TTR & WSF announce the wildcard procedure for the 2012 World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo, Norway. After cancellations and postponements of important qualifier competitions on the TTR World Tour calendar, the questions about wildcards are increasing. The final list of wildcards will be announced on January 30th, 2012.

In principle, there are only two wildcards per contest for men and women, but since several riders have been able to qualify for WSC multiple times, their extra spots revert back to wildcards, which can be passed on to different riders. Additionally, if a qualified rider gets injured prior to WSC and cannot attend, their spot will also revert back to a wildcard. These wildcards are strictly for top riders that have been injured, or for other valid reasons have been disconnected from the competition scene.

Independent Wildcard committee
The TTR and WSF have established an independent wildcard committee in order to determine which rider will be granted wildcard spots at the World Snowboarding Championships 2012. The committee consist of 6 members (3 from TTR and 3 from WSF) with in depth snowboard know-how. The members will remain anonymous in order to avoid external influence on their decision making.

The WSC 2012 wildcard process
The appointed wildcard committee will be responsible for selecting the male and female riders to obtain the wildcards to participate in the WSC. Interested athletes will be required to submit a ‘Wildcard Application', which can be downloaded from the WSC website. Applications must be sent to wildcard@wsc2012.com, between now and to January 23rd 12pm, 2012. The first round of wildcard decisions will be made on Jan 10, 2012. The final list of wildcards will be announced on January 30th.

For more information please visit www.wsc2012.com

What's 160 meters long, 6.30 meters high and raises the pulse of all snowboarders and freeskiers to the next level within seconds? Right: it's Austria's biggest and best Superpipe, located in the heart of the Snowpark Kitzsteinhorn. Since early December, shredders from all around Europe have been gathering here to conquer the mighty walls and bounce up to new levels.

Already in October the snow making for the vast Superpipe area started and until its completion in the beginning of December 25,000 cubic meters of snow had been processed. The monster pipe is built according to American standards and it's not only a gigantic playground for all fans of vertical heights, but also a olympia-compliant trainings compound for both snowboarders and freeskiers. The pipe is easily accessible via the Sonnenkarbahn and is located directly next to the Easy Park.

Besides the Easy Park and the Superpipe, 2 additional snowparks are soon to be opened: On December 24 the popular Railgarden Lechnerberg in the heart of Kaprun will be ready for first jibbing sessions, just before the mighty Central Park will start into the new season on the next day.

Each year millions of skiers and snowboarders take to the slopes, and resorts accommodate them with a variety of lessons. With any new activity, it's important to take a lesson and learn the fundamentals…but not everyone learns the same. Some respond well to verbal direction whereas others like to imitate an action after being shown. Some are fearful. Some may have disabilities. And some just want to roll with their friends. That is why Mountain High caters to these differences by offering a series of lesson programs beyond its traditional school and get guests swooshing down the slopes no matter what their age or gender.

Mountain High's most popular lesson is the money-saving "3-Peat for Success” package for beginners ages 13 and up. Other popular programs include the Virtual Snow -snowsport simulator, women's clinics, seniors programs, terrain park lessons, the Blue Angels multi-week children's camp, and Team Mountain High coaching instruction.

3-Peat for Success - Beginners Package
Learning to ski or snowboard is as easy as 1…2…3 with the 3-Peat For Success from Mountain High. History has shown that beginners need at least three lessons to truly feel comfortable on the hill so Mountain High designed the 3-Peat program to take guests from never-evers to all mountain riders in three easy steps. For just $129 the 3-Peat For Success consists of three separate beginner packages that can be completed any three days of the season, non-holiday*. Each package includes an 8-hour lower-mountain lift ticket, complete ski or snowboard rentals, and a 1 hour and 45 minute lesson. With each day, the instruction advances one level, and guests can upgrade to an all-mountain ticket for just $12 after the 2nd and 3rd lessons. As an incentive to finish, participants receive a FREE 8-hour, all-mountain lift ticket once they've completed the program. Not including the lift ticket, the 3-Peat For Success represents a 49% savings over traditional beginner packages and can be purchased online at mthigh.com or at any Big 5 Sporting goods.

Virtual Snow® Snowsport Simulator
Mountain High is the first and only resort in the world to offer on-mountain Virtual Snow instruction. Not to be confused with magic carpet conveyors, Virtual Snow employs state-of-the-art technology to simulate a gravity-activated, downhill experience. It is considered to be the safest way to learn, and Mountain High uses it to teach skiers as young as 1 and snowboarders as early as 2. Students of all ages love Virtual Snow, and it's been used by pop singer Pink and boxing champ Sugar Ray Leonard. Lessons can be 100 percent on the simiulator or divided between it and the snow. Several Virtual Snow programs are available including parent-child packages and lessons for those with disabilities. For intermediates, Virtual Snow becomes a "sports lab” allowing instructors to immediately identify and correct faulty technique. It is also used by experts to refine their skills. Virtual Snow's co-founder Bob Salerno was already a world champion when he first trained on the simulator. "The simulator made me twice the skier,” said Salerno. "Lubricated carpet is tougher than skiing through chopped up crud. If you can master our most complex moves here it's all yours for the taking out on the white stuff.” Virtual Snow pricing begins at $95 for a one-person private lesson and group lessons are also available.

Terrain Park Lesson
Learn to ride the park with a Terrain Park lesson from Mountain High. Designed for intermediate skiers and snowboarders, levels 4-9, the daily session teaches guests how to navigate a wide variety of jumps, boxes, and rails in Mountain High's legendary park. All lessons are taught by certified instructors and the small class sizes make them a great value. New for 2011-2012 are more entry-level features, perfect for building your comfort level and a 50 foot inflatable landing pad which is great for practicing new tricks. One hour and 45 minute lessons are $75 regularly and $85 weekends and holidays*. Lift tickets and rentals are not included.

Women's Beginner Snowboard Clinic – Ages 30 Plus
Tired of hanging with the guys? The Women's Beginner Snowboarding Clinics at Mountain High teach in a way that is supportive and nurturing, by female instructors who know what it's like to learn as a woman. Lessons address pre-conditioning exercises, finding the right equipment, choosing appropriate clothing, overcoming fears, and much more. Refined over four years, these lessons are taught by certified female instructors and tailored to women's unique learning styles to ensure rapid improvement and the refinement of techniques. Lessons are $135 for a 3-hour session and offered daily from 8am to 11am.

Senior STARS Clinic – Ages 50 Plus
Think you are too old to play? Mountain High's Senior STARS Clinics will have you improving your technique and learning the movement patterns associated with the new shaped skis for just $20 every Wednesday. Located at the East Resort, the clinic also includes a continental breakfast and exercise techniques taught by certified senior instructors. Lift tickets are only $10 for participants or free if you are 70 or over. Equipment rentals including new shaped skis are $15.

Blue Angels – Youth Ski & Snowboard Series
The Blue Angels is a $799 five-week instructional series for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. Catering to ages 7 to 13, the lessons are comprised of small groups led by professional instructors teaching mountain safety and proper techniques. Participants enjoy the thrill of snowboarding and skiing in a supportive, welcoming atmosphere and develop lasting friendships with their chaperones, instructors and classmates. The program includes round-trip luxury bus transportation from Orange County, 5 all-day lift tickets, professional instruction, adult supervision on and off the slopes, lunch and snacks, a FREE helmet from ProTec, and discounts on rental equipment. For complete details visit www.blueangelsnow.com.

Team Mountain High - Competitive Teaching Program
For competitors age 6-17, Team Mountain High provides coaching in skiing and snowboarding, and comprehensive techniques in both racing and freestyle competition. Although actual race and free-style course training with immediate feedback is emphasized, small group instruction also incorporates progression drills as well as individualized evaluations. The coaches are all certified by either the United States Ski and Snowboard Association or the United States of America Snowboard Association. Training is conducted at Mountain High Resort most Saturday and Sunday mornings (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) throughout the season except on alternating Saturdays when competition specific training is held in the early evening (4 p.m. – 8 p.m.). Tentatively, over 30 training days/evenings are set for the season. Other training may be scheduled as needed. Parents of athletes are responsible for race registration, travel, lodging and chaperoning of competitors. A designated parent volunteer will coordinate event communication and administration information. Team Mountain High is not an introductory program; participants must be competent, independent non-beginners. Registration details are noted at www.teammountainhigh.com.

Says Cindy Shippy, Mountain High's Resort Experience Manager, "We have certified instructors who love to teach and use the latest in techniques and equipment. They instill confidence in new participants of all ages and help them progress as quickly as possible. Most importantly, everyone has fun and leaves Mountain High smiling.”

*Holiday Dates: December 24-31, 2011. January 1, 14-16, February 18-20, 2012.

This week, we flew high in our new cape, took "Star Wars" style to the slopes, and rode a fast train to 2012.

The week's big news and rumors in Apple land, including record-setting activations on Christmas and a $1.2M fine in Italy.

Zappos Development, Inc. is looking for a Product Manager - Zappos.com.

Why join us? In January 2011, Zappos.com, Inc. & its subsidiaries were named #6 on the 2011 Fortune: 100 Best Companies to Work For List.

Why else? We offer an extensive benefits package for all full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, & 401k!

And. . . we're hiring like crazy right now, & looking for smart, forward-thinking problem solvers to join our world-class, & fairly wacky team.

Position Summary:

We're looking for a seasoned Product Manager to help drive the evolution of the Zappos.com site & its related sites. The perfect candidate has experience in web product management & is fluent in the languages of web architecture, engineering & the business side of ecommerce.

This role will drive development & execution of our website roadmap initiatives with an eye on creating long-term business value with a rich customer experience.

You'll work with a wide ranging team of engineers, developers, merchandisers, analysts & executives to prioritize & develop innovate customer-facing features. Basically, you'll be a magician.

We're looking for a leader who can reconcile conflicting viewpoints, juggle multiple (& by that we mean dozens) of simultaneous initiatives & do it all with the respect & support of cross-functional teams.

You're an arbiter, a data nerd, a self starter, a systems thinker & a professional comedian. You know that speed to market is king & iteration is necessary to rapidly evolve products. You know when to hold 'em, you know when to fold 'em. . . & you know when to call a bluff.

Required Skills:

* A minimum of 5 years experience working in a product management capacity
* Experience in eCommerce
* Be able to think & communicate strategically & tactically i.e. be able to define & communicate a clear strategy & be close to the details to be able successfully execute on the strategy
* Must have excellent facilitation/negotiation skills to help reconcile varying stakeholder needs
* Ability to communicate with all levels of employees & cross functionally, strong analytical abilities, attention to detail, initiative & ability to own projects from start to finish
* Excellent presentation skills
* Must be able to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment
* Business or computer science degree & background; MBA a plus. * Prefer candidate have experience in a retail business, preferably online.
* Work with the business sponsors & Zappos.com Inc. & its affiliates on product road mapping activities i.e. collect ideas, refine ideas, perform ROI calculations & provide prioritized product plan options to the business.
* Hold & participate in requirements workshops; write & construct detailed requirements, project briefs & other related documents.
* Develop strong team relationships, work closely with cross-functional team members ensure successful project delivery.
* Own the delivery of small projects or individual work tracks within a larger initiative.
* Strong detail orientation: Know the scope, budget, plan, & objectives of your project backwards & forwards
* End to end product ownership for focused customer facing systems ensuring the "right" breadth of scope & depth of requirements are captured from business partners.
* Reconcile (frequently conflicting) business requirements of various stakeholders e.g. merchandising, finance & technology.
* Define, document & communicate requirements & align all stakeholders.
* Work closely with business sponsors to set expectations & explain technology issues in business terms & work closely with technological architects & engineers to explain requirements & business issues in technology terms
* Act as a liaison for business sponsors from Zappos.com Inc. & its affiliates to ensure seamless lines of communications & resolution of issues
* Direct, assist, & ensure that scope & deadlines are met. This can include design, testing, application recommendations, liaising with the business intelligence reporting team & the business owners of the product, etc.
* Help to streamline processes/increase efficiencies

If you want the fun & feel of a start-up company, but the solid management & resources of an established business, Zappos Development, Inc. may be the place for you. Relocation assistance is available to qualified candidates.

Zappos Development, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer & drug free workplace.

*This position is located in our LV office*

Click here to apply.

• Location: Relocation Avail.
• Compensation: DOE
• OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Fisker is recalling 239 Karma plug-in hybrid sports cars because of a high-voltage battery problem that could result in a fire.

Mobile app & web-based app Developer

Stickam.com emerged as the first social networking website that focused on live video streaming. We remain at the forefront in the field, reaching millions streams viewed each day. As a Chinese version of stickam.com, www.Stickam.tv targeted at the Greater China market. We are looking for energetic and highly motivated individuals to be a part of this exciting company. You will conceptualize, design, build, deploy and manage a small project to develop the Chinese version mobile app and web-based app.

Required Skills and Experience:
* Minimum 1 year developing mobile application for iOS and Android.
* Minimum 1 year experience working with web-based applications.
* Excellent understanding and self-learning ability for existing code.
* In-depth knowledge of Chinese internet, especially live stream, open platform and SNS
* Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript
* Strong written (technical documents) and verbal communication skills
* Highly motivated, able to work both in a team and solo
* Understanding of basic SEO techniques as they relate to markup
* Must be Bilingualism in English and Chinese.

Other Desirable Skills:
* PHP/MySQL, HTML5, AJAX, XML,Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash Programming skills
* Working knowledge of distributed or load balanced systems
* Web application and SOA (service oriented architecture) architect experience
* RedHat Linux experience

Please submit both of Chinese and English version of all resumes and cover letters, include:
A. Detailed description of your skills, with the site addresses or productions you worked on, and
B. Username on www.stickam.tv and the URL/username of your Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Myspace, Weibo, QQ, or any Blog, Mypage

Years of Experience: 1 year
Expected Start Date: March 1, 2012
Position: Full-Time
Work hours: 7:00-16:00
Location: Downtown LA (633 W. 5th Street Los Angeles, CA 90071)
Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision, 401k +matching, PTO (15 days/1st year~)
*Parking allowance provided

• Location: Downtown LA
• Compensation: 40k-80k
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Web Site Developer, PHP/MySQL Programer

Stickam.com emerged as the first social networking website that focused on live video streaming. We remain at the forefront in the field, reaching millions streams viewed each day. As a Chinese version of stickam.com, www.Stickam.tv targeted at the Greater China market. We are looking for energetic and highly motivated individuals to be a part of this exciting company. You will manage a small project to implement back-end tasks to programs and interface as dictated by user input and/or business process change, including site updates, changes, and bug fixes.

Required Skills and Experience:
* 2+ years experience with PHP 5 and MySQL 5, excellent understanding and self-learning ability for existing PHP code.
* In-depth knowledge of Chinese internet, especially live stream, open platform and SNS
* Experience working with HTML, CSS, JavaScript
* Must be proficient in all processes of Web site architecture.
* Proficient or knowledge in Subversion, CVS, or other version control
* Strong written (technical documents) and verbal communication skills
* Highly motivated, able to work both in a team and solo
* Understanding of basic SEO techniques as they relate to markup
* Must be Bilingualism in English and Chinese.

Other Desirable Skills:
* iOS and Android app development, AJAX, XML, HTML5, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash Programming skills
* Working knowledge of distributed or load balanced systems
* Web application and SOA (service oriented architecture) architect experience
* RedHat Linux experience

Please submit both of Chinese and English version of all resumes and cover letters, include:
A. Detailed description of your skills, with the site addresses or productions you worked on, and
B. Username on www.stickam.tv and the URL/username of your Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Myspace, Weibo, QQ, or any Blog, Mypage

Years of Experience: 2 year
Expected Start Date: March 1, 2012
Position: Full-Time
Work hours: 7:00-16:00
Location: Downtown LA (633 W. 5th Street Los Angeles, CA 90071)
Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision, 401k +matching, PTO (15 days/1st year~)
*Parking allowance provided

• Location: Downtown LA
• Compensation: 40k-80k
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

The annual Las Vegas tech extravaganza is nearly upon us. These products and services could help make it a winner.