7 Times POWDER Proved It Was More Than a Ski Magazine

POWDER, as its identify implies, is about snowboarding, therefore the catchphrase: The Skier’s Journal. That distinction was much less concrete and extra nominal prior to now, although. The diversions from snowboarding vary from engrossing (an journey by way of slot canyons stands out) to downright foolish (one article makes use of the nice sport of hacky sack for intercourse jokes). Both means, they’re very a lot part of POWDER’s historical past and a reminder that attempting to write down a few seasonal sport like snowboarding year-round is a novel problem. Typically, giving up and hitting the racquetball court docket makes extra sense.This piece is a part of POWDER’s Summer time of Ski Nostalgia content material sequence. Keep tuned in day by day for extra nostalgic articles, and maintain an eye fixed out for the upcoming Summer time of Ski Nostalgia badge to establish future content material.You may also view all of POWDER’s summer season nostalgia content material right here.Wish to sustain with the perfect tales and photographs in snowboarding? Subscribe to the brand new Powder To The Folks publication for weekly updates.

1. A Skier’s Information to Whiskey

Snowboarding and booze have loved a protracted, raucous historical past collectively. Simply take a look at the mountain vernacular. The phrase “après” is about as frequent as every other you may encounter on the slopes. And for some vacationing skiers, the rationale behind visiting the mountains has little to do with snowboarding—the consuming and partying come first. It’s becoming, then, that within the 12 months 1979, POWDER devoted a whole article to the several types of whiskey. This fashion, if you happen to had been going to be a heathen after a day at Vail or Solar Valley, a minimum of you’d know what to order on the bar. Learn it right here.

2. Racquet Racquet

By my depend, there’s one paragraph that mentions snowboarding on this article. The remainder of the considerably prolonged article is devoted to a sport that was gaining traction: racquetball. In it, we find out how the sport is performed and that a number of discontented racquetball athletes hoped to create a brand new tour that may contain Playboy bunnies (keep in mind: this was the Eighties we’re speaking about). The tentative POWDER connection is revealed in the direction of the article’s finish when the writer, John Day, reveals that racquetball is “a wonderful conditioner for snowboarding.” Maybe trendy skiers ought to take observe and hit the courts. Learn it right here.

3. Sandstone Rushes

Sandstone Rushes, just like the earlier exploration of racquetball, isn’t an article about snowboarding. Nonetheless, in tone and topic, it feels at dwelling within the pages of POWDER. Bob Jamieson takes the reader on a journey by way of the slender slot canyons discovered within the desert. It’s wordy, poetic, and, in some methods, about nothing in any respect. However fastidiously noticed journeys within the open air—even when they don’t contain snowboarding or attention-grabbing, emotional tales—might be transportive. This text was and nonetheless is. Learn it right here.

Associated: 10 Retro ’70s Ski Advertisements From POWDER That Are Pure Gold

4. Getaway!

In case you’re on the lookout for moments the place POWDER ditched snowboarding, this 1978 difficulty is a goldmine. It covers bike racing, skydiving, and rafting—to call just a few of the non-snowsports actions lined. These sports activities didn’t really feel totally misplaced—you can argue that POWDER was simply having a go at being a common open air publication—however one multi-page unfold was a bit confounding. It included little writing. The main target, as an alternative, was the photographs, which documented ladies sporting fashionable outfits as they frolicked on a sailboat. The part might’ve been ripped from a J. Crew catalog. It’s made much more unusual by the truth that, above it, there’s a narrative about intense mountaineering in Alaska. POWDER, on the time, might do each, apparently. Learn it right here.

5. Taking part in Round

“‘Good snowboarding is best than intercourse!’ a blonde and tanned maniac buddy of mine boasts. I’ve already skied what little there’s left of my brains out. The current object of my lust is the Hacky Sack.” So begins a tall POWDER story about an unlikely exercise, hacky sack, which, as you may’ve guessed, serves as a foil for extra intercourse jokes than you may depend. Some, like hack, land. Others are eye-roll worthy and a bit sexist. I’ll always remember the primary time I learn this putting assortment of sentences in what professed to be the Skier’s Journal, although: “I acknowledge one of many guys, Jamie. I present them my sack. ‘You guys need to hack off collectively?’ They readily agree. We 5 manly males kind a circle and start circle-hacking away.” Learn it right here.

Associated: These 10 Traditional ’80s POWDER Ski Advertisements Have Loads of Aptitude

6. 35 Miles

Downhill snowboarding isn’t precisely a cardio sport. However ski touring is, and mountain fanatics have lengthy been identified for testing their endurance, whether or not there’s or isn’t snow on the bottom. Such is that this story from 1980, which chronicles a 35-mile foot race in Utah from Park Metropolis to Brighton to Alta and again. It may be much less scintillating than cliff drops and backflips, however any ultramarathon runner will let you know trudging for miles on finish is a profound expertise. It’s simply you and the grime on the market. 35 Miles, as this text is aptly titled, mines that fertile floor. “The explanation we do it, so far as I am involved, is to seek out out just a few issues about ourselves that you would be able to’t discover out every other means than to place your self on the road bodily,” mentioned one of many interviewees. Learn it right here.

7. Sunburn

Sunburns and snowboarding—spring snowboarding particularly—are greater than tangentially associated. The excessive altitude rays and the sprawling, reflective floor of the snow can flip unprepared skiers right into a crisp. This text opens with that connection, however earlier than lengthy, it’s simply speaking about sunscreen and sunburns. Given the modern reputation of skincare routines, the piece feels oddly prescient. Extra regressive had been the sunscreen manufacturers listed. The best SPF you’ll discover? Fifteen. We have now come a great distance, in spite of everything. Learn it right here.

Associated: The Evolution of Skis: A Brief Historical past

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