Brand Spakin New.

Lots of exciting things happening down here at enclave. We've been receiving new stuff daily! We even have some super limited Oakley Frogskins in our store. Artist, Andrew Petterson hand painted 50 pairs of Oakley Frogskins and they are available with premium Oakley accounts (aka enclave!). Each Frogskin is a one of a kind, and we have 2 pairs in our store. So make sure you come and check them out. Not only are they fun sunglasses but it'd be like collecting a piece of art.
Now onto the next! We received some new Analog, Matix and Mishka in. The Mishka stuff is so fresh! New tee's, hats. beanies and a crew neck hoodie. There more then what I've posted in the pictures so make sure you come down and check it all out.
Also, 2009 Burton and Forum snowboards have arrived! Since snow is falling daily up north, it'd be well worth it to come down here and get yourself a kit before you are left behind because you weren't prepared.

Snow.

Snow has fallen! Nothing monumental but still, some mountains are receiving dusting's on the daily and up north it has been cold enough to blow snow! It's starting to get colder down here and I've checked the CT mountain websites and it's too far away for them to predict opening days. So stay tuned for updates on Mohawk Mountain and Mount Southington.
However, Mount Snow in VT has a lil' jib park set up. You have to hike it and battle with 50+ other shred heads for a box or rail but it's worth it. They have about 2 inches just around the features. Epic.
Stowe has announced their opening day to be November 22nd
Killington, VT: November 14
Bromley, VT: Nov 28

Sugarbush, Stratton and Sunday River in Maine haven't announced any days yet! But I hope they will soon. As long as it's cold enough to make snow and the mountains are receiving snow almost every night it shouldn't be too long of a wait! Northern Vermont received their first winter storm warning this week. Winter's almost here! Make sure you have your board, boots and bindings all lined up. Come down to enclave and check out what we keep getting in! Do the snow dance!

SALE SALE SALE SALE

Walk, run, skate, roller blade, crawl, bike, fly, drive or what have you to get down to enclave. Everything in the store is 20% off until Monday, October 27th at 9pm (except classic tall and classic short Uggs). That means all '09 snowboard gear is 20% off, skate decks, trucks, wheels, outerwear, 1st layer, winter jackets, socks, gloves, shoes, luggage, bags.... EVERYTHING.
So come on down to 23 Broadway and check it out. You won't find a deal like this anywhere else on '09 gear!

Burton's Boston Premiere

Burton's 'it's Always Snowing Somewhere' premiered this last Saturday at Jillians in Boston. It was packed. You could bowl with the pros, get their autographs, play free pool, win in the raffle or fight with some other fan to get some of the free tee's and stickers they were throwing into the crowd. They had the Corona rep going around handing out free coronas if yours was looking a little low, two VIP rooms both equipped with pool tables, music, DJ's and bars. It was wild. All 3 levels of Jillians were packed, there was a 2 hour line just to get in! The night started off with the Burton movie (which by the way is AWESOME), autographs from the pros and bowling for the under 21 crowd. As soon as it was done, the party began with DJs and free pool and bowling. I don't think Jillians knew how hard the Burton crowd partied but thanks to the staff for putting up with us anyways. All in all it was a great turnout. Here are some pictures...
Autograph Signing:

The actual movie premiere:

The Crazy Line!!:

Having fun with stickers (we put them everywhere):

Ben & Katie from enclave with pro riders Heikki Sorsa and Mikey Rencz and randoms:

People fighting over a free Burton Corona board then ro-sham-bo-ing for it:



Crowd in one of the VIP rooms:

The Great Pumpkin

Well, this is it. The perfect fall weather is upon us as we speak and it's not going to get any better than this. In fact, in just a few weeks it will be absolutely f-f-f-freezing! So we say get out there and do things you don't need 15 layers or a snow suit to do..... like pumpkin picking! It's so simple yet so enjoyable. Some friends of mine and I make a yearly trip to Jones Tree Farm in Shelton, CT where they have everything from hayrides to corn mazes as well as homemade apple cider and of course you can pick your very own pumpkin. Afterwards you get to go home and carve it into something like this:

Ch-Ch-Check the Fresh!

Ohmygosh! Internet world, it is time to meet in person. Come on down to enclave and see everything we just got in! It basically felt like we were re-opening the shop (we weren't, but go with it) when we set up all the new gear. We have so much! Snowboards from Forum and Burton, long boards from Sector 9, boots, bindings, the freshest outerwear from Special Blend, Analog and Burton, luggage for men and women from Burton, first layers, new hoodies and tees, new backpacks, new women's and men's Nikes, Gravis shoes, beanies, gloves... It's unreal how much we got in, but its all out on display for your enjoyment. Need a new kit? Let us help you out with one and I guarantee you'll be stoked for winter. And if that doesn't get you stoked, talk to me for about 10 minutes and I'll change that feeling.
AND (yes, there is more), tonight is COLLEGE NIGHT! Which means, bring your current student ID with you to enclave and receive 20% off everything in the store. Sorry ladies, it does not include Uggs but don't be sad, there's so much else to choose from I doubt you'll even think twice!
Here are some pictures to spark that interest and get your bum down to enclave. Hope to see you tonight!

Ladies Kicks & outerwear:

View from Women's to the Men's/Front of Store:

CoLLege Night.

All that studying, hard work, partying, late library nights, lugging those books around, deadlines, group projects, cramped dorm rooms, etc, etc, etc will make this night worth it. On Friday, October 17th from 6-10pm is College Night in New Haven's Broadway district. And guess what, enclave is part of this exciting night! And what's even MORE exciting is snowboards, hardgoods and softgoods will have landed in the store by then.
All YOU have to do is show your current student ID for big savings. enclave is offering 20% off with ID (does not include Uggs) and you can save anywhere from 10% to 50% with our surrounding stores. So come on down, buy some sick stuff and make that dorm room a little more cramped!

Check out www.broadwaydistrict.net for more info! See you Friday!

Libertine Drunk Boot

Everyone is trying to get involved in the snowboarding industry, including big sporting good companies. I found this article on Rome Snowboards website and it got me thinking... Now, we don't carry Rome SDS products but the entire idea behind the boot collaboration was brilliant. The 'Libertine Drunk' is basically making fun of a big mainstream athletic brand that is attempting another run at snowboarding products.

Rome's website had this to say:

"Should we really accept them as a snowboard or skate company just because they can spend a ton of cash on some of the best, most iconic riders? Does the ability to cut a big check magically turn a pair of figure skates into a pair of snowboard boots?

Should snowboarders lie down and accept it when the mainstream tries to reduce snowboarding to just some other generic form of “athleticism”?

If you think the same logo that’s on that nut-hugger swim suit, golf ball, tennis skirt, jump rope, baseball bat and Rollerblade might as well be on your next pair of snowboard boots, what will snowboarding look like in five or ten years? Will it be influenced in a way that’s true to our history?

Does any of this matter?Does snowboarding even matter?That’s up to you.

The Libertine Drunk, a collab between the Rome SDS and Consolidated Skateboards, is a limited edition get-together of two brands who think sporting goods companies aren’t snowboard or skate companies."



Wow. Let us know what you think!

Boo!!

To go along with the Halloween spirit that is all over town, we're going to fill you in on some haunted places around New Haven that aren't set up like the haunted houses or hay-rides!

This place isn't necessarily haunted but it holds the grave stones of some of New Haven's founders. The Center Church was built over this colonial cemetery with construction beginning in 1812 and finishing in 1814. Beneath the church contains 137 identified people and over 1,000 unidentified remains. Among them, city founder Theophilus Eaton; Benedict Arnold's first wife, Margaret Arnold; James Pierpont, one of the founders of Yale College; and the grandparents of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.

Now on the spookier side... Midnight Mary's grave (at Cemetery Blvd and Congress Ave) is inscripted as, "And they shall pass away at midnight." It is said that if you are standing on her grave site at midnight you will see her or have some sort of ghostly encounter then the next day the individual will pass away. Spooky!

Also, the Union Trust building is said to have many, many hauntings. Including children's laughter, images of skulls appearing in the basement,voices, faces appearing and disappearing, banging on the walls and ceilings... On the corner of Elm and Church, the building was completed in 1928. An old man called 'Old Man Scott' lived on the 12th floor in the penthouse. It is said that he died due to alcohol abuse and it was many days till he was found. According to this spooky website http://www.geocities.com/epacel/The_Haunted_Skyscraper.html, two carpenters in the 80's were working on the 12th floor and Old Man Scott was hovering over one in a threatening manner. The other carpenter saw this and quit the next day.

Have you ever had any ghostly encounters?! Many of the old buildings are said to be occupied by ghosts. That you'll see them in the mirrors or floating down the halls late at night. True? I don't know, you tell us! You can also check out this website for more haunted spots in Connecticut! http://theshadowlands.net/places/connecticut.htm

It's Always Snowing Somewhere

Ohh movie premiere season. I love it. It makes me crave snow, want to ditch my job and become a snowboard bum, get free gear and become a professional moocher. Good for you if you can do all of the above and stay afloat! Anyways. Burton's It's Always Snowing Somewhere has announced it's tour dates and the eleven North American cities it'll stop and premiere at this month. And in typical Burton style, there will be a crazy after party to follow.

The premiere will features footage from Shaun White, Terje Haakonsen, Natasza Zurek, Gigi Rüf, JP Solberg, Heikki Sorsa, Nicolas Müller, Tadashi Fuse, Frederik Kalbermatten, Jeremy Jones, Jussi Oksanen, DCP, Mads Jonsson, Trevor Andrew, Keegan Valaika, Kevin Pearce, Danny Davis, Kazuhiro Kokubo, Mikkel Bang, Mikey Rencz and Peetu Piiroinen.
Go to www.burton.com to get more info. And hopefully we'll see you in Boston on the 18th!

Put your Stunna shades on.

In addition to the Anon shades we already have in the store... we've added Oakley's for both men and women. Plenty of styles to choose from, some polarized, some not. There's a separate case in the back for the women's shades.
Men's Oakley's range anywhere from $100.00 to $160.00. Some styles we are carrying are the Inmate, Felon, Gas can, Oil Rig, Conduct, Eye patch... You can even get the one's T-Pain is constantly rocking.
We have plenty of styles for women too. Including Ravishing and Ravishing Polarized ($175.00), Eternal ($129.99), Belong, Betray ($215.00), Breathless... They're hot. And the bands on them are cool too and not too loud for those not looking to stand out, just to look good.
And of COURSE, we have Frogskins. Just like the ones Trevor Andrews is constantly wearing. So come down, try some on, check 'em out... I know you'll like them!

Burton's Fall Bash 2oo8

Every year Jake Carpenter (aka Jake Burton) and his family throw a "Fall Bash" at their house in Stowe, Vermont for all Burton employees, family friends, riders and select people within the industry. It is mayhem to put it simply. The bash starts around noon for family fun which includes field games, lunch, face painters for the kids (and adults if you choose to do so), snacks, an inflatable bouncy thing, etc. They have everything you could imagine! Pool tables, indoor soccer, a barn with a stage, basketball court, a mini ramp, an indoor hallway to skate through to get from the house to the barn, trampoline with snowboards to strap on to try out tricks... it's amazing especially with the beautiful views Stowe has to offer.
(enclave reppin...yes we told Yale he had the stickers on his back after a lil bit:)




Anyways. After the family day winds down, dinner is served and the Shed Mountain Ale starts to flow...heavily. Most of the families start to leave cause the adults know what craziness comes out of the Fall Bash! After dinner the crowd generally moves down to the barn area which is mostly outside and has the stage, port-o-lets and Shed Ale bar. People start to get rowdy, your rubbing elbows with the riders you wish you could ride like on the DVDs, hang out with Jake in the kitchen, see old friends and make new ones. The whole experience is so awesome and I've been blessed enough to go for the past 3 years. This year Mickey Avalon played with Trevor Andrews aka Trouble opening, last year was Shiny Toy guns and prior to that they've had Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Presidents of the United States, etc...
At the end of the night, everyone stumbles up the hill to the field of cars... it's dark my friends. Finding your car is a challenge and finding your sober driver is even more of a challenge. Then everyone rolls into Burlington for last call downtown... if they can get in! This is just a basic overview. Come down into the shop for the real details that the Internet world shouldn't know about!

Trevor Andrews & Mickey Avalon:

Support Local!

Hello Internet world. I was poking around on some websites, checking out all of the new '08-'09 gear and realized just how many on-line shops there are out there AND how many shops carry every single brand. I could locate a shop that had the board I was looking at just about anywhere in the United States. OR the on-line shop would ship it to me, and also give me advice on eight other items I should buy because it'll make my kit that much more awesome.
Well, what if I don't want a computer telling me what else I need in my kit. Why do I need that extra scarf steeze? Will that honestly improve my riding? Why do I need that Burton tee shirt? Buying your kit for the season should be a personal experience and one that fits exactly to your riding style. How is a computer going to offer me purple and pink snow pants to go with my black men's jacket I was going to buy?

Local shops (aka enclave) are what breathe life into the sport of snowboarding and skating. The people that work in the local shops have developed such a passion for the sport and want to share it with the customers. When you come in for your 1st board, I want to help you find one that will fit to what you want to do, what you like to ride and also give you options on what bindings and boots will work best to give you the ultimate ride. A computer can show you the options but can't explain to you why this will work best for you.

Or you can walk into one of the giant mall stores that sell shred materials and come over over-whelmed and with a kit that doesn't suit you. Cause half the time those kids don't know or don't care. I don't think myself or any of the kids I ride with would be where they were without the support of local shops to help get us into the contests, give us free samples or product, help us with tips on tricks...

Basically this whole rant has one theme, support local. We're here cause we love the sport! And want you to love it too! That's why enclave picked up the best of the best for the upcoming winter.

10 Commandments of Park Riding.

If everyone followed these rules, park life would be a lot easier. Especially during holiday season when the park is over crowded and full of people learning, lurking and joeys mobbing down the hill and everyone seems to be cutting you off or pissing you off. Let me know what you think of these:

1. Do not lie in the landing of jumps when no one can see you.
Seriously! Unless you are seriously injured, no one finds it funny when you are rolling around, over-exaggerating your bruised bum. Get up and out of the way otherwise you might end up with an injury worse then a bruised body part.

2. Call out your drop ins.
and speaking of...

3. Snaking your fellow snowboarders on a jump is not okay.
It's just lame.

4. Don't teach your kids (or friends) how to ride for the first time on a park run.
Yes, sometimes the park runs are long and generally mellow (minus all of the features) but the mountain also provides you with green trails for this exact reason. Then you complain about the punk snowboarders and our potty mouths, well, don't bring the little ones around the park area. Some people will not respect the little ones.

5. Use your common sense.
You would think this wouldn't be a commandment but surprisingly, people don't use it.

6. Heckling needs to be kept under control.
Remember when you were learning rails and jumps? Falling is a part of the learning process so don't give the rider who is busting his butt trying to learn a new trick or slide a rail for the first time. It just makes you look like a loser with a loudmouth.

7. Respect gets respect.
If you are being a jerk in the lift line and cutting people off left and right you are going to get whats coming to ya. Karma, my friends.

8. Be aware of your surroundings.
While waiting for a jump, a skier snaked in front of me, doing his side to side swish deal and then slows down and pauses at the base of the jump! Then turns and looks up the hill as if to watch the snowboarders tear up the park. Well, buddy, I can't tear up the park if you are chillin' at the base of my jump. Pay attention for your safety and others.

9. Scope out your features
Nothing will ruin your day like flying off of a kicker and not knowing what lies on the other side. Have a point person go first to check out the landing, etc and give you the thumbs up. Landing on a little kid or unsuspecting skier having his lunch on the landing of the jump would not end your day well.

10. The park is not a pick-up-a-boy place.
Go ahead and compliment the cute boy who just stomped a trick, ride with the fellas, hoot and holler but don't go into that orange fence just to bat your eye-lashes and do some sweet carving in between features, trying to get noticed by the guys.

Kingvale Terrain Park:

Attn: Jibbers, Jumpers, Freestylers

Are you ready to get your jib on? Yeeeeeeeah I bet! This year, Killington will host Burton's all-natural terrain park aka 'The Stash." All natural you ask? Yes. The park was designed by Jake Burton, Burton team riders and snow Park Technologies. The first Stash was built at Northstar at Tahoe in California which also features a one of a kind cabin dedicated to rider, Craig Kelly. Riders can jump off of, ride on the roof of or just go inside and chill.

The Stash is a place where a rider can progress their all-mountain skills in a natural environment that involve tree runs, rainbow log jibs, boxes and jumps that are all constructed with wood logs, trees, etc. It is meant to combine the epic-ness of all mountain riding with the fun of park riding. About 12 acres of land will be dedicated to the Stash at Killington, where it will house 34 features.

The Stash is scheduled to open December 19, 2008. So if you haven't already shredded the one in Tahoe because it is way too far away then I suggest you add Killington to your list of things to do this winter! I was lucky enough to live in Tahoe last winter and was able to shred the Stash every day. Powder days were even fun in the Stash! It is an experience you haven't ever had before and once you do, you'll understand why the Stash is such a great idea to add to the world of shredding.

Check out www.thestash.com for pictures and info of the existing stash and stay tuned because the Killington Stash is going to kill it. Yeah East Coast!

Clear Snowboards.

Since my early days of snowboarding, i've been agonized by the fact that my snowboard wasn't clear. Since all of my boards have been solid, I haven't been able to see the snow I'm standing on to see if its different from the snow over there. I mean, during all of the group shots my board was in my way to block the ever popular peace sign that we all would throw up, or when I'm riding the lift and I see a skiier flying down the hill and bite it right as we go over them on the lift and my board blocks my view. Now with this clear snowboard, the photograph will show my ever-cool peace sign, I'll be able to see the skier bite it hard, when I'm sliding that box people will think I'm that talented that i can slide that box without a board, and fall without a board too!

So, this company based out of Tahoe decided to solve this dilemma with a clear snowboard. It is made out of Bayer Makrolon, also used in things as fighter jet canopies and bullet-proof windows. So, just in case there is a shootout on the mountain, you can use your board as a shield. The entire board is made out of this material and you can sharpen your edges if you like just like you would a 'normal' snowboard.

I have no idea how this board rides, considering I've never ridden one. But I hope this blog was insightful and for all of those plagued by the idea of a solid snowboard, this is your ticket to happiness. Check out their website at www.makboard.com for all of the details. They have pictures of riders and videos of the board moving down the hill, so they must be doing something correctly. (I hope some of you found this interesting and maybe were as weirded out as i was by this!) If any of you ride this, please fill me in on the details!