SNOWSPORTS ART

THE GRAPHICS BEHIND COLORADO-BASED SKIS + SNOWBOARDS ART UNDER YOUR FEET

Words by Laura Mills

CARLY FINKE

Most of us are familiar with the feeling of walking into a shop and seeing the colorful array of skis and snowboards lining the wall — some with sleek minimalist designs and others with intricate graphics. No matter the visual, a lot of work and time has gone into the design of these pieces.

In Colorado, we are lucky to have many high quality ski and snowboard companies that originate locally. When investigating the graphics behind skis and snowboards created here, two brands stood out: ROMP Skis out of Crested Butte and Weston Backcountry, originally out of Minturn but now located in Denver.

ROMP Skis is owned by New Hampshireborn brothers Caleb and Morgan Weinberg. The Weinberg brothers made their move to the snowy mountains of Colorado back in the 1990s in search of deep powder and happened to make their way into the ski industry. Spoke+Blossom had the privilege of sitting down with Morgan Weinberg to discuss the brand as a whole and dive into the detailed graphics they provide for their customers.

“Since we are often working with custom skis, we are less worried about brand identity but, rather, have graphics that fit what people want,” Weinberg says. “We really give our designers a lot of room to do what inspires them and what’s interesting to them.”

The team at ROMP prides themselves on their unique and diverse range of graphics and styles, as well as their custom projects, which has motivated them to work with a variety of designers over the years. Their current designer is Chris Hanna; you may know Hanna as the coowner of Crested Butte Publishing and Creative. With a strong background in graphic design, Weinberg believes Hanna is the perfect person for the job, taking inspiration from everything around him — even the scalloped design of a Kleenex box or the haphazard arrangement of bumper stickers in front of him as he drives through town.

From private pilots who want their aviation background represented on the sticks that make them airborne on snow to llama-loving shredders who want nothing more than to see their favorite animal on their skis, Hanna has done it all.

Hanna not only works on the custom graphics for ROMP but also contributes to the batch of designs available to the general public. He takes inspiration from the skater days of his youth, the smooth organic lines from the Colorado landscape and everything in between. Skiing is a sport that fits a wide variety of people and, therefore, a wide variety of visual interests.

“It’s something that takes me a long time, putting down my thoughts and coming back. I try to make each ski its own theme and own individual look,” he explains. “It’s super rewarding, and because ROMP is local, I’ll be skiing with my wife and daughter, and look over,

and ‘boom!’ I designed those skis in the lift line next to me!”

The passion that goes into the work produced by ROMP is something that is clear for Weston Backcountry, as well. Though Weston produces high-quality skis, snowboards are where it all began for them in the fall of 2012 in a small Minturn warehouse.

“From the very beginning, backcountry has been in our roots, and that is where we’ve stayed. Splitboards have been our number one product from the get-go. We have branched out and now look at snowboards and skis with the goal of servicing the whole backcountry community,” says Sean Eno, director of marketing for Weston.

In 2017, Weston switched ownership into the hands of Leo Tsuo, an original employee of the company. As they worked tirelessly to earn their spot in the game, the Weston crew moved out of their Minturn studio and into a tiny house built on a 25-foot trailer. The crew took their mobile showroom on the go and traveled around the U.S. for two months, allowing them to branch out and build backcountry stoke everywhere they went.

“It was a really cool tool that kind of showcased our dirtbag roots in the best way,” explains Eno with a big smile on his face. “We were doing it more out of the passion than the paycheck, and it kind of took off from there. We started winning a lot of awards at the same time.”

After Weston started to gain traction, they wanted to really ramp up their credibility by switching their production to a GP87 factory in China, further elevating the quality of their product.

With this season being their 10-year anniversary, the Weston crew knew they needed to do something big with this year’s graphics. For the last three years, they have been dialing in the Mission Series with artists Vernan Kee and Jessa Gilbert.

Vernan Kee is a Diné (Navajo) Indigenous creator who worked alongside the Weston team to design a beautiful graphic inspired by a red tail hawk flying against a blue sky.

“We’ve always been super stoked on traditional Indigenous designs. We’ve done graphics inspired by those in the past but have never been done by a traditional artist. This year we wanted to do it fully right,” states Eno.

Not only is Weston working alongside Kee but he works with Smartwool as well to create a stunning set of graphics for boards, skis and socks. These three forces are working in collaboration with the National Forest Foundation to give back to the Wood for Life Project, a forest restoration initiative focused on removing deadfall wood from the forest to help it thrive. “Through this program, they take that wood, put it on semis and truck it into the Diné reservations. It’s used on those reservations for things like heating and cooking,” explains Eno.

Kee decided on the Wood for Life campaign as it is something near and dear to him. Kee personally fills up his pickup truck with wood and delivers it to the elders on the reservation, so it only made sense to do something that aligns so strongly. This highlights that yes, these reservations are very modern in some ways, but that sometimes they do lack necessary resources.

Jessa Gilbert is a British Columbia-based artist who designed the graphics behind the Revel, Weston’s first women’s-specific, swallowtail-shaped board. Gilbert’s work is largely inspired by her time spent slaying pow in Rishiri, Japan and working as a backcountry guide in British Columbia. Gilbert’s artwork heavily reflects the human experience with wilderness. She highlights elements of play and exploration that keep us all returning to the wild to recreate.

Though Weston believes their boards are for anyone and not truly gender-specific, it’s a big step in their mission of inclusivity to represent female rippers in the way the Revel does.

Weston and Gilbert are working with CAPOW Canadian Powder Guiding to set up eight individuals with the opportunity to learn about safe access to the outdoors with the proceeds of this collection. At their core, Weston is about education in the backcountry and with Gilbert’s roots being so closely tied to guiding in British Columbia, the synergy was undeniable. :

COLORADO’S HOMEGROWN FESTIVAL TURNS 10 WINTERWONDERGRASS

Words by Lisa Blake | Photos courtesy of WinterWonderGrass

Cultivating community, creating a vehicle for inspiration and nurturing that energetic link between nature, music and family: these are the ethos that birthed and chiseled WinterWonderGrass.

Behind-the-scenes festival sage Scotty Stoughton founded the hardy Colorado winter showcase in 2013, gathering the best in local and national bluegrass, Americana and roots music alongside independent communityminded brewers.

“WinterWonderGrass was not created to be something, to grow into anything,” Stoughton says. “It was simply a space to serve the music of the artists and brewers we loved. I felt there was a serious gap at that time where great music events had subpar beer, and beer festivals lacked good music.”

To launch, Stoughton put his home up as collateral and went all-in with up-andcomers Greensky Bluegrass and The Infamous Stringdusters. The sold-out party quickly outgrew Crazy Mountain Brewery’s parking lot and flitted around Eagle County before landing at its new home in 2019 in Steamboat Springs, where headliners like Railroad Earth and Leftover Salmon resulted in three-day sold-out crowds. Sister WonderGrass events sprouted in Lake Tahoe, California and Stratton, Vermont (Stoughton is an East Coast native), and the ski town scenes evolved with kids’ tickets and activities (think face painting, hula hooping and crafts), late-night VIP shows and interactive experiences. In April 2023, fans swap snow for sand at the first ever BajaWonderGrass.

WinterWonderGrass Colorado

Steamboat Ski Resort

March 3-5, 2023 General, VIP and lift tickets are on sale now at winterwondergrass.com.

“This festival really hits home for me coming from the North. There’s something about fully embracing the great outdoors in all its magnificence that gives the music a vivid glow like you’ve never experienced it before,” says bluegrass powerhouse Lindsay Lou.

Ballooning from 1,400 curious fans to more than 5,000 music lovers pouring in each day, the mission has never wavered. WinterWonderGrass places the quality of the experience over the quantity of attendees, uniting artists, fans and the planet. Anyone who has bundled up to boogie down at this winter hootenanny can attest that there’s something euphoric and electric about intricate bluegrass floating on simple snowflakes.

“When WinterWonderGrass started, there were only a few festivals curating a lineup of progressive bluegrass and string bands, and no one was crazy enough to throw a party outside in a Colorado winter,” says Infamous Stringdusters bassist Travis Book. “That first year, we were hit with freezing temps and blowing wind, but it didn’t stop anyone from absolutely throwing down!”

Stand Up Paddle Colorado co-founder and the force behind Campout for the Cause, Stoughton says he never saw his grassroots gathering getting this big. “The first WinterWonderGrass event was seriously a dream and a prayer,” he says. “My team was stretched to the limit, and I don’t think anyone slept the entire weekend, but we pulled it off.”

Bands are invited to WonderGrass stages based on their quality of character, Stoughton notes. Groups that want to spend time in the community, ski the slopes, jam with friends, soak in the hot springs and genuinely contribute to the mountain village vibrancy are a big part of what shapes this special festival.

“10 years has gone by fast, and lately, I have made a commitment to slow down and truly enjoy the experience that we have created for so many,” Stoughton says. “Life is over in a blink; we want to inspire everyone to focus on what unites us, instead of divides us.” :

WILLOW CREEK HERBS AND TEAS

Willow Creek is located on Main Street in Downtown Grand Junction. The aromas will envelop your senses when you come in to select from over 200 black, green and herbal teas, 225 organic culinary spices — including many custom blends and lots of healthful herbs. Also, enjoy talented local artists’ work including; John Anglim, Kani, Wendy Videlock, Red Hawk Pottery and Ashtonn Means, all available at Willow Creek, plus beautiful Native jewelry and art.

Pictured here are pieces by Red Hawk Pottery, a local potter, along with Native jewelry including an Effie Squash Blossom. Also pictured are organic Tricolor Peppercorns and our Mulling Spices blend available only at Willow Creek.

facebook.com/ WillowCreekHerbsandTeas 970.241.2324

HOLIDAY RIVER & BIKE EXPEDITIONS

Now more than ever — escape the crowds and join us in the great outdoors.

Holiday River & Bike Expeditions has been taking folks outside for 55 years. Familyowned and operated, they outfit whitewater rafting trips and mountain biking adventures. Trips range from 2 to12 days and run through Canyonlands National Park, Dinosaur National Monument and designated wilderness areas of the San Rafael Swell and BLM land. Experience many rivers in professionally-guided oar rafts with delicious meals, inflatable kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

Specialty trips include dark sky stargazing, women’s river and yoga trips, and music trips on the river.

Give yourself or your family members the gift of adventure this year, making memories to last a lifetime.

bikeraft.com 800.624.6323

ENSTROM PEPPERMINT COOKIE BARK

Enstrom Peppermint Cookie Bark is just one of the many handcrafted treats that come out of the candy kitchen of Enstrom Candies. This classic holiday confection is made of rich white and dark chocolate, crunchy chocolate and vanilla cookies and sprinkled with crushed peppermint, and only for the holidays.

For over 60 years, Enstrom Candies has been celebrated for their handcrafted Almond Toffee. Today, Enstrom Candies remains a family business — now in its fourth generation — and has expanded its products to include a variety of chocolates, popcorn, ice cream and of course Peppermint Cookie Bark. Every batch of candy is still made in Grand Junction, Colorado at the original factory.

Gift only the best this year and shop the delightful confections at enstrom.com.

MADISON LEIGH OF MADISON LEIGH CREATIVE SUNWARD JEWELRY

Sunward is a collection of jewelry and accessories handmade from genuine leather and recycled fine silver.

Each piece of jewelry is inspired by a scene or story from the mountain west. Precious metal clay is molded from natural elements, carved linoleum or hand sculpted. After a kiln fire the result is a pure fine silver ready to be made into a set of earrings or crafted into a unique necklace.

Custom burned western hats are also a Sunward staple. Customers can help create a custom look by combining veg-tanned leather hat bands, gemstones, and finish it off with a customizable hand-burned graphic.

Carrie concepts, designs and makes each item in her Gypsum, Colorado home studio. With a graphic design background, her pieces are truly one-of-a-kind. Branding for businesses is also a passion of Carrie’s, whether it’s design or laser engraving swag.

Words by Lauren Farrauto

SHINE INTUITIVE BEAUTY AND EMINENCE ORGANICS

Colorado’s already dry climate is exacerbated during the wintertime, resulting in parched skin for most of us. “When temperatures drop, humidity does, too, since less water vapor lives in the air when it’s cold outside. This, in combination with dry indoor heat, can leave our skin pretty parched,” explains Dr. Sarah Villafranco, founder of Osmia Organics, a skincare brand based in Carbondale. It’s important to have a skincare routine year-round, but it’s especially crucial during this season. Washing with a plain bar of soap or a fragrant, but drying, body wash is not going to cut it.

“A gentle, non-drying cleanser is a great place to start,” says Michelle Ann, licensed esthetician and owner of Shine Intuitive Beauty in Edwards. “The goal is to replenish and balance our moisture levels, especially during the cold, winter months. Follow cleansing with a hydrating toner to restore the skin’s natural pH, a moisturizing serum or facial oil and a gentle moisturizer. Don’t forget the sunscreen!”

Yes, even during the winter it is important to apply sunscreen, especially if you’re planning on hitting the slopes. Sunlight reflected off fresh powder can be extremely damaging. If you don’t want an extra step in your routine, find a moisturizer that already has SPF in it. Or, apply on its own as a base-layer in your routine.

When picking out products, it’s important to consider the ingredients in them and how they’ll react with your skin. “Some of the essential ingredients to look for in products during the winter months are those containing hyaluronic acid, which helps the skin retain moisture, and ceramides, which help to repair the skin’s barrier. Some over-the-counter products that provide these benefits are La Roche-Posay and Ceravē,” recommends the dermatology team at Regenesis Plastic Surgery, Dermatology & Spa in Grand Junction.

Regenesis also promotes their line of SunDara products. The SunDara ReVitalizing cleanser gently removes impurities — including makeup and excess oil — and their SunDara Hydrate Serum, which contains hyaluronic acid, or SunDara HA Collagen Booster provide hydration. Or, you can schedule a consultation with their team to get personalized recommendations. Shine Intuitive Beauty is an Eminence-certified skin spa. The Hungarian brand prides itself on being chemical-free, certified-organic and resultsdriven. Ann recommends the Calm Skin Collection and the Kombucha Microbiome Collection.

From Osmia Organics, body oils can be applied to sopping wet skin for ultimate moisture retention, and their body mousse provides and incredibly luxurious feeling that locks in results. I was able to test these products and can confidently say that my skin has never been this soft or supple.

And, if you think having oily skin means you don’t need a skincare routine, think again. “A proper skincare routine with products that are non-drying is essential for those with oily or combination skin,” adds Ann. “Products that strip the skin of its natural oils can, in turn, make the skin oilier, because the skin is trying to overcompensate for what we are taking away, therefore producing more oil. This goes for acneprone skin types, as well!”

Villafranco recommends a natural bar of soap with charcoal or applying a smaller amount of body oil to wet skin, which will help decrease sebum (oil) production over time.

For non-topical treatments, staying hydrated and eating a nutrient-rich diet will help treat dry skin from the inside out. Additionally, sleeping with a humidifier on and taking warm showers, rather than burning hot ones, can assist in maintaining your skin’s moisture.

So, take some extra time this winter to ensure you are taking good care of your skin. Implementing these tips is sure to show results, and your skin will thank you for it. :

OSMIA