Snowboarders now have a new way to click with their ski friends. Chris Jones Jersey .The typical riders hassle of bending down -- or sitting down in the snow -- to buckle boots into the bindings while skiers in their group wait could be a thing of the past.A new technology that enables the boot to snap onto the board similar to a ski binding has the potential to inject fresh life into a sport that has been dealing with slowing growth for the last decade or so.After more than four years of research and more than a decade of trying to find the answer to a question that has long perplexed snowboarders and manufacturers alike, Burton Snowboards is releasing its new Step-On binding -- touting it as a time-saver that wont negatively impact performance. The binding goes on sale next fall and will run between $250 and $400.We asked the question, `What if? said Chris Cunningham, Burtons vice president of product. What if I could save 30 seconds per run?Multiplied by the 10 to 15 runs an average rider logs on any given day, a 30-second difference could mean an extra trip down the mountain per day. Over years, that number could add up into the hundreds. Meanwhile, the binding means less delay, less getting hands wet while fiddling with straps and buckles, less time the skiers in the group have to wait around for their snowboard buddies to prepare their equipment after they get off the lift.Every time my dad goes to strap in at the top of the mountain, he lets out a huge `Aaarrrrrrrgghhh, when hes got to bend over to strap in, said Danny Davis, the two-time Winter X Games champion who rides on a Burton board. Making snowboarding something thats easier to get into, thats a good thing.An improvement in ski technology, combined with unpredictable weather, the Great Recession and increased pricing for lift tickets, helped play into flat numbers for snowboarding over the past decade-plus. SnowSports Industries America reports microscopic growth (from 7.57 million to 7.602 million) in the number of snowboard participants between 2011-12 and last winter.Among Burtons attempts to bring more people to the sport was the invention of the Riglet -- a reel-like device that makes it easier for parents to tow young kids around on the snowboard.The industry has been experimenting with step-in bindings for more than a decade, but the first mass attempt to bring them to market petered out because the performance of the boots was considered subpar.In this latest attempt, 3D printing technology made it possible for developers at Burton to crank out and refine hundreds of prototypes in a very short time. The project began in a secret, walled-off room on the Burton campus where people walked by and said, `Whats up with that wall? Cunningham said.Within months, they were testing prototypes. In four years, they came up with something thats ready for the market.Kimmy Fasani, a professional rider for Burton, said the boot and binding gave her the same level of confidence she had with her old set-up.I think sitting down (to get into the bindings) has always been kind of a nuisance for snowboarders, Fasani said. Theres an efficiency there. Now, if you have friends who are skiers, youre not going to be the guy whos slowing the crowd down. Sammy Watkins Jersey . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Len Dawson Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Mitchell-Schwartz-Elite-Jersey/ .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With a pair of long touchdown passes, Boston College picked up its first victory in almost a year and may have changed its reputation as a run-first offense in the process.Patrick Towles hit former quarterback Jeff Smith on back-to-back, one-play TD drives, and substitute Mike Knoll connected on a pair of field goals on Saturday as the Eagles beat Massachusetts 26-7 for their first win in 10 games.BC was trailing 7-0 late in the second quarter when Towles, taking over at the UMass 46-yard line, found Smith on the first play of the drive. After the Minutemen fumbled at their own 36, Towles again hit Smith on the first play to give the Eagles the lead for good.Totally turned the game around, BC coach Steve Addazio said. Now we have the ability to go and strike it (big).BC has long been known as a rushing team, sending backs like Heisman Trophy finalist Andre Williams to the NFL, along with enough run-blockers to staff a couple of offensive lines. But when Addazio saw UMass trying to crowd the line of scrimmage to take away the ground game, he decided it was time to go for it.People dont expect those shots on first down, especially from us, said Towles, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 191 yards for the Eagles (1-1) and also ran 12 times for 66 yards. Well take that.Smith had five catches for 98 yards, and Jon Hilliman ran 22 times for 54 yards and a 15-yard touchdown for BC, which last won on Sept. 25, 2015, against Northern Illinois. The Eagles lost their final eight games last season and their opener last week, 17-14 to Georgia Tech in Ireland.You need to enjoy the wins, Addazio said. This is a tough game, a tough business were all in. This easily could have been a different scenario, when youre coming off what we came off of.Colton Lichtenberg missed a pair of short field goals last week; Addazio said he was unavailable on Saturday because of a strain in his kicking leg. Knoll, who had been used exclusively in kickoffs, missed his first point-after attempt but converted the second time to make it 13-7.He added third-quarter field goals of 40 and 37 yards.Its unfortuunate Colton went down, Knoll said. Harrison Butker Jersey. But hell be back and well all be kicking lights out.UMass (0-2) put a scare into No. 25 Florida last week, trailing just 10-7 into the fourth quarter. Returning to their sometime home at Gillette Stadium, the Minutemen took a 7-0 lead on a 58-yard pass from Ross Comis to Adam Breneman late in the first quarter.Comis went 11 of 28 for 145 yards and a touchdown. But he also had a pair of first-half fumbles and threw an interception in the third quarter; the turnovers led to 10 BC points.I can give you the old adage, `Ill look at the tape. But, yeah, he lost the game, UMass coach Mark Whipple said. As the quarterback, you dont like to lose. Weve only got two touchdowns in two games.NICE TO BE HEREWith BCs kicking troubles the past few years, Knoll was one of the players requested to the postgame interview area.Yeah, you dont get called up very often. Its good, Knoll said, breaking into a smile. Thanks for bringing me in.Reminded that a kicker is usually asked to speak after missing a field goal, he said: Yeah, thats true. Thats the life we chose.SETTLE DOWNThe Eagles trailed 7-0 and had just 55 total yards in the opening quarter. The touchdowns 84 seconds apart in the second quarter helped the offense relax, Smith said.Being down, that was a real surprise, he said. But I think scoring those two touchdowns quick, really picked (us) up and helped the defense, too. It really gave us confidence to come out in the second half.THE TAKEAWAYBC: In light of BCs struggles to win in the conference, finishing off the Minutemen gives them an FBS win before heading into the ACC opener against Virginia Tech next week.UMASS: After staying close against No. 25 Florida, the Minutemen put another scare into a major college team. But Whipples independent team needs to finish off a victory if it is going to attract an invitation from a conference.UP NEXTBC: Plays at Virginia Tech on Saturday.UMASS: Hosts Florida International on Saturday. ' ' '