Have you HERD the news? Since Since 2007, a local headwear company has been making toques to keep your lid warm and happy. Founded by Inga Eilersten, one of those people who wears a toque pretty much 24-7, HERD Headwear offers fresh-looking headwear for skiers, riders and winter-lovers who need something that looks good and does the job.
“When I first started I felt there was a lack of good toques out there,” says Eilersten. “I was riding alot back then, traveling around the world and I was always looking for the perfect one, but they were hard to come by. You had to hunt in random places, and sometimes I would knit my own. Also I was getting older and needed a good excuse to still live the lifestyle.”
She’s not only living the lifestyle, she’s spreading it around in style. HERD currently has more than 20 athlete types in its stable, who perform with HERD on their heads not because they’re being paid to do so, but because they love what’s keeping their noggins warm, toasty and stylish. Like Pemby ripper Craig Bealieau for example, a HERDer since the beginning.
“Man that guy is killing it these days,” says Inga. “But he’s been killing it as long as I have known him. I remember when I first met him, about 7 years ago now. I remember riding with him and just in awe of how crazy good he was. He is now on the Candian slopestyle team and going to be traveling around the world doing contests with the goal of making it to the Olympics, cause u know, they have slopestyle on the program for the next one! YEAH”
Over the holidays, Mountain Life asked Inga how it’s been running her own small business here in Whistler.
“Things are going awesome. Its been an interesting journey to say the least. I sometimes say it’s like climbing Mt. Everest; Its damn hard!…almost impossible, but people have done it, and if you really want to do it, you can. I still have a bit to go before I reach the summit, just trying to figure out the best route. I’ve got good equipment, a good crew and determintation yeah!”
That’s what we like to hear around here. Watch out for the HERDs on the hill, and if you wanna hunt one of their toques down, check out herdheadwear.com.
Like they say at HERD, “Hunt or be hunted.”
