The holiday is coming fast. Most of these items can still be ordered online with minimal hassle and still arrive in time for the big day. Act fast, though.
Who?
What?
How Much?
Anyone with a soul
Vintage ski poster: Vintage Ski Posters: 2009 Wall Calendar If there’s a person who doesn’t like the clever, inventive illustrations found on vintage ski posters, give them a lump of coal. This calendar will keep them happy all-year-long.
$11
All
Ski storage: PowerGrip Universal Rack Not having a nice home for your stick sucks, but lots of people just don’t go to the trouble. The PowerGrip Universal Rack will hold skis or a snowboard and is easy to mount.
$13
Performance Junkie
Ice Scraper: IceDozer Plus Ergonomic Ice Scraper Cleaning snow and ice of a car sucks. The IceDozer makes it go faster. Less scraping = less suckage.
Everyone likes warm, well-padded feet, but too many skrimp on their socks. SmartWools wool socks keep away bad smells, feel great, and are easy to care for. Yes, there is a difference between ski and snowboard socks, and make sure you include a receipt—some people like think socks, some like thin ones.
Socks are one place where baggy isn’t cool and fashion is optional. Hook your favorite snowboarder up but make sure you buy snowboard socks (there’s a difference) and include a gift receipt—some people like thin, some like thick, so exchanges might be neccessary.
Snow Chains: Security Chain Super Z6, SZ143, Cable Chain for Passenger Cars, Pickups & SUVs Something everyone should have in their car if they plan to drive in snowy regions, chains have evolded well beyond the ridiculous heavy metal of yesteryear. Try out some light-weight snow cables which are easier to install and perform better.
$70
All
Lift tickets: Everyone needs to expand their horizons. Buy your favorite skier or snowboarder tickets or a package to resorts they don’t get to that often. Make sure it’s somewhere they can get to, though. For instance, Vail skiers might enjoy Intrawest Colorado’s Sampler for $99.
Normally, sweaters are a dreaded holiday gift, but here’s a secret: a good sweater can make a big difference performance and comfort. A good one will last for years, wick away moisture, and provide breathability and warmth during heavy activity.
$130
Complainers
Heated Foot Beds: Hotronic Footwarmer M4 Power Plus w/Heat Ready Insole If, like me, you a) care enough about someone that you want them to be comfy but b) get tired of hearing about their chilly feet, maybe you should c) pony up for some high tech comfort.
$179
Fashion-skista
Long down coat: Patagonia Women’s Down With It Parka The long down coat is tricky: the warmth is awesome, but you don’t want to end up looking like an extra from Fargo. Patagonia’s Down With It Parka is not only form fitting, but the quilting is cleverly designed to emphasize her feminine shape.
$250
Narcissist
Action Cam: VholdR Wearable Camcorder (Black) Everyone wants to be reminded how awesome they are. But for the blowhard in your life, an action cam may have the unintended benefit of showing them how awesome they aren’t.
$299.00
Loved Ones
Snow Tires: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D For the person who drives in snow regularly, nothing beats snow tires. Even on an Audi, Subaru, or other all-wheel-drive vehicle, snow tires make a huge difference—especially when it comes to stopping. This is one of those times when a wrapped tire under the tree won’t say “I’m sorry you need something so utilitarian.”
Of the shells I’ve tried out so far, the Mountain Hardwear Ascent MCZ is easily in my top three. I love its simple, thoughtful design, its comfort, and its extensive array of skier-specific features.
The Ascent MCZ is made of lightweight Descent DT Hybrib fabric and uses the Conduit DT Hybrid breathable/waterproof membrane system. The jacket itself is very lightweight (735 gm) and supple making it very comfortable by itself or with multiple layers underneath. The Ascent MCZ has a standard array of ski shell features:
Intrawest Colorado is serving up something they’re calling a Pow Pow Platter. It’s a pass good for one day of skiing at each of their three Colorado resorts: Copper Mountain, Steamboat, and Winter Park. At $99, it’s a sweet deal. The purchase deadline is January 31, 2009, you must complete your purchase 48 hours before you want to ski, and there are no blackout dates.
I keep hearing about the great deals skiers are going to start seeing, but where are they? We’re booking a ten day trip in Southern Colorado for early next year, and I’m not blown away by bargains…
Apparently, though, Vail is getting hit, and is reacting. Today we read:
Vail’s 2009 First Quarter financial results, released on Tuesday, show that reservations are down 23% over the same period a year earlier.
Last week, Vail launched www.VailAllTheLove.com, and direct mail effort aimed at Front Range consumers. The Vail All The Love campaign provides substantial savings on lodging from more than 50 lodging properties, as well as savings on Vail Snowsports School lessons, mountain dining venues, and Adventure Ridge activities.
And then there’s the Tuesday’s launch of KeystoneTonight.com, a new online property designed to assist local Denver Metro-area skiers in finding last minute deals on lodging, activities, dining and more at Keystone.
What’s upsetting to me about the controversy surrounding Burton’s line of “Love” snowboards is not the objectification of women. No, it’s that Burton is trying to pass this calculated marketing ploy off as nonconformity. Here it is in a nutshell:
Research reveals that controversy can yield increases in sales and market visibility, so you…..
Plaster PG-13 images on your snowboard decks. (Clearly, your “free speech” conviction only goes as far as what can be stocked in mainstream retail outlets.)
After the protests have gone on for a while, feign indignation in a self-serving op-ed, but….
Justify yourself with an abjectly conventional litany of your “contributions to society.”
$40 Lift Tickets for Pass Holders from Other Resorts
Heavenly will honor season passes from other resorts by allowing pass holders from any other resort to purchase a Heavenly lift ticket for only $40 this Wednesday, December 10 through Friday, December 12.
The Bike Huggers were at Whistler last week, and snagged us some video background on the new Whistler Peak to Peak gondola, opening in a little more than three days.
Some vital stats:
Speed: 7.5 meters per second.
Ride Time: approximately 11 min.
Frequency: one cabin departs every 49 seconds
Total Distance: 4.4km/2.73miles (straight line)
Length of Unsupported Span: 3.024km/1.88 miles (straight line between the two towers that are furthest apart)
Highest Point: above the ground is 436m/1427 feet over Fitzsimmons Creek
Number of Cabins: 28
Capacity of Cabins: 22 seated, 6 standing
Capacity: 2050 people per hour each way
Number of Towers: 4 (2 on Blackcomb and 2 on Whistler)
The First Annual Retro Ski & Snowboard Theme Party is taking place this Saturday at California’s Squaw Valley – just in time to celebrate the start of the 2008-09 ski and snowboard season. In Squaw Valley tradition, partygoers must dress to impress in retro ski and snowboard gear. Sandy’s Pub at the Resort at Squaw Creek is hosting the winter kick-off bash. The party starts at 10 p.m. and prizes will be awarded to those donning the sweetest retro outfits.
This video makes igloo construction look pretty easy, right?
But what if you don’t have a snow knife, never mind years of experience living in the artic? What if you’re a 17 year old kid from San Diego armed with nothing but a snowboard, a one-hitter, and an unrealistic estimate of your abilities?
Although I am “none of the above,” the igloo video piqued my interest: what’s the best emergency snow shelter? It turns out there are a lot of considerations: snow caves require lots of snow, are a lot of work, can collapse, and can encourage hypothermia unless you have dry clothes to change into. Ditto for the quinzee. It seem the snow trench or snow coffin is preferred: it requires minimal tools, minimal snow, and if you build it on a slight incline it’ll even act as if it had a cold air sink.
Plus, if you keep it small, it makes an awesome hotbox while you wait for your step dad to realize you’re missing.
Our NW agents have made a run to Whistler (in Canada) to bring back weather intelligence from our “friends” north of the border.
Everybody knows that the REAL problem with the Canadians is not their self-effacing politeness, their attempts to flood the American markets with cheap pharmaceuticals, or their insidious campaign to make us gay with their so-called “English.” No, the real problem is: they steal our snow.
It’s a scientific fact that every flake that falls in Canada is one less flake that can fall here in the U.S. Think about it: there’s only so much cold air in the world and in any given ski season, only a finite amount of snow ever falls. This leads to one inescapable conclusion: when it snows in Canada, it can’t snow in Colorado.
This year the Canadians would have you believe that it’s cold and snowy with pictures of people skiing on mountains covered with white powder—much the way the old Soviet Union would make their armies seem larger with circular parade routes. But we have the photographic proof: there’s no snow in Canuckistan!
Would you like some more gravy on your cheese fries Comrade?
I'm about halfway through the jackets I'll be reviewing and I have to say, it's starting to become really interesting. I'm focused on light, breathable technical shells which tend to be very expensive, very well made, and of very similar materials. But if you thought they'd all be the same, you'd be mistaken. Case in point: the Arc'Teryx Stingray jacket.
Vancouver-based Arc'Teryx is known for making precise, highly technical gear. They pioneered innovations like die and laser cutting, heat lamination and bonding, and urethane-coated zippers which has given them a reputation for extremely quality at extreme prices. Having spent time with the Stingray jacket I can vouch for the beauty of its simple design and perfect construction, but also for its unsuitability to my purposes.
The unexpected dump in Summit county this weekend forced my hand in the matter of the après ski boot--in a state of snow-pessimism, I neglected to bring appropriate footwear. Recall that I've been on a hunt for a warm, comfy, slip-on boot that looks like it belongs on a human--as opposed to a robot or a cartoon character. I need these for actual après ski--coming off the slopes and going to drinks or driving home--as opposed to the elaborate mating rituals involving fur practiced by some skiers.
So it was that I stumbled upon Timberland's Frozen Coast Boot--a modest, suede and wool boot, with enough street-styling to fit in at a bar or dinner, but enough warmth and durability to slog through snow or (more importantly) ensconce worn-out feet after a day locked inside hard plastic. The Smart Wool interior feels fuzzier than it is, and the thick insole provides soft landings. The fat suede tab at the back makes them easy to pull on with a single gloved hand, and the tread provides just enough traction without tracking snow all over the place. They run a little large--maybe 1/2 size.
And, best of all, they're cheap. On sale now at Timberland for $89.99, but I found mine for about $35 at the Timberland factory store in Silverthorne, CO. At that price, I bought two--I suspect I'll wear these out in one season.
Vintage ski poster: Vintage Ski Posters: 2009 Wall Calendar
Long down coat: Patagonia Women’s Down With It Parka
Snow Tires: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
The 
