XTM acknowledges the Traditional Land of the Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud Peoples. We know them as the Traditional Owners and protectors of this Place. We acknowledge their ancestors who cared for the lands, rivers, mountains and the sea, and all of its creatures, for thousands of generations. We pay our respects to Elders past and present who continue on this path.
XTM’s spiritual home of Mt Buller sits on the Traditional Lands of the Taungurung Clans - First Peoples of the Rivers and Mountains.
Do Good.
Good.
Be Free.
Free.
Have
Have Fun.
In these pages you’ll discover everything you need to know about XTM : how we came about and why we’ve become the one-stop ADVENTURE brand that covers all your snow and outdoor product needs. .
A Welcome Message From the Founder.
We’re stoked to have you here. Every day, the team and I come to work hoping to do three things. Make world class gear that gets people outside, do a little good where we can, and make sure we have a laugh along the way. It all ties back to our ultimate vision here at XTM: Do Good. Be Free. Have Fun.
This book aims to fill you in on how we came about — and why we’re here. In these pages, we’ll show you what we do and what we care about. Performance-focused, planet-friendly, ethically made and priced products. These are the things I’ve needed over a lifetime spent skiing in the mountains and outdoors, in all conditions.
Making gear you can depend on is about as sustainable as it gets.
See you out there!
Pete Forras XTM Performance Founder.
XTM was formed in 1999, when Peter Forras, Gary “X” Rae and Bill “Uncle” Dalton sat down in a spirit of competitiveness, irreverence and deep respect, to explore what their combined lifetimes of snow expertise could teach them.
The three decided to create a brand that would change the face of Australia’s snow sports industry and show the world that Australia is a country to be taken seriously in Winter sports.
The name is a riff on Gary Rae’s “X” moniker, extended to form “Cross the Mountain” or “X the Mountain”. The concept, at first, was an affordable, hard-wearing ski glove. The promise: we’ll never do garments.
Never say never. More than two decades on, XTM Performance delivers sustainablyproduced, world-class snow and adventure gear at competitive prices.
And we do it with some of the best customer service you’ll ever meet, because every one of us lives the life and wears the gear.
XTM’s been carbon neutral since 2009, and an official Winter Olympic supplier since 2006. Our values mean the world to us and they extend across everything we do, but they’re easily summed up:
Do Good. Be Free. Have Fun.
THE EVOLUTION OF XTM.
Technical Form and Function.
THE HEART OF IT ALL.
Tried and tested by the very best.
Jakara Anthony 2022 Olympic Gold Medalist, World no. 01. 6 x Crystal Globe Winner. Australian Freestyle Moguls Skier.
18 YEARS
We’ve been official supplier to the Aussie Winter Olympic Team.
5 GAMES
We’ve supplied gear to our Australian Olympic athletes.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIANS.
Thanks to XTM founder Pete Forras’s achievements as an Olympian we’ve always felt close to our Winter Olympic team. We support not only the elite handful who’ve made it, but also the legions of ski-crazy kids who are out there staking a claim.
We know from Pete’s life experience that the way to support Olympians is to start at the grassroots. So we’re there amongst the inter-schools and the on-mountain race clubs offering financial and practical backing.
To create globally distributed, sustainably produced, world class snow and adventure gear at competitive prices, supported with passionate customer service.
PASSION
Is the life blood of XTM. A genuine love and enthusiasm for what we do. We are continually striving to improve all aspects of the brand and the experience for our customers.
INTEGRITY
We are loyal, ethical, and honest. We deliver what we promise and only make agreements we intend to keep. We communicate any potential broken agreements at the first opportunity and endeavour to negotiate a compromise to the best of our ability. We are committed to the success of XTM by adhering to our company vision, purpose, and values.
RESPECT
At XTM we respect our people, our partners, and our planet. We ensure that everyone is treated equally and that all our interactions are done with consideration and empathy for others. Our actions are a reflection of ourselves and the company. We know that issues can occur and when they do, they will be acknowledged, discussed, and resolved, to move on in a positive way. We do everything we can to save the planet we live on, finding ways to minimise our impact as we work towards our environmental goals.
COMMUNICATION
Clear, timely, respectful communication with our internal and external business partners is an important part of XTM’s success. Sharing information gives clarity and promotes inclusivity while timely responses enable our team members to work productively and efficiently.
TEAMWORK
We understand the importance of working together as a team. We prioritise our workmates and are compassionate to others when they are in need. Our leadership style is collaborative. We get the best results when we consult as a team, and act as one once all is considered.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Making decisions and taking calculated risks is part of XTM life. We focus on detail and process and take responsibility for our actions. We understand things can and will go wrong and when they do there’s no excuses or external negatives, only learnings.
BALANCED LIFE
Family priorities, rest, recreation, and social and spiritual pursuits are important as we strive to keep a good work / life balance. We know we’re not too important to take the piss out of ourselves. We require a bit of irreverence to keep it real and have fun whenever possible!
XTM - Tracks Less Travelled - Himalayas. Standing at Kanchenjunga South Base Camp viewpoint at sunrise.
Cross the
THE XTM MISSION.
THIS IS ABOUT AS SERIOUS AS WE GET.
Part of being sustainable is having something meaningful to pass on to another generation. ‘Cross the Mountain’ is our statement of purpose, our reminder to each other.
It means taking on the barriers, pushing past the things that confine us. This works at both a rational level and an emotional one.
Mountain.
RATIONAL :
The mountain’s there. Hike it! Ski it! Board it! Take care of those practical things that will get you from A to B, and live the experience of riding the mountain: the physical contact, the satisfaction and the fulfilment of desire.
EMOTIONAL :
Each of us stares down our challenges and our fears. We all have these in our lives that we have to face, and we need to draw on deep emotional reserves to deal with them. What constitutes the emotional mountain for each of us is unique to our own lives. By keeping active, outdoors, looking out for ourselves and each other, we adapt to challenges — and overcome.
Do Good. Be Free. Have Fun.
THE XTM VISION.
WE BELIEVE IN DOING GOOD.
First and foremost, that means good product. Great product. The best product. And more than that, we’re 100% carbon neutral, and we have been since 2009. Our products are made from recycled and sustainable materials. Our DWR coatings are PFAS-free, and we’ve got our eyes up, looking at more than just our product. Our Heat the Homeless initiative gives jackets to people in need, and helps to keep our products out of landfill for as long as possible. — That’s our kind of good. And we know you’ll bring yours, too.
CALM DOWN, THE GEAR’S NOT FREE.
(It is really affordable though). Being free, for all of us, means travelling, exploring, expressing ourselves on our own terms. Getting out there. Freedom of thought, Freedom of choice, There’s always more to discover and enjoy.
FUN IS WHY WE DO IT.
The mountains can be a serious place. When you know your gear is this good, there’s a lot more room for fun. Being around friends and family and putting absolutely everything into the days and the nights. Even through the bad times. Remembering to smile.
A Company that cares a whole lot.
THE XTM VALUES.
01—CONSCIENCE.
Our wild places inspire us. That’s why we devote a big part of our effort to preserving them.
The outdoors should be for everyone and we want all types of adventure seekers exploring further and treading lighter.
We’re going beyond our long-standing carbon neutral certification to aim at zero emissions by 2040. Our conscience demands nothing less.
AUSTRALIAN PERFORMANCE
02—PERFORMANCE.
Things go wrong. Wild places will do their thing, and the best of human plans can go pear-shaped. You need gear that stays the course, that protects you through anything. That’s why we have Mountain Ambassadors to test all our products.
Our Winter Olympics team depend on it. We’ve been the official supplier to Australia’s Winter Olympics campaigns across five Olympiads now, taking care of our athletes with snow gloves, Aussie Merino base-layers, socks, winter boots and travel bags.
03—AUSTRALIAN.
We started out in a Torquay shack and we’ve stayed local. Our self-sufficient headquarters still sits on the Great Ocean Road, Surf Coast of Victoria and the traditional land of the Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud peoples.
We’re still Australian-owned and our products are Australian-designed.
We punch above our weight, and we’re smart, adaptable and proud. Employing a diversity of Australians and using Aussie products wherever we can in our supply chain. Like our 100% Aussie Merino wool, and our partnership with the deeply-trusted Woolmark standard.
PFAS FREE
As a proud B Corp company we’re committed to helping people and the planet, which means we’ve taken a stand against PFAS in our products.
All our rainwear and technical snow outerwear are happily PFAS-free (except for zips and pulls). The waterproof membranes and coatings across our alpine and adventure glove collections are PFAS-free. Better yet, all our midlayer garments are 100% PFAS-free. And we’re not stopping there. By winter 2025/2026, all our technical outerwear and rainwear will also be 100% PFAS-free.
CARBON NEUTRAL
We’ve been 100% carbon neutral since 2009 using a combination of emissions reductions and carbon credit purchases.
The aim is to reduce those emissions all the way to zero, but it’s a big undertaking. We’ll get there – like any mountain we cross – through a series of determined steps. In 2030 we’ll have those emissions cut down to half and reach our ultimate goal of net-zero by 2040.
SUSTAINABLE AND NATURAL FIBRES
Another thing that we’ve found is that high-tech, high-quality products don’t need to add plastics and emissions to the world.
Using Australian Merino wool, TENCEL, recycled fleeces and polyesters, Hemp , organic cotton and Seawool®, we deliver technical excellence from natural and sustainable fibres.
Working towards A better Future.
PACKAGING
You can tell a lot about how much a maker cares by the way they package their product.
Layers of single use plastic? Tapes and clips and foam that go straight to landfill? Not for us at XTM! The things that the end user might never see, biodegradable packing tape and cling wrap, and recycled boxes and pallets are hugely important to us.
ECO HQ
The other thing our customers might never see is our selfsufficient Torquay HQ.
Designed by Pete Forras, our building uses recycled materials throughout and features collected water and solar power harnessed to two Tesla batteries.
It’s the little things – the unseen things – that reveal a company with its heart in the right place.
CLIMATE UNITED
The next decade is critical. Science tells us that our carbon emissions need to be cut in half by 2030 and entirely by 2050, at the very latest. There is no time to wait and we have pledged to make this happen.
Creating products that let you explore the best places on earth.
For Future
Generations.
Our Journey to a Sustainable Future.
Sustainable Packaging StrategyBiodegradable, compostable, reusable or recyclable packaging.
Join Climate United - pledge to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
1st HQ Tesla Battery. Save the Tarkine initiative.
2nd HQ Tesla battery installed.
Introduction of WOOLXLOFT
All technical outerwear 100% PFAS-free.
Seamless-our commitment to product circularity.
B-Corp Certification.
Reconciliation Action Plan.
Solar powered warehouse.
Begin transition to Electric Vehicles.
NATURAL EVOLUTION
From the beginning our vision for XTM was to create world class snow and outdoor gear.
That vision remains today, evolving with the knowledge that what we make and do, impacts the environment that supports our passions.
The goal remains, but it can’t be at the expense of Mother Nature.
IT’S NOT EASY
We are far from perfect, it’s a hard slog and an ongoing learning process.
There’s always more to be done as we work at being greener and cleaner, but we know we are on the right track.
B Corporations, or B Corps, are known for doing business a little differently. Think high social and environmental standards combined with a passion to make a positive impact.
To be certified as B Corp, the non-profit B Lab independently measures key impact areas of a business to certify that it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
However, becoming a B Corp isn’t just about the certification, it’s about joining a global movement that’s rewriting the economic playbook. Together, we’re proving that profit and purpose don’t need to be mutually exclusive.
HOW DID XTM BECOME A B CORP?
Throughout 2023, B Lab independently assessed and measured five key impact areas across our business. These impact areas evolved around workers, environment, community, customers and governance. It was essentially a deep dive into all the ins and outs of how we do things here at XTM.
To be certified as B Corp, we needed a minimum overall score of 80 points. We scored 107.8.
Common Ground.
XTM RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN.
Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and nonindigenous people for the benefit of all Australians.
VISION STATEMENT.
The heart of XTM spans the unceded lands of the Taungurung Peoples of Mt Buller, to the Wadawurrung of Victoria’s Surfcoast.
XTM honours all First Nations Peoples for their rich culture and traditions. We recognise the importance of storytelling from the mountains to the sea, and the paths we cross together in friendship.
We acknowledge the past, and lead by example to influence change. Valuing the journey and embracing the challenges with open hearts and minds, we walk in solidarity towards reconciliation and a more inclusive future.
‘Connecting the Taungurung and Wadawurrung Peoples’ — by BJ. O-toole.
Heat the Homeless.
GIVING BACK.
Since the appeal was founded in 2016, over 32,000 snow jackets have been donated to people experiencing hardship across Australia.
XTM Performance works with participating retailers and businesses to act as donation collection points for pre-loved clean and warm jackets (preferably waterproof) which are offered into not-for-profit donation platform
GIVIT’s online warehouse, accessed by their 4,500 charity partners and Vinnies Society.
Donations should be clean and in good condition; as a general rule, if you wouldn’t wear it, please don’t give it.
WANT TO HELP?
If you would like to learn more or be involved in our Heat the Homeless Initiative please don’t hesitate to email: info@xtm.com.au 55.9% Male 44.1% Female 23.0% 12-24 Yrs Old.
Experiencing homelessness on any given night.
Source. AUS Census.
122,000+ People are classified homeless or marginally housed on any given night in Australia.
2016
Marked the beginning of Heat the Homeless.
133 Retailers have hosted our donation boxes.
32,000 Jackets have been donated over the years. 27.2 Tonnes in Jacket donations have been diverted from landfill.
