Key Gear
The old saying in the Coast Mountains is, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” True, big storms can roll in quickly and temperatures can rise or drop drastically in hours so with that in mind, ML has assembled a list of key gear any spectator would want to help fight off the elements and enjoy the Games.
Lightsaber Umbrella ($30-40)
Why just avoid the raindrops when you can disembowel them? A lightsaber is the most bad-ass weapon never invented (yet) and a lightsaber umbrella has got to be a close second. Available in three colours, the LED shaft lights up with the push of a button (and three batteries). It’s up to you to make those whooshy lightsaber sound effects and try not to hyperventilate when doing the deep, Darth Vader breathing. (Note that these lightsaber umbrellas are not actually from Star Wars but similar ones do appear in Bladerunner and that bit of knowledge might help you pick up a date for a cozy night out of the rain.)crunchgear.com
Rip Curl S-Bomb Vest ($299)
No more standing around in the cold for you. When the Arctic winds start blowing simply flick the switch and get up to three hours of 45ºC heat. This is ideal for coaches, spectators, or people who don’t ride hard enough to stay warm. Rip Curl recently introduced a heated wetsuit as well, hopefully putting an end to the days of having to piss yourself as soon as you entered the water. Smart.
Gerbing S2 Gloves (US$199)
Cold hands = warm heart? Hah! Cold hands = miserable day on the slopes. Banish frozen fingers forever with Gerbing’s heated ski gloves. Waterproof/breathable nylon shell, digital leather palm, fleece lining and Thinsulate like your fav gloves, plus rechargeable, four-power-setting lithium batteries keep your digits dry and warm. Add the best warranty in the biz so you don’t have to duct-tape them later on. gerbing.com
Only in Whistler – Tales of a Mountain Town ($24.95)
Want to know the real stories behind a town like Whistler? ML contributor Stephen Vogler digs deeper than a scooptram with Wikipedia in his second book. Vogler grew up in the resort in the 1970s and fills his pages with first-hand accounts of the way things were – real characters, real fun times, real good book. stephenvogler.com
Coldpole Ski-Pole Flask (US$ 79)
Even a great day on the hill can usually be made a whole lot better with a nip of cinnamon whiskey, but it hurts to fall on that bottle or flask in your pocket. Fear not, the geniuses at Coldpole present this high-grade aluminum flask disguised as a ski pole. Just unscrew the handle top and voila! Each pole holds about eight ounces and they’re available in six lengths and come with a cleaning brush. And the best thing about these suckers is if you put anything but alcohol in them it will probably freeze. Alternate poles while you drink or you won’t just feel lopsided, you will be. coldpole.com
Westbeach Peak to Creek Jacket ($600)
Whether you’re just hiking up to the finish line of the Downhill or ripping top to bottom laps on Whistler you’re gonna want a jacket that keeps you warm, but not too warm. The Peak to Creek jacket is onto some high end, next level stuff with this crazy new ‘C-Change fabric’ that adapts to your temperature; when you’re warm the fabric opens up to allow more heat and moisture to escape, cool down and it seals to keep warmth in. It’s like a living, breathing organism in the shape of a black stealth jacket. Also includes a safety whistle in the arm pocket. Westbeach has been a staple of Canadian board culture for the past 30 years and the Peak to Creek Jacket proves they’re still on top of things. Hit up the stores in Vancouver or Whistler’s Marketplace or go to westbeach.ca
Out West – Snowboarding, Westbeach and a New Canadian Dream. By Dano Pendygrasse. ($14.95)
Hindsight is 20/20, unless you were wasted the whole time, and with the history of Canadian Snowboarding, most people were. But not Pendygrasse, his classy little tome delivers a play-by-play look at the roots and evolution of riding in this country and captures both the spirit and facts of how a little fad became the biggest winter sport/culture going. Loosely based on the story of the Westbeach clothing company, Out West hits all the right nostalgic notes and waxes poetic about the early years of DIY, Whiskey, the Westbeach Classic, Summers on the Glacier and more. A must-have for anyone riding today. Know your history if you want to understand (and repair) your future. westbeach.com
