Sporting Life Magazine

FALL / WINTER 2011 sportinglife.ca

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Fashion forward retailers continue to sell a sporting lifestyle

FALL / WINTER 2011

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8/30/11 2:42 PM

LINDSEY VONN Stunning DH diva’s entourage continues to grow

WINTER LOOKS TO LIVE BY

AVIATOR, CHALET CHIC, BRITISH INVASION

YONGE STREET 2665 Yonge Street 416.485.1611 BIKES AND BOARDS 2454 Yonge Street 416.485.4440 SHERWAY GARDENS MALL 25 The West Mall 416.620.7750 COLLINGWOOD 222 Hurontario Street 705.445.3773

Shop in store or online for Canada Goose at:

YONGE STREET STORE 2665 YONGE STREET 416.485.1611 SHERWAY GARDENS 25 THE WEST M ALL 416.620.7750 BIKE AND BOARDS STORE 2454 YONGE STREET 416.485.4440 COLLINGWOOD 222 HURONTARIO STREET 705.445.3773

PROUDLY MADE IN CANADA WWW.CANADA-GOOSE.COM

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PRESENTED BY

Contents

Sporting Life Magazine Fall/Winter 2011 triple threat 8 hot trends 12 mountain expedition 14 modern family 17 boot wizard 20 downhill diva 24 chalet chic 30 true grit 33 aviator 39 rare finds 40 classic family 42 great coats 46 british invasion 49 heaven by heli 54 technical jackets 69 canada goose 72 sport couture 74 kids 76 last shot 82

Special thanks to the Sporting Life Team Director of Fashion Patti Russell Softgoods Divisional Merchandising Manager Robyn Haliburton Branding Specialist Shawna Labine Art Director Lisa ThĂŠ (S-media Inc.) Art Assistant Samantha Wagner Director of Marketing and Advertising John Roe Marketing and Advertising Coordinator Angela Esguerra Editorial Director Gordie Bowles writers Julian Smith, Kevin Stevens photographers Christopher Stevenson, Jaime Hogge, Trevor Brady wardrobe stylists Annie Aldworth, Nadia Pizzimenti prop stylist Christine Roberts (Judy Inc.) soft stylist Daniel Onori (Plutino Group) hair & makeup Alice Kilpatrick, Chantal Hubens (Judy Inc.) models Ariane L., Gary G, Nahanni J., Aarom and Chloe (Elite Model Management)

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Trip e

THREAT Retail trio continue to lead high-end sporting goods by selling an active lifestyle, fashion and fun By Kevin Stevens Photographs by Jaime Hogge

EARLY YEARS: Patti Russell next to her husband David (left) and Brian McGrath in 1979, the first year of the launch of Sporting Life.

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Like many good ideas, Sporting Life was conceived in the breathtaking tranquility and awe-inspiring vastness of the great outdoors. Coming together 34 years ago, Ontario entrepreneurs Patti Russell, her husband, David, and their friend, exdoctor Brian McGrath developed a concept for a sporting goods outlet offering highend merchandise and top-quality service.

Today, as the company ponders new stores beyond Ontario borders, Sporting Life is a truly great Canadian customer service success story. Having grown from a single 10,000-square-foot outlet in 1979, to what Canadian Retailer described as a “thriving chain” with four stores and more than 600 employees.

Patti, David and Brian’s approach is one they call “Fashletic,” a fun mashup that marries sport and fashion. Sporting Life sells more than sporting merchandise. It sells a lifestyle, one that applies not just to the outdoors enthusiast but the brand-quality conscious shopper in all of us.

Knowing that quality brands means a lot to its customers, Sporting Life carries only the best. Shelves and racks are stocked with goodies from Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss,

Moncler and Canada Goose. You’ll find Burton snowboards, Salomon skis and boots, and Oakley sunglasses.

Above all, David Russell says, it’s about you — striving to bring Sporting Life customers the best products with the best customer service. “We offer something unique. We think of ourselves as more of a lifestyle store, one that offers great products for our customers and services them well with a great experience.”

The Russells, who hail from Scarborough, and McGrath — a former doctor who once operated a chain of drug stores — might seem like an odd mix to helm a successful sporting retail franchise. But when McGrath decided to sell his drug stores to Imperial Tobacco, which also owned Collegiate Sports, Imperial reeled Brian in as president of its sporting goods operation. In that role, he met the Russells and forged a friendship and partnership that has survived for more than three decades.

“We keep playing the right tunes,” Brian says with a laugh when asked if the trio sometimes feels like a long-surviving rock band. “For whatever reason, we have stayed in a harmonious state all these years.”

“THEY TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE

the kings and queens — and princes and princesses — of the outdoors.”

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New Beginnings: Brian McGrath, Patti and David Russell visit the site of the soon-to-be-complete midtown Toronto store where they’re adding a second floor to their flagship location. Right page: The retail icons forged a partnership and bond in the late 1970s that has survived more than three decades. “We have always felt the three of us together, was stronger than any of us individually,” explained David.

Each brings something unique to the business. Patti is the fashion guru and visionary who keeps her finger on the pulse of evolving trends. David’s focus is on sporting equipment, while Brian’s area of expertise is footwear.

“We have always felt the three of us together was stronger than one or two of us separately,” David explains. “And we always give each other space, I think that was something we learned early on. There are places where we come together and places where we can play separately and do our own thing.”

Growth remains a constant, mostly because they treat their customers like the kings and queens (and princes, and

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princesses) of the outdoors. “Our customers want the lifestyle, the healthy lifestyle, the active lifestyle,” Patti says.

In response to the growing appeal of living a healthy and active lifestyle, and to better showcase its brands, Sporting Life is adding a second floor of retail to its flagship midtown Toronto store. Having been a local standby since 1979, Sporting Life knows its customers well.

“With the second floor expansion, we are not adding more sports or products,” David says. “We are improving significantly the shopping experience by giving more space to the great brands and products we sell to cater to customers’ ever-evolving lifestyle needs.”

When it comes to expansion, Sporting Life, whose business is focused around winter sports, moves slowly but surely—like a great and powerful glacier. Its first expansion was Sporting Life Bikes and Boards in 1993.

Then, in 1995 they opened a store at the prestigious Toronto mall Sherway Gardens.

That was followed in 2000 with a store in the Ontario resort town of Collingwood, providing an on-hill presence for its customers who ski at Blue Mountain Resort and the private clubs along the escarpment.

Trends may come and go but the one thing that has not changed over the decades has been Sporting Life’s attention to service, which remains the cornerstone of its business and the main reason the company has been cautious in its expansion.

“Our emphasis has always been on quality,” David says. “Early on, people would say to us, ‘Why don’t you open more stores and keep going?’ We understood how hard it was to do a really good job at what we are doing. The loss of the quality control is something we saw other businesses suffering. We didn’t think that was the way to go.”

At Sporting Life, staff is expected to treat customers like family stopping by for a visit.

Staffers receive thorough training in product knowledge and communication. Each ski season, the staff heads to Georgian Peaks for two days to test next years’ skis so they are able to speak with authority to customers, many of whom have often spent considerable time researching their purchases. “One of the things we learned early on was that the customer who is engaged in sport has

“WE THINK WE OFFER SOMETHING UNIQUE.

We think of ourselves as more of a lifestyle store. We want to offer great products for our customers and service them well with great experience.

usually spent a disproportionate amount of time researching it and become very astute,” Brian says. “To have your employee go face-to-face with them and not know anything about the product didn’t make any sense.

“So right from the start we have spent a lot of time and money educating our staff.

The product knowledge that goes on in these stores is much more intsense than almost anywhere else in retail business. They are armed with a real knowledge of these products so they can speak intelligently to the customer.”

Staffers also provide input into which products will find their way onto the store shelves. And, before every morning and

evening shift, all full and part-time staff are debriefed to ensure they’re up to speed. This, in turn, makes for a very satisfying and fulfilling work environment. Many staffers have spent more than 20 years with the company.

This personal attention has kept customers coming back and makes Sporting Life a vital part of the Toronto community it serves. That link to the community has been strengthened by an active role in event sponsorship and charity work. Sporting Life has sponsored the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and has staged Women’s Awareness events. The annual Sporting Life 10K last year attracted 14,000 participants and raised $1.3 million for Camp Oochigeas in Muskoka.

This is a camp where kids battling cancer can

benefit from a fun and fulfilling experience while undergoing treatment.

“We’ve always felt strongly that it is important to give back,” David says. “We feel we should be investing in this community.”

Coming off its most-successful year, Sporting Life is forging ahead with its massive renovation of the flagship Toronto store. Once that is complete, the company might be ready to make the great leap into new markets—but not until they’re sure their attention to quality customer service can continue to be as strong and thorough as it is in their native province.

“I think if this goes well here,” Brian says, “that it won’t be long before we are spreading out beyond Ontario.”

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Hot Trends manitobah mukluk journey moccasin Produced by a Canadian owned company, Manitobah Mukluks are individually crafted boots with the finest beads, leather and fur. An up-andcoming must-have trend, the Mukluks can be spotted on celebrities and trendsetters with virtually any outfit. $129.99 shearling It’s no secret that shearling is a musthave for Winter 2012. This is the “it” texture of the season. Once you wear shearling you’ll understand why. It’s incredibly warm, soft and feels sublime against the skin. It also looks wonderful, too. Michael Kors Shearling Vest, $195.

UGG Visor Hat, $165.

bogs junior classic spider boot These Bogs beauties are waterproof and ready for anything. With an ultra-grippy sole, easy-on pull handles, these boots are constructed with durable hand-lasted rubber for super comfort. And let’s be honest ... the spider web graphic is awesome! $84.99

ray-ban aviators The Aviators have been an iconic trend for decades. With widespread demand, Ray-Ban has adapted this classic into different styles to suit varying face shapes. Sporting Life carries four different Ray-Ban styles of metal aviators. The most popular model, Iconic Metal, has three different lens sizes in the same style. $174.99

gopro hd helmet hero GoPro’s HD Helmet Hero is the world’s best selling highest-performance wearable 1080p high definition video and still photo camera. Professional quality resolutions record at 30 and 60 frames per second and it records up to two and a half hours on a single charge. The camera can also shoot automatic five megapixel photos at varying intervals during your activity, hands free. $319.99

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salomon brigade audio helmet With park-ready style, crash-worthy construction and shred-ready audio, this helmet will rock your world. An injected ABS shell and technical construction with safety features — highperformance absorption, impact deflection and penetration resistance — this is a game changer. Extra cool feature: the audio component is built in! No need to worry about drop-in headphones, or using earbuds. $129.99

contour gps Add an entirely new layer to your storytelling. With the builtin functionality of GPS you are able to capture your location, speed and elevation while also recording in beautiful hands-free HD. Cool feature: Mobile connection! With the new Bluetooth capability of the ContourGPS, you can check your angle on a smartphone screen before dropping in. The Contour App creates a wireless handheld viewfinder that enables you to align your shot to make sure you have the right angle and eliminate the guesswork.

Made for both iOS and Android. Extra bonus: users can tweak settings via phone. $329.99

full tilt drop kick ski boot Full Tilt’s Drop Kick boot proves that a highperformance boot can still be comfortable.

The ultra light and nimble feel of this boot compliments its flex and the independently ratcheting three-buckle design allows for customization of the feel and fit and the wider toe area has more room. The bottom line is that his boot offers forgiveness when throwing tricks. A sweet boot. $449.99.

omni heat technology (columbia) There’s nothing quite like heat on demand!

With the simple push of a button you can control your temperature with Columbia’s thermal-electric technology. With durable, lightweight heaters, the easy-to-use interface glows red for high, amber for medium and green for low. All products are USB compatible for easy charging. Added bonus: It’s ultra-soft and eco friendly. $999.99

volkl rtm 80 w. binding With a wide tip and full rocker shape, the Volkl RTM will give you more lateral movement potential. The full rocker shape will keep turning easy. These boards are set to thrive in any conditions. $1,049.99

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Vist Din Venerre Jacket, $2,300. M. Miller Snowflake 3/4 Snowflake Turtleneck, $245.

Jet Set Embroidered Ski Pant, $1,300.

Sorel Joan of Arctic Boots, $179.99

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innovation

Volkl RTM 84, $1,199.99 (with bindings).

Winner of every major magazine award in this season’s buyer’s guides, the innovative RTM 84 is designed for good skiers who want smooth carving on the front side of the mountain combined with uncanny maneuverability in soft snow. Völkl’s proprietary full rocker technology gives the skier smooth, direct turn initiation, and a playful overall feel. Its new construction even yields a 15% weight savings compared to its predecessor, the AC50.

grit & glam

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JP AUCLAIR / VISION

CRYSTAL CLEAR OPTICS TO SLICE THROUGH THE ELEMENTS.

Signature Series Goggle: JP Auclair x Crowbar

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On her: Moncler Armoise Jacket, $1,610. Michael Kors Faux Cheetah Vest, $425. Splendid Ladies Henley, $85. Adidas by Stella McCartney Bib Ski Pant, $300.

Salomon Ladies Instinct 100 CS Boots, $549.99. On him: Spyder Pinnacle Jacket, $1,000. Spyder Tarantula Pant, $225.

Tony Lama Cowboy Hat, $60. Salomon Men’s Quest 10 Boots, $499.99. On boy: Obermeyer Giant Slalom Suit, $260.

Jupa Zenya Hat, $30 Rossignol Junior Comp J3 Boots, $139.99.

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best boot forward for her

Salomon Instinct 100 Custom Shell, $549.99. Lange Exclusive RX 100, $499.99.

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for him Salomon Quest 14, $649.99.

Lange RX 130, $599.99

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boot

W ZARD

Sporting Life’s chief boot fitter and fit trainer works his magic one foot and boot at a time By Kevin Stevens Photograph by Christopher Stevenson

According to the chart in my doctor’s office, the foot has 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 32 tendons and muscles.

Cam Powell seems to know them all, podiatrist-speak rolling off his tongue like a second language.

“Your foot is a three-legged table searching for a fourth leg,” Powell says.

“Over 25 percent of the bones in your body are below the knee, and there’s quite a number of joints from the ankle down and forward. I’m not a medical doctor, but I see a lot of feet.”

Your feet are in good hands with Powell, the boot professor who tutors Sporting Life’s arsenal of boot fitters. Powell stays sharp by working with young racers at Blue Mountain, and traveling with the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team. The knowledge he gains from those situations directly benefits Sporting Life customers, who demand comfort and performance from their alpine boots.

Powell is routinely up at 5 a.m., shuttling between Sporting Life stores in Collingwood, Sherway Gardens Mall and the flagship shop on Yonge Street, giving skiers a hand with their feet.

“A lot people don’t do this unless they are at their doctor, so for me this is a pretty good place to start, with a foot exam,” explains Powell, glancing down at my trainers. “I can’t fit what I can’t see.”

When it comes to feet, Powell has seen it all — perfect instep, no instep, six toes, and no toes. And today, with the help of technology like the proverbial Glass Slipper, every skier can find the perfect fit.

But there is nothing left to chance here.

Powell thumbs through Sporting Life’s 60-page ski boot guide (revised Sept. 25, 2011) — warning that there might be a test later. Staring at a wall of kaleidoscopecoloured boots, the choices are many — Lange, Salomon, Atomic — but there will be only one right fit.

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The search begins with a questionnaire: Where do you ski? How much you ski?

How good do you ski? What is your skiing style? In order, what is most important to you: comfort, performance, warmth? Each answer is assigned a number, and when added up, Powell has his starting point.

In many ways, buying the right boot is not unlike buying a car. You pick your model and see what comes standard, then you add on all the bells and whistles, from customized foot beds to buckles and straps. Like at a restaurant, boots can be baked or boiled, providing an extracomfortable custom fit.

“In my business, I can fine tune, just like a race car,” Powell says. “Say someone was extremely bowlegged. I’m going to build a more supportive footbed for $150 and put them on a series of alignment wands. Or we might heat the boot up and liner up so it would custom mold, and that would give them a three- or four-day ski experience before they ski. We try to offer a performance guarantee. Hopefully I’ve done my due diligence, we’ve tried on three or four boots and together and we have made a decision.

“Ideally we would want the customer to be comfortable with their purchase, but they will never know until they ski it. And that is the best part.”

When he is not in the store, Powell can be found on the Ontario ski hills working with young racers, or he might be in Chile with the Canadian para-ski team.

“I’m six feet above the ground, so that makes every day a good day,” Powell says.

“Hopefully every day you learn a little bit more. Has the foot really changed? Not really. But the skis have, boots have. …

You will see around the world that all feet aren’t alike. Every foot is different.

“It’s family sport and we are trying to keep the family out skiing together.”

A BOOST FROM BLACK

Sporting Life capitalizes on the “power of three” to offer customers the ultimate in custom boot fitting. Three grade-A providers of comfort, performance and technical services — Sporting Life, Conform’able and Salomon — team up for a winning proposition: the Black Boot Project.

Uniting Sporting Life’s service and knowhow with market-leading products, the Black Boot Project guarantees customers performance and comfort on the ski hill.

Sporting Life staff provides the knowhow and service to adapt the products to the skier’s foot. Conform’able offers complete personalization with foam, thermal foam and custom ski insole systems. Salomon provides a state-of-the-art shell that is 100 percent adaptable to the skier’s foot.

Whether you choose an entry-level boot or the Black Ops premium boot that retails for $999 and features two custom liners, Sporting Life has the boot-fitting expertise and product line to fit your needs.

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on edge for him

Volkl Code Speedwall, $1,149.99 (with bindings).

Salomon Enduro RX 800, $749.99 (with bindings).

Rossignol Experience 88, $829.99 (with bindings).

Rocker skis, with slightly bent tips and tails, are the fastest-growing innovation in ski design. The skis perform their best in powder where it keeps the tips above the snow but it also performs brilliantly on groomed, steep pitches where your carve may feel less hooky and easier to steer.

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Volkl RTM 77, $849.99 (with bindings).

Salomon Enduro XT 850, $999.99 (with bindings). Atomic Nomad Blackeye Ti, $899.99 (with bindings).

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Samo Vidic/Red Bull Photofiles

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DVA Downhill

Lindsey Vonn’s entourage grows with every photo, every award, every win By Gordie Bowles

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You can call her a model. And you should call her the fastest ski racer on the planet.

But don’t you dare call her skin deep. With corporate giants Nike, Tory Burch, Proctor & Gamble, Louis Vuitton, Red Bull, Rolex and many others backing the American ski racer, Lindsey Vonn has become the biggest name in winter sports. First there was the pre-Olympic hype, headlined by a controversial Sports Illustrated cover and racy editorial spread featuring the 26-year-old sitting in a sauna, standing on the slopes posing with a rescue helicopter (whilst bikini-clad, of course) and wearing various nothings in a Whistler ski chalet.

Some were upset by the semi-suggestive poses. Sexism, some yelled. Objectifying women, said others.

But Vonn is more Chris Evert than Anna Kournikova. Substance backed up with incredible athletic ability. She will likely go down in the history books as the best woman ski racer of all time.

Her rapid ascension to global stardom has gone like this: First came the wins. Lots of them. Three overall World Cup titles, 35 wins, an Olympic gold medal, two world championships; then came the accolades.

Last summer Vonn received an ESPY for “Best Female Athlete,” the highest individual honour for women in the U.S. as voted by fans through text messages, Facebook and ESPN.com. Glamour Magazine followed when it presented her the Game Changer

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Erich Spiess/Red Bull Photofiles. Opposite: Samo Vidic/Red Bull Photofiles

YOU CAN CALL HER GLAMOUROUS.

award in New York City in November, along with soccer player Mia Hamm and women’s basketball legend Lisa Leslie.

Finally, fame came knocking and the corporate drooling quickly commenced.

The New York Daily News claimed she made $2.5 million in 2009, while celebritynetworth.com claim she is currently pulling in $3 million a year.

“You can do anything that you dream to do,” Vonn told her young female fans in her acceptance speech. “Just work hard and anything is possible. For women today, there are no limits. We play hard, get down and dirty, and kick butt.”

Immediately following the red-carpet ceremony, Vonn was whisked off to Europe, where she finished sixth in a World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland.

The bottom line is Vonn is the full package — incredible athletic talent and determination packaged in a glamorous and model-like persona. No wonder the corporate big-whigs are lining up to join the Vonntourage.

There’s also the playful side. Last spring, the Minnesota-bred siren appeared in the final episode of NBC’s legendary drama “Law & Order.” It was a thrill for Vonn, who had previously started a Facebook page called “Save Law & Order” after hearing the news of her favourite show getting the axe. Vonn mentioned it was common for her to “rip through two or three episodes at a time.”

Vonn met a few cast members last year during a New York City media swing, and following the 2010 Winter Olympic Games — where she was garnering daily headlines across the world — show creator Dick Wolf took notice and invited her to film an episode in early spring.

“I was completely shaking, but I had a grin from ear to ear,” said Vonn, who plays an administrative assistant at a teachers union and tries to help Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) find a blogger who threatens to blow up a school. “I was supposed to be a serious character that is ratting out her boss, and I just couldn’t stop smiling. I think the producer was scratching his head a little bit. All the other actors were able to joke around between takes and then as soon as they called, ‘Action,’ they were serious. I was still just smiling. I don’t know if I did a great job.”

And in typical Vonn fashion, her sixhour-a-day training regimen began the next day after the Law & Order debut.

Vonn’s life is a busy one. From commercial shoots to charity galas and a sea of corporate demands, she manages to find the balance and keep grounded in her sport.

“It would be cool to move into a bit more acting, but for now, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else but skiing.”

But Vonn is more Chris Evert than Anna Kournikova.

Substance backed up with incredible athletic ability.

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“For women today, there are no limits.

We play hard, get down and dirty, and kick butt.”

THE VONNTOURAGE SIGHTINGS

Lindsey Vonn’s entourage and star power is growing rapidly. Since she emerged as an international star in 2005, the 26-year-old American has become a global sports icon. Here are a few of her more recent marketing endeavors.

Red Bull “I had the feeling this was going to be my big chance,” said Vonn about her 2006 signing with mega-brand Red Bull. The dollars that flowed from that deal allowed Vonn to elevate her professional ski racing career and training program for on-hill success.

Got Milk?

Vonn joined a long line of other famous calcium-conscious athletes to don the famous milk mustache for the “Got Milk?” ad campaign.

“Look angelic, feel divine” was the slogan that ran in the ad.

Work hard, look great: Lindsey Vonn during an Under Armour advertising campaign (top) in the company’s efforts to expand its market to athletic women.

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Wheaties Wheaties unveiled three new cereal box covers before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, each featuring a high-profile gold medallist: Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White and snowboardcross racer Seth Wescott. Nice forecasting by the cereal prognosticators!

Under Armour Under Armour was recognized by the U.S. Ski Team for an ad campaign featuring Vonn. The award recognizes team suppliers for promotion of the team’s brand or athletes.

Sports Illustrated The debate raged on for months about whether Vonn’s appearance in SI (cover and feature) in “provocative poses” objectified women. Viewed by tens of millions worldwide, Vonn’s pop culture iconic status grew with the shoot that featured her bikiniclad in Whistler.

Proctor & Gamble Corporate giant Proctor & Gamble signed on a short list of female athletes, including Vonn, to promote P&G beauty brands such as CoverGirl and Olay beauty products.

Š Sorel Corporation. All rights reserved.

See the full story at sorelfootwear.ca

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romantic On her: Idra Alta Moda Trapper Hat, $1,295.

Moncler Mens Reindeer Cardigan, $650. The North Face Printed Henley, $40. Dex Brothers Leggings, $39.

Krimson Klover Socks, $35. Moncler Snowflake Mittens, $175.

On him: Scotch and Soda Striped Henley, $95. Oakley Airbrake Goggle, $249.99. Helly Hansen Treeline Pant, $300. UGG Butte Boot, $330. Home accents and accessories: Pendelton Mug, $20.

Pendelton Blanket, $95. Sofa from Elte. www.elte.com. Salomon Ladies Instinct 100 CS Ski Boots, $549.99.

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urban cowgirl

Frye Campus Saddle Boot, $348. Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses, $174.99. Frye Maddy Bag, $378. Suzi Roher Belt, $348.

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grit & glam Pendleton Cape, $395.

Arnold Zimberg Plaid Shirt, $225. Dex Bros Textured Legging, $39.

Soia and Kyo Leather Glove, $70. Rebecca Minkoff Mini Morning After Bag, $568. Suzi Roher Equestrian Belt, $310.

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hot head

Moncler, Wet Look Down Filled Trapper Hat, $1,350.

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sophisticated Moncler Saffron Jacket, $2,125.Soia and Kyo Leather Gloves, $70.

J Brand Skinny Flare Jean, $220.

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expedition boots

1. Frye Veronica Combat, $318. 2. Sorel Shearling Earhart, $399.99. 3. Hunter Regent Motcomb, $224.99 with Hunter Welly Warmer, $44. 4. Frye Veronica Slouch, $448. 5. Manitobah Mukluk Tall Suede Charcoal, $299.99. 6. UGG Adirondack, $298. 7. Australia Luxe Nordic Angel, $410. 8. Pajar Grip, $189.99.

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aviator style

Parajumpers Men’s Leather Gobi Bomber, $1,775. Y3 Ladies Shearling Jacket, $1,885. Belstaff Ladies Shearling and Leather Jacket, $1695.

Moncler Men’s Chevalier Jacket, $1,050.

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This page: Moncler Jacket, $1,495. Moncler Turtleneck, $495. RLX Men’s Embroidered Pants, $255. Frye Campus Saddle Boot, $348.

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RARE FINDS COATS! COATS! COATS!

Sporting Life carries the largest and best selection of coats, inlcuding anoraks, parkas, trenches, pea coats, down coats, expedition coats and more.

Brands you must check out: Canada Goose, The North Face, Hugo Boss, Moncler, Parajumpers, Patagonia, Woolrich, Mackage, ADD Outerwear, Helly Hansen, Postcard, Duvetica, Napapijri, Michael Kors, Canadian Spirit, and more.

moncler grenoble The darling collection of Moncler worldwide, Grenoble is a tribute to the company’s heritage as a luxury-winter performance brand. With technical features such as goggle cleaners and pass holders it is also functional. These fashion-forward items are inspired by the après ski culture of the 1960s. Exclusive to Sporting Life in Canada.

2012 burton heritage Harkening back to a golden era, the Burton Heritage collection combines modern street style with classic Burton technique.

For a progressive spin on traditional styling, the Heritage Fit is slightly longer and more tailored for a look that functions and looks good on snow and street.

BIG HATS! belstaff Belstaff is an English brand best known for producing high-performance waterproof jackets for motorcyclists, and was the first company to ever use waxed cotton. The women’s Greenford Blouson Lady jacket features an exclusive Millerain and quilted wax cotton which makes the jacket water repellent while maintaining the cotton’s natural breathability and wicking properties.

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idra alta moda While travelling the world, Sporting Life buyers noticed hats becoming a winter fashion centrepiece.

So we sourced the boldest hat on the market, as they were seen on models and fashionistas alike. And here it is, the crowning glory, from Idra Alta Moda. The perfect statement piece.

«vist

barbour Sporting Life carries both Barbour men’s and ladies lines, featuring the largest selection of Barbour ladies sportswear in Canada. Barbour is best known for waxed cotton jackets and currently holds royal warrants to supply waterproof and protective clothing to Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales. You don’t have to go socks hunting to enjoy wearing this iconic British brand. Since 1894 Barbour has infused the traditions and values of the English country side into their beautifully functional garments — minus the stiff upper lips.

hugo boss Sporting Life carries a wide array of Hugo Boss Orange and Green products for men and women, as well as a kids line and watches. In fact, Sporting Life is the only retailer in Ontario to have Hugo Boss men’s, women’s and kids all under one roof.

jet set Founded in 1969 in St. Moritz, Jet Set is a luxury brand catering to an international clientele. It was the first label in the luxury sports fashion segment to combine the innovative design of a clear fashion approach with functionality and high tech materials.

Exclusive to Sporting Life in Canada.

This is another exclusive luxury ski brand available at Sporting Life. Vist features high quality, refined design.

The company places high value in the development of exclusive products, featuring utmost functionality and are able to achieve high performance.

Vist has embraced stye and fashion trends since established in 1920.

A perfect balance between fashion and function.

the north face Winter X Games medallist Kaitlyn Farrington is a force to be reckoned with in women’s snowboarding. She is talented, brimming with potential and has the look that The North Face couldn’t resist. Wearing North Face styles, such as the Feverpost jacket — new to Sporting Life — Kaitlyn shows how the brand is stylish as much as it is hip and functional.

sportinglife.ca / Sporting Life Magazine 41

On her: Tony Sailer Tabitha Jacket, $1,520.

Esprit Floral Blouse, $89.50. Hudson Bootcut Jeans, $265. UGG Ladies Abbie Clog, $190. On him: Moncler Florian Bomber, $1,575.

Lacoste Merino V Neck Sweater, $175. Lacoste Gingham Shirt, $115.

Levis 514 Jeans, $88.

On boy: Moncler Boys Down Coat, $655. Ben Sherman School Cardigan, $75. Hugo Boss Boys Shirt, $160.

Burberry Check Pant, $156. Sorel Junior Yoot PAC 1964, $89.99.

On girl: Moncler Girls Moka Coat, $585. Yumi Tiger Dress, $115. Roxy Legging, $45. Pendleton Bear, $55. UGG Junior Clovis, $215.

classic

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napapijri.com Ph. Sebastian Copeland

Napapijri ad

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vintage On her: Napapijri Achao Down Pullover Jacket, $895. Ray-Ban Aviators, $174.99. Soia and Kyo Leather Gloves, $70.

J Brand Jeans, $235.

Sorel Earhart Leather Boot, $349.99. On him: Napapijri Anorak Jacket, $650. Ray-Ban Aviators, $174.99. LRG Plaid Flannel Shirt, $71. Levi’s 514 Jeans, $88. Thinsulate Flip Glove, $25. Moncler Down Filled Trapper Hat, $1,350. UGG Men’s Butte Boot, $330.

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15.28

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puff momma

Duvetica Ladies Parka, $1,125. Arc’Teryx Sylvia Parka, $450. Moncler Mocha Coat, $1,125.

Parajumpers Longbear Parka, $995. ADD Outerwear Pillow Icon Coat, $595.

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urban chic

Virginia Johnson Wool Bag, $350.

Matt & Nat Envelope Bag, $185.

Soia and Kyo Leather Gloves, $70.

Suzi Roher Equestrian Belt, $310.

Virginia Johnson Henna Scarf, $195.

48 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca

rebellious On him: Barbour International Moto Jacket, $495. Ben Sherman Union Jack Tee, $68. Nudie Slim Jeans, $189. Converse All Star Hightop, $59.99. On her: Y3 Biker Leather Jacket, $1,520. LAMB Plaid Vest, $265. LAMB 3/4 Striped T-shirt, $176. J Brand Jegging, $215. Frye Engineer Boot, $278. sportinglife.ca / Sporting Life Magazine 49

on edge

for her

Volkl Attivia Sol, $849.99 (with bindings).

Atomic Affinity Storm, $799.99 (with bindings).

Salomon Origins Intense Black, $649.99 (with bindings).

K2 T:9 Superfree, $799.99 (with bindings).

Women’s skis, the fastest growing segment in all of skiing. No wonder! Designed specifically for her.

50 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca

RO

Photo Š Blake Jorgenson

400 GROOMED RUNS 8 POWDER DAYS 10 000 PERFECT TURNS INFINITE EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE 88 The new Experience 88 is the superhero of all-mountain skis for advanced to expert skiers. This new breed of wide all-mountain ski, equipped with Autoturn rocker, will let you float through the deep pow like a big-mountain rock-star and charge the groomers like a racer for a true Do-It-All-One-Ski-Quiver.

rossignol.com/experience

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ROSSIGNOL_SPORTING LIFE_2011_EXP88.indd 1

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Lace up your rechargeable mobile devices The Bugathermo Electric™ Boot

WHEN THE CONDITIONS HIT FREEZING, REACH DOWN AND PUSH THE BUTTON. When you turn on our Omni-Heat Electric boots, the rechargeable batteries provide hours of warmth instantly. And just as quickly, you’ll understand the benefits of trying stuff. COLUMBIASPORTSWEAR.CA

OMNI-HEAT ™ ELECTRIC: HEAT ON DEMAND

© 2011 Columbia Sportswear Company. All rights reserved.

52 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca

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by Heli

Skiers continue to find white dream at Mike Wiegele’s

By Julian Smith

Photographs by John Schwirtlich

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EDITH ROZSA cuts a perfect vertical sine wave through the trees of B.C.’s snow-smothered Cariboo Mountains. It’s a beautiful line befitting a former national team racer and nine-time North American slalom and giant slalom champ.

After a dozen turns, she sweeps past filmmaker Darryl Palmer, hunched in the snow behind a camera on a tripod. She pulls to an effortless stop next to Bob Sayer, whose bright red jacket identifies him as a guide with Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing.

“How was that?” she says. “Great,” Palmer responds, folding up his tripod. “Let’s try over here to the right.”

Sayer aims us toward a clearing at the bottom of the canyon, where a Bell 407 will land to ferry us back to the top. Palmer balances a few mortgage payments worth of electronics on his shoulder, and everyone follows Sayer down the slope.

To film an episode of Ski Television on Wiegele’s operation, Palmer, Rozsa and Sayer will stop and start, over and over, for three days straight, to set up and capture every shot. They’ll spend maybe a quarter of the time actually skiing, which is almost criminal considering the typical guest experience.

Here’s how it usually works: First fly to Kamloops, then drive 230 kilometres to Wiegele’s Heli Village Resort in Blue River and settle in to a luxury log chalet with a river-stone fireplace. Head to the shop and pick a pair of ultra-fat powder skis or a Burton Fish snowboard — no need to bring your own — and sign a two-page waiver against every form of alpine hazard known to man.

Safety is the top priority, so every guest has to watch a video on backcountry best practices and learn the basics of avalanche beacons and rescue techniques. The first night’s dinner in the Powdermax

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Dining Room is a buzz of giddy good spirits, enhanced by a twofoot chocolate helicopter and more than 600 wines in the wine cellar.

Guides greet returning guests like old friends, which they are.

The helicopters start landing after breakfast. The landing pads are closer than the parking lot, and your freshly tuned skis are waiting, magically, at the right one. Climb aboard in a Groucho walk — watch those blades — and get ready for an epic day with one of the world’s premiere heli-ski operations.

Mike Wiegele came to Canada from Feistritz, Austria, in 1959. He started running heli-skiing trips in Valmount in 1970 and eventually moved to Blue River and set up his own guide school, the Canadian Ski Guide Association. Today, Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing has access to 1.2 million acres of the Cariboo and Monashee mountains. That’s more than all North American ski resorts combined and almost exactly 100 times as big as Whistler Blackcomb. More than 1,000 peaks and 553 named runs get an average of 30 feet of flawless powder every year.

With 10 choppers, Wiegele can tailor groups to different abilities. Three remote weather stations help keeps things safe while earning an industry-leading 95 percent fly rate. All that comes at a cost. Three-day packages start at $3,800, airfare not included, and reservations can be necessary a year in advance. Even so, 80 percent of guests are return customers.

Palmer sets up again and eyes the slope. The snow is kneedeep and pillowy, scattered with logs and tree mushrooms.

“There’s a nice line over here to the left,” he shouts uphill to Rozsa.

“I want you to come towards me, take a turn here, give me a pole plant and a big smile.”

As he sets up his camera, Palmer tells me how much easier filmmaking has become in the past decade. “Ten years ago I would have been lugging 40 pounds of gear, a Betamax camera and two huge batteries. Now the batteries are so much smaller, and last a lot longer.”

Aside from his main toaster-sized video rig, he packs only a Contour HD digital camera no bigger than a fat bar of soap. He and Rozsa have been experimenting with mounting it on her helmet, on a pole she holds out to one side, and facing backward on Palmer’s backpack as she skis behind him.

Finally he’s ready. “Rolling!” “Skiing!” By the third run everyone’s toes are starting to go numb from waiting in the snow. Sayer has Rozsa lay on her back and holds her feet in the air, supposedly to replace cold blood with warm. She can’t tell if it works or not, but it’s good for a laugh.

“We could have done seven or eight runs by now,” he says good-naturedly as we wait for the helicopter. And Palmer and Rozsa are fast, for a film crew; they’ve been shooting together for over a decade. As the president of the CSGA and a 24-year Wiegele veteran, Sayer had enough bad experiences with film crews — ­­ despotic producers, incompetent skiers — that he swore them off for years.

These two are an exception.

We make four runs in all, even though we skip lunch. Ten to twelve is average, totaling about 20,000 vertical feet per day. Some people push it to 50,000. Wiegele is known for its unlimited vertical, unlike most heli-ski operators, who charge over a certain limit. “I have an old Scottish couple that comes here every spring to ski, snowboard and telemark,” Sayer says. “They get sixty to eighty thousand in every day for two weeks.”

They are four unbelievable runs, though, with near-ideal snow and trees just the right distance apart. Flying in a helicopter is just plain fun, especially compared to waiting in line and freezing on a lift, not to mention an order of magnitude faster. After the last run, our pilot, Ian, aims for a small hole in the low cloud ceiling. We pop up into an archipelago of frosted peaks rising from a sea of fog. After an overcast day, the sun feels as magnificent as the view.

A few minutes of filming and then we have to fly back, spiraling down through the hole. If it had closed, Sayer says, the helicopter would have to stay up there until the clouds broke. We could have skied out, but Ian would have had to snowshoe. They’ve had helicopters stuck for weeks.

Sunday night at Wiegele’s means two things: sushi night in the restaurant and, this week at least, free beer night in the Silver Buckle Bar. Sayer explains the name — an award for racking up a million vertical feet — and shows us his. (“Got that a long time ago.”) Rozsa’s husband Al Wright joins us for dinner. Palmer’s entree goes cold

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FLYING IN A HELICOPTER IS JUST PLAIN FUN,

especially compared to waiting in line and freezing on a lift, not to mention an order of magnitude faster. as he films them talking at the table. She’s a natural host, but Al just drove all the way from Kelowna and needs a little more coaching.

Off camera, Sayer explains how the clientele has changed. “It used to be all 45-year-old guys in here, a hundred of them. Now it’s 80 guys, 20 women, 10 kids and four babies.” Today kids and timid spouses can go cat skiing on nearby Saddle Mountain.

Over dessert and coffee, per Wiegele custom, a guide stands up and gives a ski report for the day and the weather report for tomorrow. He convinces Rozsa to give the daily ski tip, and Palmer makes sure to film it. It might make a 15-second clip, which helps explain how it can take three days to accumulate enough footage to make a 30-minute show.

Later, in the chalet, Palmer and Rozsa watch the day’s footage and record some of her voiceovers for the show. We’ve used only half an hour of helicopter time out of the five hours they budgeted. At this rate it looks like they should get everything they need, as long as the weather cooperates.

Two more days of work? As Palmer says in the afternoon, watching a brief band of sun ignite the rocky face of the canyon, “Is there a better office in the world?”

58 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca

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THE NINE.10 HELMET & SIGNAL GOGGLE More than a decade after the original Giro Nine helmet was introduced, its’ soul lives on in the all new NINE.10. Featuring our legendary In Form fit system, this lid packs a lot of bang for the buck.

To find a Canadian dealer in your area please visit www.ogc.ca

60 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca

giro.com

shape up

Salomon BBR 8.9, $949.99 (with bindings) BBR is a ski like no other ski ever made. An oversized, surfboard like tip and rocker shape enable the ski to float in powder and adapt to uneven terrain smoothly and predictably. BBR’s narrow waist and pintail allows short radius turns and short effective edge on-piste provide great grip and playfulness on harder snow. What Salomon calls the “V” shape, is literally 2 skis in one. Historically, skis have been mostly designed around a classic X-shape concept. The new V-shape is characterized by a surf board shaped tip , a narrow waist and a pin tail. The overall result is versatile performance that must be experienced to be believed. The BBR’s tip and tail ensure great floatation in powder, and amazing on-piste carving while reducing unnecessary weight compared with a normal freeski.

The Salomon BBR is performance guaranteed exclusively at Sporting Life in Canada

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view from above

GoPro HD Helmet Hero Camera, $319.99. Giro Seam Helmet, $169.99. Recon Instruments SPX Polarized Lens Goggle, $399.99

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1

mountain must-haves

1. Leki World Cup Racing Titanium Glove, $199.99. 2. Leki World Cup Trigger Racing SL Pole, $129.99. 3. Giro Sheer Helmet, $169.99. 4. Giro Skullcandy Drop-in Headphones, $49.99. 5. Arc’Teryx Powderface Goggle Case, $34.99. 6. Dragon APX Goggle,$224.99. 7. Anon Printed Tracker Goggle, $49.99. 8. Oakley Airbrake Shaun White Goggle, $239.99. 9. The North Face Base Camp Ski Roller Bag, $249.99.

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8

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CAPTIVITY Mission Collection. Built for Daron Rahlves.

“Spyder is my ANTIDOTE to captivity.”

Yonge Street Store 2665 Yonge Street, M4P 2J6 (6 blocks N. of Eglinton) Tel: 416.485.1611

66 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca Rocket Down Jacket

SportingLife_Spyder2011.indd 1

Bikes and Boards Store 2454 Yonge Street, M4P 2H5 (4 blocks N. of Eglinton) Tel: 416.485.4440

Sherway Gardens 25 The West Mall, M9C 1B8 Tel: 416.620.7750 Collingwood Store 222 Hurontario Street, L9Y 2M2 Tel: 705.445.3773

www.sportinglife.ca 9/6/11 1:43 PM

“Applying lessons learned from other glide sports, the bbR is a completely new ski concept in terms of shape, feel, and versatility. It is simply more fun in more conditions.”

- bertrand Krafft (aka bbR) Salomon alpine ski developer and Shaper of the bbR

SEE wHAT THE NEw SHAPE IS ALL AbOuT.

COPYRIGHT© SALOMON SAS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PHOTOGRAPHER: JOE FELzMAN.

SALOMON.COM/bbR

1:43 PM

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dana fl ahr PEMBERTON BC , M ARCH 6, 2011. DANA FL AHR IN HIS ELEMENT WITH THE NEW ATOMIC BLOG, THE ATOMIC FFG16 TE A M BINDING, THE ATOMIC BURNER 120 AND THE NEW ATOMIC TROOP HEL ME T. atomicsNoW.com facebook.com /atomicskiiNg

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1 08:30

speed demons

for him

Phenix Neo Spirit Jacket, $570. Arc’Teryx Vertical Jacket, $650. Vist Luxor Jacket, $1,295. Goldwin Jacket, $1,110.

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CONFIDENT WHEN IT MATTERS Helly Hansen: The choice of Aspen / Snowmass ski patrollers for staying dry, warm and protected in extreme conditions.

Summer Leonard / Aspen Buttermilk ski patroller 70 Sporting Life Magazine / sportinglife.ca

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blaze a trail

Tubbs Xpedition 25, $229.99 Tubbs Xpedition 25w, $229.99 For the technical snowshoe user who wants to hit the backcountry in comfort and style, there’s the Tubbs Xpedition Snowshoe.

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09.30

never cold

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On Him: Canada Goose Men’s Expedition Parka, $695. LRG Plaid Flannel Shirt, $71. Seven Austyn Vlore Jean, $265. Converse Chuck Hightop Leather, $109.99. On her: Canada Goose Men’s Expedition Parka, $695. Michi Mesh Back Bra, $65. Michi Faux Denim Jersey Short, $90. Moncler Leg Warmers, $320. Manitobah Mukluks Tall Suede Boot, $299.99.

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Adidas by Stella McCartney Onesie Jumpsuit, $200. Adidas by Stella McCartney Clima Run Jacket, $160. New Balance NBX Emissive Top, $60. Adidas by Stella McCartney Backpack, $130. Nixon Time Teller P Watch, $79.99. Adidas by Stella McCartney 3/4 Run Tight, $100. Asics Ladies Gel Blur 33, $139.99.

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SAVE MAY 13, 2012

FOR THE SPORTING LIFE 10K Mark your calendars. Get training. Be part of the run that supports Camp Oochigeas by giving children with cancer a summer of marshmallow toasting, relay racing, canoe-riding fun. The goal is to raise more money and send more kids to camp, so save the date and help make it happen. Visit sportinglife10K.ca for more details.

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On him: Volcom Peepers Hoodie, $72. Spyder Mini Leader Suit, $290.

Sorel Yoot PAC 1964, $89.99. On her: Salomon Junior Kiana Helmet, $79.99. Roxy Jet Ski Jacket, $150. Burton Heartbreaker Top, $45.

Salomon Junior Jib Helmet, $79.99. Roxy Go Faster Pant, $95.

Rossignol Junior Fun Girl J3 Boots, $139.99.

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Armada Down Vortac Jacket, $370. Armada Insulated Shambles Pant, $280. Thinsulate Flip Glove, $25. Salomon Brigade Audio Helmet, $129.99. Anon Comrade Gig Goggle, $164.99.

Nordica Double Six Boot, $399.99. Armada T-Hall Ski $624.99.

dynamic sportinglife.ca / Sporting Life Magazine 77

chair of the board

Burton Custom Restricted, $649.99 Special issue for Restricted dealers, the Custom with Camber Humps introduces the latest evolution in Springloaded hybrid performance. Taking the loose and playful feel of rocker, Camber Humps add aggressive power to the mix for a ride that leans towards the camber side of the spectrum. Full contact zones between and outside the feet deliver high-speed stability. The snappy suspension of camber is focused underfoot for pre-loaded pop. Rocker at the tip and tail adds the necessary float and catch-free feel.

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alter ego On girl (left): 686 Engage Jacket, $300. Burton Lizzie Denim Shell Pant, $350. Colorfast Sherpa Hoodie, $107. Roxy Feather Tee, $26. On girl (right): Arc’teryx Toque, $40. Moncler Snowflake Scarf, $320. Splendid Striped Long Sleeve Shirt, $84.

Free People Vegan Leather Skirt, $177. Hue Opaque Pantyhose, $16. Burton Sapphire Boot, $279.99.

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board of directors

Libtech T.Rice Pro HP, $739.99.

Forum Youngblood Doubledog, $479.99 Burton Lip-Stick, $549.99

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EURO

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THE ORIGINAL TRADEMARKED 3-IN-1 DETACHABLE SYSTEM!

sportinglife.ca / Sporting Life Magazine 81

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last shot

chalet chic Inspired this season by the après-ski culture of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, the Sporting Life buyers set out to find the most innovative, technical, yet fashionable pieces available, resulting in our signature style: Fashion, athletic ... “fashletic.” Why compromise fashion for function? At Sporting Life, you can have it all. Part performance, part fashion, uniquely Sporting Life. What our customers want is stylish, performance fashion, and that’s what you’ll see in stores by the sleigh-load this season. Whether on the ski slopes or in the lodge, enjoy your luxury chunky knits, gorgeous ski boots and chic sunglasses.

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8640

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Choosing Fairmont is just the beginning When you choose Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, you choose a world of premium offerings. We are proud to partner with some of the world’s most respected brands to bring you, our valued guest, exclusive benefits and exciting offers. All of which lead to a heightened travel experience.

Right now, you can take advantage of Fairmont’s Ultimate Ski Packages, which include a guest room, lift tickets and more. Surrounded by rugged peaks, knee-deep powder and gravity-defying runs, our spectacular ski destinations have a reputation for being among the best on the planet—both on the slopes and off. Packages are available until April 30, 2012. Call 1 888 298 4929 or visit www.fairmont.com/ultimateski, and book yours today!

For more information on our partnerships, please visit www.fairmont.com/globalpartners Our global partners include:

To get the most out of your stay, enroll in Fairmont President’s Club: www.fairmont.com/fpc. For reservations, please contact your travel professional, call 1 800 441 1414 or visit www.fairmont.com

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