Moments
WATCH 'DOLLAR SHORT' SKI FILM HERE + BTS CHAT TO CREATORS!
DOLLAR SHORT IS LIVE! Before we get into the making of, nitty gritty, BTS with the brain trust behind the picture, catch the full 12-minute flick featuring pillow lines, backcountry booters and bank robberies below!!! Boom! If that doesn't get you excited for winter, nothing will. Wondering how they came up with such a concept and what in fact goes into executing a project like this - all while Covid is knocking on the northern Hemi's doorstep? We were too. Below, hear from the creators Caleb Chicoine and Alex D'Agostino, directors and masterminds from Benshicreative as well as Le Bent team riders Parkin Costain and Jake Hopfinger. Jake Hopfinger presumably admiring his handiwork. Photo: Jonathan Finch Caleb Chicoine (director): Thinking about how this film came to fruition is pretty funny to reflect on. During the summer of 2019 Alex and I we’re both working as editors at TGR in Jackson Hole. We were fresh off releasing our first ski series “Before Tomorrow” the winter prior. That project was what really kicked off Benshi, but we felt like it was just a small taste of what we wanted to do and what the Benshi crew was capable of.We started a really strong relationship with Jake Hopfinger with Before Tomorrow and knew we wanted to all work together again the next winter, and on one of our last days shooting that project we linked up with Parkin Costain. We all hit it off instantly and started scheming the next film. All aboard the company car/metal steed. Photo: Jonathan Finch Since Alex and I were living in Jackson Hole, Jake was in Bozeman, and Parkin was in Whitefish, we would have daily facetime group calls to brainstorm film ideas. We knew we wanted to make something that wasn’t just action ski porn, and was able to integrate a story into a ski film without beating it over people's heads.Lots of bad ideas came out of these facetime sessions (mostly by me…). When we would talk about coming up with ideas, we played with the concept of creating a totally random scenario and saying “what would happen if... “ and seeing where that would take us. Jokingly as an example, someone (I don’t remember who) said “What if we robbed a bank”.We all laughed and thought that was a ridiculous idea and a funny joke. As we bounced around a bunch of other ideas over the next few weeks, we eventually circled back to this joke idea and just said “Screw it, what would happen if two skiers robbed a bank?” Haha... Two skiers walk into a 7/11, a bar, a bank... Photo: Jonathan Finch After that summer Alex and I moved back to Bozeman and we started to really pick this idea apart with the whole crew. We just kept playing off of the “what if” idea and let it roll, and eventually we came up with what you see in the film. I couldn’t be more grateful for this crew and all the hard work everyone dedicated to making this happen and for all of our sponsors. I feel like this is still just 5% of the way to where we want to take things as a crew and am psyched to get to work on the next one. Alex D'Agostino (director): As a kid growing up on the east coast I remember watching all the big ski films and thinking: Wow, I’m never going to be able to do things and go to the places these guys are going. Even though I now have been lucky enough to experience those once far off dreams, those childhood thoughts still resonate with me. Caleb and I wanted to make a film that touches on that idea. Sure nice sleds and big trucks are epic, but the true heart of skiing is just going out with your friends whenever and however you can. This film was a blast to make - it was hilarious making two pro skiers act for us all year. The Benshi crew is just getting started - we are incredibly excited for what’s next! Alex on the tools. Photo: Jonathan Finch Parkin Costain: What a season last year was! I was more eager than ever to be more involved in the ski industry. Just a few years ago I would have never guessed that goal would lead me to help create a short ski film as part of the Benshi Crew. I’ve continued to embrace my ever growing urge to never have a real job and last season was the logical next step in that direction. Parkin repping our lightweight balaclava for heavyweight pillow domination. Photo: Jonathan Finch While navigating the Covid ridden season, the crew and I were able to continue production all the way up until March when the whole world went into lockdown. Before this I was able to win the Kings and Queens of Corbet’s, score a segment with Warren Miller Entertainment and continue on with the everflowing good times with the Benshi crew. So much went down last season but by far the most gratifying and rewarding moments were spent with our tight knit team scouting and shredding lines in the backcountry. I couldn’t be more stoked on forming such a strong relationship with the team. Our minds are turning for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to show the world what we’re scheming. Parkin prepping to drop... Off what, we ain't sure. Photo: Jonathan Finch Jake Hopfinger: Ever seen two backcountry skiers rob a bank? We did - kinda… The fall before shooting this project was spent with many hours on the phone brainstorming concepts for a backcountry skiing short film with a strong narrative backbone. Something that would bring a fresh tone to ski industry media. “Dollar Short” is certainly something unique that I hope people will appreciate. Jake Hopfinger minding the gap. Photo: Jonathan Finch Being the second season with the Benshi Creative crew, I had some high expectations for my personal skiing. With such a strong crew, it allowed me to really focus on my task at hand: ski hard and stay healthy. Luckily that is how it played out, which made for one of the best seasons of my life. We are all really psyched with how “Dollar Short” turned out. We hope everyone will keep an eye on our crew for what’s to come in the future! Can we be in the next one boys? Looks like a bloody good time! Photo: Jonathan Finch
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WHAT'S COOKING WITH LUCY BARTHOLOMEW? - Q&A
What does an ultrarunner do when only allowed outside for 1 hour of exercise per day? That’s barely enough time to get a light warm-up in, let alone delete a few dozen kilometres of trail! But Lucy Bartholomew put this not-so hypothetical to the test these last few months under a Victorian Covid lockdown. What did she discover? Well, when life gives Lucy lemons, she makes lemonade! …and a bunch of other tasty treats, all of which can be found in her brand-new cookbook! Wait what?! Lucy in the kitchen of the athlete house before the Western States 100mile run, 2019. Photo: Max Romey/Salomon Running Hey Luc! It’s been a wild few months since we last caught up for a chat. How have you been managing life in Victoria with all the restrictions due to Covid? Hello! Time seems to be going slowly yet also speedy this year! Lockdown life feels like déjà vu but it’s not all that bad with my dad and puppy as company, small projects to keep me entertained and training it feels like rise, run, rinse, refuel, repeat is my days and i have enjoyed the simplicity of that. Have you found that you’ve been able to adapt your routine considering the amount of time you normally spend on the trail? I have, and at first I tried to fight it and didn’t like being ‘stuck’ somewhere and told what I can and can’t do but once I embraced it, it has added a new flavour to training and another surge of motivation which is really cool. The change in pace seems to have paid off with you being able to focus energy on your awesome new cookbook. Congratulations on the release! Did the extra time at home help you add the title ‘author’ to your already impressive CV? Thank you! Yes! This cookbook has been 4-5 years in the making as I have always had a bank of recipes and been asked so many times to put them all together but with the less training and lots of time in one place and with a kitchen I made it my focus. I was very lucky to have it keeping me busy (and full!) There are too many delicious plates to pick from in here and it’s hard not to drool on my notepad as I write this question… I’m sure you find it just as hard to pick, but do you have any favourites or regular go-to recipes? I feel quite the same but for me the simple recipes of smoothie bowls and granola have always been in my life and made me smile. What I like most about the recipes in the book is that one recipe can turn into 3-4 others with leftovers. That was something I really wanted was to give life to recipes time and time again. Our crew is always inspired by the efforts you put into healthy living and eating. What would you say your motivations are to maintain a healthy diet? I know that I feel best when i eat well and for sure it affects my training and lifestyle I try to lead as an athlete. It doesn’t really feel like effort to me and I think when people see the recipes, they start to understand that it really can be quite simple! A cross-section of the healthy delicacies you can expect to find in Lucy's book. Did this help inspire you to share your delicious creations with the world? Certainly. I feel very lucky to have spare time in my day to slice my apples finely and fan them around the edge of my smoothie bowl but I wanted to share that that’s not the important thing and you can share the same meals simple, sustainably and also quite cheaply! We’re loving the new cookbook and it’s stepped up the game from our ‘dummies guide to cooking’. Where can one pick up the new book? At the moment is available as an ebook on my website HERE The plan is to try and have some hard copies for Christmas but there is no guarantees! As the life’s become more localised and events have been cancelled or postponed, have you any new goals you’re working towards? Any more new titles you’ll be adding to your resume? (Don’t feel you need to answer this if you don’t want to) This time has definitely opened my eyes to learning more and expanding more on the things that make me passionate. I want to work more on the environment and spreading understanding and awareness of this! I also have some fun projects that will capture my home land of Australia rather than just pinning to get on metal bird so quickly. Thanks a bunch for taking the time to catch up and share your journey over the past few months. Can’t wait to catch you out on the trails once the boarders open back up! Thanks team. It’s been quite the ride but I know that it’s just getting started and controlling the things you can control is what I chose to focus on- like what you eat! Lucy getting out of the kitchen for her allotted exercise. With meals and trails like hers you'll also be feeling excellent. Photo: Lucy Bartholomew Download Lucy's E-Book HERE Check out the collaborative designed Le Lucy sock HERE
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Running In The Age Of Corona - LE BENT Joins The Vipers Run Club
Very few activities, leisurely or otherwise, have been spared from Covid lockdowns. Social dining, gatherings and team sports have all been a victim of strict social distancing protocols here in Oz and abroad. However, one activity has endured, if not boomed in response to us barely being allowed outside at times, and that is the simple art of running. Perhaps it’s a metaphor and we all just want to run away from 2020? It’s for this reason that we’re stoked to be partnering with the Vipers Run Club this year, whose goal it is to not just get more men out running on the streets and across the trails for the myriad physical benefits it affords, but out doing so to also improve their mental health. Vipers began as a local running community on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and brought together a host of guys who were looking to get mentally and physically fit. We flicked a few questions the way of Scott O’Brien, one of the Viper’s ring leaders, or snake charmers if you will, to get his thoughts on what it’s like to go running during this unprecedented time. Meet the crew - a welcoming bunch of legends. Credit: @vipers.rc LB: Hey Scott, how are you mate? Good mate, thanks. Rolling with the punches over the last few months, but I’m enjoying being on the Northern Beaches during this time. I also got a dog back in March that’s been keeping me busy and he’s pretty cute which helps too. LB: That’s great to hear! Running wouldn’t have anything to do with that would it? ;) Running has also been a big focus for me over the last few months as initially it was the only way we could justify being outside for a while there, but I’ve really been enjoying my running lately and exploring new parts of Australia through trail running and even some cool runs in my backyard. The snake pit - Manly NSW, Australia. Credit: @vipers.rc LB: Have you guys noticed a big surge in the amount of people out running in light of Covid? Definitely.. it’s been great to see people getting outside and being active during a time like this, and I think that a lot of people have either discovered or re-discovered a love for running and being outdoors in general that’s been pretty amazing to see. LB: Further to that, have you noticed more people reaching out to join you guys, and more of an onus on mental health during this time? Yeah, to be honest, we weren’t sure how we would go with the restrictions around groups given we have over 100 members now, but we saw a big influx of people reaching out to us that had seen us online or on social media that were keen to be a part of the community we were building. Now our online presence is strongest we’ve ever been and a large part of that is due to the necessity of staying connected. The iconic Blueys... not a bad place to roam with mates. Credit: @vipers.rc LB: We’re guessing social distancing measure has also made it difficult to maintain your weekly run meet-ups? How have you tackled that? Yeah, we have been running sessions with one in the morning and two in the evening with 20 people limits using Facebook to manage who signs up for each session with a first come - first serve system that’s been working really well. We’ve found that this allows for guys to choose which session suits their day as before we only had one evening session that was hard from some people to make it with work and family stuff. LB: What’s next for the Vipers and the community you guys are fostering? We’re focused on bringing awareness to how important mental health is particularly for men and how running in a group can help foster conversations that lead towards facing mental struggles and ways to cope with everyday life. Often we’ve found guys find it difficult to connect with each other outside the pub, and this gives our members a way to put in a hard session, earn your beers after, and get to know a good group of guys looking to make themselves better. We’re excited to see where we can take this and always open to anyone who's interested that can get in contact with us. Learn more about the Vipers RC - www.vipersrunclub.com And don't forget to follow the journey on Instagram or Facebook
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Main Range Escapades with Jake Sims – The Calm Before The Storm
Every now and then le ambassador Jake Sims (aka @australian_backcountry) climbs down from his perch atop the Kosciusko Main Range, collects a little cell service and drops us a line to let us know how his latest BC mission went down. As predominantly sea level, office dwelling folk, it’s something we eagerly anticipate. We get to mind shred some lines, share them with you guys and plan our next backcountry strike mission depending on how the conditions are shaping up out there. This week, Jake graced us with some gallery quality shots of the main range, during some admittedly less than quality snow conditions. "This tour was classic Australian backcountry packed powder, aka solid ice." Said Jake. "Almost every aspect was solid ice, even those in the sun, typical for this time of year out there. Due to the rain last week and the minimal snowfalls it’s also the least amount of snow I’ve ever seen for this time of year, but that’s about to change it seems." Lots of green on the lower slopes of the Main Range...for now. Photo: Jake Sims Jake and his crew were up there for two days, "The weather was perfect," he said. "No wind and clear skies with a full moon. As we arrived back at the car we could see the clouds forming up in the distance." "We had plans to ride Watson Crags but we soon realised that there wouldn’t be enough snow for that and even if there was it’d be solid ice and that’s not an exciting place to ride in bad conditions. So we changed plans on the way out to ride a couple of chutes and actually relax a little as we are always just go-go-go every time we tour. It was nice to take some time and actually soak in the views and enjoy the quiet rather than worrying about how many lines we could ride in a day. We still bagged a couple of really fun lines that got the heart rate up." Slipping on Le socks with a view. There are certainly worse places to spend a night. Photo: Jake Sims A little scale on the moonscape that is the roof of Oz. Photo: Jake Sims Talk about a sunset. Photo: Jake Sims As for whether Jake's noticed an influx of resort refugees taking to the backcountry this season, he said he's still yet to see any more traffic out there than any other year. "There is always a few people camped closer to the resort areas and it was nice to see a fair few tents on the way out with people enjoying the space. Once out to where we camped we only saw one other group who are regular tele skiers out there who absolutely shred for a bunch of old fellas." Looking more like October than early August. Photo: Jake Sims Fortunately, up to a foot of snow has fallen since last weekend when these shots were taken and there's plenty more inbound. No one knows how much of a gift this will be more than Jake, "The backcountry needs this coming snowfall and more if we are to have a decent spring for touring." "We need it badly, there isn’t much snow out there, it was almost like I was touring in the middle of October." Clear skies while the high-pressure system presided over the alps last weekend. Photo: Jake Sims A sneak peak of a new Light Snow Sock we sent Jake’s way for testing… Needless to say they passed with flying colours and are coming to market soon! Photo: Jake Sims It's not just Jake's toes we look after on his long tours though, "I practically live in my Buddie Beanies, I’ve always got one on my noggin to keep it warm," he told us. "The Balaclava 200 Lightweight is also a staple for me when touring, it’s great to keep the head warm and if I’m too hot I simply use it as a neck warmer." Social distancing at its finest. Photo: Jake Sims Erryn Reeder making the most of the low tide terrain on offer out there. Photo: Jake Sims When asked if we'd run into him on the Main Range after this weekend's snowfall, Jake said, "I’d love to say I’ll be up there Tuesday but It’s always hard balancing work and family life while still trying to get out there. Erryn and I are always begging our respective partners for leave passes to get up there!" "As soon as I get the green light I’ll be getting amongst it."
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BEHIND THE SCENES OF #LESENDDOWNUNDER WITH CODY TOWNSEND
This time last year we were getting ready to welcome Cody Townsend and Elyse Saugstad on the tarmac at Sydney Airport. Since we're a far cry away from that happening this year, we thought we'd look back on what ended up being one of the best weeks of snow Oz has seen in years. Particularly our day riding with the resident groms of Thredbo resort. Why rider's of such esteem as Cody Townsend (2019 Powder Poll male skier of the year) and Elyse Saugstad (2019 Powder Poll female skier of the year (second place)) would grace the Australian alps was a question on a lot of peoples minds. Well, we invited - or rather goaded - Cody and Elyse to come down under and sample some 'real skiing'. The 'best mountains in the world' we said, and they took the bait. Cody Townsend finding a home among the gum trees out the back of Thredbo Resort. While best mountains in the world may have been a stretch, they sure got the best powder of anywhere in the world during their week here. Photo: Matt Wiseman Cody dipping his toe into his signature Le Send sock, the catalyst for his trip down under. Photo: Jake McBride From skinning over sheet ice up to the top of Kozi on the first day of #lesenddownunder to 120cm falling in the next three days, the duo sampled all Australia had to offer, and then some, while putting the world's first backcountry sock - the Le Send - through its final round of product testing. "I figured it would be a bit like the East Coast, US." said Cody. "Small mountains, a little bit of snow here and there. But we don't see many photos of Australian skiing in the US , so I didn't really know. We showed up, and were like 'yeah, smaller mountains, not that much snow...' And then, when we got so much snow, I was blown away by how fun the mountain was. There's little terrain hits everywhere. We ended up skiing with the Thredbo Mountain Academy kids, and blasting off every little thing in sight. I was like, "this is honestly more fun than some of the places I've skied back East because of the terrain and playful features. It was a blast." Thredbo Mountain Academy meeting Cody and Elyse. Photo: Matt Wiseman Scoping out some hits. Safe to say froth levels were through the roof and one of the biggest culprits was Cody himself. Photo: Matt Wiseman Post pole whack, pre team send. Photo: Jake McBride Cody and Elyse gave a Q&A and talked about the perks and perils of pro skiing after the Mountain Academy kids showed them the ins and outs of Thredbo. A hot topic was avalanche safety in Oz and upskilling in the mountains. Photo: Matt Wiseman After shredding with the groms all day, Cody then sat down with longtime Thredbo local and editor of Chillfactor Magazine Reggae Elliss to talk all things skiing, socks and what he thought of the terrain down under. When asked by Reggae how he had come to join the Le Bent bandwagon, he said, "It was funny, I got an email out of the blue from Simon (Le Bent co-founder) and I've gotten tonnes of emails from small companies... It's hard for them to ask and it's hard for me because product doesn't pay my bills. But I liked something about what they were doing. So I said hey, I will join the team if you make this particular sock. "I've got this idea for the sock. I've had it in my head for a number of years and no one will make it." I had been telling people, telling other companies, please make this ski touring specific sock. So Le Bent did. I was in." Since then, Le Bent's been working on a second generation Le Send sock with Cody. Elyse has also officially joined the program and has a women's specific Le Send sock set to hit stores and the skin track later this year... so keep your eyes peeled. You can catch the full interview between Cody and Reggae below! To read it in print head to https://www.chillfactor.com Chillfactor Podcast · Cody Townsend Podcast
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What We'd Do With A $7900 Outdoor Prize Pack - Hit The Road Giveaway
It’s about that time we’re all shedding the iso chains, hopefully swapping them for snow chains or bike chains. To help in this endeavour to hit the road and reclaim the outdoors, we’ve teamed up with We Are Explorers and a bunch of like-minded brands to bring you the prize pack of the pandemic age. Valued at a whopping $7900, here’s how we’d utilise the gear if we were allowed to win it… (sadly, we’re not). First off, we’d throw said gear into the JUCY Camper (which would be ours for 14 days) then I reckon we’d drive that bad boy from our office in Sydney down to the Snowy Mountains. But, probably not as the crow flies, there’s a hell of a lot of good surf breaks in between after all and it would be rude not to test out our new Quiky and Roxy wetsuits. If there aren’t any waves, we’ve got a brand-new mountain bike to take for a spin – the Specialized Rockhopper Expert 29 MTB. But the legs will probably need even more of a stretch during such a drive and we’d likely do so in our brand-new pair of Salomon hiking shoes or new trail running shoes (depending on the mood and terrain). Obviously, these would be paired with some of our finest woollen and bamboo rayon foot sheaths (socks) and maybe the Suunto 9 Baro GPS Watch for good measure. Surf check in our Outdoor Light Crew Socks. But wait… a cursory look at the snow forecast sees over half a metre headed for the alps (we’d hope) so naturally we’d put our foot down and get there in time to take our new Atomic skis for a spin in some fresh stuff. A new Arc’teryx jacket and set of Le Bent baselayers will keep us warm during the day before we decide to retire to the van – which we’ve named Vincent – and tuck ourselves into our Sea To Summit Trek TKII Sleeping Bag. This could be you booting up behind Vincent... Photo: Teddy Laycock Got a better idea on how to maximise these outdoor goodies? Enter the comp for yourself and show us when you win! Enter here. Winner's are grinners. Photo: Tim Sanderson Hit The Road Major Prize Total Prize Value: $7908 Specialized Rockhopper Expert 29 and Tactic Helmet ($1840)Suunto 9 Baro GPS Watch – Ambassador Edition ($1099)Arc’teryx Beta AR jacket ($820)A pair of Atomic Skis ($800)14 days JUCY Camper rental ($600)Quiksilver Highline Ltd Monochrome 4/3mm Steamer Wetsuit ($500)Roxy Performance 3/2mm Steamer Wetsuit ($550)Sea To Summit Trek TKII Sleeping Bag ($429)Sea To Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Sleeping Mat ($300)2 pairs of Salomon running shoes ($400)2 pairs of Salomon hiking shoes ($400)Le Bent baselayer, neck gaiter and socks ($170) Hit The Road Runner Up Prizes (9 to Win) Total Prize Value: $340 3 days JUCY car rental ($120)Salomon Prolog Bag ($70)Arc’teryx Men’s Cap ($50)Le Bent Le Lucy trail running socks ($35)Specialized Air Tool Switch Comp Pump ($35)Sea To Summit 13L Dry Sack ($30)
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AN ODE TO BASELAYERS - NOT A BASIC PIECE OF THE LAYERING PIE
Picture this: you've scored first chair of the day and there's 45cm of blower pow on the ground. Your chair crests the ridge-line and you feel an icy cold blast of deep Antarctic wind. You tuck your chin a little deeper into your face mask; you know what storm skiing is all about and your layering game is as refined as they come, the product of years of hard earned lessons and cotton filled mistakes. You skate a couple steps and ski toward the next chair as you steal a glance to your left; all those suckers inside, you know what they got wrong? Their thermals. Getting your base layers wrong can be one of the most uncomfortable, and even most dangerous mistakes you can make in the mountains. If you're not prepared for what the weather will be doing, then you’re not prepared for anything. So with all manner of options on the market, what makes the perfect set of thermal underwear? Le Bent are unique in this space as we offer a unique merino and bamboo blend that allows us to offer a silky soft hand feel that keeps our customers coming back for more and keeps you on the chair or skin track when others can’t hack it. How do we do it? Well, we ask ourselves some key questions and set our goals on delivering the most comfortable, durable and performance-orientated answers possible... What Material Is Best? When deciding on the perfect set of men’s, women’s or kid’s base layers you have two options: synthetic or natural. Synthetic base layers are generally spun with a variant of thermoplastic polymers that will work to keep you warm, but who wants to wrap themselves in plastic, right? And often they tend to stink before the day is out. Natural thermal fibres have traditionally been spun with merino wool. If it’s good enough to keep a sheep warm, then it’s good enough for humans. So, what’s the catch? Scratch. While merino wools are the perfect insulator, they’re not the perfect fabric to have pressed against your skin for twelve hours a day. So the question arises: what’s the perfect fibre? Honed over years of research and development and a collaboration with Australia's peak scientific body (CSIRO), we unpacked on a simple idea to combine the benefits and sustainability of bamboo rayon fibre with the warmth and durability of merino. The result? The highest quality, comfort and performance you can expect from any other material. An on skin layer and a layer of skins. Our 200gm Le Base Lightweight Crew Top. On paper, it’s an unlikely romance - merino and bamboo. Although the latter is technically a grass, and therefore beloved by the former… What makes the two materials so compatible is their differences. Individually rayon from bamboo and merino wool are world-class materials, but combined, they form a bespoke yarn that redefines what we thought was possible in a fabric. As the thermal will be the closest to your skin, the advanced wicking properties of the merino and bamboo blend ensure that moisture is worked quickly through your layers, keeping you both warm and dry with no odour build up or stink. The bamboo ensures the fabric feels nice and soft on the skin with no irritation, no itch. How easy is it to get your choice of material wrong? Earlier on in the article we alluded to some hard-earned lessons in the layering game. We thought we’d highlight them here so you can learn the easy way - if you haven’t already made the same mistakes we and many other snow-goers once made. Cotton: trite as it is to say, but cotton is not at home in the mountains. Layers keep one warm by trapping warm air next to the skin. While cotton does this to some capacity, when it gets wet, those air pockets become water pockets and cotton will stay soggy - or frozen, depending on where you find yourself - until you head back inside. A fun fact for the skin trail... cotton can absorb around 20 times its own weight in water. Synthetics: While not as abhorrent in the mountains as cotton, synthetics - of which there are many - aren’t an ideal substitute either. While better at wicking moisture, synthetics aren't as successful as merino at suppressing odours. Some manufacturers might attempt to solve this with an anti-microbial coating, but these tend to fall well short of mother nature's solution in the lanolin wax within merino. au naturel. No cotton or synthetics in sight on these base layers. What Fabric Weight Do I Need? The final consideration is weight. As you’ll be aware, varying conditions call for varying levels of insulation, and getting it right starts at the base. That is, the base of your layering, and the base of the mountain. Lightweight to midweight, Le Bent offer two options: a 200gm or 260gm variant – 200 for milder conditions – think Australian winters, or spring skiing overseas – and 260 for when it’s really blowing from the Arctic – think mid-winter in the Rockies, Europe or Japan. Of course these suggestions are subject to personal preference and the level of exertion you expect to be doing in your base layers. For those on the skin track all day, we suggest opting for the lighter 200gm blend, whereas if you’re riding cold chairlifts all day you might want a little more insurance and insulation. The right fit? No matter what weight you choose, you’ll barely notice it’s there thanks to our semi performance fit. We believe thermals should fit like a glove, not necessarily squeeze the life out of you by being skin tight. Our fit is designed specifically for activity and insulation in the mountains. It just so happens that it also looks at ease on an après deck. Cheers to a day made better with the right layers. At Le Bent we call it our Signature Blend and the quality of finish is immediately noticeable. It’s a unique combination of Mother Nature’s finest attributes – the growth, sustainability and softness of bamboo combined with merino, the finest natural insulator known to mankind. It’s not rocket science, it’s simply the result of years of research and design, innovation and a deep-rooted love of the mountains. No matter if you’re a skier, snowboarder, man, woman or child, Le Bent has a perfect set of men’s women’s and kid’s base layers for you. Let us take care of comfort, so you can focus on having a good time. Le blend benefits: NO ITCH Naturally smoother and rounder fibres for itch-free comfort. IDEAL TEMP Warm in the cold and cool in the heat. DRY Naturally moves sweat away from the skin leaving you feeling drier for longer. NO STINK Helps control odour producing bacteria. UV 50+ Keeps you covered from the sun's harmful rays.
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Backcountry Tips - How to pack
Australian backcountry aficionado, and Le Bent ambassador Doug Chatten and the skilled team at Snowy Mountains Backcountry know a thing or two about snow. They also know a couple of things about weather, gear and how not to kook your way into a full-scale search and rescue operation high on the Australian Main Range. We asked Doug if we could share some of his awareness tips and he was happy to oblige. Jake Simms (@australian_backcountry) on the western faces of the NSW Main Range How To Pack - Words by Doug Chatten The following info is not an exhaustive list of necessary equipment for backcountry skiing/boarding, rather some points of view on selection to get you thinking or comparing your own ideas. Think hard before you exclude items from your pack based on your proximity to the trail head or resort area boundary. Some professional guides don’t prescribe to the term side-country & find it misleading to the lesser experienced believing that once you leave the trailhead/resort boundary you are backcountry & therefore should have enough equipment & scope in your kit to be self reliant. If forgoing equipment means you may become dependent upon others or more exposed whilst awaiting assistance then there are better decisions to be made as responsible backcountry skiers. Likewise it is unwise to become overburdened by too much equipment, if you have items in your pack that you are continually not using other than emergency equipment then perhaps you should consider omitting them. It's true that as your skills, knowledge & experience increase your risk decreases somewhat & this in-turn can justify the more advanced travelling deeper with a lighter pack but remember no one is impervious to unforeseen circumstances. The art of having the necessary amount of equipment is a balance between your ability as a backcountry enthusiast, endurance levels & the conditions you may encounter on any given day. When going all right goes all white. Pic: @cambatten_ Perform a thorough check of all your gear & equipment at the start of each season & prior to every tour, it pays to be at a heightened state of preparedness ready to make the most of favourable conditions. If meeting a group at the trailhead, as well as talking over the intended route the night before you should have discussed the possibility of any shared equipment. Each individual should have their gear checked prior to commencement on the day by the group. There are many things to consider when planning your group trip but pay special thought to what equipment your group has & what objectives you are planning, it is one of the biggest limiting factors to a successful group journey. Identify & plan for the weaknesses & capitalise on the strengths. - Does our group have a mix of heavy & lightweight gear, no we all have tech bindings, light skis & boots. “Okay, I reckon we can go with the initial plan. However if Alan’s mate turns up on his 184 by 110 fatties with frame bindings I reckon we will have to amend our intended route.” When sharing group emergency gear consider you may get split up: - “Hey Johno I reckon it’s time to activate the PLB….oh no Debby has it & she headed back after lunch.” Never skimp on your gear! Get good stuff & keep it in good repair, retire or repair it as required. - I’m gonna get those skins off ebay, that’s a deal. “If Joey hasn’t re-glued or replaced his old climbing skins he’ll be holding us up all day again!” If I’m headed for the steep country I always take crampons, ice axe & a self arrest ski pole. As the slope angle increases &/or conditions become icy this equipment is invaluable & adds a huge layer of safety to your day. When encountering slope angles in the high 20degree range climbing skins begin to fail & your progress becomes inefficient & impractical. Bootpacking in steep &/or icy terrain can be extremely dangerous & fitting a crampon in this situation greatly reduces your risk exposure & increases your efficiency. If you are snowboarding you really should consider a full shank or stiffer sole boot that can take a crampon like Fitwell, K2 Aspect, Thirty Two MTB Jones, Burton Tourist, Deeluxe Spark XV. A standard soft snowboard boot lacks integrity at the boot sole crampon interface because of the flexible sole & in steeper terrain you run the risk of losing a crampon. Whilst it is difficult trying to kick into firm steep snow in a ski boot or full shank snowboard boot, finding yourself in this position in soft boots without crampons will put you in a very exposed & dangerous situation. Team members @codytownsend & @elysesaugstad getting some insights from SMBC. Pic: Jake McBride Ski & Snowboard crampons are an ingenious invention that dramatically increase your safety margin & efficiency when the surface conditions become such that your skins are failing & you would prefer to keep skinning or you have no boot crampons & boot packing is not an option. Most touring bindings ski or snowboard have capability for a ski crampon. In recent years the popularity in the backcountry has been increasing & there seems to be many bc enthusiasts gaining some education & heading out with limited equipment, water, food & not much else! I am sure this is contrary to what they have been taught or researched. Knowledge is power but don’t let a little bit of knowledge & minimal experience overshadow the need for recognising the more likely, less sexy but equally consequential hazards in the Australian backcountry such as: 1. White outs & cornices - navigation equipment (compass, map, GPS, PLB, phone, InReach) 2. Hypothermic conditions - emergency layers (Puffy), shelter, shovel 3. Slips/trips/falls in steep &/or icy conditions - crampons, ice axe & self arrest poles 4. Snow bridges & river crossings - recognition & crossing techniques. When buying new gear go for quality always, don’t let price dictate purchases, identify what you need & go shopping! As John Ruskin quoted in the 19th century: “It’s unwise to pay too much but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money-that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do!” My gear: in no particular order - 40Litre Mont Sentinel Pack - K2 Waybacks - FRITSCHI Tecton12 - SCOTT Super Guide AT boots - G3 Alpinist Universal climbing skins - Shell Jacket & Pants: Mont Supersonic - Mid Layer: Mont Grid Pro Hoodie - Le Baselayer Top & Bottom - Insulation layer: Mont Guide Hoodie - Beanie, Neck Gaiter, Sun Hat - Gloves: winter weight & Glove Liners - Food, water, emergency ration (jerky, energy bar) - Map & compass, note pad & pencil - 1st Aid kit including heat warmers - Comms - GPS, PLB - Headlamp - Whistle - Sunnies + goggles - Sun smart - BD Neve crampons - Fritschi Traxion ski crampons - Ice Axe: BD Raven Ultra - Self Arrest Ski Pole: BD Alpine Whippet - Shelter lightweight (Vango200, 2 man bothy bag) - Beacon, probe & shovel - Repair Kit When I head BC I pretty much have the same kit in my pack every time, the only time this varies is according to my length of stay i.e. day or multi day trip. Beware of packing light just because the forecast is ideal, you never know what lies ahead & an unforeseen circumstance could see you overnighting on an otherwise perfect day? It may then be your lack of equipment that becomes your biggest issue not the initial problem. It's big out there. Stay prepared so you're not caught out when you get socked-in. Pic: Jake McBride Bottom line is in case of emergency I need enough gear to get out of the weather for the night & be safe until help arrives or I self evacuate the next day. On a day trip I’m not planning on staying overnight but I’m planning to be able to survive overnight if necessary. To find out more, head to snowymountainsbackcountry.com.au
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From Isolation to Inundation… Half a metre of May Snow at Mt Buller
In late March, ambassador Teddy Laycock was in the unenviable position of having to self-quarantine at Mt Buller for two weeks after returning from Japan. Teddy tells us, the decision to leave the cool temps and endless spring skiing opportunities of Hokkaido at that time of year was not made lightly. Teddy also told us that both his and Crystal’s families weren’t too keen to host their quarantine, being potential corona carriers, so Buller was, no pun intended, a last resort. Yet, a little over three weeks after the pair were permitted to go outside for exercise, Mt Buller became the place to be. Buller village looking wintry at 9am on April 30th. Photo: Teddy Laycock According to our friends at Mountainwatch, Mt Buller received 116mm of rain on Thursday, so arguably it wasn’t the place to be on this particular day. But come Friday morning, that rain had turned to snow and by Saturday morning there was 35 – 60cms across Australian resorts with up to 75cms at higher elevations. The snow quality, according to Teddy was more like mid-winter than early May and his photos sure do paint a wintry picture. Teddy never confirmed whether they went skiing, so we'll leave it up to your imagination... What would you do? Check out all the shots from Teddy below. Slowly filling in. Photo: Teddy Laycock Fingers and poles crossed we see these guys spinning this winter. Photo: Teddy Laycock Feeling a lot light a cold winter morning. April 30th. Photo: Teddy Laycock Transformed. Photo: Teddy Laycock Seasonally confused at 9:30am on April 30th. Photo: Teddy Laycock Biggest 1st of May snowfall in years... because 2020, that's why. Mother nature’s just rubbing it in at this point. Photo: Teddy Laycock Crystal walking through Alpine Ash on the 1st of May. Photo: Teddy Laycock The locals were loving it! A Crimson Rosella making most of the powder day on the 1st of May. Photo: Teddy Laycock Snow buried chairs ready to be loaded. Photo: Teddy Laycock All aboard the rime quad. Photo: Teddy Laycock We're told wind chill was down in the minus 20's.... Brrrrrrr. Photo: Teddy Laycock It was tools down on Sunday the 3rd of May. Photo: Teddy Laycock Mind-ski this one to your hearts content... Photo: Teddy Laycock Teddy's car thinks it's in Japan. Photo: Teddy Laycock Yep, we're ready for winter... and so is Mt Buller. Photo: Teddy Laycock A warm summit sunrise on May 4th. Photo: Teddy Laycock Were the last six days all a dream? #protectourseason
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