It had been a while since we all got together and went on a trip. Surely, we were in Europe to do some business—but at the same time, we aimed to reintroduce people to Signal in a way. With team riders Yuki Kadono and Mikey Gray in tow, Dave Lee, Marc Wierenga, and I loosely steered the ship between Austria and Italy for just over a week.
Our first stop was the 1st Try Snowboard Test, Europe’s largest on-snow snowboard demo, hosted at Hochfügen in Zillertal, Austria. Every day began with setting up the booth, drinking too much espresso, and hanging out with friends, both new and old. The test, overall, was more of a laid-back, very snowboard-feeling experience. Testers had great feedback on our 25/26 line, as we’ve put the focus on 8 models. The conditions at the mountain ranged between firm groomers and powder off-trail. Many smiling faces returned to the booth with a Ludo in hand. The Yuki Pro was also extremely popular. We continued to eat, drink, and be merry for the duration of the 3 days.
Our next stop was Madonna di Campiglio in the Dolomites, Italy—a gorgeous resort with amazing views and world-renowned terrain parks. We also sponsor the Youth Program at the Garden Snowboard Camp there, which was hands down one of the best experiences of the trip. These kids are STOKED, and it emanates to anyone around them. There was a strong visceral feeling that, “The kids are alright,” played massively in part due to the loose and fun coaching style. Cheers to The Garden crew! As you may have seen in a previous post, Yuki took 1st at the Mountain Mash slopestyle while we were there. Yes, he still has that dog in him. Another awesome 3 days in a new favorite place.
Our last stop was Cervinia, and on our way from Madonna, we spent some time at Minoia Board Co. in Brescia. Marco (owner/distributor) played a crucial role in navigating our tour. The distributors and shops are our family. We shared many great meals and conversations about snowboarding and Signal’s growing presence in Europe.
Once we landed in Cervinia, we were able to get a couple of rooms at the hotel, which was only accessible by tram—and it was snowing, hard. Giorgio “Iannino” Morell joined the crew for the remainder. It was the perfect storm and way to end our trip. The morning provided dense fog, which lifted, giving way to a glorious bluebird powder day. Open fields of powder, literally everywhere. Espresso—nonstop. Yuki isn’t leaving.
Full Video - April 15th