Alchemy of RIDE brightening up Sun Peaks Feb 2/3

GEAR FOR YOUR GROOVY!

After a year’s absence, talented skiwear designer Lynne Harrison is back in Sun Peaks for a two-day Pop Up Shop in February. Using the Morrisey Public House’s party room, she will be bringing her colour-ific camper full of items from her latest creative collection. Ski, snowboard, Nordic, bike, hike, yoga, surf, tennis, golf - Alchemy of RIDE  has all the outdoor activities colourfully covered. Dates are Friday February 2nd and Saturday February 3rd from 2pm - 6pm. 

An artist since her days in Whistler, Lynne took to textile design in 2016 when she designed her first mountain biking jersey. By the next ski season she had started applying her striking wall art to ski fabrics, launching her first collection in Canmore, Alberta. That’s where I discovered her when I was browsing in her Main Street studio and showroom. 

The Alchemy of RIDE van attracting much attention outside the Sun Peaks Grand 
five years ago - look out for it in Sun Peaks Resort on Feb 1-3. 

Always a fan of Lynne’s art, greeting cards, and bike gear, you can just imagine my delight when I saw her first ski line. Two hours later, after trying on every combination in the shop and having photos taken against the matching wall art, I was a devotee, sworn to help get the Alchemy of RIDE vibe out to as many people as possible. Nowadays based from her home studio, she sells her whimsical wares online and at sporadic Pop Ups as she travels around Canada and beyond. 

Perfect powdery Panorama in early Jan - my first ever Colours of Assiniboine Alchemy of Ride jacket makes everything else fade to black and white! Fun fact: you can see Assiniboine from Panorama on a clear day.

AOR  get-together on a bluebird day at Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia. A favourite ski spot of Lynne’s who spent a number of years living just down in the valley in Kamloops. 

Rocking the AOR  in Gibraltar!

Just some of the AOR men’s, women’s and unisex ski suits. Go for the head-to-toe look or piece it with other separates. The huge mountain prints in vivid colourways stand out in the densest whiteout as well as in any crowd. Great conversation starters on the chairlift or bar stool, they’re also really warm, windproof and waterproof. The thermals and baselayers look just as good for après ski as on the slopes.

Lynne Harrison pictured here in Spring Flowers rashguard shirt and vest for protective summer wear. Lynne was the driving force behind the Dave Irwin Foundation, and assisted in raising tens of thousands of dollars which were disbursed across Canada for education, awareness, prevention, seed grant programs and research on brain injury.  

Lynne’s first ever Pop Up Shop was in the Sun Peaks Grand, attracting residents, visitors, locals from Kamloops - for many their first taste of AOR. Once tried, forever hooked!

Nordic suits are another of Lynne’s specialities - all the bells and whistles, zips and tricks, that make for cosy, sweat-wicking and comfortable cross country capers. 

To see more articles about Lynne (many written by me), please check our her website at: https://alchemyofride.org/p/press

Follow Lynne on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alchemyofride/

And Instagram: alchemyofride

Ice Floating and Wellness in Val d’Isère, France

Finding serenity in the mountains: Val d’Isère ramps up its spa and wellness offerings with new launches for 2024

 

January 2024…// To kick start 2024 the right way, world-renowned ski resort Val d’Isère invites visitors to experience a new host of wellbeing activities and experiences in the blissful mountains, designed to encourage travellers to relax, reset and refresh for a welcome post-ski respite. With pure air, idyllic snow-covered landscapes and an altitude of 1850m, there is no better place to unwind than in the picturesque French Alps surrounded by nature. From new spas in collaboration with cutting-edge brands to dedicated wellness programmes, yoga retreats and thrilling outdoor experiences such as ice floating on offer, there is something for wellness seekers of all tastes to discover.

Seasonal Yoga Retreats    Le Tigre Yoga Club Paris  Hotel Les Barmes de l'Ours is delighted to announce a collaboration with the prestigious Le Tigre Yoga Club Paris for the 2024 season. In this privileged mountain-facing location, the hotel will firstly welcome yogi Camille Satya from the 4th - 8th February 2024 for a five-day yoga retreat designed to harmonise energy, refocus and slow down the rhythm of daily life with various forms of yoga and meditation practices led by Camille. In spring, travellers can join the founder of Tigre Yoga herself, Elodie Garamond, from 6th - 10th April 2024 for another five-day Yang-Yin Yoga retreat in the heart of the mountains. This retreat will focus on personal transformation and discovery of the elements to enrich guests’ journey to better understand and therefore energise their bodies through dynamic yoga practices. - Prices vary. Please enquire for specific yoga and accommodation package prices.  - hotellesbarmes.com/     Spa Openings and Luxury Brand Collaborations   Susanne Kaufmann at La Mourra The 5* La Mourra, a private mountain hamlet with five luxury chalets and eight suites, unveils its new Spa By Susanne Kaufmann. Created in the Austrian Alps in 2003, the Susanne Kaufmann brand has developed a range of beauty and cosmetic products with a unique approach, carefully selecting mountain plants for their natural qualities. Promising a sensory journey where nature and wellbeing meet, the different treatments use various massage techniques such as lymphatic drainage, fascial release, shiatsu, deep massage and trigger point work, to deliver true holistic benefits.  - Price: Signature treatments by Susanne Kaufmann priced from  €160 - 60 minutes. - Map and information Biologique Recherche & Wesak Paris at Le Yule Le Yule in Val d’Isère is joining forces with two new French brands for 2024, chosen for their high-quality luxury and benefits that are designed to deliver exceptional results. This includes Biologique Recherche, an exclusive French brand first established in 1977 which will offer personalised treatments adapted to various skin types. Expert knowledge and technique are combined with a visionary approach to create effective and instant results through the work of this long-standing brand. As well as this, Le Yule has also announced a partnership with eco-responsible cosmetic brand Wesak Paris, which launched in 2021 with the philosophy of “taking care of the body and soul”. The brand combines precious plant essences, delicate oils and refined fragrances to create a heavenly, unforgettable spa experience. - Prices vary.  - Map and information   New Wellness Programme   RESET at Le Refuge de Solaise  Perched at an altitude of 2,251 metres overlooking the Val d’Isère valley, Le Refuge de Solaise hotel and spa is unveiling a new wellness programme for the season - ‘RESET’. Expertly curated as a ritual to offer skiers post-exercise relaxation, the programme is based on five key principles and steps; regenerate, respire, recharge, reconnect and restore. Offering a unique blend of physical activities, holistic treatments and experiences designed to allow mind and body to intertwine, the RESET programme will awaken the senses amongst the breathtaking views of this high-altitude setting. The spa at Le Refuge de Solaise includes unparalleled facilities providing complete serenity, such as a Nordic bath, Hamman, semi-Olympic swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and an outdoor massage bubble, as well as yoga classes and a healthy restaurant menu for refueling. The programme includes experiences such as alternating hot and polar baths, stretching, light therapy, sound healing and more, promising complete disconnection from the outside and reconnection within yourself. - Price: The Recharge Ritual for 2 hours is priced from €245. It can be booked as a complete package or in individual stages. - lerefuge-valdisere.com   In addition to the exciting new wellbeing launches above, Val d’Isère also offers a unique floating experience originating from Finland, whereby travellers can float across the idyllic Quillette Lake in with the Evolution 2 adventure school, for the ultimate sensory experience designed to reconnect you with nature and offer a moment of pure relaxation (Price: €80 for 1 hour). Moreover, those seeking a healthy holiday can check out the Aqua Leisure Complex, housing a variety of sports and wellbeing facilities such as a gym and weights room, swimming pool and children’s pool, wellness area and the Pure Altitude spa. Those who purchase a 6-11 day ski lift pass will receive two free entries for the swimming pool, offering an opportunity to stretch sore muscles after a day on the slopes. For more information, please visit www.valdisere.com/en/