Seattle, WA (January 31, 2012) – In a special very early release coming out mid-February 2012, GNU re-evolutionizes snowboarding with the most technologically advanced snowboard ever, the new GNU Impossible Asym. Sym. Sync. Pickle. Balance through asymmetry is taken to the next level, with the Impossible’s new asymmetry for ducks then combined with Mervin Mfg’s latest and greatest technological innovations. Customized core construction, sidecuts and contact angles are designed to allow the body and board to synchronize into perfect harmony through nearly “imperceptible perfection.”

In addition to Asym Sym Sync, elliptical EC2 camber/banana with Magne-Traction underfoot creates a fun, all-mountain ride. Impossibly strong, ultra-lightweight magnesium fiber, rugged Bio Beans topsheet material, black and blue swirl sidewalls, lightweight Colombian Gold eco wood core and a sintered base combine are brought together in the Gnu Impossible for the most technologically advanced snowboard being built today.

Asym Sym Sync is designed with the body’s asymmetry front to back, but symmetry side-to-side in mind. Snowboard turn mechanics are completely different on your toe side than on your heel side. The Duck Asym of the Asym Sym Sync balances the amount of board contact behind and in front of your feet for stable, balanced pop and float.

On the heel side, a shorter contact length allows for turns and reactions with power that are taken at an inherently lower angle. A softer flexing core construction on the heel side allows the board to flex into a tighter arc at a lower angle. On the toe side, anatomically its possible to tip a board up into a very aggressive angle of attack. The Asym Sym Sync’s mellower toe side sidecuts and longer contact are designed to balance this asymmetry creating toe edge stability and a range of turning arcs that align perfectly with the heelside turns. A firmer flexing core on the toe side provides added stability and control necessary with finely tuned toe side turn mechanics.

Curious Science and Anatomical Facts:

Available in 155cm only, for mid-February 2012 very early season release. Full size run and greater availability fall 2012.

TECH SPECS:

• Twin Asym Sym Sync. Freestyle Shape and Geometries
• EC2 BTX Eliptical Banana Camber combo
• Magne-Traction
• Magnesium Fiber
• Asym Columbian Gold eco core
• Bio Beans Topsheet
• Sintered Base
• Size: 155
• Flex: 6
• Price: $799.95US, $849.95CDN

Learn more at www.gnu.com

Seattle, WA (January 30, 2012) – It was a big week in Colorado for riders on Mervin Mfg’s Gnu and Lib Tech snowboards. Gnu rider Forest Bailey won his first X Games gold in his first X Games appearance by winning the street competition. The next day Jamie Anderson won her third X Games gold in slopestyle riding a Gnu Ladies Choice. Later that night at the TransWorld SNOWboarding Rider Polls, Lib Tech riders took home major honors with Jamie Lynn receiving the ‘Legend Award,’ Travis Rice winning ‘Men’s Rider of the Year,’ and Eric Jackson’s part in People’s “Good Look” winning ‘Men’s Video Part Of The Year.’

What a long strange trip it had been for Forest Bailey who arrived in Aspen only an hour before the elimination round for X Games street. The street course dominated by rail and box features, provided a change of scenery for Bailey who’d just come off two weeks of riding powder at Mt. Baker in Washington.

What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been, Forest Bailey Wins Gold at X-Games!

“I never thought I’d even come to X Games in my whole life, but I guess we’re here and I guess gold will do,” Bailey told ESPN.com after winning. The Vermonter won on his signature Gnu Forest Bailey Psychedelic Park Pickle featuring banana between the feet for catch-free freestyle performance, Magne-traction for unreal edge-hold and asymmetric sidecuts and construction.

Jamie Anderson Wins Gold on her Gnu Ladies Choice at X Games, Thats Two for Gnu!

Jamie Anderson is now six-for-six in podium finishes in women’s snowboard slopestyle at the X Games. She dominated the competition posting a 95.33 in her third run, the highest score ever in a women’s X Games snowboard slopestyle final. Due to the freshly fallen snow, most of the competitors struggled to keep their speed over the series of jumps, but Anderson was able to manage the conditions for the top spot on her Gnu Ladies Choice with pickle tech, C2 Power Banana and Magne-traction.

Jamie Lynn: Transworld Legend Award Acceptance Speech

The crowd went wild as Lynn, Rice and Jackson took the stage to accept awards at TransWorld Snowboarding’s Rider Polls. The ‘Rider of the Year’ nod was Rice’s second for the year, after also receiving the honor in Snowboarder’s February issue. Congrats to Bailey, Anderson, Lynn, Rice and Jackson from the entire Mervin Mfg crew building boards near Canada in Carlsborg, WA.

Eric Jackson Wins Video Part of the Year at the 13th Annual Riders’ Poll Awards

Travis Rice Wins Rider of the Year at the 13th Annual Riders’ Poll Awards

“The entire Mervin team feels truly grateful to be recognized for doing what we love,” says Ryan Hollis, GM of Mervin Mfg. “We’ve been building boards since 1977 and have always had our retail partners first of mind. We feel lucky to be able to maintain a healthy business for them and us, especially in rough times.”

The men and women working at Mervin are true board builders with a mission to innovate and improve the sports they participate in and love. Mervin brings real innovation including Magne-traction and banana technology, making snowboarding, skiing, skating and soon surf, easier and more fun for everyone. The company has been building ecoMotional boards near Canada in the USA since 1977.

“Mervin was the clear winner for brand of the year – it was an open ended survey and they dominated with responses such as ‘anything Mervin,’” says Mike Lewis, Editor-in-Chief of TransWorld Business. “Mervin crushed it in 2011, helping keep specialty retail special.”

Specific to supporting specialty retail, Mervin uses Shopatron, which sends online orders directly to shops. The company also actively enforces minimum advertised pricing and Internet sales in an effort to protect specialty retail.

According to SIA RetailTRAK™ data produced by the Leisure Trends Group, Mervin brands have the highest sell-through of major snowboard brands with very strong margins and enjoyed the most volume growth of any other snowboard brands on the market last season. Both Lib Tech and Gnu moved into the top five snowboard brands sold at retail last season with early season sales indicating that they will both keep their top five positions for the current season. The study also states that Mervin dominates price-points between $400 and $699 at retail.

Retailers can preview Mervin Mfg products from Lib Tech, Gnu, Roxy, Bent Metal and Freedom Dolly during SIA at the following booths: Lib Tech 1307, GNU 1507 and Lib Tech NAS 4235.

“Even without epic snow conditions, the groomers were endless and flawless.  Corduroy as far as you can see, and with all the new Mervin tech under our feet we were carving like nobody’s business.  The celeb sightings were awesome, and the whole scene was really energizing.  Thanks Zumiez for the invite, and for giving us all a good reason to celebrate!” ~ Barrett Christy

Seattle, WA January 5, 2012 – GNU re-evolutionizes snowboarding with the most technologically advanced snowboard ever, the new GNU Impossible Asym. Sym. Sync. Pickle, arriving in stores in September 2012. Balance through asymmetry is taken to the next level, with the Impossible’s new asymmetry for ducks, which is then combined with Mervin Mfg’s latest and greatest technological innovations. Customized core construction, sidecuts and contact angles are designed to allow the body and board to synchronize into perfect harmony through nearly “imperceptible perfection.”

In addition to Asym Sym Sync, elliptical EC2 camber/banana with Magne-tration underfoot creates a fun, all-mountain ride. Impossibly strong, ultra-lightweight magnesium fiber, rugged Bio Beans topsheet material, glow in the dark sidewalls, lightweight Columbian Gold eco wood core and a sintered base combine are brought together in the Gnu Impossible for the most technologically advanced snowboard being built today.

Asym Sym Sync is designed with the body’s asymmetry front to back, but symmetry side-to-side in mind. Snowboard turn mechanics are completely different on your toe side than on your heel side. The Duck Asym of the Asym Sym Sync balances the amount of board contact behind and in front of your feet for stable balanced pop and float.

On the heel side, a shorter contact length allows for turns and reactions with power that are taken at an inherently lower angle. A softer flexing core construction on the heel side allows the board to flex into a tighter arc at a lower angle. On the toe side, anatomically its possible to tip a board up into a very aggressive angle of attack. The Asym Sym Sync’s mellower toe side sidecuts and longer contact are designed to balance this asymmetry creating toe edge stability and a range of turning arcs that align perfectly with the heelside turns. A firmer flexing core on the toe side provides added stability and control necessary with finely tuned toe side turn mechanics.

TECH SPECS:

• Twin Asym Sym Sync. Freestyle
• Shape and Geometries
• EC2 BTX Eliptical Banana Camber combo
• Magne-traction
• Magnesium Fiber
• Asym Columbian Gold eco core
• Bio Beans Topsheet
• Glow in the dark sidewalls
• Sintered Base
• Flex 5.5-7 Depending on length
• Price: $799.95US, $849.95CDN
• In Stores: starting fall 2012

The NW Mervin crew went to host a demo at Mt. Bachelor and to check out the Dirksen Derby. I have to say: After 23 years of attending the Mt Baker LBS… the Dirksen Derby at Bachelor is an all time event that embodies what is special about our “anti” sport.

Well done Mr. Dirksen and all of the shred community in Bend. I’ll return every year

Highlights:

• Forrest Burke one footing the split race in a poncho.
• Terje Haakonsen showing up.
• Manifest and the spirit of ARob.
• Meeting Gerry.
• Blair, Matt Shredgers, JRob, Maria, Adam Haynes, Tucker Andrews, Scotty, Forrest Burke, Max and Gus Warbington all killing it on hand made Mervin boards.
• Knowing that snowboarding is in a good place

Thanks:
Josh Dirksen, Scotty Whitlake, Jake Price, Gerry Lopez, Becky Kinney, the Warbington’s, Tim Lawler and the demo crew, Tory Bland and all the shred community of Bend OR.

Visit Espn.com for rad video and story from the Dirksen Derby…

Visit Snowboarder for some cool photos from the Dirksen Derby…

Visit Yobeat for the full story from the Dirksen Derby…

Here is a little POVid from Lib Tech Skunk Ape Trevor Phillips, with special guests Forrest Burki, Kurt Jenson, Jason Robinson, Pat McCarthry and other random baker shreds.

Here are a few snapshots to give you an idea of how rad it was.
Photos by G Trevor Phillips

Lib Tech’s Downtown Throwdown made it’s first appearance in beautiful San Francisco. Nestled in between City Hall, the Library and the Asian Art Museum the event added snowboarding to the diverse culture of the region. And the riding was off the richter scale, new levels of insanity! Tricks were invented and small fortunes made, Dylan “Juggalito” Alito took the win with his axe wielding dominance. Thanks to all the sponsors: Lib Tech, Zumiez, Arnette, Mt Bachelor, Monster Engery, Vans, Go Pro, Sierra at Tahoe, Think Thank, Pow Gloves, SFO, diecutstickers.com, Skullcandy and Snowboarder Magazine.

The impressive rider list featuring past DTTD winners Ryan Paul and Nick Visconti provided a constant barrage of next level tricks for a full two hours. Any trick you could think of happened and the guest judging panel of Sean Genovese, LNP, Darrell Mathes, Johnny Lazz and Zac Marben had their work cut out for them. Jesse Burtner and Preston Strout kept everyone informed and entertained while the Snowboy Productions crew kept it all smooth.

Photos by Tim Zimmerman

When it was all over local Lib rider Stefan Krumm (who qualified at the Spokane stop of The Feeders!) definitely held his own and took home the Zumiez Destroyer award for his efforts. Scott Stevens took 5th place and keep the crowd cheering all day, Dylan Alito rode strong and took home 4th place and also scored the coveted Crab Grab “Seafood Dinner for Two” award. HD&HR and last year’s DTTD winner Ryan Paul took 3rd and $1000 for his efforts. Dylan Thompson grabbed $2500 for 2nd place with textbook tricks all day and kept the crowd stoked with a 50/50 front flip to 50/50 on the kink ledge but could not quite take down Brandon Hobush who took home the $5000 I.O.U. in his first DTTD.

All 5 of these riders who placed are signed up for the San Francisco Downtown Throwdown on Oct 29…who’s ready for the rematch?