Outdoor Retailer - Winter 2018 - 55

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R E S O RT/ BA C KC O U N T RY

SKIMO RACE COURSE

WHO THEY ARE: Meet the dawn patroller, who puts in a few powder laps be-

WHO THEY ARE: You know that cyclist or Ironman athlete who is always

fore work. This skier has most likely decided not to buy a pass but instead
will dedicate the winter to touring for turns. They might hit the resort a
few weekends-when there's a big dump or when they want to get out
with some friends or travel. They may have bought a four-pack or some
other deal. If you want to find them, get out on the skin track.
WHAT THEY NEED: This demographic is relying on lungs over lifts, so they
want gear that will not slow them down. That's not to say they don't seek
performance. Planks that float in the untracked are key, too.
THE SETUP: DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 ($1,300; dpsskis.com) with
Dynafit ST Radical Turn binding ($380; dynafit.com); backcountry-focused DPS relies on carbon to build light, stable skis-but that's
not to say these babies can't also hold their own on hardpack. Scarpa
Maestrale RS boots ($795; scarpa.com); these boots easily slip into
tour mode, but they have the guts to drive fat skis even in-bounds.
Flylow Lab Coat jacket ($525; flylowgear.com) and Compound pants
($475); breathability is the most important word here, and that's the focus of these eVent pieces that repel the elements but don't sweat you out.
Ortovox 3+ avalanche transciever ($340; ortovox.com); stress that
no one should go into the backcountry without a beacon and education.
BEYOND THE BASICS: Add a neck tube from Phunkshun ($20; phunkshunwear.com ); it's a little extra that can go a long way in the backcountry.

seeking a PR? What about the office worker who is looking to set a new
outdoor winter-fitness goal? Introduce them to skimo, racing up and
down the hill. With most resorts now allowing uphill travel and many
hosting skimo races, this is a category winter shops should be promoting
to everyone. Even hardcore downhill skiers may want to get in a bit of a
workout during a week of a high-pressure system with no new snow.
WHAT THEY NEED: Hardgoods need to be as light as possible, sacrificing
downhill performance if need be-though they must also be able to navigate technical downhill terrain. The apparel that works here is closer to
Nordic or bike racing kits than it is to resort skiing or snowboarding.
THE SETUP: La Sportiva Maximo LS skis ($749; sportiva.com) and
Sytron boots ($749); this package strikes the perfect balance between
light weight and the ability to execute turns on the way down. Dynafit
PDG jacket ($230; dynafit.com) and pants ($150); this is skimospecific apparel-you won't sell a lot of it, but it will matter to the right
customer. Craft Active Extreme 2.0 baselayer ($80; craftsports.us);
This Swedish brand with its head in Nordic and cycling performance
apparel is just what your cardio-crazed skimo-er ordered.
BEYOND THE BASICS: As with any endurance athletes, healthy energy bars,
drinks, and other nutrition products such as Ayurvedic superfood supplement Hanah One ($55; hanahlife.com) sell with this crowd. O.R.

Winter 2018 / OUTDOOR RETAILER 55

http://www.dpsskis.com http://www.dynafit.com http://www.sportiva.com http://www.scarpa.com http://www.dynafit.com http://www.flylowgear.com http://www.craftsports.us http://www.ortovox.com http://www.phunkshunwear.com http://www.phunkshunwear.com http://www.hanahlife.com

Outdoor Retailer - Winter 2018

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