Top snowboard blogs: Relentless Energy Drink's favourite snowboarding sites

The finest snowboarding blogs and websites known to man

With the snowboarding season on the horizon, we decided to highlight some of the best blogs and websites for those who live and breathe the pursuit, speaking to the people behind the pages. These are sites run by passionate, dedicated boarders with only the interest of promoting the scene they love at their core. We hope you enjoy what they have to say as much as we do. Click on the gold-coloured titles to check their sites out.

Gone Boarding (www.goneboarding.co.uk)

GONEboarding is a community-driven site that offers news, features, competitions, reviews and photos, and which is accessible to any level of snowboarder. The site was founded in May 2001 by Marcus Starnes as a part-time project. Having just started to snowboard in January of 2001, Marcus combined his newfound interest with his other hobby – software and web development. In July 2008, GONEboarding received external financial backing, and Marcus now acts as technical director, focusing on the future development of the site. It now boasts over 24,000 active members.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

"We're more than just a blog, we're a community – and the biggest snow community in England. We have our readers at the core of our content, and don't just shout about things for the sake of it. We do it because the content is what our readers want, and try to get to the heart of brands that try to make a difference in the snow world, because that’s our ethos, too. We interview the top guys in the industry to get a picture of the brands as a whole, and get the inside story on snowboarding contests. It helps our readers decide which brands to use, rather than just go on what they've seen in an ad or movie. On top of this, we’re run by snowboarders who have a passion for the mountains, and we love what we do. We find ourselves calling each other late into the night after we become excited about new story ideas – because it's snowboarding that keeps us motivated for life, and we want to share these stories and this excitement with anyone who visits our site."

Why should we come to you?

You should visit GONEboarding if you want up-to-date news and information. The members are a friendly bunch and will always make you feel welcome. As well as core interviews and reviews, we're a community site. We connect people who want to find new riding buddies or need advice on travel or equipment. And reviews not only come from us, but from our readers, too – people want to know if a board is good, and whether the new super tech makes a difference. The site is regularly updated with exclusive features and content rather than just internet virals, which means our content is unique and reader-focused.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

Pete: The Portes du Soleil and Champéry in particular. Massive area to explore, but with some hidden little gems. It’s like a home from home for me.

Kaz: For snow purposes, Japan was one of the most insane trips we’ve ever had. We were swimming through powder, literally. The continuous snowfall was unbelievable, and due to Japanese folklore, the locals don't visit the backcountry, meaning the perfect powder was like untouched icing sugar; the pistes were not only empty but also untouched. You can find vending machines on the slopes, medicine bottles with powerful energy shots inside, and the weirdest KitKat flavours known to man. It's what dreams are made of.

However, for lifestyle, Queenstown, New Zealand, rates highly. The community atmosphere is one we've not found anywhere else, and we were involved with some of the world's top riders in amongst some immense competitions. The snow might not always be the best, but we've never seen so many bluebird days, immense views, and had so much fun with so many great people. It's also pretty weird to come off the slopes to find ourselves drinking a few beers on the beach. You can find some amazing club fields along some immense drives – hire a super cheap campervan, throw in your boards, some mates and some NZ dubstep, and you'll have one of the best road-trips of your life, hands down!

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

Pete: No so much ‘look out for’ as he’s already arrived, but I expect Jamie Nicholls to become an even bigger name this season, and podium at some more higher profile events. I expect Rowan Coultas to start placing in some events as he matures. I hope he remembers who sold him his first board bag!

Kaz: There are some immense riders from all over the world who send shivers down our spines when it comes to the snow movies. But it's the home-grown talent who we love the most because they've come from dendix or snow-flex to compete against some of the world's top riders – and when we're standing at Battersea Power Station watching them compete on home turf, there's nothing better. We've got some great talent, and such a tight-knit community when it comes to the UK snow scene, because a lot of these kids have grown up together, travelled together and always ridden together.

BSA Snow (www.bsasnowboarding.com)

This slick portal was started by a passionate snowboarder and instructor, Adam Bowcutt, when he picked up an injury while snowboarding. All he could think and dream about was snowboarding, so instead of wallowing in his situation, he channelled his frustration and passion into something more constructive. The idea was for a ‘rehab clinic’ for addicted snowboarders like Adam.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

Our blog stands out because it's pure snowboarding from the heart and soul of this passionate lifestyle and action sport. We’re not affiliated with any large corporation. We keep the true spirit of snowboarding alive.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

My favourite place to shred is The Remarkables, Queenstown, New Zealand. You can go for fun park laps on your own. After the first fun lap you'll always find a friend to ride with. Smiles and progression happens here daily. Love it.

Why should we come to you?

You should come to us because we are addicted. You'll find random shred-related media shared socially.

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

The rider you should look out for is Keegan Valaika. He's already 'making it' in snowboarding. However, there's more to come from this freestyler.

Method Mag (www.methodmag.com)

Method claims to be the very first website to have offered snowboard news and content since way back in 1994 – a time when there were only a few thousand sites on the whole of the internet. Founder Calle Eriksson wanted to get the word out across this nascent medium about European snowboarding, and he used his computer know-how to make it happen.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

We keep it as real as possible. We show what we like and present it in language that we actually speak. We try to stay out of the ‘box’ at all times. We try to maintain the light-heartedness that should never leave snowboarding.

Why should we come to you?

Because we post it first and we post the most. Plus we actually create original features including interviews, articles, and video, which fewer and fewer media outlets can claim. They’re becoming simply cut-and-paste platforms for the most part.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

Mayrhofen, Livigno, Chamrousse, Laax, Andorra, Arlberg, Folgefonna..

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

The Capita Crew and the Random Bastards.

Snowboard Digital (www.snowboarddigital.com)

“Immersive storytelling in a digital age – the death of print doesn’t need to be the death of good shit” – That’s how founder and editor of Snowboard Digital, James Bryant, sums up his fine site to us. It’s an online space dedicated to promoting the very best of what is going on in snowboarding across the world, whose original concept came from a drive to produce content online that had the ‘wow’ factor of print magazines. They’ve done an excellent job of realising that concept, we think.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

The two main things we aim at are producing original content that makes the most of a multi-media experience and a ‘less is more’ approach. We only put stuff on the site if we think it is genuinely interesting. Plus we’ve got a soft spot for the artists, photographers, filmmakers and musicians out there, so tend to promote what they’re doing.

Why should we come to you?

The blog is still a young project, but visit us if you want to get hyped to go riding. Amazing photos, interviews with riders, photographers and filmers, as well as a few added extras.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

In the winter pretty much any trees with a foot or two of fresh will cut it. The best days are when it’s puking snow, freezing cold and you have the place to yourself. For the summer it’s got to be Folgefonna–- such amazing views and some solid jumps.

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

Tom ‘Smithy’ Smith, or Beckna – depends what you’re after!

Snowboard Review (www.snowboard-review.com)

A relative newcomer, Snowboard Review, was started in 2008 as an alternative to the many review sites whose dispassionate owners simply copied and pasted snowboard info from brand websites and regurgitated it with no value added. Where these lazy sites simply aimed to drive people through to their affiliate retailers, Snowboard Review wanted to offer unbiased opinions on snowboards, and aimed to broaden their consumers’ horizons by introducing them to smaller brands with tiny marketing budgets. The content comes first and money comes second, as they say.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

Well for one, we actually review a ton of boards instead of relying on our readership to generate the reviews themselves; if you don’t believe us you can watch our video reviews in glorious HD. Secondly, our testers might not be pros but we’re not complete muppets either, which unfortunately can’t be said about a lot of review sites out there. I also create a huge amount of unique content in written and video format, from visits to small independent snowboard manufacturers to product previews at ISPO. I never turn down an opportunity to meet new people and expose new products and that’s what keeps the site’s content fresh and what makes our featured content 100% unique.

Why should we come to you?

If you want an honest opinion on a new snowboard that you haven’t had a chance to test yourself, Snowboard Review has probably got your back. The site also has an active forum where users can ask the community anything about snowboard equipment and usually receive great advice that is never driven by a sales agenda.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

For the last year I’ve lived in a small farming town called Flachau located in Austria’s Ski Amade lift region. Next to Flachau is the resort of Flachauwinkl, which boasts the Absolut Park, one of the best snowboard parks in Europe. Flachauwinkl is also home to the only Burton Stash in Austria. The mountain is owned by one of the local families so there’s a great vibe. When the conditions are epic I usually ride Zauchensee, which has some of the best treeline riding on the planet. It has pillows, cliffs and 50-degree steeps, all accessible from the groomed pistes. This year I’m moving to Germany so I’ll be spending more time riding in the Bavarian Alps, but I’ll certainly be back to Flachau and Zauchensee to hit some secret spots, which I could tell you about… but then I’d have to kill you.

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

There are so many up-and-coming riders out there at the moment. I really feel for those riders who are talented but just not good enough to catch a break. I rate a young Austrian rider named Clemens Schattschneider; he’s got the craziest tweak in his double corks. Also keep an eye out for Carinthian shredder Marvin Salmina – this kid’s got smooth style.

The Moustachio (www.themustachio.com)

The Mustachio talks pure snowboarding and shares the things it loves. Nothing complex or obtuse; just solid, passionately served snowboarding content. What it shares is relevant to what most of the core snowboarding community relates to and wants to see, which explains why they have such a big following.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

That's hard. But as long as we have more visitors than editors it's a sign that people seem to like what we're doing. Find out for yourself.

Why should we come to you?

So we can pollute the world of snowboarding even more.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

For summer, it has to be one of the Indoordomes in the Netherlands. Small, iced slopes packed with tons of obstacles and a rope lift so you can do a million runs in an hour. But as soon as the winter arrives we go to for the Wiener Schnitzels in Austria.

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

I'd say Cees Wille and Kas Lemmens… these kids are on fire. Mothers, keep your daughters off the Helsinkian streets.

Snowstoked (www.snowstoked.com)

Snowstoked is a smart little rider-driven site and blog that highlights all the latest news and videos from around the world of snowboarding, aimed to get people excited, or ‘stoked’ on riding. It’s a no-fuss website with lots of great video content, and one that’s run by people who love the sports they feature in all their facets.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

To be honest, in my eyes there are a few snowboard blogs who are doing an excellent job. So it's not really easy to say what makes us stand out from other websites. After all, a bunch of websites post up the same content and thus you have to make sure you're either the one who has it first or you've great editorial and exclusive content. In my view, the latter is even more important these days. However, to get to the point: Snowstoked has a good mix between these two things, and therefore it's always worthy to click over.

Why should we come to you?

Because of what I've just mentioned, but above all because you're obviously snowstoked when you read this, and we make sure this doesn't change.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

If I gotta choose a European place, it's probably the Swiss resort, Laax. However, I'm convinced that it definitely would be Alaska, but sadly I haven't had the chance to shred there so far.

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

I think it depends which sort of snowboarder you wanna look out for. I mean, you've got the comp scene, you've got riders who are killing it in the backcountry and others ripping the streets. There are so many insanely talented kids out there these days, so it's hard to choose one name. However, if I gotta pick one, I'd say Alek Oestreng.

FBBB (www.forboardersbyboarders.com)

For Boarders By Boarders is a travelling, non-profit community and event host. Set up originally to benefit grassroots snowboarding but later evolving to incorporate other board sports, such as skate, and now surf, what started as simply an event has grown to become a well-loved brand. Unlike most other snowboard blogs, FBBB merges all the sub-cultures that relate to the ‘lifestyle’ – music, art, fashion and media. The team’s shared love of these various creative endeavours, as well as the interest in putting on events to help riders progress is what inspired these guys to do what they do.

What makes you stand out from other snowboard blogs?

First and foremost, we promote the UK communities – the people, brands and news within. As well as all the cool stuff we love around the rest of the world. We don’t just cover snowboarding, it’s also about the lifestyle and all the sub-cultures that relate to being a snowboarder; skating, surfing, music, art, fashion and media. We provide a platform for all the up-and-coming as well as established people and brands within those sub-cultures. Creating our own content as well as taking what we see as the most interesting and relevant from other sites and blogs. Unlike other sites that just show what they feel is the ‘best of the best’, we also believe it’s important to highlight all the immerging talents from grass-roots level.

Why should we come to you?

Because we are here to support the cause and we do what we do for the love of it. Inclusive rather than exclusive. One hand is to help ourselves and the other hand is to help others.

Where is your favourite place to snowboard?

Too many! The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead; Snowworld, Landgraaf, Holland; Mayrhofen, Austria; Sunset park, Andorra; Whistler, Canada; Northstar, Tahoe, USA; Folgefonna, Norway.

Which snowboarders should we look out for?

Gazza Andrews, Jamie Nicholls, Simon Cudlip, Lewis Sonvico, Andy Nudds, Billy Morgan.