Monday Mix - April 20, 2020

The start of another week means another Monday Mix! While there's some suggestion that things are getting better around the world in regards to the coronavirus pandemic, we know things are still tense and still challenging for everyone. However, snowboarding has long been a refuge from the problems of the world, and hopefully we can offer a bit of distraction once again with this week's Mix.

We'll start things off this week with Swiss halfpipe star Pat Burgener, who raised an interesting question with one of his Instagram posts this week: if there's already FIS grass skiing, why not grass boarding? It wouldn't have to be just gates though...throw a little slush snakeline at the top, maybe do a little earthwork for a couple of jumps in the middle, finish off with a pond skim or something? Might be hard to regulate on a World Cup level, but Pat sure does make the idea look fun...

Nik Mattsson (SWE) is clearly down for the challenge...

But if worst comes to worst you could just follow the lead of this past season's alpine overall crystal globe winner Roland Fischnaller (ITA) and find the nearest set of stairs. Wonder what Roland's board tech was thinking when he watched this clip...😬

Of course, most riders around the world are spending their time at home with no shred stick in sight, trying to keep entertained or working out. Or, in the case of the inimitable Anna Gasser (AUT), doing both those things at the same time. We recommend you have a bit of background in gymnastics like Ms. Gasser before attempting this one...

That being said, if you can find yourself a trampoline board and a little PVC piping you could follow 2019/20 slopestyle crystal globe winner Katie Ormerod's (GBR) lead and work on your rail game in the safety and sun of your own backyard - no slope required...

Or just straight up turn your backyard into gym like SBX crystal globe winner Michela Moioli's done back home in Italy...

And now, on to some news.

Lots of folks in and around the SB World Cup family have started up mini podcasts on Instagram Live in the past few weeks, and there's some good stuff to look forward to in the next few days, with SBX Life set to speak with Spanish standout Lucas Equibar, alpine athlete Alexander Payer (AUT) fresh off an interview yesterday with Russia's Elizaveta Salikova and with another as-yet unannounced guest coming up this Sunday, and Canadian slopestyle young gun Liam Brearly going live with pro wakeboarder Gunther Oka at 16:00 EST today.

With these examples (and there's others out there, too, so hunt 'em down!) we're seeing some pretty amazing opportunities to get know athletes around the world better in a much more personal way - definitely a bit of a silver lining during these troubled times.

The Swiss squad have already announced their team for the 2020/21 season, with the likes of the previously-mentioned Utah 2019 halfpipe bronze medallist Pat Burgener, Utah 2019 PSL world champion Julie Zogg, and slopestyle/big air maniac Nicolas Huber leading the way. Find the full list HERE.

We've collected all 10 of our 2019/20 season #topmoments in one convenient location for you on the website, and you can check that out HERE.

Canada NextGen coach Mike Stastook is featured in a couple Snowboard Canada magazine pieces this week, an in-depth interview in the print mag and an online look into the social media accounts keeping him entertained in his lockdown time.

However, it looks like Mike's been spending a good chunk of his time very much off the couch, instead ripping this super fun-looking backyard miniramp set-up...

And, finally, Aussie SBX ripper Belle Brockhoff has a bit of a cheeky how-to for making your own protective facemask from materials easily found around the house. Just be careful which pair of shorts you put on the next time you do, in fact, decide to go outside...

As always, we like to finish things off with some actual snowboarding here at the Mix, an we've got a couple good ones for you this week. First up are the highlights of Evy Poppe's winning run from the Laussane 2020 Youth Olympic Games...

And next a little raw footy from Emil Zulian dropping a couple bangers in the Dolomites from mid-season...

A one-hitter of pure bliss with the one-and-only Scotty James (AUS)...

And, finally, just an insanely fun "Sunday in the Park" edit from Snowboarder Mag. Trigger warning though: this clip is going to make you want to get out there and rip spring park laps with your friends to an almost painful level...

Ok, that'll be it for this weekend. Sending all our best to the shred community around the world. Stay strong, stay sane, stay safe and stay tuned to our channels for some more interesting stuff coming up in the couple weeks, including a way-back look-back at some legendary competitions from the decade between 2005/06 and 2015/16, which will be coming up later on this week!

❤️