Alchemy of Ride Returns to Sun Peaks BC
When: March 1st and 2nd
Where: Morrisey’s Public House Sun Peaks
Times: 1pm - 4:30pm
Links: https://alchemyofride.org/
Events Calendar: https://www.sunpeaksresort.com/events-things-to-do/events/alchemy-of-ride-pop-up-sale
Six different
Alchemy of RIDE shirts - ideal for bike, ski, gym, golf, or everyday wear
(Photo courtesy of Dan Matte)
A head-turner in lift-lines and high visibility even in a whiteout, Alchemy of Ride’s dazzling ski collection is coming to Sun Peaks for a Weekend Pop Up Sale on March 1 and 2. Morrisey’s Public House will come alive as a vibrant activewear boutique from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, offering a chance to meet artist and AOR designer Lynne Harrison and explore the bold, colourful collection. Your opportunity to try on Lynne Harrison’s designs, created from her Canmore home. Yes, they are available online, but nothing beats being able to try on the whole collection, feel the fabrics, compare all the colourways, and see which ones suit you best.
Wearing The Sky The Sky Technical Jacket at the iconic sign at the top of Sundance Chairlift at
Sun Peaks Resort
Sun Peaks has one of the biggest followings for Lynne Harrison’s amazing AOR skiwear brand. So much so, that when a group of amateur filmmakers were planning their movie for the ArtZone Sun Peaks Locals Filmmakers’ Contest, they decided to dress their actors in Alchemy of Ride apparel.On the major day of outdoor filming, when the cast was tackling the challenge that forms the centrepoint of the plot, the day was clear and sunny with beautiful blue skies setting off the bright hues of Harrison’s handwork.
In the context of mountain film festivals, the Sun Peaks Locals Contest is unique. Banff and Whistler may have the edge in terms of international festival fame, but no-one else features home made movies conceived and created by locals and regulars at the resort. Their movies are a marketing marvel, showcasing the best that Sun Peaks has to offer in a truly authentic lifestyle perspective. This aspect caught the eye of Ski Canada Magazine which featured the concept in a Short Turn article in The Best of Skiing Awards 2025 edition written by yours truly. And since then Sun Peaks Resort has used clips from Girls in Gils in its social media posts. As of now, there have been 1044 views on YouTube.
Girls in Gils star, Pippa Crane - at the top of Gils where the arduous climb and the terrifying terrain ahead led to a dramatic collapse! Luckily, her Alchemy of Ride ski suit kept her cosy. Watch the film to find out what happened next…..
You can see the 10-minute mini movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4sW0cOJFhU
A still from the après ski scene towards the end of the Girls in Gils film, featuring AOR shirts (and a Shotski made by Kelly Brown). Great as base layers, these eyecatching shirts really work well for après and cross over to bike season and beyond.
Hailing from Canmore now - but Kamloops and Whistler previously - Lynne Harrison has been creating sportswear since 2016 when she took her mountain-inspired art off the wall and transferred it to technical bike shirts and shorts. The immediate success of the clothing line led her to turn her attention to skiwear, which she designed in collaboration with her partner, Dave Irwin, the celebrated Crazy Canuck Olympian. Her men and women’s collections now include ski jackets, vests, pants, bibs, base layers, après shirts and neck buffs as well as bike and surf gear.
Australian Sun Peaks homeowner, Glenys Ambe has been sporting Harrison’s designs since 2018. “I found AOR on line after being prompted by a friend who thought the ‘out-there’ colours and styles of AOR would suit my penchant for colourful skiwear,” she explained. She contacted Harrison through the site to help choose the right pieces. “She was so helpful regarding sizing queries and had my new suit in my Sun Peaks post box in a matter of days just in time for the festive season.”
For Ambe, who volunteers with Adaptive Sports Sun Peaks, the allure is a combination of impactful artwork with high quality durable fabrics and expert tailoring. “Her ski outfits really turn heads. More importantly, my ski suit is very warm,” she said. And the bonus is that the range is not mass produced. She has gone on to purchase eye-catching AOR apparel which she uses for various sports including horse riding and exercise classes. “I have also been the instigator of encouraging my husband and numerous other friends to invest in AOR ski suits and activewear,” she added. “They all love AOR with many of my friends now being multi-purchasers.” This March, she plans to take advantage of having Harrison help her choose a new ski suit in person at the AOR Pop Up Shop.
Sun Peaks has been on Harrison’s circuit since skiing Tod Mountain in 1982. In the 1990s, she moved to Kamloops from Whistler where she had been working as an artist. “My kids started skiing at Harper and then we skied at Sun Peaks as a family,” she recalled. An accomplished alpine skier, she is also a mountain biker, Ironman triathlete, and has participated in ‘Ultra Marathons’ - grueling seven-day, self-supported footraces through the Gobi and Sahara Deserts. Her experience in all these sports and love of mountain scenery are evident in all her designs.
Links:
Some snaps of various Alchemy of Ride items: Ski, Bike, Beach!
Gear for your Groovy
https://www.sunpeaksresort.com/events-things-to-do/events/alchemy-of-ride-pop-up-sale
AOR WALL ART - You can commission an original to brighten up your home or business: mountainimage@shaw.ca for more info or call Lynne on: +1 (403) 688-0697
Join the Alchemy of Ride Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alchemyofride/
You can submit your photos wearing your fave AOR apparel around the world! Here’s one of my favourites taken on the Rock of Gibraltar:
