Western States 100 just around the corner – go Team Julbo!

On June 23-24, four Julbo athletes will take on the Montrail Western States Endurance Run http://www.ws100.com/, a.k.a. the Western States 100 or WS 100: Ian Sharman, Michael Wolfe, Aliza Lapierre and Kami Semick.

This year marks the 39^th year for this classic ultra-trail event. Runners come from all over the world to do this epic. The current entrant list http://www.ws100.com/entrantlist.php of 419 runners includes athletes from 33 different countries, not counting the U.S. That says something about this race and this course.

Staged along the historic Western States Trail, the WS 100 starts at Squaw Valley, California, and ends in Auburn, California, for a total of 100 grueling high-altitude miles.

Runners are vertically challenged right off the bat, climbing 2,550 feet in the first 4½ miles to the top of Emigrant Pass. From there, they follow the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850’s, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet before reaching Auburn. How many will finish before the cutoff time of 30 hours (they start at 5 a.m. on Saturday and must finish before 11 a.m. on Sunday) remains to be seen, but it will surely require the summoning of some serious inner mojo.

The WS 100 web site also describes the course as “extremely difficult and hazardous for even well-conditioned athletes under the most favorable conditions.” Given the course’s degree of gnarly-ness, it makes sense that each runner must meet strict guidelines to be entered. At least snow http://www.zombierunner.com/ws100/snow_report/ will not be as big of an issue in 2012, as the Sierras did not receive their normal inundation of the white stuff last winter.

The Julbo roster includes some serious contenders: Michael finished 2^nd in 2011 with a time of 15:38; Ian, 10^th, with a time of 16:40; Kami, 2^nd with a time of 18:17; Aliza, 6^th, with 18:45.

We wish this crew (and Julbo CEO Nick Yardley!) good luck, good vibes, happy feet –whatever they need to race the race they’re hoping for. Follow their progress at http://www.ultralive.net/ws100/webcast.php.

If you want to experience this adventurous course and are an experienced trail runner in top physical shape (must be able to run up to 40 miles over rough terrain), there are still competitors seeking pacers. See http://www.ws100.com/pacerform.htm#about for qualifications.

– Christine Rasmussen

Summer Cycling is on!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo Credit: Ride the Rockies[/caption]

A cycling race or tour, road or bike, is likely happening in a neighborhood near you this summer. There is nothing like a cycling event to provide a personal physical challenge and a sense of camaraderie that only other crazy bikers can supply.

Ride the Rockies http://ridetherockies.com/ traverses across one of America’s most scenic regions and is under way now, culminating on June 15 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Bikers started in Gunnison and will climb five mountain passes through two national parks by the time it’s over, stopping in some of Colorado’s most beautiful mountain communities.

In 1986, The Denver Post created the premier Ride The Rockies Colorado Bicycle Tour when over 1,500 riders came from around the country to participate in the six-day, cross-state tour. Since then, the limit has increased to 4,000, with a lottery system in place to keep pace with the event’s popularity. Different routes are chosen every year, but each promises views that will give bikers the “Rocky Mountain high” that John Denver praises. If you haven’t done this tour yet, start planning now to get in on next year’s!

For a good vertical test on Northwest roads, check out the Mountain Lakes Challenge http://www.mountainlakeschallenge.com/, which also promises amazing scenery, complements of the Southern Oregon Cascades. Starting in Ashland, bikers in the Century Challenge portion of Mountain Lakes climb 7,100 cumulative feet in 100 miles. Whew! Taking place on June 23, the Mountain Lakes event also offers a Metric Challenge (5,100 feet of climbing in 58 miles) and a Double Metric Challenge (10,000 feet of climbing in 135 miles). Double whew!

The Centurion Cycling Series http://centurioncycling.com/ kicks off in the Adirondacks http://centurioncycling.com/newyork/ on June 22 – 24, in the beautiful village of Lake George. Road bikers can choose distances of 25, 50 or 100 miles in various formats. The Series welcomes racers, competitive cyclists, tri-athletes-in-training, recreational riders and families/friends for a Tour de France-style event complete with mass-participation buzz and picturesque views at every stage.

For intense pain and extreme beauty, the Leadville 100 MTB Race http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/page/show/315773-100-mile-mtb-race may be the race for you. Taking place August 11, this mountain bike epic tests contenders’ limits and lungs as they navigate the high-alpine trails surrounding Leadville, Colorado, starting at 10,152 feet and climbing to 12,424. It took Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong a couple attempts to win this “Race of All Races,” which draws bikers from all over the world. He finally did it in 2009, unseating six-time Leadville 100 champ Dave Wiens.

For more beta on an event in your region, check out the Cycling Event Finder at http://www.bikeride.com/.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo Credit: Ride the Rockies[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo Credit: Ride the Rockies[/caption]

Outerlocal's Adam O'Keefe Reviews the Julbo Pipeline Sunglasses

Adam O'Keefe gives his two cents on the Julbo Pipeline:
"Perfection. It' something many people, and many companies, strive to achieve in one specific area. With the Pipeline model of sunglasses it seems like Julbo has come as close to eyewear perfection as any mountain athlete could require for regular use."

The Julbo Performance line Making an Impact in the Media with the Ultra and the Dolphin

The Julbo Dolphin featured in Kayak Angler.


"Sunglasses that float - seems like a no-brainer. But it took French optics company Julbo to develop a pair of shades that not only float but effectively block glare and look good, too. The low-density plastic frame looks and acts like any other pair of shades. Polycarbonate lenses wrap around the eye to block out sun and cornea-searing UV rays. Last summer, the Dolphin's smoke grey lenses effectively cut through Chesapeake Bay's emerald green glare to expose cobia, drum and striper swimming just below the surface."

Bicycling Magazine features the Julbo Ultra.



"Minimalist design and light weight makes for a hardly there feel."

Ultra-Runner and Julbo USA CEO Nick Yardley Prepares for Western States 100

For most of us, running a hundred mile race is not on our “to-do” list.  From June 23 – June 24 2012 more than 400 of the world’s top ultra runners will compete in Western States Endurance Run (WS), one of the oldest, most challenging ultramarathon events in the world. Even more impressive than the 100 miles the race covers is the remote and rugged terrain it traces through California’s Sierra Mountains. I’ve caught up with ultra runner and CEO of Julbo USA, Nick Yardley, to hear what it takes to prepare for Western States.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="95"] UTMB 2010[/caption]

How did you get into running?

I originally used it for training for climbing but as I got older I found out my climbing abilities were dwindling and I was falling more and more in love with running. Growing up, I was always intimidated by the word “marathon”. It always seemed like such a huge, huge thing. When I turned forty I decided what I really wanted to do was run a marathon. When I did it I remember a tremendous sense of satisfaction. I ran a 50k and loved it, ran a 50 miler and loved it and now it’s 100 miles. It seemed like a really good bucket list thing to do. And, I’m not getting any younger so it’s now or never.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="97"] Burrows Trail, Camels Hump, VT[/caption]

What other races have you competed in?

about 25-30 in the last 5-7 years including:

• Bear Mountain Endurance Challenge (50 mile)

• Vermont 50 (50 mile)

• The North Face Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc (100k, 100 mi)

• The North Face CCC (Courmayeur Champex Chamonix)

What made you decide to run WS?

WS is a really prestigious race, it’s very much the historic beginning of running long distance races in the US
it’s very hard to get into, it’s all by lottery
when you do get in it’s really an honor so you have to make sure you train and do it.

How do you manage to train for an event like this while being CEO of a growing company like Julbo USA?

I’m doing it for the achievement, for the personal satisfaction. It’s a little hard to balance all the training 'cause unlike a marathon you’re doing really long distances, 70, 90 miles frequently. I’m lucky I have really good running partners around here, so I have people who will drag me out of bed at 4 :30 in the morning, people that will run with me on the weekends and nights. Having really good  running partners and friends really provides the right motivation.

What’s the biggest challenge of the race for you, personally?

The heat
Race day they’re predicting it could easily be 110° F and I’m a pale, pasty Brit and I’m just not used to 100 degrees. The heat is a really big concern for me.

Lens technology is one of the many elements that make Julbo’s sunglasses so unique. The “Zebra” and “Zebra light” lens are recommended for performance activities like running and biking. What makes these lenses so great and are they good enough to wear on a 100-mile race like WS?

I know athletes like Kami Semick will be preferring to use two glasses, the Zebra Light in the morning when it’s darker and at high noon she’ll go to the Zebra which will go darker. For me, I only need something from early morning onwards and the Zebra will cover all that.

Which sunglasses will you be wearing and why?

The Trek. It was a toss up for me between the Trek, Trail, Ultra and Dust. All those fit my needs really well. Since at times it’ll be so bright, much brighter than I’m used to, I like the slightly darker protection that the Zebra [versus Zebra Light] provides. Plus, [the Trek] it’s really well vented, lightweight, has adjustable temples, and with the new nose pads it’s really comfortable on the face.

What’s the first thing you’ll do when you complete the race?

Sit down. It’ll be the first time in twenty some odd hours. I’d like to think I’d like a beer, but I’m guessing I might puke it all up if I did. It’s a very prestigious finish line and I think I’m going to want to sit on the track and take it in for a while
The reality is I’ll probably never do this race again because it’s so hard to get into, so this one I’m going to want to sit trackside for a while and soak in the atmosphere.

It seems like you really get out there and use the products the company sells.  Is this part of Julbo's mission?

It’s very hard to come to work everyday if all you’re doing is selling a widget that’s no different than somebody else’s, that means nothing to you
I really believe in the product so it makes it a lot more fun to come to work.

Julbo Junior of the Summer Contest wraps up

Last Friday Julbo USA announced on its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Julbo.USA the winners of the Julbo Junior of the Summer Contest, which drew many wonderful photos of children enjoying the outdoors. One grand-prize photo was chosen as well as a first and a second runner-up, all of whom received some Julbo product for their kiddos.

Let’s hear a little bit more about the kids in the winning photos, and what they do with their families for outdoor fun.

And thanks to all who shared photos – it was a tough choice!

Grand-Prize Winner, Kyle Balke and Karin Balke, parents of Ella Balke (3 years old), and Macy Balke (14 months old)



Which one of your children is in the winning photo? Is there a story or anecdote behind getting the photo?
Kyle: Ella is the one in the winning photo. The photo was taken during the evening on May 28th
we live in Missoula, Montana and lately we’ve experienced some peculiar weather: overcast, rainy, and cool during the day while the late afternoons have yielded a few hours of sunshine. Following dinner that evening we headed outside to enjoy the weather. We grabbed both of the girls’ sunglasses since the sun was low on the horizon and very bright. Ella was swinging and the light outside was just awesome (the photo was taken around 8 p.m.) so I climbed up on the ladder of the swing set to get a different perspective. Ella looked up and the photo turned out better than expected.

How active are your children, i.e., how much time do they spend outside in any given week?
I think our girls are more active than the national average; I recently read on a flyer for the Great American Backyard Campout that 8- to 18-year-olds spend an average of 7.5 hours [per day] using the TV, computer, cell phone, and video games. We certainly make a conscious effort to try and break these poor trends. With that said, I would guesstimate that they spend 4-5 hours outside per day depending on the weather (it can be a little tricky living in the Northern Rockies).

What are some of their favorite activities?
Ella and Macy love being outside, period. Favorite activities include bike riding (Ella on her balance bike, Macy on the tricycle), running around, swinging, going to the playground, going to the river to throw stuff, playing in any water (puddles, pool, sprinkler), and going to the farmers market.

Do you have any summer travel plans? Any tips on traveling with kiddos or on doing outside activities with kiddos?
We do not have any big summer travel plans; however, we will be hosting family visitors for almost an entire month! We are planning on doing some huckleberry picking, camping, hiking, biking, soaking, and a slew of other activities around Western Montana.

As far as tips on doing outside activities with children, remember to slow down to their pace. Although it would be nice, pounding out a 15-mile hike with two kids under the age of 3 might be doable, but likely not that fun. Children are just beginning to experience the outdoor world and that typically means that what is directly in front of them is the coolest thing they have ever seen. Setting the foundation for enjoying the outdoors is so vital; forcing them into a child carrier for an all-day adventure might not be the best way to achieve that goal.

Do your kids like wearing sunglasses?
Both Ella and Macy seem to like wearing their Julbo’s. Ella is pickier as far as when she will put them on but she will often ask for them when it is too bright outside. As for Macy, once we put her sunglasses on, she rarely takes them off.

First Runner-Up, Melissa and Bret, parents of Jackson (3 years old)



 

Is there a story behind the photo?
Melissa: We go out on a lot of picnic dinners and usually after dinner Jackson rides his bike around. That evening we specifically went up to the Slickrock bike trail [in Moab, Utah] so he could ride and he loved it.

How active are your children, i.e., how much time do they spend outside in any given week?
Jackson is VERY active outside. He gets out for a bike ride, hike or playtime at the park at least 5 days a week.

What are some of their favorite activities?
Jackson loves to ride his bike, camp, hike and walk the dogs. He just loves being outside. He will come home from school asking to go hiking or camping.

Do you have any summer travel plans? Any tips on traveling with kiddos or tips on doing outside activities with children?
We are spending a week at the end of June camping and hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and we have another trip planned for Zion National Park in the fall. Of course, there will be many short camping, climbing and canyoneering trips in between.

Tips on traveling with kids or outside activities: We have so much fun traveling with Jackson and doing outdoor activities with him, but we have had to change things up a bit. We need to be more flexible; we definitely need more patience and we have had to lower our expectations. Lots of tips and advice at www.adventuretykes.com.

Do your kids like wearing sunglasses?
Jackson has been wearing sunglasses since he was 3-months-old so it is habit for him. He actually never, and I mean never, leaves the house without them. If for some reason he does, I have to retrieve them from the house before a meltdown occurs.

Second Runner-Up, Anne and Russ, parents of Ryan (20 months old), with twins arriving this fall



Is there a story or anecdote behind getting the photo?
Anne: I was actually pretty lucky to get this picture. Ryan is a ball of energy. So many of my pictures are of his back as he is running to his next adventure! In this one, he was actually coming to tackle me, yelling “Mama!” the whole way.

How active are your children, i.e., how much time do they spend outside in any given week?
Ryan is extremely active ... never stops moving except to eat and sleep! If the weather is nice, we are outside for at least a couple hours a day ... at the park, out for a walk, or playing in the backyard with the dogs.

What are some of their favorite activities?
The first things that come to mind are climbing on everything, eating (you’ve got to get some calories in you when you never stop moving!), and wrestling with our labs.

Do you have any summer travel plans? Any tips on traveling with kiddos or on doing outside activities with children?
We have a couple of vacations planned this summer. The first to Gatlinburg, which will hopefully involve some good hiking. We also have a week at a beach house on Lake Michigan planned. I don’t have any good tips yet, but I’ll take any I can get from other parents, as this is our first child and our first real summer where he has been extremely active! [Anne, check out Melissa’s web site www.adventuretykes.com.]

Do your kids like wearing sunglasses?
He usually doesn’t mind them too much. He’s been wearing them since he was a small baby last summer. Since we started so early, he doesn’t know any different! We constantly get comments at the park from other moms about how well he does with his glasses.

Celebrate Paddle Sports this Summer at a Whitewater Festival Near You

Attention, river rats: meet members of your tribe and share the whitewater stoke at one of the many river festivals happening across the country this summer, many of which benefit important river-conservation causes.

Coming up is “America’s Oldest and Boldest Whitewater Festival” – the New Belgium FIBArk http://www.fibark.net/, causing mayhem from in Salida, Colorado from June 14 – 17. This year marks the 64^th anniversary of FIBArk, which is short for “First in Boating on the Arkansas.”

Events include the 28-mile Classic Downriver Race (the longest-running whitewater race in the history of the U.S.), the Hooligan Race (open to anything that floats that’s not a boat), and Boater Cross, a high-adrenaline pursuit through one of the Ark’s most technical and powerful sections, the Numbers. A jam-packed musical lineup http://www.fibark.net/music rounds out the weekend.

The river-celebration action kicks off in the Northeast with the Deerfield River Fest http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/aw:events_deerfield in Charlemont, Massachusetts on June 30. All proceeds from the festival support American Whitewater’s conservation and access work throughout the Northeast. Paddling, competitions, live entertainment, and a silent auction fill the festival roster.

Many of these celebrations also offer a comprehensive lineup of clinics. Lockapalooza http://geneseewaterways.org/kayaking_events.htm at Lock 32 Whitewater Park in Rochester, New York on August 18 and 19 will have a workshop for every age group and skill level, from youth whitewater kayaking camps to adult freestyle/playboating.

Round out the summer on September 7 – 9 with the American River Festival http://www.americanriverfestival.org/ on the South Fork of the American River in the Coloma-Lotus Valley of Northern California, The 31^st annual ARF, comprised of competitions, river activities and a huge dance party, will benefit Friends of the River, American Whitewater, and the American Canoe Association.

Before you head out on the water, don’t forget about eye protection. Check out these Julbo performance models that are ideal for water sports: the Pipeline http://www.julbousa.com/performance/pipeline/ and the Race http://www.julbousa.com/performance/race/. Both are offered with the Octopus lens http://www.julbousa.com/lenses/octopus/, a light-sensitive, water-repellent and polarizing lens. (A polarizing lens eliminates the strong glare that comes off of water’s surface.)

For the kids ages 10 – 13, the Sailor http://www.julbousa.com/kids/sailor/ offers wrap-around coverage for optimal protection and hold, and the frame’s lightweight stems keep them afloat if they go overboard. Bright fluorescent colors make them easy to spot as well. Adults get the same benefits in the Dolphin http://www.julbousa.com/performance/dolphin/.

For more beta on a river event near you, check out this calendar http://paddling.about.com/od/festivalsevents/a/Festival_Calend.htm.



The Julbo Dolphin.



The Julbo Sailor.



The Julbo Pipeline with the Octopus lens.

Bicycling.com features the Julbo Ultra with Zebra Light Lens

The Julbo Ultra for "eyewear that works in every situation".



"A minimalist design and light weight makes for a hardly there feel; Zebra Light lens adjusts in all light conditions, from morning to evening, wraparound format increases field of vision and provides maximum coverage."
Check out Bicycling.com for more.

The Julbo Explorer XL featured on SnowShoeMag.com

More or less identical to the standard Explorer, the Explorer XL sunglasses are perfect for that "hard to fit face".



To read more, click here.

Julbo in the Media: Bivouak and Sailor

Removable side protection on the Julbo Bivouak sunglasses takes you from everyday to heavy duty on SnowshoesMag.com:

To read more, click here.

The Julbo kid's Sailor sunglasses make a splash in San Diego Family's 2012 Summer Toy Guide:

To read more, click here.