IF THE IDEA OF SURFING THROUGH BLOWING SNOW AND SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES in Alaska sounds just a mite too burly for you, consider Scott Jones’ day last week, when a rip tied off Kodiak took him for a ride he couldn’t resist…to a remote headland where he was unable to paddle out from, because gale force winds made getting in the water or even walking back to the beach where he’d started impossible. Instead, he relied on instinct and the buddy system. He’d been surfing with a friend who saw Jones taken by the rip and figured he might call for help. So Jones sought the shelter of a cave and waited for the phap-phap of rotors. When the rescue litter was lowered 250 feet Jones didn’t hesitate: “That didn’t faze me,” he said. “I snowboard. I’m used to being in high places. Via Alaska Dispatch

SHAUN WHITE CAN SHRED…AND HE CAN DECORATE? That’s the upshot of White’s newest collection at Target, a line of bedding, lighting, and home accessories inspired by skating, snowboarding, travel, music and art. In this interview with the New York Times he explains that, even though he’s just 25, he’s owned three homes and has learned a lot. He admits that a house he bought when he was 20 was overwhelming, with too many rooms to furnish, a separate pool house, and it sat on three acres. Does this make him qualified to furnish your home? Apparently Target thinks so. Via NYT

RAPHA MAKES ITS STUFF IN CHINA, AND THEY’RE NOT AFRAID TO SAY SO. While we’ve heard that turn a lot of people off, wondering why it isn’t made in England, where the high-end cycling brand is based, they go right at that question in this blog post about why that’s untenable, and why what you might end up with would be far inferior to what you get from China. They drill down on labor quality and labor quality of life as well, and explain that KTC, their Chinese manufacturing partner, was founded by a pair of Austrians in the 1970s, and that since, KTC has worked for brands as mass as Adidas and as elite as Bogner. It’s an interesting read for anyone who wonders why things are no longer made in the West. Via Rapha

WILL A NEW JERSEY SKIING HELMET LAW PLAY IN COLORADO? New Jersey’s law holds parents, not ski resorts liable if a minor skis/boards lidless. Yes, by the way, New Jersey does have downhill skiing, and even if it’s hardly Jackson Hole, because its few ski hills are close to metro New York, by volume we’re talking tens of thousands of young skiers. The larger question is whether other states with more skiing opportunities will follow suit. California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill in September that would have required helmets for anyone under the age of 18 who is skiing or snowboarding. Brown, in his veto message, stated, “While I appreciate the value of wearing a ski helmet, I am concerned about the continuing and seemingly inexorable transfer of authority from parents to the state.” Via NJ Herald