Winter Dispatch: 002
Winter flights, BYOR (buy your own ski resort), convertible jackets, retro helmets, and a whisky collab.
Happy halloween! Only means one thing… we’re a step closer to winter. Thank you for the overwhelming response to Slopeside and for sharing with friends – it means the world! So happy you’re here.
Here you’ll find the latest in mountain news, winter trends, ski wear/apparel releases, and other tidbits related to skiing – delivered to you every week. Every so often you’ll also see deep dives into specific topics and interviews with brands, founders, and experts (a very exciting one coming soon!).
Snow Report
The PNW, Utah, Colorado, parts of Wyoming, Alaska, and British Columbia have seen flurries (+ meaningful snowfall) this week. Heavy snow is on the horizon for the Cascades and Tahoe later this week.
Whistler, Mt. Bachelor, and Crested Butte this week
Chairlift Chatter
United Airlines announced their winter flight schedule with ski destinations being a large area of investment. New winter seasonal routes include weekend services from Washington/Dulles, Newark, and Chicago to Bozeman, and Gunnison/Crested Butte, along with expanded service to Kalispell, Jackson Hole, Telluride, and Sun Valley. Many more people are about to discover the magic that is Crested Butte.
The developers behind the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club – including one of the co-founders of Casamigos – are reviving a defunct ski resort just 25 minutes from Steamboat. The new project, Stagecoach Mountain Ranch, is set to become a private ski and golf area, with single-family lots starting at $3M. Locals are obviously unamused.
Professional skier Cody Townsend introduced his latest venture this week, The Fifty Plus, a platform dedicated to backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. This new project builds on The Fifty Project, Cody’s ambitious journey to climb and ski every line featured in The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America. Watching his latest video tackling Alaska’s Northstar Couloir reiterates that he is built differently.
Ski Passes + Lift Tickets + BYOR (Buy Your Own Resort)
The Indy Pass went on sale this week. 30+ new resorts were added to the ski pass for the 24/25 season, including Loveland, Colorado, Bear Valley, California, and Innsbruck, Austria. Good option if you’re looking to avoid crowds at larger resorts.
Ski Cooper in Leadville, Colorado reduced their 24/25 season mid-week, non-holiday lift tickets to an impressive $45 per day. Prioritizing accessibility and affordability is a refreshing move.
If buying a season pass and waiting in lift lines aren’t your thing (and you have $27M+ lying around) there’s a lineup of ski resorts on the market this season. Big Moose Mountain in Maine was recently listed, while Powdr Corp put a few of their mountains up for sale, including Mt. Bachelor in Oregon, Eldora Mountain in Colorado, Killington in Vermont, and SilverStar Mountain in British Columbia. Killington was already acquired by a local collective, and Mt. Bachelor is hoping for a similar hometown buyout.
Adding to Cart
Norwegian brand Norrøna debuted an insulated ski jacket that converts to a vest, in both men’s and women’s styles. This feels practical for technical skiers looking to shed weight in an uphill pack, but innovative for those who get toasty on bluebird groomer days too.
The North Face just dropped its latest women’s resort collection, featuring a standout one-piece suit. I’m especially into the forest olive colorway and love that they made a jacket to match. They’ve also partnered with luxury retailer SSENSE to release their iconic 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket in five exclusive colors, showcasing the signature oversized baffles and ultra-warm down fill. One of the few products celebrated equally in the mountaineering world + streetwear culture.
Kylie Jenner’s Khy and Entire Studios teamed up to launch a puffer collection. Entire Studios initially made waves with their 2020 launch of a single puffer jacket, quickly establishing it as their signature item. This collab is a smart move for Kylie, aligning her brand with their proven success in outerwear. The collection also stands out for its accessible pricing, with all pieces under $200.
Carbondale, Colorado-based LowDown Helmets has launched a new line inspired by retro Italian motorcycle helmets – designed locally and handcrafted in Italy. Love to see more brands disrupting the safety x style space, especially with a mission focused on getting more heads into helmets. Excited to keep an eye on this brand.
Cordova just launched their 24/25 collection, and if you’ve been after a very chic shearling one-piece ski suit, this is for you. I’m into the Ajax and Myoko suits, both with belted silhouettes which are flattering and transition seamlessly on and off mountain. Prices are firmly in the investment range, but Cordova’s quality backs it up.
Johnnie Walker and Perfect Moment dropped a collab: a Blue Label Ice Chalet whisky bottle with a reversible crossbody that also moonlights as a bottle bag. Perfect Moment also rolled out a matching skiwear line with Johnnie Walker’s (seemingly random) ambassador, Priyanka Chopra. Not entirely sure who needs this but it makes sense they’re placing big bets on the après ski category.
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