How fun do nollie front flips look? I usually gaze from the chair lift simply wishing I had the guts to send it face first over the knuckle of a jump. Hopefully you have the courage to follow the latest I Ride Park City - Trick Tip from Snowboarder Magazine as Aaron Biittner instructs us on how to throw a proper nollie front flip. One tip? Don't go too fast or you'll fly-swat into the ground. Biittner's words, not ours.

Watch the video here.

Over 550 Crews from around the world participated in the first round of the Nike Chosen Crew Video Contest. There were many entertaining and progressive entries, but only 9 Crews have been selected for the highly competitive Round 2.

And this time, the fate of these 9 crews in your hands.

Who do you want to be Chosen?

Of the the nine international crews, which one deserves to shred in the Chosen Sessions in Austria? Is it the RockonSB crew out of Germany? Mystery District from the US? Or the TCB crew that hails from France?

Only the top three crews will be selected to join Nike pros for the ultimate Chosen experience in Montafon, Austria.

We've complied a list of the top 9 Crews and their current standings. See who is leading the charge and get over to Nike.com/Chosen to cast your votes. Voting is only open from 2/21- 3/05 so don't miss the chance to support your favorites.

American Crews:

Six Eleven Productions
Producer/Filmer: Mike Peterson Riders: Erik Van Assche, Oliver Bacharach, Joe Mango
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 4336 Likes, 868 Comments



Mystery District
Crew: Derek Weimer, AJ Ogden, Pat Miller, Philip Damianakes
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 1318 Likes, 93 Comments



This Must Be The Place
Riders: Jesse Gouveia, Blaze Kotsenburg, and Andrew Aldridge.
Film/Edit by Connor Brown
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 4027 Likes, 1131 Comments



International Crews

RockonSB
Riders: Wessel Van Lierop, Michi Miethig, Dani RajcsanyiâèProducer: Philipp Ramhofer
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 1553 Likes, 58 Comments

Minoia
Crew: Marco Donzelli, NicolÃò Pezzato, Alberto Nevola, Paolo Stenico
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 1265 Likes, 54 Comments

HR
Crew: Ibai Saenz, Borja Kle, Mikel Villanueva Soto
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 551 Likes, 13 Comments

Smallzinema
Crew: Matti Rautanen, Arttu Pulkkinen, Olli Pigg, Juho Luuk
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 302 Likes, 13 Comments

4 Mu$kapears
Crew: Bart Geerts, Vanden Boer David, Christophe Reynders, Bram Van den Broek
STYLE: Park, Urban
BUZZ: 180 Likes, 8 Comments

TCB
Crew: Olivier Thovex and Nicolas Gachet
STYLE: Park, Urban, Backcountry
BUZZ: 45 Likes, 7 Comments

Remember, voting ends on 3/05 so head to Nike.com/Chosen to cast for your favorite crews.

The new film project The Mad Ones explores the lives and antics that collate to produce snowboarding's distinct "freak" culture. The cinematographer, Liam Gallagher, just released his teaser for the web-based series, which will follow the sport's drifters and document their diverse walks of life.

What sets The Mad Ones apart from so many other web series is Liam's inspiration. Driving this project forward is the Beat Generation, specifically the writings of Jack Kerouac.

"I think of snowboarders as beatniks," says Gallagher of the project's roots. "We live it up, too. There are lots of parallels between us and them and that's what The Mad Ones is all about. Snowboarding is beat. Watch and you'll see."

By digging further into the daily lives of snowboarding's nomads, The Mad Ones embraces the personalities not always appearing in the mainstream spotlight.

The series will feature Forest Bailey, Forrest Burki, Patrick McCarthy, Shaun McKay, Wyatt Stasinos, Nick Russell, Scotty Wittlake, Bryan Fox, Austin Smith, Keegan Valaika, Mark Landvik, Blair Habenicht, Lucas Debari, Matt Edgers, Kael Martin and many more.

Why this particular group of shredders? According to Liam, "It's really just a homies project. I'm working with the crew that rides around Washington and all the friends that come and visit. I want it to be something riders can do in addition to filming for their full-parts."



"They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!'"

-Jack Kerouac, On The Road

It almost doesn't seem fair as these contests pass by us one by one. If Shaun White (the Flying Tomato that dons women's leopard print pants) doesn't show up, it's Louie Vito or Iouri Podladtchikov assuming the spot on top of the podium. If Kelly Clark isn't there, well, she'd probably still win. Just kidding. Spaniard Queralt Castellet and American Gretchen Bleiler are always hot on her heels, hungrier than ever to earn the win.

It's no secret that every one of these athletes is incredibly talented. But the same shredders seem to keep creeping up to the top everywhere they appear. Iouri (I-Pod), just claimed the prestigious title of World Champion at the first ever World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo, Norway in addition to scoring the silver medal at Winter X Games and the final stop of the Winter Dew Tour. And don't act surprised but which lady do you think claimed the win in every single one of those contest? Weird, Kelly Clark -- stomping 1080s every step of the way.

Now, I'm not sitting here claiming that the other riders don't push the top dogs to the impressive level they've attained. However, it's getting somewhat monotonous to see the same grinning faces on the podium at every contest. Shaun White is another story, since he picks and chooses which contests he will enter. Cough-- Winter X Games, Olympics-- cough.

The 2012 Burton European Open starts Saturday, February 25, marking the second-to-last stop of the Burton Global Open Series. And if I were a betting woman (usually only in Fantasy Football), I'd put my money on Clark and I-Pod.

Sure, Vito beat I-Pod for Winter Dew Tour champ this year. But keep in mind that they were separated by a miniscule two points. Iouri goes massive, has technical skill plus style, and is bringing new tricks to the game. As for Ms. Kelly Clark, well, she's won the past 15 halfpipe contests she's entered and no other girl is landing huge 1080s in the pipe. Enough said.

Stay tuned to Grind for recaps for the 2012 Burton European Open.

Photo courtesy of Eleonora Raggi

Beyond the well known resorts that sit just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah lies a hidden valley of tranquility reminiscent of a time long since past.

North of SLC is the historic city of Ogden, and just up the Ogden Canyon east of town lies Pineview Reservoir, a small, man-made body of water that is popular for not only ice fishing in the winter and various summer water sports, but for the small towns and mountain resorts that surround it.

Huntsville boasts the oldest saloon in Utah, The Shooting Star, built in 1865 as a trading post and converted into a bar in 1879. On the north side of the reservoir, the small community of Eden grew from one log cabin built in 1857 and got its name from a government surveyor who thought the area was one of the most beautiful sites he had ever surveyed and suggested the biblical name.

These antique places are the gateways to two lesser-known mountains in Utah that have all the snow of the Cottonwood Canyon resorts without any of the people. Snowbasin Resort and the even more secluded, Powder Mountain.

After having heard about the curiously named Powder Mountain for years, I've always wanted to visit. Finally I can attest that Powder Mountain certainly lives up to its namesake. With over 7,000 acres of "mind-blowing" powder, the resort is laid out like a powder hound's dream.

Instead of arriving at the bottom of a mountain and taking chairlifts to the top, at Powder Mountain you arrive essentially at the top of the resort and ride down to the lifts below.

Its widespread terrain is minimally groomed and features a varied mix of mellow glades, challenging tree runs, steeper, exposed alpine chutes and even a full snowboard park.

With so much to choose from, any level of rider is sure to find something that suits their needs.

Perhaps the best part about Powder Mountain is the Lighting Ridge snowcat service, which allows access to over 700 acres of "pristine powder snow" with a 2100' vertical drop. Instead of having to commit to an entire day of snowcat riding (and the expensive cost that usually goes with it), skiers and riders can opt for a single ride up the ridge for just $18.

It's a great option for riders looking to get some fresh turns in a pure, un-groomed backcountry setting. And the long run off the backside of the ridge that leads back to the resort makes for a worthy adventure.

Of course, the $18 fee is in addition to your regular full-priced daily lift ticket. But at only $60, it's still one of the more affordable options when it comes to resort riding.

While it may lack the modern trams, massive size and notoriety of the other Utah resorts, another thing Powder Mountain lacks are the crowds. Hit the resort up on a weekday and it will feel like your own private powder paradise.

For more information on lift tickets, snowcat tour options and directions to the resort, check out PowderMountain.com.

-Words and Photos Larry Nunez/ Vans Snow