Keeping the SOL family informed since the beginning of time

NO, WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN
Another year has past and instead of getting caught up in sappy New Year's resolutions, we here at SOL are committed to continuing with plans to rule on the online snowboarding world. This month we'll be bringing you a little more live coverage than usual as Editor Lee Crane is out on the road with ESPN. But that's not all.

Associate Editor Shanti Sosienski and Photographer Jimmy Clarke are hanging live on the first leg of the SOL Cyber Tour through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Keep an eye on Live-Remote for regular updates from the road.

We'll also be live at the SIA On Snow Demo in Salt Lake City, Utah checking out all the new boards for 1998. We'll be flowing the super sneak peeks at some of next year's hottest rides. Meanwhile, back at the shack:

AMERICAN SNOWBOARD TOUR VISITS KIRKWOOD
If you haven't been following the AST Tour, it just wrapped up the Kirkwood stop. Nelsen Jensen and Lisa Kosglow won the GS; Todd Richards and Athena won the pipe; and Dan Adams and Margarite Cossettini took the BoarderCross honors. But we've got more than than including photos from the events.

THE SNOW IS FALLING
The snow has been good (everywhere but Tahoe)! For those of you receiving Storm Mail, we hope you've been enjoying the daily or weekly information from your favorite resorts. We know we're pretty stoked on it as we plan trips and prepare to head out into the cold. If you haven't checked it out yet our real-time weather report, do so.

AVALANCHE DANGER
Two snowboarders have already died in avalanches this season. Please be careful, wear your tranceiver, and be sure to check out our backcountry articles in Outer Limits.

GIRL GOSPEL
Also new on SOL in 1997, WIG magazine's Kathleen Gasperini begins a new column called The Girl's Gospel. This bi-monthly update will feature news, gossip, interesting tid bits of info like how to buy boots, and other random writings from Kathleen and friends. If you have anything you would like to contribute to The Girl's Gospel, email Kathleen at: [email protected].

ART OR SPORT?
In other new SOL stuff, we have an update from displaced New York City Journalist Susanna Howe. She spent an afternoon with snowboarder/artist Shandow Birk and plumbed the depths of art and snowboarding and where the two intersect.

BURTON RIDER DIES
Canadian Burton Rider Vince Jorgenson died early this month after impaling himself on a pole in his front yard at his home near Whistler. Apparently, he was playing around on a kicker he and friends had built when he took a spill and landed on the pole. He died within about ten minutes from a collapsed lung and pierced heart. "He was a really nice kid," said former Burton assisstant team manager Nancy Carlson. "Very mild-mannered. He was stoked to be living in B.C. He had recently moved there from Ontario."

CHAT SCHEDULE
With snowboarders on the road now, it's becoming more difficult to get guaranteed guested in the chatroom, however, we're doing what we can to keep things on the up and up. This week the chat schedule will be filled with hosts from 3-9pm Pacific Standard Time. Check the chat screen for the most recent updates.

Well, that's it for this Groove. Now turn off your computer and go snowboarding!