It’s contagious! Modern backcountry equipment spurs growth

Every few years or so there’s a trend that seems to give the ski/snowboard industry a shot in the arm: when “shaped” skis first hit the market, when the Rocker Revolution spread, and now innovations in backcountry equipment have sent a jolt through the snow world. AT gear now is more versatile and comfortable than ever, bindings are strong enough to push fatter skis, and rockered equipment has added a whole new dimension to surfing powder. I know having a splitboard has made a huge difference for me in the fun factor.

If you’re a backcountry rider, you’ve probably noticed the growth simply by the numbers of vehicles parked at the starting points of some of your favorite touring spots. “Ten years ago, there would only be two cars parked here
” is something I’ve heard again and again from longtime backcountry enthusiasts in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado.


In search of more tangible evidence of the growth, I enlisted the help of Kelly Davis, director of research for SIA (SnowSports Industries America). She found some numbers for the 2008/2009 season (data lags a season):
• 14% (1,517,741) of alpine skiers say they ski in resort-accessed backcountry (a.k.a. side-country/slack-country) and another 6.2% (676,978) say they are skiing in non-resort backcountry.
• 1.5 million Americans say that they are telemark skiers and participated at least once during the 2008/2009 season. Of the 1.5 million, 32% say they telemark ski in non-resort backcountry and 32% say they ski resort-accessed backcountry.
• About 677,000 of the non-resort backcountry participants are using alpine, AT/Randonee, or a mix in the backcountry, and 471,000 are using telemark equipment.
• Total on skis in non-resort backcountry, regardless of type is 1,148,254.
The numbers in the retail data are even more mind-boggling: backcountry equipment unit sales are up more than 90%. Boot sales are up 150% season-to-date.

“Boots are a truer test of growth in AT/Randonee, because alpine skis, tele bindings/skis, even beefy XC bindings and skis can be used for AT, but the boots are fairly unique to the up/down backcountry discipline,” Davis explains. “SIA will continue to measure various types of backcountry participation in the seasons to come, and we expect to find fairly significant growth in the 2009/10 season data.”

A brand known for its performance in high altitude and extreme conditions, Julbo saw 70% growth in goggle sales in 2010 over 2009, which makes sense. After all that slogging, who wants to worry about their goggles not functioning?

– Christine Rasmussen

Julbo in the Media: Check out the Julbo Run review on Rock&Ice.com

To read the full review, head over to Rock&Ice.com.

Medium-well Glen Plake and a side of Enak Gavaggio's, coming right up...

As a reflection of its commitment, involvement and company spirit, Julbo is releasing a limited-edition goggle designed by two of its most notorious team members: American extreme freeskiing legend Glen Plake and French X-Games ski-cross slayer Enak Gavaggio. Both men have dedicated their lives to skiing and spreading the stoke, and it shows in the way they ride. Full throttle.



Dubbed the “Glenaks,” the collaborative pro model has lighthearted graphics of widespread representations of the two cultures: a hamburger and Statue of Liberty on Plake’s side of the strap, and French fries and the Eiffel Tower on Gavaggio’s side. More to come about this special edition model as it will be releasing this coming Fall 2011!

Check out this video of the two charging lines together in Chile in the remote mountains of the Alto Bio during last year’s Seb Michaud Invitational. (The trees are super interesting-looking in this clip – “Araucaria” trees, they’re called.) The mutual respect Glen and Enak share for one another – as skiers and as friends – is evident.



Even though I don’t understand French, I could tell Gavaggio was expressing mad respect for Plake, as does Plake for the skier known as the “Dark Lord” of ski cross. Glen also talks about what it means to him to be on the Julbo team. “It’s a mountain company, in the mountains, from mountain culture. Since we’re a mountain company, we had to make a nice goggle
with some iconic references on the goggle to the French-American relationship we’ve had for a long time.”

The clip ends with Glen and Enak sharing a laugh when they try to spell the name of the new goggle, and enjoying a meal together (of what, you’ll never guess). Pass the ketchup. Bon appetite.

– Christine Rasmussen

Julbo Athlete Majka Burhardt announces return to Ethiopia for second trip with Imagine1day

This fall, Majka Burhardt has announced that she is combining adventure and education for the second time with a return trip to Ethiopia with Imagine1Day. Majka and the rest of the group traveling to Ethiopia will work to raise enough money to build a new primary school in Northern Ethiopia while traveling to the heart of civilization like no one ever has. There are several ways to take part in what Majka and others are doing. For more information, visit http://www.imagine1day.org/ethiopia2011.htm

How can you win a free pair of Julbo Revolution goggles? Prepare yourself for the second phase of the Julbo Glen Session!

Every week, from Monday, Feb. 14 through March 4, Julbo will be giving away a pair of Julbo Revolution Goggles to a Julbo Glen Session Phase 2 voter!



Vote on your favorite video statement and video from the top 3 finalists here:
http://www.julbousablog.com/?page_id=682

The finalist with the most votes will win an all-expense backcountry ski trip to the Sierra Mountains with the one and only Glen Plake!

Not only help one of them win, but you could also style up your spring skiing by winning a brand new pair of the Julbo Revolution goggles! A $160 value.

Stay tuned for Phase 2 to go live on Friday, Feb. 14!!

PatitucciPhoto spends some time with Julbo Swiss althlete Ueli Steck

PatitucciPhoto catches up with Ueli Steck while he trains at home in Interlaken, Switzerland for an upcoming trip to the Himalaya. Check out the story and some of the images from their two day visit on their website: http://patitucciphoto.com/2011/02/09/training-with-ueli-steck/

After landing his PSIA Level 1 Cert, Glen Plake preps for annual ski road trip

It’s hard to imagine a freeskiing legend like Glen Plake can almost fail wedge turns during an instructor’s exam, but then again, Plake is unlike most pro skiers. To foster connections with ski and snowboard instructors to help grow the sport grassroots-style, Glen joined PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) last year and passed his Level 1 Cert Exam last week in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Upon receiving his Level 1 pin, Plake shared what he learned during the training: “What I realized going through this process is that the long-term heart and soul of the sport is found within those who have the opportunity to influence the experiences our guests have on skis. I’m honored to call myself an instructor and humbled by the depth of the training we receive as certified instructors.” (Cited from http://newschoolers.com/ns/content/readnews/id/3695/.)



Plake can test out his newly acquired instructing knowledge on the soon-to-launch Down Home Tour. Every winter, Plake and wife Kimberly travel around the country to visit small ski areas, also called referred to as “gems” or “Mom and Pop’s,” to ski and chill with the locals.

It’s at these types of ski areas where I’ve had some of my best pow days and created the greatest memories with friends. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Glen and Kimberly pay tribute to places that prove skiing and snowboarding are not elitist sports only for the rich. Places where you can get a sense of community and truly share stoke, where lift ticket prices do not hover around the $100 mark. At my local Mom and Pop’s, Wolf Creek and Silverton Mountain http://www.wolfcreekski.com, http://www.silvertonmountain.com, I know most of the lifties or ticket sellers and I can say “What a sick day!” and get their thumb’s up. That just makes it all the more fun.
Plake is also big on supporting youth racing, park and moguls’ scenes. How awesome would it be to be doing a session in the park after school with your ski team, and see Glen roll up to do some laps with you?
To find out more on why Glen likes getting “Down Home,” check out http://www.skinet.com/skiing/fondue-party/athletes/2010/01/an-interview-with-glen-plake and http://blog.skiheavenly.com/2008/01/09/glen-plake-down-home-tour-still-moving/.

They plan to get on the road the last week of February and finish at the Sun Valley 75th event and Glen's induction into the US National Ski Hall of Fame on April 2.

Thanks Glen and Kimberly for supporting the true spirit of snow sports, and I hope to see you in Southwest Colorado!

– Christine Rasmussen

Phase Two of the Julbo Glen Session is just around the Corner- Listen up to Glen about how to vote!

Light, New, and Fashion Forward: Julbo in the Media

Zebra Light NXT featured in Peloton Magazine:



NTS Technology at ORWM on DPM.com



2011 Fashion Feature in Playboy Magazine:

Caroline George and the Rest of the First Ascent Team Return Home From Antarctica Expedition

After three weeks of sub-zero temperatures and stiff winds, plants and animals were a welcome sight for Julbo athlete, Caroline George, and the rest of the First Ascent Team. The team returned home last week from a successful expedition through Antarctica.