Events

Group photo - Extremecarving Session 2009

SWOARD snowboards organizes its SWOARD TEST DAYS every winter since 2004: the ExtremeCarving Session (ECS). The ride technique developed by the Swoard team is especially adapted to the width and other specificities of the SWOARD Extremecarver, the snowboard that inspired extremecarving. That's why some demos and free lessons are given during the meeting by the Swoard team and several selected instructors.

The level of most participants has incredibly risen since the first session, which had been organized at the request of the community over Internet. This event has become very popular with more than 220 snowboarders (from 15-20 countries) who want to push their limits still further.

The meeting takes place in the typical and small village of Zinal (Switzerland), the home of Swoard. At the altitude of 2900 m the panorama is just amazing. The participants can carve laid turns on the dream slopes that are shown in the Swoard movies, with the best specialists of the extremecarving discipline. A black slope, perfectly groomed, is reserved for us every morning.

During the three days of the event, the snowboarders are sharing their passion, experiences and tips. Many friendships appear or get stronger. The stands on the snow, the bars, the Saturday dinner and other activities are contributing to the excellent atmosphere around this unforgettable experience.

> Extremecarving Session 2010 :   Jan 30th - Feb 1st, 2010 > Zinal, Switzerland

More than 30 demo boards will be made available for anyone who would like to test the SWOARD Extremecarver. It is also the opportunity to find the board that is best suited to your size / weight / shoes-size. Remember to bring your favorite bindings and hard boots as this equipment will not be supplied. A few demo boards of the new model SWOARD Dual will be available too.

You will be filmed and photographed! On Saturday evening: big dinner for everyone and screening of the day filming in the main hall of the village. Monday Feb 1st is a day not to be missed as there will be no large crowds on the slopes.

> Reports of the six previous sessions: see below.

> Detailed program, info and registration: Swoard ECS 2010 (PDF document)

> What is new in 2010?

• The number of participants is limited to 250 persons. This is the maximum possible for this small resort, the hotels and the main hall. It's also important to keep the safety on the slopes and the quality of the event.
• Additionally to the blue and red packages, there will be a "yellow ticket" for the few people who are staying in the resort for more than 3 days. It will give them access to the Saturday dinner (with distribution of goodies), the activities and the stands.
• Important: all packages and yellow tickets must be purchased BEFORE the meeting.

Previous events

> Extremecarving Session 2009 :   Jan 31st - Feb 2nd, 2009 > Zinal, Switzerland

With 220 participants, it has been the biggest meeting so far! This is almost the maximum possible for the small resort and the main hall. Though the size of the village is a disadvantage, we believe that it is contributing to the particular atmosphere of this event.
Should we mention that the snow conditions were perfect? Hard packed snow and no ice!

Useful links:
- reports, pictures and videos (here, here and here) of the participants (Forum)
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos, and here too
- movie which was screened on Saturday night - sequences of the first day (duration: 16min34):
  downloading MP4 version (ZIP file 152MB)

> Extremecarving Session 2008 :    Feb 23rd to 25th, 2008   > Zinal, Switzerland

The Swoard event has made another step with the help of many volunteers. More activities, a big stand with tents and tables, two dinners all together, a tombola, videos and other surprises... Well, it was probably the best session till now! The about 200 participants have appreciated the slopes, the ambiance and the beautiful weather during the 3 days (again!), with a spring temperature on Monday.

Useful links:
- reports, pictures and videos (here and here) of the participants (Forum)
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos, and here too
- movie of the event: Saturday and Sunday filming

Group photo - Extremecarving Session 2008

> Extremecarving Session 2007 :    Feb 3rd to 5th, 2007   > Zinal, Switzerland

About 170 participants from 20 countries have come for, again, 3 sunny days! We got excellent snow conditions for carving and extremecarving: probably the best in the last 4 sessions. A black slope was reserved in the morning for the participants only! Great moments and excellent spirit.

Useful links:
- reports, pictures and videos (here and here) of the participants (Forum)
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos
- movie of the event (duration: 18min39): downloading AVI version (ZIP file 150MB)
  or streaming from YouTube (in 3 parts)

Group photo - Extremecarving Session 2007

> Extremecarving Session 2006 :    Feb 11th to 13th, 2006   > Zinal, Switzerland

As for the 2 preceding sessions, we got 3 sunny days! But the lack of snow (never seen for 40 years!) pushed us to Grimentz (8 minutes away) where the conditions were much better.
More than 150 persons have come for 1, 2, or 3 days, or even more!
The dinner on Saturday evening, with so many people, was amazing.
Moreover we got many girls this year!

Useful links:
- reports, pictures and videos of the participants (Forum)
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos
- movie of the event: streaming from DailyMotion (duration: 17min21) or
  downloading AVI version (78.8 MB) (right click the link and save on your hard disk)

Group photo - Extremecarving Session 2006

> Extremecarving Session 2005 :    Jan 28th to 30th, 2005   > Zinal, Switzerland

The snow has come right in time before the meeting and made us forget a bad winter start!
More than 130 carvers over 3 days which were cold despite the sun! Laid turns everywhere...
The participants level at extremecarving has risen compared to the preceding year!
This shows the importance of such type of events for our growing community.

Useful links:
- many feedbacks of the participants (Forum)
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos

Group photo - Extremecarving Session 2005

> Extremecarving Session 2004 :   Jan 31st - Feb 2nd, 2004 > Zinal, Switzerland

This first extremecarving meeting in the world was great! About 60 participants joined us to lay down turns in Zinal, Switzerland (region of Valais), in a nice and friendly atmosphere.
Weather and snow were perfect during the 3 days.

Useful links:
- enthusiastic feedbacks of the participants (Forum)
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos
- small movie of the event (right click the link and save on your hard disk):
  Windows Media Player version (.wmv 13.9MB) or Quicktime 6 version (.mov 15.8MB)

Group photo - Extremecarving Session 2004

Other events

> Summit Expression Session 2010 :   Feb 6th-12th, 2010 > Aspen, Colorado

BOMBER is organizing one of two carving events on the North America: Colorado.

Detailed info: www.bomberonline.com/ses/

> Summit Expression Session 2004 :   Feb 21st-27th, 2004 > Aspen, Colorado

We have been in Aspen from Feb 19th to 23rd as participants to the event, SWOARD representatives and sponsors.

Like during the other events of the season, the SWOARD boards were appreciated a lot!
Some carvers, who owned already these boards, even came to meet us.
We spent unforgettable moments in an excellent atmosphere.

Useful links:
- info and past events: www.bomberonline.com/ses/content/past_events.cfm
- pictures shot during the event: Gallery, on the page Photos

> Carving session :    Dec 5th to 7th, 2003   > Lech, Austria

The Pureboarding team is organizing every year a carving session in Lech, Austria.
For this occasion, a dedicated slope is prepared for carvers only.

Unfortunately the event has been CANCELED because of the lack of snow in Lech.

The full SWOARD team should have been there with demo boards ready to be tested!

Info about the next Carving sessions: www.carving-session.com

> Mondial du Snowboard :    Oct 25th to 27th, 2003   > Les Deux-Alpes, France

This event gathers many brands of the snowboard industry... at 3500m on the Deux-Alpes glacier in France. The full SWOARD team was there on Oct 26th and 27th to demo the boards, assist testers and meet EC Forum members!