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| At last - Ski Resort LEGO! |
The kids are going to love this year's latest LEGO: Snow Resort including a mountaintop restaurant, working ski lift, ski slope sliding function, rock climbing wall, ski hire stand, trail map, a bear with his own slope and mountain cave, and two mini-doll skiers/riders. There are many different sets, priced from $14.99 - $59.99, including an Off-Roader and a Hot Chocolate Van at the more affordable end. Actually, even adults might find this cool! Read to the bottom of this blog to see more about the range as well as LEGO's ski safety reminders.
Here's a mountain of mouthwatering ideas for all ages:
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| Ultra cool - but also ultra warm merino Corbet 120 Pattern Jacket by Smartwool |
When it gets cold you can still cover lots of ground. Grab our Corbet 120 Pattern Jacket on your way outside. Designed from the inside out, this jacket starts with Merino, for great breathability and temperature regulation, then adds heavyweight 120g SmartLoft insulation for sleek, comfortable warmth. Strategically placed polyester panels with a protective Durable Water Repellent finish repel the wind and keep wet at bay. Zip pockets keep hands warm and personal items secure. Price: US $200.00. Available via smartwool.com
"If it's February, it's a ski day. Whether you're carving big turns on a groomer or touring through the trees, you'll be loving the day in our Isto Sport Stripe Sweater," says the Smartwool Team, based at Steamboat. "Made with a Merino blend, this sweater breathes well and helps regulate your core temperature. A tall ribbed neck with an asymmetrical zipper gives you venting options depending on your activity level. Thumb holes at the cuff keep your hands covered." Bonus: it's machine washable. Check out lifestyle pics and great ski footage on the Smartwool Facebook page.
Rossignol has always been a fave brand of mine, whether it is the skis, the boots or the amazing range of designer duds. This grey/orange ensemble pairs the Geant Oxford Jacket - love the asymmetrical orange zipper! - with fab bright orange pants (Elite). The bright pants give a high profile on the slopes so you will never be lost in a white-out, while the grey of the jacket tones down the potential for looking like you have been Tango-ed! (If you remember that 90s ad). The jacket is $500 CAN and pants $350 CAN. Available at Ski Cellar, Le Massif, Sail, Grand Bazar de Granby, Sports Bromont.
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| Women's Geant Oxford Jacket by Rossignol |
This photo was taken on a shoot in Ste Foy, by the way, in the Tarentaise area of France, near Tignes, Val d’Isère and Les Arcs.
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| The Rossignol X Tommy Hilfiger Collection Richard Jacket with Roan Pants |
Rossignol launched a new collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger this year, hence the nautical colour-combo on this men's outfit. The Rossignol X Tommy Hilfiger Collection is all navy, white and red with distinctive colour blocking. Adore the different sections on the pants ankles. Available at : Sporting Life, Simons, Squire John's. It's a capsule collection featuring four men's looks from the ski-mad designer.
“Skiing and winter sports have been a passion of mine since I was young,” Hilfiger said in a November press release. “I’ve wanted to develop this capsule collection for a long time, and Rossignol was the ultimate partner to bring the concept to life in a really iconic way. With our shared values on quality, perfect fit and merging fashion with technical function, we’ve designed a signature red, white and blue collection that works from the ski slopes to the international metropolis.”
Look out for an expanded fall collection featuring womenswear, too, and accessories.
“Skiing and winter sports have been a passion of mine since I was young,” Hilfiger said in a November press release. “I’ve wanted to develop this capsule collection for a long time, and Rossignol was the ultimate partner to bring the concept to life in a really iconic way. With our shared values on quality, perfect fit and merging fashion with technical function, we’ve designed a signature red, white and blue collection that works from the ski slopes to the international metropolis.”
Look out for an expanded fall collection featuring womenswear, too, and accessories.
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| Now 60 % off - Zeal Optics HD Camera Goggles are $149 US/$189 CAN |
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| Kari Traa Åkle Long Sleeve and Matching Leggings - nice enough to wear anywhere! |
Love Kari Traa's designs! Everything is so colourful and beautifully made in sumptuous, soft merino. If you haven't heard of the company (yet), it is the fastest growing brand in Europe, with a focus on happy, healthy outdoor lifestyles. Inspiration comes from founder , Kari Traa herself, an Olympic freestyle champ. Ravishing ranges work for anything from outdoor and indoor training, to baselayers, to midlayers, sweaters and accessories.
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| Obermeyer's Tuscany Jacket in snow-fire floral
Obermeyer Outerwear:
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| Bliss Pant by Obermeyer |
Obermeyer is an established Aspen based-brand, specializing in sporty outerwear since 1947, and really hot on technology. Owner Klaus Obermeyer, who just turned 98, is one of the oldest CEOs in North America. But there is nothing old about Obermeyer's style or construction. Klaus recently said in an interview with The Denver Post that he is the policeman of performance, dedicated to working with suppliers to find the right materials to keep Sport Obermeyer on the cutting edge of technological advances. The Tuscany jacket resists up to 10,000mm water-penetration and has a removable hood, stretch inner cuffs, interior electronics pocket, interior google pocket with detachable scratch-free cloth, and integrated Snap-Away™ powder skirt.
The Bliss is equally high tech, fully seam-sealed with an active stretch fit. A super technical Thinsulate® Platinum Stretch 40 gram insulation allows for additional unrestricted movement while maintaining comfortable protection from the cold. The fabric utilizes HydroBlock® Pro 15,000mm waterproof/breathable lamination with a Full-Motion® stretch core lining. Features include, Ski Contour™ articulated knees, Skier Critical® venting, adjustable waist with fleece waistband, reinforced inseams, and hydrophobic powder cuffs. Available in special sizing - regular, short and long as well as sizes 2-16.
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| Gogglesocs Christmas Edition - goggle protective cover |
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| Pretty pink pina colada by Gogglesoc |
Check out Drysure Extreme – the ultimate non-electric footwear dryer. Use in ski or snowboard boots to remove moisture 12 times faster than air drying. It retails for $36.95 USD ($39.95 CAD). As well as drying, these are also odour-eaters! They last for around 10 uses and then you reactivate them either by heating up on a warm radiator, leaving in direct sunlight or by putting the bead bags from inside into the oven at 212F/100C for an hour or two.
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| Drysure Extreme Boot Heater - The sausage-shaped thingee goes inside the boots to dry them super-quickly! |
Did you know? Wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet, whether moisture is due to rain and snow or built up sweat. And the average person sweats between 3-6ml per boot per day, according to Drysure. Plus, sweat that builds up inside shoes and boots can turn into a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria such as E. Coli, Meningitis, and Klebsiella. Air-drying overnight only dries 2% of moisture from shoes and boots. Drysure not only dries your footwear properly, but restricts the growth of bacteria and fungi. Unlike other boot dryers that require batteries or need to be plugged in to a power supple, Drysure requires no electricity, making it portable and safe to use. Drysure is made from moisture-absorbing silica oxide beads surrounded by a shell that helps airflow.
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| AIM Cream for muscle recovery |
Mountain Muscles:
AIM Cream F1 - stocking stuffer for after-ski muscle relief - $19.99.
This could be your best buy this season! The natural cream - with a coconut oil, mint oil, lanolin and camphor base - targets skier and snowboarder muscular strain and pain in order to ease the soreness ready for the physical onslaught of the next day on the slopes.
Snowboarder, Chris Rasman is an advocate of this, having suffered from a medial meniscus tear.
Buy online or check out various Canadian dealers at: https://aimcream.com/dealers
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| Ski Canada: The ultimate coffee table mag for skiers! |
How about a Ski Canada subscription? Only $15 for 2 years!
Phenomenal features (including one from yours truly a few years ago about Banff Lake Louise), motivational photography, amazing gear guides, ski tests, inspirational resort write-ups, and lots of onhill humour.
Vertige Light Ski Sock - For technical piste or powder skiing - and Nordic too - the Vertige Light is the ideal sock choice. A lightweight construction with targeted padding in key areas ensures comfort all day without compromising the performance of ski and board footwear. Merino is twisted together with Polypropylene (not layered) and the sole of the sock is knitted with a micro-terry for better moisture management. The shins feature Tactel nylon for reduced friction against the boot - MSRP: $24.95
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| POCito Kids Helmet - Courtesy Backbone Media |
POC’s new POCito Auric Cut BC SPIN helmet has kids' safety in mind.
Not only does it have POC's rotational protection system inside to try to combat the effect of an oblique fall, but it also features a set of integrated LED lights on the back that flash to make the child more visible on the ski slope.
The bright colours - orange or pink - help too.
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| Medievel Blue Weekend+ Jacket By Salomon |
Scintillating Salomon:
Salomon's 2017/18 jacket range includes the Weekend + Jacket - love the white fur trim!
Combining elegance with high performance, there are pleats and an elasticated waist drawstring to create a cunningly contoured, fitted silhouette.
Primaloft® insulation gives warmth and Motion Fit technology aids movement. No need to overdo the underlayers just to find you can't move your arms!
The high degree of waterproof protection and heat sealed seams ensure full weather protection even in the harshest storms - bring it on!
If you thought Salomon just did skis and boots, it's time for you to check out their ski clothing.
Some ideas - The T-Bar at Steamboat, the gift of après ski; Liftopia Gift Cards starting at $5, lift tickets to 250+ ski resorts; Sugar Mountain Resort redeemable on lift tickets, rentals, lessons, tubing, ice skating, snowshoe tours and merchandise; License to Shred - Ski The East gift card from $25; help fund a fabulous fondue experience at Fondu Stubli, Lake Louise's posh Post Hotel & Spa; Resorts of the Canadian Rockies' Gift Card - use at Fernie, Kimberley, Kicking Horse and Nakiska; buy a gift card for a Winter Ziptour at Sundance, Utah; or how about a resort discount card? The Lake Louise 'Louise Plus Card', for example, costs $109 (+ GST) and covers skiing at Lake Louise, Castle, Panorama, Revelstoke, Schweitzer, RED Mountain, and Silver Star. Three free tickets are included and there are savings of up to $20 on additional lift passes plus savings at hotels and restaurants.
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| Snowy Owl Mukluk |
Always wanted an après ski boot like this! Made by indigenous-owned Manitobah Mukluks, they are waterproof suede, sheepskin-lined, and come in black (pictured), charcoal and brown.
The AuthenTEC Waterproof System is inspired by pine pitch and spruce gum, traditional waterproofing materials.
Really warm, too - rated to -32ºC. $249.99 and they come with a certificate of authenticity.
James Geddes is Canadian rep for Manitobah Mukluks and gets to ski a lot in Alberta when doing his rounds of various ski shops: “I love going through the sticker wood tunnel shack entry, back bowl Lake Louise, sunny day after a big storm! Followed by a winter cocktail at the Pub at the Post Hotel après ski finishes the day great," says James.
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| Icelantic Maiden 101 |
Holiday Hardware:
If you can stretch to skis, how about the Maiden 101 by Icelantic? For the more adventurous skier, retails at $749 CAD ($649 USD) and, for men, the Nomad 105 $799 CAD ($699 USD) - both bestsellers for Icelantic. "These skis are more free ride oriented with rocker tip and tail....a little burlier and crud busting for the resort skier," says Scott Stevenson from
Sparrow Outfitters. "As for other gift ideas, for Icelantic I would say Pioneer 96 for men and Oracle 88 for women. Both are $699 CAD and $599 USD. They are intended as a intermediate ski everywhere ski though obviously more front side oriented due to waist width." I saw a quote I liked from Icelantic on Facebook recently: "Here at Icelantic, we reject the industry’s 'Shrink It and Pink It' model. Our women's skis are meant to rip, charge, and shred the mountain just like any men’s ski on the market."
The Aspen Way:
Aspen Snowmass launched a new line of merchandise on Dec 7 around The Aspen Way campaign and will donate a percentage of all sales of this merchandise to Protect Our Winters (POW). Ten percent of each #TheAspenWay product sold will go to POW, and an additional two dollars will be donated when purchasers post a photo wearing the product on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and tag #TheAspenWay. See more of the range at: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/
For uphillers:
Epic Wipes - Recommended by Ryan Weese, these are massive total body wet wipes that come in a tiny pack. Could be good for heli-skiers, too!
If you can stretch to skis, how about the Maiden 101 by Icelantic? For the more adventurous skier, retails at $749 CAD ($649 USD) and, for men, the Nomad 105 $799 CAD ($699 USD) - both bestsellers for Icelantic. "These skis are more free ride oriented with rocker tip and tail....a little burlier and crud busting for the resort skier," says Scott Stevenson from
Sparrow Outfitters. "As for other gift ideas, for Icelantic I would say Pioneer 96 for men and Oracle 88 for women. Both are $699 CAD and $599 USD. They are intended as a intermediate ski everywhere ski though obviously more front side oriented due to waist width." I saw a quote I liked from Icelantic on Facebook recently: "Here at Icelantic, we reject the industry’s 'Shrink It and Pink It' model. Our women's skis are meant to rip, charge, and shred the mountain just like any men’s ski on the market."
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| The Aspen Way |
Aspen Snowmass launched a new line of merchandise on Dec 7 around The Aspen Way campaign and will donate a percentage of all sales of this merchandise to Protect Our Winters (POW). Ten percent of each #TheAspenWay product sold will go to POW, and an additional two dollars will be donated when purchasers post a photo wearing the product on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and tag #TheAspenWay. See more of the range at: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/
For uphillers:
Epic Wipes - Recommended by Ryan Weese, these are massive total body wet wipes that come in a tiny pack. Could be good for heli-skiers, too!
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| LEGO chalet |
SKI-THEMED LEGO:
The LEGO Group also put together
a fun video that explains the top five ski safety tips illustrated by LEGO
Friends minidolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8dUUOggHIk.
"I love these sets because not only do they
create a fun play experience for children, they are also a great conversation
starter for introducing ski safety and easing children into their first pair of
skis," says LEGO's Jenn Eiskamp (quite a relevant last name, coincidentally!)
The Friends Snow Resort
collection includes the sets listed below:
- LEGO Friends Snow Resort
Off-Roader ($14.99)
- LEGO Friends Snow Resort Hot
Chocolate Van ($24.99)
- LEGO Friends Snow Resort Ice
Rink ($29.99)
- LEGO Friends Snow Resort Chalet ($39.99)
- LEGO Friends Snow Resort Ski Lift ($59.99)
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| LEGO downhiller |
5 Tips to Make Your Ski Trip Awesome
Tip #1 – Grab a map, agree to your goals for the day, and remember to pace yourself. Some people head right for the black diamonds, but a real pro warms up before cutting loose on the tougher runs!
Tip #2 – Wait your turn at the lift and try not to step on anyone’s skis. And, don’t forget to mind those ski poles!
Tip #3 – The mountain is beautiful, so enjoy your ride on the lift, but give yourself enough time to be prepared to exit. The lift waits for no one!
Tip #4 – Your fellow skiers and shredders want to keep moving! If you need to stop, move to the side of the slope.
Tip #5 – At the end of the day, make time to unwind at the lodge. Recap your favorite moments and celebrate each other for a great day of active fun, but don’t be that space hog in the lodge; we’re friends on the slopes.
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| LEGO Ice Hockey |
