A few weeks ago someone called Bergerler posted this on the Yobeat site…

“From ads to interviews the values of snowboarders equate fun with smoking weed, drinking beer, and dropping out of school. I know this isn't true for most snowboaders out there, but then why is it so rare to read about snowboarders who are using their snowboarding in a positive way, or combining education and snowboarding? In most ads, you see white males wearing chains next to girls in binkinis.

Show me something different. Show me snowboarders who are living the dream and making a positive impact in their community instead of perpetuating the wrongful stereotypes about snowboarding.”

As self-proclaimed experts in snowboarding stereotypes we decided that Bergerler’s cry for help was a call to action. So this week we decided to find Bergerler some snowboarders who are fighting his stereotypes and making a positive impact on our sport...

This was Darren’s career plan…

1.       Master the most dangerous element of snowboarding

2.       Set a world record that won’t been beaten for over 10 years

3.       Sit back and let the fame start and the money roll in

Unfortunately for Darren, things didn’t quite work out according to plan. He managed to do the hard work and achieve points 1 & 2, however point 3 has been a significantly more evasive. In 1999 he became the fastest man to ever strap on a snowboard, but over ten years later pretty much no one has ever heard of the guy. Here’s the reason why…

Before we start the story of Mr Koch’s quest to snowboard down the seven highest summits on each of the seven continents, it’s worth pointing out that Stephen Koch has a funny name. Throughout his life Koch constantly and deliberately mispronounces his own name so that Koch rhymes with ‘crotch’, however Koch is a German name and if you actually say it correctly its pronounced ‘cock’.

It’s also worth pointing out that the story of the seven summits snowboarding quest has a bit of a strange reoccurring theme. So without further ado let’s take a looks at the story of Koch, Dick, Bonar and Tackle...

In the lead up to the impending Vancouver Winter Olympics it looked like one of the big snowboarding stories was going to be the first appearance by a Bahamian snowboarder - Korath Wright.

Snowboarding first appeared in the Nagano Olympics in 1998 and in just three games it’s already notched up more than its fair share of controversy. This article takes a look at the alternative Olympic heroes - they didn’t all win in the old-fashioned gold-medal sense, but they all left their mark on snowboard history. Here’s hoping the guys at next month’s Vancouver Olympics can live up to the legacy of these Accidental Heroes. 

Before snowboarding had even made it’s first appearance, the controversy had started…

The Accidental Hero column is dedicated to snowboarders who brought something to snowboarding but for whatever reason did not become a household name. This week we take a look at Banana George, a man who didn't quite make it to snowboarding superstardom because he was a bit of a late starter. 

Accidental Hero No. 2 – Kyle Suske

If last week’s exposé on the world of snowboarding birthday cakes was just a bit too lightweight for you this week should be right up your street. This week we look at the most heinous of all snow obstacles – Moguls of Death!

The Accidental Hero column is dedicated to snowboarders who brought something to snowboarding but for whatever reason did not become a household name. In this edition we take and Kyle Suske, snowboarding’s mogul martyr...