Winter Dispatch: 033
J. Crew has entered the Olympic chat.
Happy 2026! May the year bring bluebird powder days, short lift lines, and endless first tracks.
My heart’s been with the victims, families, and entire ski community of Crans-Montana. This video is beautiful.
Chairlift Chatter
Telluride is (still) closed as the ski patrol strike hits day 13 – right in the heart of peak season. Patrollers are asking for $24/hour (about $150k total over three years), well below the $29/hour industry average, and resort owner Chuck Horning, a billionaire with sole control of the mountain, isn’t budging. A now-viral video of replacement patrollers struggling on beginner terrain only underscored what’s at stake when patroller experience is treated as expendable. Nearby mountains are showing solidarity: Monarch Mountain is offering free three-day passes to affected Telluride employees and guests, and Silverton Mountain is discounting lift tickets by 25% off through end of January, so if you had a trip planned, it’s not all a loss!
Uber launched Uber Ski in the US, a seasonal option that lets riders reserve vehicles large enough for 4 people and their ski/snowboard gear, available through March at major ski destinations. They also rolled out a partnership with Vail Resorts, allowing Epic Passes to be purchased directly in the Uber app.
If you’ve ever wondered how the lines get drawn on an Olympic superpipe.
Very into Arc’teryx’s activations at Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort in Nagano, Japan.
A dream liftmate.
J. Crew Has Entered the Olympic Chat
J.Crew has officially entered the Olympic conversation, unveiling a 26-piece apparel collection with US Ski & Snowboard ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. It’s the first chapter of a three year partnership (earlier coverage here), and one that feels less like a bid for Olympic relevance and more like a recommitment to something the brand has always quietly done well: après ski as lifestyle, not sport.
Rooted in alpine culture and deep archival research (both J.Crew’s iconic catalog imagery and US Ski & Snowboard’s trove of vintage emblems and Olympic patches) the collection leans heavily into nostalgia. Retro typography, red white + blue striping, intarsia cashmere landscapes, merino layers, fleece, lounge pieces, and easy graphic tees dominate the lineup. With the exception of two refined performance jackets developed with Kappa, this is explicitly not technical gear. As J.Crew CEO Libby Wadle put it plainly: “It’s not performance… It’s intentionally planned to be worn on the mountain and off the mountain, après ski. It’s very, very Americana.”
In a category often defined by elite access, expense, and technical credibility, J.Crew isn’t trying to outfit you for the downhill – it’s offering a version of ski culture you can participate in regardless of ability. Prices range from $49 to $498, and the emotional center of the collection lives far closer to the lodge than the start gate.
The accompanying campaign, “Alpine People”, reinforces that ethos. Shot in Austria and featuring a wide range of athletes (including Olympians and X Games medalists) the tone is light, optimistic, and intentionally unserious. Think Wes Anderson dropped onto the slopes in the 70s (love). J.Crew won’t have an on-the-ground presence at the Games themselves, but the campaign and planned activations feel designed to build cultural momentum rather than Olympic spectacle.
In contrast to Ralph Lauren’s long-standing, ceremonial grip on Team USA (or recent fashion-forward ski collaborations chasing futurism and sex appeal) J.Crew’s approach is refreshingly domestic. This is chalet core stripped of aspiration anxiety. The clothes don’t ask you to perform, qualify, or belong to an elite tier of the sport. They ask you to show up, warm, and comfortable. Maybeee even with a hot drink in hand!
In a moment when skiing and snowboarding are becoming increasingly central to culture, J.Crew’s bet is that the feeling of the mountains is enough. And judging by how naturally this collection slots into the brand’s DNA, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most compelling ski style isn’t about pushing the sport forward – it’s about making it feel familiar again.
The collection launches today on jcrew.com and in select stores.
2026 Ins + Outs
Ins:
first chair
taking lessons (+ tipping your instructor)
wearing cute outfits on-mountain because outfit ≠ skill level
knowing your DIN setting
long lunches
respectfully yielding to uphill skiers
chatting with strangers on the lift
admitting you’re a fair-weather skier
getting your bindings checked annually
very niche, very fun chairlift snacks: pocket pasta, shucked oysters (see above), caviar bumps, etc.
sunny groomer laps after a storm
two more, skip the last (ending the day before you’re exhausted)
Outs:
any type of boot drama
skiing through/skipping lunch
stopping in the middle of a run (especially right below a blind roller)
trying to ski with more than 3 other people
tucking your base layers into your ski boots (just a sock should go in there!)
not wearing a helmet
listening to music while skiing
being weird about putting the bar down if people on your chair want to
bragging about your vert(ical feet skied) instead of how much fun you had
gate-keeping insider intel aka where the best snow is
Pocket Pick of the Week
A new section spotlighting the few things actually worth carrying in your jacket with you!
Good Weather Skin The One Daily Sun Cream
Thanks to a few melanoma scares over the years, I’m obsessive about sunscreen and this is the one I’ve been reaching for lately – a brand that’s new to me! It’s a zinc-based mineral formula with solid UVA/UVB protection, but without the heavy/chalky feel that usually comes with it. The texture is smooth, doesn’t feel greasy under a buff or helmet, and doesn’t get weird in cold temps (important).
It’s small enough to live in a jacket pocket, and the pump applicator makes it easy to reapply on lift rides (which means you’ll actually use it) on both bluebird and storm days!
If you enjoy this letter, please share with friends! Feel free to respond here with ski-related intel, new products you’re loving, or just to say hi. Thanks for reading 💌
love love love!
I <3 magic pocket!! My parents always kept Rolos or Dove chocolates (for the little notes inside) in theirs