Height of Land (HOL) Publications, publisher of the Alpinist and Backcountry Magazine, will introduce Kronicle this winter, a new magazine aimed exclusively at backcountry snowboarding. Longtime SNEWS® friend Mike Horn, who served as snowboard editor of the SIA Show Dailies (produced by the SNEWS trade division), has been tapped as editor of the new magazine. Horn told SNEWS that along with building a more big mountain-based focus for snowboarding, Kronicle also will reflect the growth in off-piste riding.

“Because of our dedicated snowboard coverage in Backcountry Magazine, we’ve always kept a finger on the pulse of backcountry riding. And we’ve watched the energy and product development behind it really ramp up the last few years,” said Horn. “Discussions about Kronicle started gaining steam this past fall, with the release of films like "Deeper", the increasing numbers of riders in the backcountry, and several new manufacturers stepping in and producing new splitboards, boots, and bindings for 2011.” 

Home offices for the new publication will be based in Crested Butte, Colo., and Jeffersonville, Vermont. Horn said each issue will “feature stories and images of the people, places and culture of backcountry riding: West, East and around the world.”

In a release, Lisa Branner, co-owner of Venture Snowboards, said the timing is ripe for just such a publication: “Interest in backcountry riding is spreading like wildfire, and it's high time for a publication that caters to the needs of this audience--not only to educate newcomers but also to keep experienced backcountry riders stoked.”

--Peter Kray

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