Winter Dispatch: 004
All-mountain skis roundup, a camouflage collab, 40% off Smith sale, and a shot ski world record attempt.
Happy Thursday. Lindsey Vonn just announced this morning that she is coming out of retirement and is re-joining the US Ski Team in Colorado. Iconic! We love that girl.
Another special feature is dropping tomorrow! Let me know what brands/ products/experts you want to know more about.
Snow Report
Vail, Mt. Bachelor, and Mammoth open tomorrow! Brighton and Killington opened this morning. It’s all happening.
New Mexico had a historic early-season snow week. 24” in 5 days. Hoping to ski Taos in a couple of weeks if they can open in time.
Taos, Vail, and Mammoth this week
Chairlift Chatter
Deer Valley was named the Best Ski Resort in the US once again, maintaining an unbroken streak of wins since the award’s inception in 2013. And, for the 11th time in 12 years, Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City has been named the Best Ski Hotel in the US. Their Sunday buffet game is unmatched if you’re in the mood to be rolled back to the ski hill afterwards.
Breckenridge needs 1,401 drinkers to win the world record for longest shot ski. For years, the title has bounced between Breckenridge and Park City but this year, Breckenridge is pulling out all the stops, including limited edition peppermint schnapps, to claim the victory. Sounds like a blast.
Clip-in slut strands. Respect the innovation.
Jay Peak in Vermont gave out 750 free lift tickets for their opening day (in two weeks). Sold out quickly but love to see these type of promos.
Back again with another winter train update this week. If you’re looking to travel by train from Paris to the Alps this ski season, you’re in luck. Trenitalia released its new winter schedule with significantly more offerings to European ski regions.
Let’s Talk Resort Skis
Blister Review, my go-to source for ski gear insights, just released their latest one-ski quiver picks. In ski lingo, a “ski quiver” refers to a collection of skis that would each be chosen for different conditions—often three pairs of skis, with one for general all-mountain skiing, one for dedicated powder skiing, and one for frontside/groomer skiing. The idea behind a “one-ski quiver” is finding a ski that does it all so that you don’t end up with three pairs in your 600 square foot apartment, and have a ski that is versatile enough to handle most terrain as a daily driver. Judging by the cluttered apartment closets/hallways that I’ve seen, men in the city of Denver seem to be unaware that this type of ski exists. As with all things, squeezing three pairs of skis into one means that you will be making sacrifices on performance for the outlier conditions, but here is a preview of Blister’s 2024-2025 season standout recommendations for that one-stop-shop ski:
The Atomic Maven 103 CTi is a top women’s all-conditions freeride ski, praised for its versatility. This all-mountain ski performs with precision and agility in both groomed and powder conditions, keeping it among the year’s top picks.
K2 Mindbender 99Ti (available in both men’s and women’s versions) is regarded by several reviewers as a versatile, stable all-mountain freeride ski. Often called the “jack of all trades,” it’s ideal for resort skiers who value reliability across conditions. After multiple demos in recent years, I’ve been tempted to add this to my own lineup.
I was first introduced to Black Crows back in 2017 by a friend who discovered this “random brand out of Chamonix.” Since then, Black Crows has gained international acclaim, and with good reason. Their Camox ski is my daily driver, offering precise, responsive performance across the mountain, both on and off-piste.
The Line Optic 96 consistently ranks as a top all-mountain ski. Known for its stability at high speeds, it’s also playful and easy to control, making it great for both smooth and variable snow. It’s fun and versatile, especially for off-piste skiing, though it’s less suited for hard-packed slopes. I’m loving their new leopard print look, it’s nice to see ski brands stepping outside tradition from a graphics standpoint.
The RMU Apostle 106, RMU's flagship all-mountain unisex ski, remains a top pick among reviewers this year. Known for its playful feel, it excels across soft snow and varied terrain. RMU is celebrated for exceptional quality, and they power their entire production process with 100% renewable energy. At their first retail store in Breckenridge, they did what one does with extra space… they opened a bar. And it’s a really fun bar. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in Breckenridge, Truckee, or Whistler.
Note: I highly recommend subscribing to Blister Review and buying their digital winter buyer’s guide if you want to go deep into gear insights (not sponsored!!). It’s 284 pages and offers incredibly detailed reviews on every type of ski/snowboard/boot/goggle you can imagine, especially if you’re in the market for a big new purchase and can’t demo several options before making a decision.
Adding to Cart
Smith is having a 40% off goggle sale on select warehouse styles. Their 4D Mag goggles with changeable lenses are hard to beat – highly recommend.
Arc’teryx unveiled its first-ever printed pattern, a camouflage design called "Grottoflage." Interesting. This pattern is featured in their popular women's Sentinel jacket and men's Sabre jacket, along with matching pants and base layers. In a collab with Atomic, they’ve also introduced a limited-edition Grottoflage Atomic Maverick 115 freeride ski, with only 200 pairs made. There's a giveaway to try to snag a pair.
Alps&Meters debuted their Ascent winter collection, featuring a single men’s and women’s kit both in two colorways. Crafted from a proprietary waterproof wool blend, each piece ensures warmth and all-weather protection. I appreciate a brand focused on simplicity, launching a collection of true hero pieces (just one shell and one bib) without overcomplicating things.
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