Just Killing Time Till Après
Icebreaker is at the Olympics – and Wants to See What’s Next to Your Skin
Wellington, New Zealand and Vancouver, B.C. (12 February 2010) – Icebreaker, the New Zealand company that pioneered the outdoor merino wool apparel category and the official base layer supplier to the 2010 New Zealand Olympic team, has launched today their “What’s Next to Your Skin?” online competition. The contest starts on Opening Day of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and takes place daily throughout the Games, with a Grand Prize drawing on March 2.
To enter, contestants simply have to email a picture of what’s next to their skin – be it an Icebreaker base layer, a tattoo of Mom, or anything else (PG-rated pictures only, please!) – along with their name and contact phone number to competition2010@icebreaker.com. The entries will all be posted to the contest website, www.icebreaker.com/whatsnexttoyourskin and there will be a daily drawing for Icebreaker gear – including sustainable underwear like Nature or Beast and more.
Icebreaker’s “What’s Next to Your Skin?” contest wraps up on March 2 with a drawing for the Grand Prize: limited edition Icebreaker Whistler ‘10 gear.
See some of the early entrants: http://olympics.icebreaker.com/photos
Icebreaker Keeps Kiwi Olympians Smelling Like Champions During the Games
During the Olympics, Icebreaker will keep the New Zealand athletes warm – and cool under pressure – as they wear natural, sustainably produced New Zealand merino garments and accessories. As the official base layer supplier of the 2010 New Zealand Olympic Committee, Icebreaker is providing the 15 Kiwi athletes competing in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games with its Bodyfit base layer garments, including three different tops, leggings, socks, gloves and scarves. The team began wearing its Icebreaker in late October when it met for the Winter Games in Central New Zealand.
The featured Bodyfit+ base layer garments the team are wearing is from Icebreaker’s new Bodyfit+ range, and features an all over black and white camo print made up of the two main islands of New Zealand.
New Zealand has participated in the Winter Olympics since 1952. It won its first and only medal in the Winter Games in 1992 when Annelise Coberger took won silver in alpine skiing.
About Icebreaker
Launched in 1994, Icebreaker was the first company in the world to develop a merino fiber layering system for the outdoors. It was also the first outdoor apparel company in the world to source merino directly from growers, a system it began in 1997. There are now 10 distinct pure merino fabrics in the Icebreaker system, covering underwear, mid layer, and outerwear.
Icebreaker is sold in more than 2,800 stores in 24 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Icebreaker uses only pure merino hand-picked from 120 high country stations in the country’s Southern Alps to create edgy outdoor clothing that combines nature’s work with human technology and design. The company is committed to sustainability, ethical manufacturing and animal welfare. In 2008 the company launched “Icebreaker Baacode,” a pioneering supply chain transparency and traceability program. Each Icebreaker includes a unique Baacode, which enables customers to trace the garment online from rearing the sheep through to each stage of the supply chain process.
From the Hilarious People at The Onion – Valentine’s Day Specials
This time of year, couples can take advantage of the great Valentine’s deals many businesses have to offer. Here are some of the bargains that are available:
- JetBlue: Last-minute Elopers’ Special fares to Reno or Las Vegas with coupon code HUGEMISTAKE
- 1-800-Flowers: Bouquet of any kind guaranteed to be delivered at least two days late, and without apology or refund; applies to any order, ever, not just those on Valentine’s Day
- Frederick’s of Hollywood: 10 percent off everything crotchless
- T.G.I. Friday’s: Free margaritas for every table that looks like the guy’s having trouble closing the deal
- Target: Half off candles you can light and enjoy until he comes home and says this place smells like a goddamn whorehouse and blows them out, throwing them in the trash before heading into the bedroom to play Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Sears Portrait Studio: Free after-hours erotic portrait session when you call Doug on his home phone
- Rite Aid: Complimentary can of Axe body spray with every NuvaRing purchased
- Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery: Available for a limited time only at the price of $499.49, a new original painting signed by Kinkade himself and titled “F-in’ In The Snow”
Wagner Custom Team Skier Travis Wolfe Wins Telluride Freeskiing World Tour Event
Telluride, CO (February 6th, 2010) – Wagner Custom Skis, the Telluride, Colorado-based leader in custom ski fitting science, announced today that factory team rider Travis Wolfe has won this year’s event at the Subaru Telluride Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier. Placing First in the competition earned Wolfe 24, top honors among an elite field of big mountain freeskiers. Wagner Custom also enjoyed great finishes from team riders Chason Russell , 6th in the men’s competition , and Kelli Gleason, 4th place for the women.
“It’s great to see our skis out there helping skiers of any ability take it to the next level,” said Pete Wagner, founder of Wagner Custom Skis. “We designed Travis’s skis based on how he skis, how he’d like to be skiing, and customized to his ‘Skier DNA’. We’re happy our skis helped get him to the podium and on the tour this season.”
Wolfe’s custom skis were built from scratch and designed at a length that is both stable at high speeds and nimble enough for tackling technical terrain. The waist width was determined to strike a balance between agility and good flotation, and Wagner’s powder tip and directional tail provide a predictable and comfortable ride. The ski’s flex pattern was designed specifically for big mountain riding: a smooth, round, flex pattern with a medium stiffness in the tail for landing huge airs. This made an impact as Wolfe billy-goated several sections of a bony line and then stomped a solid 20- footer to cement his win.
The Freeskiing World Tour’s website quoted Wolfe as saying, “I’m so happy, I came here confident and had lots of support,” as he celebrated at the awards ceremony in Telluride Mountain Village.
Team Wagner Custom has a history of great home-court performances with Chason Russell’s third place last year at the Telluride event. From here the tour moves on to Crested Butte ,Colorado and Kirkwood ,California before wrapping the season at Snowbird, Utah. Upcoming event info can be found at: www.freeskiingworldtour.com.
About Wagner Custom Skis
Wagner Custom was founded in 2006 in Placerville, Colorado, just downstream from the Telluride Ski Resort. Wagner Custom hand-builds precise-fitting skis and snowboards one-at-a-time, each unique and designed for a specific rider. Wagner uses only the finest raw materials, and all skis and boards are crafted around sturdy, solid wood cores. Wagner shapes and assembles skis using state-of-the-art 21st Century equipment in what may be the world’s greenest ski factory, running entirely on wind and solar energy. Visit Wagner Custom online at www.wagnerskis.com.
Access Fund Announces 2009 Sharp End Awards
The Access Fund, the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and
conserves the climbing environment, announced today the winners of its 2009 Sharp End
Awards. Each year the Access Fund recognizes individuals and businesses that go above and
beyond to volunteer their time and efforts to preserving climbing access and the climbing
environment. These recipients stand out in their commitment to the American climbing
community, and the Access Fund is honored to present this year’s awards to a worthy group of
volunteers and activists.
Bebie Leadership Award – Anthony Love
We are proud to recognize Anthony Love as America’s outstanding activist for the cause of
preserving climbing access and the climbing environment. Anthony has illustrated his leadership
with the recent acquisition of the Rumbling Bald West Side Boulders in North Carolina and has
been instrumental in climbing management planning for Laurel Knob and continued access to the
privately owned Asheboro Boulders. Anthony leads the Carolina Climbers Coalition with
perseverance and passion, helping to build partnerships and a strong community of climbers
dedicated to protecting and stewarding the places we cherish.
Reese Martin Coordinator of the Year Award – Thomson Ling
We honor Thomson Ling for his outstanding leadership as an Access Fund Regional Coordinator
in Virginia. Thomson founded the Mid-Atlantic Climbers Coalition in 2002 and became a regional
coordinator in 2003. With his support, Mid Atlantic Climbers has organized dozens of Adopt a
Crag events over the past seven years with hundreds of volunteers in attendance in areas
including Shenandoah National Park, Carderock Recreation Area, and Great Falls National Park.
Thomson is now a Regional Coordinator in New Jersey.
Sharp End Award – Clif Bar & Company
The Access Fund is proud to award Clif Bar & Company a Sharp End Award for their dedication
and support of local volunteerism and long-term stewardship of climbing areas. Since 2004, Clif
Bar has been a Contributing Sponsor of the Adopt a Crag program and in 2008 became a
Contributing Sponsor of the TeamWorks youth program, helping to turn young gym climbers into
responsible conservation-minded outdoor climbers. Clif Bar strives to bring local communities
together to take care of the beautiful places we play, and for that we are very grateful.
Sharp End Award – Brian Sabourin
We are pleased to present a Sharp End Award to Brian Sabourin, our first regional coordinator
in the state of Ohio. Brian has illustrated his leadership in climbing activism by forming a new
local climbing organization (the Northeast Ohio Climbers Coalition), spearheading an effort to
open climbing access at the Brecksville Reservation, and volunteering countless hours to building
relationships and collaborating with the Cleveland Metro Parks. He also organized the first Adopt
a Crag at Whipp’s Ledge. Brian is just getting started, and we look forward to many more
successes in the years to come.
Sharp End Award – Paul Morley
We are honored to present a Sharp End Award to Paul Morley, who shows the climbing
community that activism and protection of our climbing areas may be hard work, but the rewards
are worth the effort. Paul worked tirelessly over four years to acquire Yellow Bluff in Alabama,
and has been an instrumental player in building a network of supporters among the Southeastern
Climbers Coalition and Access Fund. Paul’s contagious enthusiasm for climbing access spreads
to everyone he meets, and we are proud to have him in our corner.
Sharp End Award – Aaron Gibson
We honor Aaron Gibson, co-owner of the Rocktown Climbing Gym and coach to the Oklahoma
Climbing Team, for his leadership in climbing management planning and trail projects throughout
his home state of Oklahoma. Aaron has been an Access Fund regional coordinator since 2004
and has played an integral role in helping to preserve climbing access at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge by working with local climbers and Refuge managers on climbing policies. Aaron
also provided lobbying support for the Access Fund’s meetings with Oklahoma’s congressional
delegation in Washington, DC. Thanks to Aaron, climber interests are well-represented in
Oklahoma.
About the Access Fund
Since 1991, the Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps climbing areas
open and conserves the climbing environment. The Access Fund supports and represents over
2.3 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock climbing, ice climbing,
mountaineering, and bouldering. Five core programs support the mission on national and local
levels: climbing management policy, stewardship and conservation, local support and
mobilization, land acquisition and protection, and education. For more information visit
www.accessfund.org.
Robb Report Speaks of Bespoke Skis as “Progressive Gear”
Luxury Lifestyle Magazine The Robb Report hails Wagner Custom as Progressive Ski Gear for 2010 http://bit.ly/7LfdqM. Anything else is just a ski. Give Wagner your Skier DNA and ski better this season on a pair of Wagner Customs.
How to Get Ahead in Journalism, or Outdoor Photography, etc.
I’d like to share this with everyone – because it’s hilarious. And, with everyone who reaches us through LinkedIn, etc. from 6 degrees of separation, looking for advice on how to market their photography (or other creative service) in the outdoor industry – because it’s true. Welcome to the bright side, James. http://bit.ly/72pLGV
Cool Me Down: Mammut and Schoeller Coldblack in The New York Times
“Innovative”. Perhaps, the most overused word in the outdoor industry, and in many others, I’m sure. It’s not that often that a truly innovative fabric comes along. Check out this article in The New York Times – Schoeller Textiles and Technologies has found a way to “Make Black Even More Cool”. That is, by deflecting up to 80% of the sun’s rays, apparel made with Coldblack (like Mammut’s ever-popular Champ pant, pictured below) makes wearing black in baking sunlight feel cooler that wearing white or any other color. Neat trick, huh?
A Little PR at the Post Office
No more Santa stamps? That’s right. ‘Cause Santa is “Saint Nick”, and that’s not non-denominational.
At least, that’s what I was told at the post office this morning. The same post office that had a “holiday” tree topped with a non-denominational “holiday” angel. I also learned that postal employees receive dozens of memos and reminders to not say “Merry Christmas” to patrons, but rather, “Happy Holidays”.
There are religious holiday stamps picturing Mary and Baby Jesus – who were pretty decent folk I presume, but I went for the Santa-free “holiday” stamps which feature Rudolph, a Nutcracker, a Snowman, and a Gingerbread man – all of whom are Unitarian, I’m guessing. We have Hanukkah stamps, and Kwanzaa stamps – but, no more Santa!
Which leads me to ask – how watered down are our holidays here in America?
Of course there are the Nutcracker stamps (boring!) which feature a SantaCracker among the collection of 4, but…Really? no more Santa? Would a Santa stamp really be that offensive?
Sarah Palin and Icebreaker – an Unlikely Pair, Together Again
But this time, on the cover of Newsweek. Really?
Ms. Palin Sporting the "Transformative Power of Merino", according to Moon
Really. We first brought you this story when Sarah Palin appeared in a Runner’s World photo shoot wearing Icebreaker’s GT Dash Zip top. She runs, it turns out, and not just for office. But now the whole world’s gone mad, it seems, as the same image has graced the cover of Newsweek. To see Icebreaker CEO Jeremy Moon’s take on all the fuss, and the perspective of Icebreaker’s home court press, The New Zealand Herald, click here.
We here at JustKillingTimeTillApres have, um, no comment.
