Out in the O.C., there isn't a lot of rain, much less snow. But those powder slopes are only a few miles away from the beach, and there are some real tech advancements in this year's snowboard outerwear that won't just keep you warmer and drier than ever - they'll have you looking finer than ever!

The biggest movement on the mountain in '04-'05 is looking street while snowboarding. With the crazy advancement of seemingly everyday fabrics, you can have that look on the mountain and wear the same cool jacket to the bar at night.

Look for lots of unique shell finishes - heavy denims, suiting stripes and vintage plaids by Quiksilver; synthetic suede and corduroy by 686; tweeds and wools by Burton; and quirky quilting patterns and a Fonzie-cool leather jacket by Volcom. The day of the crunchy, noisy, color-blocked jacket is over. There is also the cool guy who's just wearing regular old slim fit jeans on the mountain; this, however, is not for those who spend most of their slope time on their rear.

This winter season we are seeing artwork everywhere on jackets and pants: insides, outsides, linings, pocketing, and lots of appliqués on gloves and beanies. It's a unique, creative look finally bringing a little more pizzazz to what is usually a pretty straightforward market. Jackets and pants are still in muted colors, but you'll see great pops of bright in the details, on trims and linings.

Also key are stretch performance panels everywhere for easy movement - you'll feel them in the arms, knees, waist and backs of liners and shells. And finally, most of the companies are offering jackets that accommodate iPods or other devices with earphones built right into the hoods. There's lots of new technology! Enjoy it, and be far more comfortable and better looking than ever.