In February this year, Whitelines joined forces with the Route One snowboard team (Will Radula-Scott, Cody Hierons, Si Belson and Rowan Biddiscombe) on a street rail mission to Russia. Yep Russia, the land of crumbling communist architecture, crazily cold conditions and the conspicuous consumption of vodka.

We travelled more than 1,000 kilometres by train hitting up three cities (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Perm) two of which had never been visited by a Western snowboard crew before.

Before we set off, the idea sounded big, bold and more than a little bit scary. But as we found out, the Russians are not only the friendliest people you could ever hope to meet, but also have some of the sickest street spots anywhere in the world.

This three part series documenting the trip (expertly edited by Rowan Biddiscombe) will be dropping in October 2013. And you’ll be able to read the full story – rails, bails, warts and all – in the November 2013 issue of Whitelines.