Action Sports
March Mayhem
Last Saturday night, I went to March Mayhem at the Muay Thai Institute and Fitness Center in Sugarhouse. I believe it was called March Mayhem because another sporting organization already has dibs on March Madness, and March Mess-Your-Face-Up wouldn’t fit on the flyer. Either way, local, amateur kickboxing does make for great entertainment on a Saturday night. … read more
Radical Reels World Tour @ Kingsbury Hall
The fast-paced and action-packed extension of the Banff Mountain Film Festival flew through SLC to close out February. Playing to a sold out crowd at the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall, Radical Reels showcased a variety of movies aimed at the heart of the adrenaline junkie. The Outdoor Recreation Program at the U has brought the film festival here for many years and is responsible for keeping the stoke levels at an all time high. Here are a few films that struck a chord. … read more
Beautiful Godzilla: Home Sweet Home
Every winter, but especially after a particularly wet one like this year, I promise myself it’ll be my last in Salt Lake. I really love this city––I just can’t handle pedaling or driving through all this extremity-numbing precipitation. What inevitably keeps me here is the fact that I can navigate my way around this godforsaken desert without Siri holding my hand. A city doesn’t become home until you can confidently give a stranger accurate directions to the nearest, local strip club. … read more
Bellator: the Gladiators of the 21st Century
The crowd at the Maverick Center is on their feet, chanting “U-S-A” in unison, spotlights circle the room, and the tension is palpable. Then with a collective gasp and a wave of the referee’s hand, it’s all over. Countless hours, mentally and physically preparing for this fight and it’s over, two minutes and 45 seconds into the second round. Fighters, bull riders and Olympians recognize this fleeting moment when history claims the winners and the losers. In this case the winner is … … read more
Photo Feature: Jon Hart
In rural Utah, where I grew up, winter meant a nearly three month skating hiatus. There were no parking garages or indoor ramps to skate. We would just hope the church parking lot dried up enough to pull out our flat bars and boxes, and we’d skate the snow gaps. Shoveling a spot to skate in sub-freezing weather shows dedication, and Bolts of Thunder founder Jon Hart is one of the most dedicated people I know. … read more
Niche Snowboards: Snowboarding’s Green Thumb
Niche Snowboards founder Dustin Morrell knew that without presenting a totally new niche on the table, their dream would be short-lived. “There wasn’t a 100-percent eco-friendly company from the ground up with focus on everything that you do,” says Ana Van Pelt, Niche’s creative director. So in 2009, Salt Lake City got a little bit greener. “Simply put, we make boards that have a positive impact on the planet and snowboard industry,” Van Pelt says. … read more
Brady Larson: The Come Up Kid
“It was a Lamar—it was the sickest board ever,” said no one, ever. Unless, perhaps, you’re Brady Larson and you’re speaking of the beginning of a decade-long love affair with snowboarding. Larson’s love story begins the same as many of ours—a 9-year-old on Christmas morning, a budget snowboard from Sports Authority and beginner lessons at Brighton. And, like many of us, his love started to grow as he became a weekend warrior through middle school and high school. … read more
Photo Feature: Brandon Cocard
Lost in the labyrinth of 6,000-square-foot homes that litter Dimple Dell Road is a little stretch of public land tucked in a ravine called Equestrian Park. As the name suggests, horses are allowed in this park. Whenever you are within the city limits and horses are allowed in a park, you can bet that you are in a very wealthy neighborhood. This fact is what has most certainly led to the police harassment of snowboarders recently reported there. … read more
In Da Streets
Unbenkownst to many, the streets of Salt Lake City are home to a wide variety of spots perfect for skiing or snowboarding. Photographer Jake Vivori scooped out the best locations and snapped photos of some talented riders using these spots to their full potential. … read more
Wouldn’t it be Rad? – An Interview with Rad Martinez...
This Thursday, Feb. 21, Bellator, the second largest MMA organization in the world will bring Bellator 90 to the Maverik Center in West Valley City, which includes Utah native Rad Martinez taking on Russia’s Shahbulat Shamhalaev in the Season 7 featherweight tournament final. SLUG sat down with Martinez to see what drives him as a great, local fighter. … read more