Learn from Backcountry Guru Glen Plake at this Weekend’s Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival

The Mountaineer shop in Keene Valley, New York is hosting the 10th Annual Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival on March 3 – 4, presented by Julbo, Backcountry Magazine, Dynafit, and a slew of other generous sponsors.

Julbo athlete and freeskiing pioneer Glen Plake will give a presentation at the Keene Central School on Saturday evening and will be skiing with anyone who wants to join him at the North Country School ski hill on Saturday. Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides will also lead guided tours for different ability levels on Saturday and Sunday.



The Backcountry Ski Festival celebrates the experience of skiing on natural snow in natural terrain, combining all of the elements of touring, climbing and downhill skiing.

“The Backcountry Ski Fest is unique,” says Vinny McClelland, owner of the Mountaineer. “It’s the only event of its kind in the Northeast; most are telemark ski fests at ski areas.”

Participants will be able to try new gear at the Ski Fest demo at North Country School, an elementary boarding school with its own private ski hill/rope-tow. There will also be free telemark clinics and skinning clinics, and Mammut will set up a beacon park for searching practice.

“And Julbo is nice enough to send Glen Plake,” Vinny adds, “who is world-renown for his backcountry and mountaineering skiing feats. It will be his first time at this festival; he’s generated a huge amount of excitement so far. The kids at the North Country School are completely excited that Glen is coming, and so is the headmaster, who is also a backcountry skier. The Ski Fest will be really fun this year.”

In addition to Julbo and Dynafit, participants can check out gear from Black Diamond, G3, Garmont, Madshus, Mammut, Marmot, Outdoor Research, PrimaLoft, Scarpa and Voilé. Ullr has smiled upon Keene Valley and blessed the region with good snow, so conditions will be great.

Following a short presentation by Adirondack Backcountry Skiing, Glen’s presentation will start at 7:30 on Saturday evening. There will also be a raffle with lots of awesome giveaways from “companies that have been enormously generous,” according to Vinny.

The Ski Festival benefits the New York State Ski Education Foundation’s Nordic racing programs and the Adirondack Ski Touring Council, stewards of the Adirondack Park’s backcountry ski trail system, including the famous Jackrabbit Trail.

With good vibes, good snow, community-minded people, and valuable information to be shared about the backcountry experience, no wonder Glen commented: “I’m going to the Adirondack Backcountry Ski Extravaganza. It’s like the one thing on my calendar right now. There’s an outside chance I’m going to the Himalaya in September. But everybody is like, ‘What are you going to do this winter?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m going to the Adirondacks.’”
Register here and find out more info: http://www.mountaineer.com/?page_id=577

– Christine Rasmussen

Snow Gods Shine on Europe this Winter – Good News for Julbo Retailers

We all know that high snowfall amounts mean good things for all snow-related businesses, but for the accessories market, there’s more of a correlation than you may think.

Take the winters 2010/11 and 2011/12, for example. Pierre Burgelin, international sales director for Julbo, noted that winter 10/11 in the European Alps was very short. “We had snow early November, with cold temperatures and snow again in December,” Pierre recalled. “Textile and accessory sales started relatively well in the plains (valleys) and then the last snowfall was just around Christmas. No more snow came after.



“Therefore, the ski resort shops had a lot of inventories at the end of the season for accessories. No snow equals no goggles sales; you do not compensate only with sunglasses. The preorders were generally lower for the brands for deliveries this winter: between -10% and -25% depending on the countries.”

The winter of 2011/12 paints a better accessories picture. “The Western Alps and Pyrenees got snow just at Christmas time, so the ski resorts could have better business since then, especially on accessories,” explained Pierre. “The snow conditions right now are exceptional, and the season could last with good activity until March or April. The gloves business, for example, is really good – the valley and city stores were sold out in gloves after they started the sales period. For goggles, the activity is good since it continues to snow every week; the other days are sunny, so people buy sunglasses too!”

The eastern Alps (Italy’s Dolomites and further east), however, did not get as much snow, nor did Scandinavia, and business was really hit. The shops in the valleys and in the resorts have inventories, according to Pierre.



On our side of the Atlantic, Pierre noted that winter 10/11 was generally good in the U.S. with a lot of snow and sales were therefore good. Winter 11/12 in the U.S. has been quite the opposite: no snow until mid January, hence very poor sales in the valleys, especially textile and accessories, but hardware was hit as well.

Kelly Davis, director of research for Snowsports Industries America (SIA), agrees that snowfall and accessories sales are highly correlated. Kelly’s observations of U.S. accessories trends in winter 11/12 mirror Pierre’s:

• Early season up; December tanked due to lack of snowfall. All accessories sales are down 7% in dollars sold and 13.5% in units sold through December.
• Inventories up 14% and sell-through down 12%.

“Participants purchase larger ticket items differently than they purchase accessories like hats, gloves and goggles,” said Kelly. “Accessories, typically, are purchased closer to actual time of use, making sales more reactive to weather.”

The moral of this blog post? Do your snow dance – not only does snow keep us powder hounds pumped, it keeps the companies we love and support, like Julbo, going strong.

To see how your region in the U.S. is doing for snow, check out http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/.

– Christine Rasmussen

Julbo Athlete Ashley Maxfield Throws Down at the Freeride World Tour in Revelstoke, BC

The third stop of the 2012 Freeskiing World Tour was combined with the Freeride World Tour, bringing the best skiers from around the world together for one event. This is the second of a combined effort from the two tours in order to determine who are the best skiers in the world. Throughout the week of competition there was some great skiing shown by the American and European competitors.

Traveling to Revelstoke from Salt Lake City is not a very long drive distance wise, but because most of the roads are just two lanes it takes about eighteen hours by car. I had the privilege of traveling with Ashley Maxfield, an athlete on the Free Skiing World Tour. Ashley placed third overall for the women during the 2011 season. The first half of our drive went well and then one mile before the Canadian border, when a mule deer decided to end its life. I had no way of avoiding the deer and punted it into the ditch with my suv. Luckily, the police officer was very helpful and even loaned us a bungee cord to help keep the cars lights in place. We put the car back together with some rope; the officer thanked us for decreasing the deer population and sent us on our way. After we made it thorough the gauntlet of wildlife for the next 100 miles, it started snowing for the drive over Rogers Pass. With four to six inches on the road we safely navigated the slippery road. The Canadian truck drivers have no fear on one of the most dangerous roads in North America and frequently passed us as if we were standing still. Eventually we safely arrived in Revelstoke waiting for the morning to come so we could finally ski powder in 2012.

When we finally made it to the ski resort the next morning we were glad to see a fresh blanket of snow. Since we were coming from Utah where the snow had been thin it was a pleasant sight. The snow was great and we spent quite a lot of time skiing laps in North Bowl the first day. With all the new snow we found many good lines and cliffs through out the resort with the help of some local knowledge

The time came for the competition and after being closed for a day everyone was ready for the skiing in North Bowl. The conditions were great and the skiers put on quite a show. The women went first and they all came out skiing fast and looking for difficult lines to receive a high score. Ashley Maxfield was the 14th to ski and chose the most technical and difficult line of the day for the women. On the far skiers left of the venue she found a line with three pillows and a final big drop at the bottom. The snow was soft and deep making for great conditions for a technical and steep line. All the women competitors charged hard and skied great and after the day was over Maxfield was in first place. The girl’s rankings were tight with less than two points separating the top ten.


Ashley Maxfield dropping the big air at the bottom of the pillows

After the women The men were given the chance to show their best to make it into day 2 finals on Mac Daddy Face. The men skied fast, and many opted to take the big double in the center of the venue. Many tried but not all succeeded, there were a few spectacular crashes, but everyone seemed to come out having fun. For the men Kye Peterson put down the first place run hitting the big double air to start and throwing a couple 360° airs at the bottom. An Alta/Mad River Glen skier Dylan Crossman skied a strong run. He ended up missing his entry to his line at first but quickly got to it and dropped in. With the slight hesitation he ended up in 24th just squeaking into the finals. All the men and women skied great and the competitors who made it to the finals were extremely excited for their helicopter ride to an awesome venue for day 2.


Alta athletes McKenna, Dylan Crossman, and Ashley Maxfield (l-r)

Everyone had to wait a few extra days for the finals due to weather; it just would not stop snowing. Finally the clouds parted and it was time to ski off of Mt. Mackenzie and the Mac Daddy Face. It was an awesome venue with many different options for the competitors with something for everyone.


Mt. Mackenzie with Mac Daddy Face in the sun.

The finals started fast and furious with skiers wasting no time on their run. The second skier of the day was Dylan Crossman, and he did not hold back on his line choice. Going far skiers right in the venue he headed towards the biggest double Mac Daddy had to offer. Unfortunately for Dylan upon landing the first air he lost a ski and went on a tumble over the bottom air. He landed safely on his side, found his ski and headed to the finish line after a spectacular fall. There were a couple more scary falls from the men but everyone made out safely. The line of the day went to Oakley White Allen, but unfortunately ended up in second. Kye Peterson ended up holding on to his lead from day one and won the title for the men in Revelstoke.

After the men finished skiing it was the women’s turn at Mac Daddy. The skiing was strong from the women, there were a few falls and they all chose difficult lines. Most of the women chose the difficult and exposed skiers right side of the venue stepping up the level of skiing. With just the final three skiers to go the title was still up for the taking. Angel Collinson was in third after day one and skied a fluid difficult exposed line giving her a good score and a chance at the title. Next up was Nicole Dirksen, she skied a strong run straight from the top. Unfortunately she fell at the bottom of her run and took herself out of the running. The last skier to take on Mac Daddy was Ashley Maxfield. Ashley made quick work of the top of the venue and found her entrance into the steep exposed part of her run. Ashley made it through the steep rock section of her run to the cliff at the bottom. She landed the air but caught a ski tip and fell shortly after. The fall took her out of the running and also injured her knee slightly. Angel Collinson ended up taking the crown with Crystal Wright and Jess Mcmillan rounding out the top 3.


Ashley Maxfield and the a star helicopter just above the cliff in the end of her run

The Freeride and Freeski world tours put on a great competition at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. It was one of the best competitions with the best skiers from around the world. Thanks to the Revelstoke employees and especially to the ski patrol that put in a lot of hard work to put the athletes on the spectacular venues. I can’t wait to see the next stop of the tour after Revelstoke the athletes are looking primed and ready to step it up again.

Julbo Welcomes the Newest Member to its Team: Ultra Runner Michael Wolfe

Though the disciplines of Julbo’s many talented athletes span a wide spectrum, they share a common trait: pouring full heart and soul into what they do. Michael Wolfe, the latest addition to the Julbo roster of athletes, is no exception. The 34-year-old runner extraordinaire has shown some impressive results in his career thus far in some of the world’s toughest races.
Read on to find out more about the attorney from Helena, Montana, whose favorite foods are: homemade elk burgers when he’s not running, and, “chewy energy blocks/bites” when he is – which is most of the time!



How long have you been into ultra running and why did you get into it?
I really started to get into ultra running when I was 26. I had tried a few ultras in my early 20s, but just for fun; I wasn’t a serious runner at that point. I got more into ultra running in my later 20s because I began to enjoy the competitive nature of the sport. I had always loved long adventures in the mountains, but the racing aspect of ultras began to intrigue me because of the ability to truly push your own personal limits when in the face of real competition.

How do you train and how much time do you put into it?
Most of my training is pure running in the mountains. Sometimes I'll do some speed work and also mix in some hard hill intervals/repeats. Most of my running is hours and hours in the mountains. It also changes some throughout the year. In the lead up to spring-summer race season, training consists of pure running. But in the fall and winter, I try to run less, with Nordic skiing, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, and weight training thrown in for diversity. I think this helps me come back to a new season stronger and more balanced. Typically, I train 18 to 25 hours per week, depending upon the time of year. Peak mileages for high-volume running season hover around 130-165 miles per week.

Which race results are you most proud of and why?
- Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc 2010 (2nd place overall). This was a breakthrough race for me: I realized I could really go for it when competing against the best from around the world.

- Western States 100 Mile 2011 (2nd place overall). Didn’t realize what I was really capable of until that day.

- The North Face Endurance Challenge Championship 50 Mile 2011 (1st place overall). Really happy with this result given I was competing against the fastest guys in the U.S. and a few from Europe.



Why do you think ultra running is becoming more popular?
I think people really enjoy being in the outdoors, and running on trails is so much easier on the body than pounding pavement. I also think the nature of ultras breeds camaraderie, not cutthroat competition. Everyone, even the elites, is friendly, approachable, and supportive, both on and off the trails. When you are out there running for entire day(s) it sure makes more sense to be friendly to the guy/gal you will be running with for 8 to 12 hours!

What are you looking forward to the most in regards to your partnership with Julbo?
To help support Julbo’s commitment to making the highest quality eyewear for individuals who are outdoors, in this sport, for many hours. It is important for people to have access to the best protective eyewear for as much as we are exposed to the elements; I am excited to help develop and promote such products for Julbo.

Do you have a favorite pair or use different models for different purposes?
My favorite pair of Julbo’s is the Dirt; they just seem to fit my face the best and the lenses provide the best protection in a variety of sun conditions. However, I often wear the Dust in the winter for skiing. And, when running, I often wear the Ultra or the Trail versions; these two are the lightest weight for logging miles and long runs.

Is there anything else you would like to add about your career, Julbo, or life?
I am currently working as a full time attorney......when not running. So, I guess this means I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed?! Maybe it just means that what I have learned thus far is that life is about balance, hard work, discipline in working towards the pursuits (and people) you are truly passionate about, sacrifice, and most importantly, humility.

– Christine Rasmussen

Now in Session: Professor Glen Plake’s POW 101 Class

Class is in session for all you diehard snow enthusiasts, as the Julbo Glen University Session (JGUS) is under way with its first contest, POW 101, and there’s now an application up to easily monitor how “students” are faring in school.



To participate in POW 101, you just need to register for JGUS and then submit a favorite photo of yourself shralping some pow – it can be skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, glissading – anything in which you’re enjoying the wonders of fresh snow. Registering for JGUS entails giving your name, location, age, favorite ski spots and a short “about me.”

POW 101 will run through the month of February. Next course will begin in March. Stay tuned to Julbo USA’s Facebook for more details.



To recap, JGUS is an online contest where “scholars” have to enter 4 out of 8 online contests. Every week Julbo will award a pair of goggles to the winner of the contest (the student with the highest score). Three to five of the “top-performing” students will get to attend graduation in Julbo’s homeland of Chamonix in March 2013 with Professor Glen Plake as their guide. Graduates will also become official Julbo USA pro skiers or riders, receiving Julbo eyewear and support in entering competitions (possibly including travel expenses).



The new app allows you to access “My Courses” – to preview what courses you have done and your current score; “Leaderboard” – to show who is leading the current contest with the most votes; and ”Vote” – where you can vote for others with a “Pass,” “A,” or, for really shred-worthy material, “A+”.

Don’t hesitate: sign up for school now and share your passion! You may earn the opportunity to be mentored by one of the most passionate skiers on the planet, in one of the most beautiful classrooms you’ll ever ski in.

Julbo in the Media: Tons of Press in the New Year

Its been an eventful couple of weeks for Julbo's media coverage, with tons of recognition for their new 2012 goggles and sunglasses, news from two of the industry's biggest trade shows (Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City and the SnowSports Industry Americas (SIA) Snow Show in Denver), and even some early coverage for the newly unveiled Julbo Glen University Session contest.

Powder magazine features Julbo features Julbo ambassador Glen Plake and his signature shades and goggles.

To read more, click here.

Inside Outdoor focuses on Julbo's new women's specific products for their winter products guide.

To read more, click here.

Day 1 of the Outdoor Retailer Daily highlights the Vesta as one of the trade show's most exciting new goggle offerings.

To read more, click here.

So nice, they covered it twice: the Vesta in day 2 of the Outdoor Retailer Daily

To read more, click here.

The day 3 SIA Daily recognizes Julbo as leader among 2012's new goggle lines.

To read more, click here.

Julbo's new Tensing mountaineering glasses highlighted for their innovative lens technology in the day 4 SIA Daily

To read more, click here.

Freeskier.com reports on the newly launched Julbo Glen University Session.

To read more, click here.

Gear.com digs the Orbiter's looks and lens technology.

To read more, click here.

Julbo Athlete and Expectant Mother Caroline George on Maintaining an Active Pregnancy

Check out this awesome blog post from skier, mountaineer, mountain guide, Julbo athlete, and mother-to-be Caroline George, about taking her bun-in-the-oven on a ski tour and the general challenges and rewards of maintaining an active lifestyle through a pregnancy:

http://intothemountains.com/2012/02/02/pregnancy-ski-touring-perspective/

Ogle These Pics of Julbo’s New Eye Candy – Hot Stuff Launching this Spring and Fall!

Julbo just keeps innovating with each new product release. Four new goggles will be available in March 2012, and two new mountaineering styles will debut this Fall.

The Tensing and Trek sunglasses will further enhance the high-alpine-eyewear lineup that Julbo is known for. At an MSRP of $50, the Tensing is probably the best value of high-altitude sunglasses out there – a great option for mountaineers just breaking into the sport. You get maximum protection with its super-wrap profile, and the comfortable, well-ventilating frames stay put while you climb.


the Tensing


The versatile Trek is lightweight and sleek, yet technical enough to protect you from the intense light of glacier conditions. Remove the ventilating shields if you don’t need as much side protection, i.e. for rock climbing or trail running; available in Spectron 4, Camel or Zebra. MSRP $120 - $200.


the Trek


Ladies, get ready to look hot in the new Vesta, the first goggle model to be offered with the photochromatic Zebra Light and polarizing and photochromatic Falcon lenses. I rock the Zebra lens, and I can’t tell you how much I love its versatility – one lens to change with the light, so I don’t have to stop and change them out. Helmet-compatible with wide vision, the Vesta is meant for the smaller, delicate features of adult female riders and skiers. MSRP $170 - $200.


the Vesta


The Meteor takes design cues from the limited-edition Glen Plake and Enak Gavaggio pro model, the Glenak. Dual-density soft foam and the photochromatic Camel lens make the Meteor one very adjustable and adaptable goggle, and if it works for Glen and Enak, it works for me! MSRP $170 - $200.


the Meteor

Rounding out the new goggle offerings are the Polar and the Eris. With a polarized lens and wide-view spectrum, the functional Polar comes in vivid colors to complement the bright ski fashions of the day. The Eris is another goggle designed to fit smaller faces – perfect for teens, women or entry-level skiers looking for something affordable, lightweight and helmet-compatible. MSRP $50 - $60.


the Polar

– Christine Rasmussen