We were a bit desperate when the snow had completely disappeared in the finish area on the Monday before the event. The heavy rain killed all the snow.
But like in a fairy tale, it snowed 60cm of fresh on Friday, sunshine and perfect conditions on the event morning. Just in time for the award ceremony, it started snowing again.
Highlights were the visit of Tom Burt, snowboard legend from USA and the auction where Kiwi raised the price of a Boerteun handmade board to a casual €500. This amount was handed over to Titus by Skate-aid.org.
Harry Putz from the Freeride Filmfestival was responsible for the evening program. What we got to see from Gigi Rüf and Tom Burt was world class.
Then it was about time for Mortal Combat and UCee to rock the house, until the morning hours.
Paul was the happiest person in the world, because after three years of absence due to covid regulations over 400 peoples came to the LBC. Kiwi flew in from Biarritz to be the moderator. The airline lost his baggage, so Paul rented him underwear, socks and snowboard gear. The 800 T-Shirts that were stored in the Hotel Post for 3 years were sold out immediately. The weather gods surprised us with 40cm purest powder. Therefore the original track was closed, so we had to do powder turns on the slopes. On Sunday we had an untouched Albona with blue sky. World-class weekend!
At the beginning of 2021 we drew hope with the worldwide vaccination program. But the Covid restrictions did not allow another LBC. Border crossing into Austria was not allowed, so we celebrated in the Ski Resort of “Hoch Ybrig”, because Swiss ski resorts were all open this season. T-Shirts still unboxed at Hotel Post.
Everything was organized, everything was ready. But then came Corona. Three weeks bevor the LBC: Austria shut down on Saturday, 13th March, Arlberg area under quarantine, all lifts closed. 800 T-Shirts boxed in the basement of the Hotel Post. Lots of riders celebrated “their” LBC at home!
What a great 20 anniversary edition. 30cm of fresh the day bevor, 16 degrees and pure sunshine. Stuben at its best. With 560 riders probably the biggest snowsurfing happening in the history of snowboarding. An endless line of riders down the Albona. UCee came with his band and rocked the tent supported by A NEW DAY, followed by Mortal Combat Crew. Paul calls himself now: I’m a Stubner! We have proofed that snowboarding is not dead! Long live snowboarding!
With 150cm base and 390cm on the Albona peak we probably had the best snow conditions ever. 470 riders enjoyed the sunny day. Hawaiian Sandy brought 2 friends, Ishi flew in direct from Tokyo. Muck is a great entertainer and Peter Dresen asked his ex-wife to marry him again. The tent floor did NOT collapse at the party and Mortal Combat featuring Ucee are the best DJ’s on the northern hemi square.
The LBC went legal (18 years old). Jeff Brushie and his family came over to Austria for an LBC visit. The Snowboard Museum showed his board, he was very nice signing all boards and pictures.
World traveler Sandy from Hawaii went riding with us and Bernie got another soul award for being such a special person. Rudi from the tourism office retired.
New artist Nicolas Gremaud from France joined forces and did his first design. Awesome. More to come.
Sandy came over direct from Hawaii to meet the crowd. We had some awesome rides together the days before the event.
Jim Magnusson played a slope concert for the starting racers, Hendrix couldn’t be better. Artist Nic Ripz did his last LBC T-Shirt. Thanks Nic for the 17 years of support.
A dream came true: Our friend and one of the fathers of snowboarding flow over from California: CHUCK BARFOOT. We had a great week and Chuck was overwhelmed by the respect of the LBC crowd. Chuck is such a nice person. Without him we would not know what a twin-tip would be.
Another surprise was the visit of Mike Jacoby. He heard about the event, booked a ticket and come to ride and party. Great spirit, great legend.
Love to ride – was written on the T-Shirt and 431 riders did it on a great day with blue sky and powder. Ride together and just having a good time.
Important to mention: Ishi is flying over from Japan every year just to attend the LBC. Awesome. A true LBC legend of snowboarding.
Blue bird and powder, lot of legends and awesome friends – another good day to celebrate the spirit of snowboarding.
The sad story was that Tom Sims died on September 12. He wanted to bring his wife Hillary over the next year and spend some days with the bros. Rest in peace!
On late Friday afternoon the whole mountain came down in a huge avalange. The weather was too hot so we had to start between the middle station restaurant and event tent, raced down the slopes and runed the last meters trough the Red Bull arc.
Super summer party moods, hardcore graffiti art and a wild party at night (as ever).
The woodstock of snowboarding – on a perfect spring day. After 2 days of rehearsal in Pauls band room the „LBC Allstar Band“ was born. Shawn Farmer (vocals), Terry Kidwell (guitar), Bob Klein (drums), Paul Gruber (guitar), Klaus Fröis (bass) featuring Mike Chantry (camera). The song of the day was AC/DC’s TNT renamed into LBC…. Farmer at its best! Right after the talented local band „Darby & John“ rocked the place.
Check out the list of legends attending. The Italy mafia connection (Legend Dino bonelli and his friends) brought the fashion award back to Italy.
10 year anniversary – blue sky – lots of snow and legends from all over the world.
Terry Kidwell (USA), Shawn Farmer (USA), Bob Klein (USA) rocked the stage with their band aka „Hunk of Metal“ supported by MUHA and Paul… the beginning of the WOODSTOCK OF SNOWBOARDING.
We had all-time legends like Mike Chantry (USA), Mike Basich (USA), Ishi Ishihara (Japan), Jose Fernandes (Switzerland) as guest, and all the big european names like Titus Dittmann, Reto Lamm, sport photography legends Richard Walch and Xandi Kreuzeder and so on. Thank you all for keeping the spirit of snowboarding alive.
We first expected to stop our work after 10 years, but look at the crowds eyes. Impossible. So we promissed at least another 5.
LBC classic weather: cloudy and lots of fresh snow. Awesome 424 riders came to celebrate the spirit of snowboarding. Together with legends like Serge Dupraz, Jose Fernandes, Ishi and many more.
Jim Magnusson got the award for „rockstar on the mountain“ and „one arm bandit“ Bernie Duenas got lots of respect for his albona run (he got stuck in the fog half way down).
Kiwi hosted the start in a t-shirt and green gras around the event tent in Stuben city. Temperatures up to 21° in the afternoon brought a beach feeling to Stuben.
Check out the pictures. By example the Lagoon Session of Joe Waibel and his friends. Probably something, that Stuben only sees every 200 years. Finish line was at the middle station, then the riders had to walk !!! down to the event tent. Snow was gone for weeks. We heard people saying this was the coolest event ever.
Finally a blue sky and powder event. We got some fresh pow over night and the sun came up early in the morning followed by spring temperature.
We had the pleasure to ride with Japan Legend Kinya Nakagawa, gave out LBC shirts in different colors and throwed out stuff from our friends from ALPRAUSCH. Thanks Andy for the ride.
The 2005 event was very cloudy, windy and hard packed. But 434 riders from all over the world did not care and came to rock the Albona and meet some friends.
The yellow LBC shirt and the „Neon Award“ brought brightness into the event tent. Even the Blues Brothers were on site.
The year of the penguin and the first year we started the category „LBC Old School“.
It was fun to see that riders not only came for the race. They came to meet friends, ride old stuff and wear neon … and penguin dresses. The LBC became the biggest snowboard event on the planet (by number of riders).
Perfect conditions, great photos, a video shooting and 342 friends… What a happy day riding with friends.
The film crew Elbpiraten from Hamburg, driven by Thomas Eibenberger and his friends produced a high class event movie and a booklet we sent to all the participants (incl. a DVD).
Remember: it was the year 2003 … this was amazing!
Sadly, on January 20th our friend Craig Kelly died in an avalanche in Revelstoke, Canada.
At the second edition we had a very foggy day and it snowed almost 1 m over night. But 181 riders found their way to Stuben and were riding with friends. Cause of high avalanche danger we started at the Mittelstion and spent most of the day in the restaurant.
It was the first time we gave out a legendary LBC T-Shirts… that year sponsored by rad air snowboards. The design was made by Nic „Ripz“ Newton. His creative hand was responsable for the next 15 years on t-shirt and trophies. Thank you Nic.
And yes: we still have very small image resolution.
One year after the first idea, developed at Jackys restaurant Middle Station, 124 riders from all over the world gathered in Stuben powder heaven to tribute the roots of snowboarding. It was the very first LeMans Start in the Arlberg Aera and the beginning of a yearly highlight in the Arlberg event agenda. The price giving was held at Jackys Restaurant. We did not have a T-Shirt that year.
Red Bull and Alprausch believed in the idea and started supporting the LBC. MAHALO!
Our goals for the LBC were (and still are):
– no price money
– meet your friends from all over the world
– keep the spirit of snowboarding alive
– tribute to the LBC legends
by the way we are sorry for the bad photo quality… but: it was the year 2000!
