Riding in fresh powder is a distinct experience. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of fluffy champagne pow skirting up into the air after a massive turn. It's fair to say that it's one of the best feelings in the world.

Many outside factors can contribute to a day filled with deep snow - sunny skies, zero wind, the people you're with, etc. However, it's always a plus to make these memorable days different from the next. This is where Jacob Sutton and his L.E.D. Surfer enter the picture.

This fashion photographer and filmmaker traded in his typical schedule and spent three nights filming in the mountains of Tignes, France with his L.E.D Surfer. For this, we thank him. This after hours shoot featured Artec pro rider William Hughes donning a L.E.D. enveloped suit while enjoying deep and steep powder under the night sky. His suit illuminates the untracked snow around him and provides an entirely new view of powder riding. Something snowboarders yearn for on the regular.

Although this surreal situation would be hard for the average snowboarder to pull off, it's still inspiring to see a different perspective of snowboarding that we otherwise would not.



Words from Nowness.com below:

Fashion photographer and filmmaker Jacob Sutton swaps the studio for the slopes of Tignes in the Rhone-Alpes region of south-eastern France, with a luminous after hours short starring Artec pro snowboarder William Hughes. The electrifying film sees Hughes light up the snow-covered French hills in a bespoke L.E.D.-enveloped suit courtesy of designer and electronics whizz John Spatcher. "I was really drawn to the idea of a lone character made of light surfing through darkness," says Sutton of his costume choice. "I've always been excited by unusual ways of lighting things, so it seemed like an exciting idea to make the subject of the film the only light source." Sutton, who has created work for the likes of Hermes, Burberry and The New York Times, spent three nights on a skidoo with his trusty Red Epic camera at temperatures of -25C to snap Hughes carving effortlessly through the deep snow, even enlisting his own father to help maintain the temperamental suit throughout the demanding shoot. "Filming in the suit was the most surreal thing I've done in 20 years of snowboarding," says Hughes of the charged salopettes. "Luckily there was plenty of vin rouge to keep me warm, and Jacob's enthusiasm kept everyone going through the cold nights."

Louie Vito has been on a tear as of late. He's been on the podium at almost every contest he's entered this year, and even took home his second Dew Cup at the Winter Dew Tour Championship in Utah last week. Vito is known for his smooth style and explosive spins both in the pipe and on the dance floor. But what else do people know about this "Tiny Dancer"?

Livin' Louie Vito is a web series that delves into the life of this multi-talented shredder. The second and third episodes just dropped, offering keen insight into the life of Louie.

Check it out.

Episode 2



Episode 3

The Frends Crew is back with another exciting episode of the The Frendly Times. This time Danny Davis starts things off with some backyard tree jibbing in Tahoe, California.

Meanwhile, Jack Mitrani's back in the office, getting down to business and making plans for The Frendly Gathering, their annual music festival that's happening in June. These riders' antics make this a hilarious episode all along the way.

Photo courtesy WSC

Oslo, Norway has been overrun with the top riders from all corners of the globe this week for the 2012 World Snowboarding Championships. This esteemed contest, held once every four years, is based on the premise that competition should be by and for snowboarders.

Quarter-finals for the men and women's halfpipe and slopestyle events have wrapped up. Below are the results of riders who scored high enough to move on to the semi-finals, set to run Thursday, February 16. See who made the cut:

Men's halfpipe semi-final riders
1. Christian Haller CH 82
2. Taku Hiraoka JP 81.6
3. Nathan Johnstone AU 79.8
4. Tore Holvik NO 78
5. Roger Kleivdal NO 76.7
6. Matt Ladley US 84.9
7. Ryo Aono JP 82
8. Scott James AU 77.9
9. Jack Mitrani US 77.1
10. Markus Malin FI 76.9
11. Peetu Piiroinen FI 76.2
12. Arthur Longo FR 74.3
13. Benji Farrow US 73.7
14. Ståle Sandbech NO 73.7
15. Luke Mitrani US 73.5
16. Ryo Aoki JP 73.4
17. Jan Scherrer CH 73.4
18. Fredrik Austbø NO 73

Men's slopestyle semi-final riders
1. Niklas Mattson SW 77.7
2. Aleksander Ostreng NO 72.7
3. Seppe Smits BE 66.7
4. Ryan Stassel US 66.4
5. Benji Farrow US 66.0
6. Sebastien Toutant CA 73.6
7. Roope Tonteri FI 70.2
8. Sage Kotsenburg US 67.4
9. Halldor Helgason IS 66.6
10. Chas Guldemond US 66.4
11. Nuutti Nimela FI 64.4
12. Sven Thorgren SE 64.1
13. Matts Kulisek CA 64
14. Ville Uotila FI 62.2
15. Tyler Flanagan US 61.9
16. Eric Beauchemin US 61.6
17. Ville Paumola FI 61.6
18. Ethan Morgan DE 61.5


Women's slopestyle semi-final riders
1. Enni Rukajarvi FI 64.2
2. Cheryl Maas NL 59.5
3. Charlotte Van Gils NL 54.4
4. Urska Pribosic SL 50
5. Jordie Karlinski US 48.2
6. Shelly Gottlieb NZ 68.1
7. Sina Candrian CH 54.7
8. Ty Walker US 54.2
9. Megan Ginter US 52.4
10. Breanna Stangeland CA 50.5
11. Isabel Derungs CH 49.7
12. Katarzyna Rusin PL 49.1
13. Kjersti Buaas NO 48.4
14. Diana Sadlowski PL 45
15. Sarka Pancochova CZ 45
16. Rebecca Torr NZ 44.2
17. Lisa Wiik NO 43
18. Dina Treland NO 42.8

Women's halfpipe semi-final riders
1. Gretchen Bleiler US 82.1
2. Mercedes Nicoll CA 75.2
3. Cilka Sadar SI 74.9
4. Ursina Haller CH 70.4
5. Elena Hight US 69.8
6. Rebecca Sinclair NZ 86.2
7. Soko Yamaoka JP 82.3
8. Kelly Marren US 75.1
9. Miralbelle Thovex FR 64.9
10. Kjersti Buaas NO 61.6
11. Ella Suitiala FI 64.0
12. Jamie Anderson US 61.3
13. Nadja Purtschert SU 59.8
14. Serena Shaw US 57.1
15. Brooke Shaw US 56.4
16. Elena Alekhina RU 50.7
17. Jennifer Cohen US 43.6
18. Julia Baumgartner AU 40.7

The Oakley Progression Sessions will soon invade Copper Mountain, CO, March 3-4, marking the second stop of the 2012 season. Known for prime park set ups and their excellent grooming, the ladies registered for this particular camp are going to experience some of the best conditions for park riding seen thus far. The pro riders who will be coaching the girls at this location are English slopestyle star Jenny Jones and top freeskier Kristi Leskinen.

Stocked with 126 trails, 22 lifts, and 2,465 acres of skiable terrain, Copper is an ideal place to spend time progressing while also experiencing some of the best shredding that Colorado has to offer. On top of the four different terrain parks and pristine 22' superpipe, this resort has another claim to fame: Woodward at Copper. Also known as 'The Barn', this indoor snowboard and ski training facility is full of foam pits, drop-ins, trampolines, spring boards, and tons of foam mats for additional acrobatic practice. The Copper Oakley Progression Sessions will offer a drop-in session at The Barn for those arriving first on Friday, March 2 to experience the 'One Hit Wonder' session.

Indoor training and perfect mountain riding only 75 miles outside of Denver seems too good to be true. It'd be crazy for any girl to pass up this chance to shred and be coached by some of the best pros out there. Need more proof that this is the place to be? Since 1972, March has typically been the snowiest month of the year at Copper. Yep, they just threw a chance of fresh powder in the mix.

To register for the Copper Progression Sessions head here now!