why he is quick to add this to his earlier description of ‘The Donkey’: “Alek is the most mellow, happy-go-lucky kid in the entire world. He loves snowboarding and skating more than anything, and he holds his own standard of riding higher than anyone I know.” And what does the future hold for Alek? “It’s hard to say. An Olympic medal? Enders in videos? He’s so young, so talented, and so motivated … possibilities are endless.” Whatever his future will bring – we’re already looking forward to seeing more of him, and we will keep you posted!

Alek rides for Forum, Foursquare, Arnette, and Junkyard.no

YOUNGBLOODS PART – VACATION – 2011