Interlude Introduction

Founded by Chase Burch, Interlude, like many similar events exists for people to test products from multiple brands all in one place. However, unlike many other dealer demo’s you’ll find at your local ski resort, Interlude put a focus on creating memorable connections and experiences within the snowboarding industry.

Interlude broke down the barrier between local shop buyers, brand engineers, pro riders and us, the snowboard media as ultimately we are all interested in exactly the same thing – will the equipment on our feet make snowboarding feel extra special?

To immediately address the jaded amongst you asking “How does a bunch of industry big-wigs having fun in Utah benefit me or snowboarding?”

Well a short gondola ride with Justin Clark (Product Engineer for K2) and Nils Mindnich (Pro Snowboarder and Product Designer for Salomon) provided the answer.

It’d be easy to assume their roles place them on opposite sides of the trenches in the snowboarding world, but no, they spent much of the lift talking about engineering, boards they’d enjoyed and approaches to their respective roles.

A real human connection between two friends and passionate snowboarders, that will ultimately lead to better products for both brands and, as a result, the consumer and the sport in general. 

Interlude Day 1

Day 1 saw us squad up for some laps with Chase – Interludes founder, and photographer Ian Matteson. Each of us equipped with a different Korua board in hand for some carving and freeride laps to test out their strengths and weaknesses.

Warmed up, and having secured our bearings at Snowbasin resort, we spent the rest of the day lapping the event site testing products from Deeluxe, Vans, Nitro and Nidecker. 

In the evening, at The Monarch event centre, Interlude’s commitment to community became quickly apparent with a team dinner served to everyone on a single long table, forcing us all to break bread and shoot the shit before heading upstairs and checking out the brand exhibits, discuss products we had tested and line up what we wanted to take a look at on day 2. 

Day 1 was rounded off with a live art exhibit by Lucas Beaufort doodling on products donated by every brand in attendance.

Interlude Day 2

Day 2 was graced with a dumping of fresh snow, which worked out well as we had a handful of freeride and powder boards on the cards to test from Nidecker, K2, Salomon, Public and Ride in the morning. 

This was closely followed by an afternoon of park laps before Airblaster’s SKOLF made its illustrious return. 

For those wondering what Skolf is, just hit play on the vid below and enjoy the madness in all its glory:

Effectively a game of Snowboard golf, the game started in the Snowbasin terrain park before heading to a pop-up DIY spot in the middle of the Interlude event site. 

Featuring two Honey Bucket Portaloos, confirmed to be functional and filled with the forbidden blueberry juice (as discovered by Max Warbington flipping one over) and a steep in-run the finals got SENDY with some fun, creative snowboarding that encapsulates Airblasters vibe perfectly.

SKOLF Podiums were:

MENS:

1 – Bode Merril

2 – Windham Miller

3 – Max Warbington

WOMENS:

1 – Madison Blakely

2 – Ruby Peyton

3 – Scouty Martin

And with that, Day 2 and Interlude in general was done.

We retired back to The Monarch for one last dinner and to say our goodbyes.

Gear Sneak Peaks

It’s what you’re really here for aye? Scroll down to peep some of next year’s snowboarding gear.

Wrap up

Interlude left us with sore legs and even sorer heads. It goes without saying that testing snowboarding gear is our bread and butter. But being able to do so in a community environment that so perfectly represented the snowboard world in the way we all want it to be was rad and we are already looking forward to next year.