Hestra Heli & XCR Gloves – REVIEW I work as a ski patroller, and finding a glove that can withstand the abuse of the job, keep my hands warm and dry and actually last the season is difficult. While not perfect, Hestra has a couple of gloves on offer that come pretty close. Understand that no glove is going to do everything, and the debate between leather and synthetics can be a long one. I choose leather. Sure, it’s a little high maintenance and requires constant treatment with wax to keep it waterproof, but if you take care of them, leather gloves are durable and tough. I’ve used two different Hestra gloves over the last few years, both gauntlet gloves from their […] Gear D’Arcy McLeish | November 6, 2013 6 Comments
Why We Ski The other day my son asked me about skiing. No stranger to the endeavor himself, he asked me why I like to ski. Big question. At first, I was hard pressed to answer. I spent a few moments letting my mind wander and tried to come up with an answer a six year old would understand. I went from thinking about big explanations of the mountain lifestyle and being free and a whole host of other things and finally, as his patience was wearing a little thin, I simply said, “I ski because it’s fun.” And that’s really it, isn’t it? We skibecause it’s fun. Pure and simple. […] Featured Article D’Arcy McLeish | November 6, 2013 1 Comment
Last Frontier Heliskiing = 960″ of Snow Annually Our friends at Last Frontier Heliskiing have released a short feature film entitled The Last Frontier. Shot over a pre-determined five-day period in January of 2013, the film is a real testament to the unique experience of heliskiing in Northern BC. Ski movies often take the best shots over a whole season, but with the The Last Frontier, the time was booked months in advance and offers the viewer what they can expect in a typical […] D’Arcy McLeish | October 17, 2013 2 Comments
Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoodie REVIEW I’ve spent a lot of time in the Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoodie. According to Arc’teryx, the Atom LT Hoodie is billed as an insulated, mid-layer hoody with wind and moisture resistant outer shell. Arc’teryx rarely disappoints but I was curious with this jacket. I got it as a kind of do everything piece, from riding on cold days to ski touring and even being manly around the house. But to be truthful, it felt almost too light […] Gear D’Arcy McLeish | October 3, 2013 1 Comment
Film Review: Sherpa Cinema’s “Into the Mind” Saturday night was the world premiere of the new Sherpas Cinema film, Into the Mind. Definitely one of the most anticipated ski films in recent years, Into the Mind is the Sherpas follow-up to the award winning film All.I.Can. And this new film was a cinematic masterpiece. But despite its outstanding editing and epic cinematography, in some ways the film fell […] D’Arcy McLeish | October 3, 2013 6 Comments
Winter is Coming… Whistler saw its first snowfall over the weekend. And this morning, as the sun finally makes an appearance after a week of classic coastal weather, a thin blanket of snow will cover the Peak. Winter is coming, and with that comes the opportunity to awaken our obsession with snow. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but then I have the jaded view of a ski patroller who spends six months a year in his ski boots […] D’Arcy McLeish | September 24, 2013 3 Comments
Buildings Destroyed in Blaze at Whistler Blackcomb Yesterday A fire started late Monday night near Base 2, above the upper part of Whistler Village in some maintenance and office buildings owned by Whistler Blackcomb. Three vehicles were destroyed and while fire crews managed to prevent the blaze from spreading, the buildings were lost. No one was injured. Click here for the latest updates to the story from Whistler’s […] Fire D’Arcy McLeish | September 18, 2013 2 Comments
Powder Magazine Review – Thoughts from the First Issue It’s been a long time since I bought an issue of Powder. I let my subscription run out about ten years ago; a subscription I had since I was thirteen years old. As a blossoming ski bum, I remember waiting all summer for the first issue to come out, trying to cope with snow withdrawal and teenage ski angst. When it would appear in the mailbox in August, I’d be like a kid on Christmas morning. I would bring it inside and pour over the articles and the gear guide, drooling at what was possible in a world of snow. But my beef came in the early 2000’s […] D’Arcy McLeish | September 10, 2013 4 Comments
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