Mountain Weekly News ~
JACKSON, WYO – Anytime the tribe can gather together in one place for an organic event and share our love for sliding on snow great things are sure to happen as was the case during the annual Jackson Hole PowWow which took place in early March at one of the greatest mountains on earth, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
It was like Christmas in March inside the PowWow tent
There’s tons of snowboard contest and events scattered across the globe each winter. Some have soul like the Mt. Baker Banked Slalom or the Ultra Natural at Baldface Lodge, while others are corporate sponsored events looking to make a quick buck on the sport of snowboarding. Something different and unique is happening at the Jackson Hole PowWow.
The JH PowWow is an fun event that brings together the snowboard tribe, manufacturers, retailers and media to test all the cool snowboards that are coming to the market for the following winter. Plus its a great opportunity to ride while catching up with friends and banging out laps at the resort or hiking out into the backcountry.
PowWow Snowboard Photos
Steve McGill 2015 JH PowWow Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Steve McGill 2015 JH PowWow Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Steve McGill 2015 JH PowWow Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Steve McGill 2015 JH PowWow Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Brent Fullerton 2015 PowWow Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Steve McGill 2015 JH PowWow Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Jackson Hole PowWow Day 2
Day 2 of the JH PowWow got off to a great start with a nice dusting of fresh snow over night. Throw in a little wind, local knowledge and those in the know were shredding powder for most of the day via Jackson Hole Mountain Resorts backcountry gates. Best 2″ powder day ever.
Steve McGill testing the Never Summer Swift Snowboard Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Brent Fullerton testing Gentemstick Mountain Racer in the Jackson Hole Backcountry Photo Mike Hardaker | Mountain Weekly News
Mike Hardaker testing the Lib Tech Greenest Snowboard Ever Made Photo Steve McGill | Mountain Weekly News
Jackson Hole PowWow Recap
Over 100 Mtn Warriors tested a plethora of snowboards over the course of three days with a focus on powder shapes and big mountain snowboards.
Along with the test a new PowWow Chief was picked to lead the tribe into the next year. Jackson local Mikey Franco, board designer, legendary mountain guide and all around nice guy was named the official Chief of the JH PowWow this year.. If you ever find yourself in Jackson Hole and looking for someone to show you around the mountains or are in need of a hand built custom shaped snowboard be sure to look up Franco Snowshapes.
Professional snowboarder Rob Kingwill founded the event in 2013 as a way to bring snowboarders together for a snowboard test while helping to grow snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
For years JHMR has been known as a skiers mountain dating back to the Jackson Hole Airforce days, old Teton Gravity Research videos, legendary big mountain skier Doug Coombs and the pioneers that made Jackson into an extreme ski paradise. In recent years the tide has been changed with a new crop of locals flocking to the mountain, this time on snowboards. Riders like Stephen Koch, Bryan Iguchi, Rob Kingwill, Travis Rice, Mark Carter, Alex Yoder and John Rodosky are all proud to call Jackson Hole home having spent years riding all the nooks and crannies at the resort and throughout the vast backcountry that encompasses the Bridger-Teton National Forrest.
Mike Hardaker testing the GNU Space Case
Over 23 snowboard manufactures joined the PowWow this year which is almost double the amount of brands that took part last season. There were upwards of 100 mountain warrior powder board testers, media and industry folks all eager to ride the latest and greatest powder board designs that will be coming out next season. Combined that with the fact that Jackson Hole Mountain Resort had received their second snowiest February on record people were hyped to make the trip out to Jackson for the PowWow.
.. can’t wait to do it again next year. Huge thanks to Rob Kingwill for the vision of bringing this all together!!
The post JH PowWow Snowboard Test appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Mike Hardaker.