Winter Park, CO
words/images Judith Ecochard
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| can't argue with this offer... |
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| snow ski/boarders ready to go @ 7:45 AM---hardgoods ready to go |
The major snow came a tad late...but the snow at the well run
Winter Park Resort (an easy hour and a half from Denver)- was good enough for us-East Cost dwellers...and that blue Colorado sky-was heavenly...and welcoming weather par excellence to demo the latest ski/snowboard gear-from helmets, goggles, boots and all sorts of skis, boards (split too), and nordic/telemark nearby.
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| surprisingly comfortable and warm-with venting options and dial a perfect fit. |
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| Smith Optics lent us a female shaped goggles that did not fog up, gave us full peripheral vision, stayed on through face plants---and most importantly, did no leave those indents in our face |
Oakley (
www.oakley.com) had a large hospitality tent---decor-ed out with select performance wear (great graphics/functionality) and new signature limited edition goggles designed with team rider
Marie-France Roy.
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| Limitless sky |
Trendwise---we saw a lot of attire tricked out like this-solid color jacket, bright graphics on the pants.
oakley
PLUS: Amazing board graphics-often in cahoots with artists...frame worthy.
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| Rossignol Boards-have seven artists working their magic, graphics wise on tech hard goods-skis/boards |
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| prints on snowboard boots...very stylish |
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| Flow Boards |
We absolutely loved these
Contour boots by K2. The fit was superb-courtesy of the proprietary K2 DB lacing system, Boa® tightening on both the shells and Boa®Conda™ that let us fine-tune the inner liner too. Plush fleecy interior, EVA foam midsoles and "Harshmellow" outsoles that absorb vibrations
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"VERY COACH" (as in the handbag collection)-one comment we got. Urbane style indeed!
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| Oakley |
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| Service at it's best...lots of testing new gear, easy to try out new stuff all day! |
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| mirrored lenses-you can check yourself out on the lift.... |
ECO ALERT: Meaningful attempts to make boards more eco-less toxic materials, recycled materials-witout compromise on functionality
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| also trending-showing the materials the boards are made of-wood for example |
Unlike OR-SIA demo days focuses on the hardwoods only-but 3 years old
Point 6 socks-founded by the founders of SmartWool---had a display inside the base lodge...the difference in these multi performing merino wool socks-compact spun wool for a softer feel-and praise fit.
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| last runs of the day-we guess the other lifts were closed AND all the peeps working the booths-got some time to get in some last runs too |
we saw a gaggle of people on these SkiBikes---a
lesson a must imo! FUN.
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| Awards---for those in the Malakye.com sponsored Office Booys & Girlz "race" |
Another welcome---Coors sponsored HAPPY HOUR-straight from nearby Golden, Colorado---
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| ice cold vodka-guaranteed. |
Oakley (www.oakley.com) had a large hospitality tent---decor-ed out with select performance wear (great graphics/functionality) and new signature limited edition goggles designed with team rider Marie-France Roy.
