Moments
"BEST START TO THE SEASON I’VE EVER SEEN"
1st of June, 2019 is looking more like the 1st of August! Photo essay within... If you follow skiing and snowboarding in Australia you’ve probably come across @australian_backcountry. Not necessarily experienced it for yourself – the backcountry that is – but seen its embodiment through the images produced by the man behind the social handle – Jake Sims. Jake comes on board this season as a Le Bent ambassador and the only thing more exciting is the fact this season is shaping up to be one for the books. Indeed the official snow depth measured by the folks from the Snowy Hydro Scheme up at Spencers Creek on Tuesday, June 4th measured 71.3cm... the most snow this early in the season since 73.8cm on June 1st, 2000. But we don’t need to take The Snowy Hydro’s word for it! A bona fide expert on BC conditions as his Instagram handle suggests, according to Jake, it’s the “best start to the season I’ve ever seen.” THE WESTERN FACES AND A FRESH WINTER COAT. Just a few days ago, on the first day of June 2019 – Jake and a crew of keen backcountry sliders headed out to the western faces of Kosciuszko National Park. They gave the crowds at Perisher and Mt Buller a miss – despite the resorts opening to the public a week before usual. There was a different kind of skiing now open to the public, but it required more work than purchasing a lift ticket and offered a whole heap more vertical relief. Alongside Jake was his friends Erryn Reeder (blue jacket) and Trent Shaddock (black jacket). The trio started their tour at 4am and returned to their homes in Canberra at 9:30pm. NOT YOUR TYPICAL APPROACH TO BURLY BACKCOUNTRY LINES. In total, they covered over 40km's, with about 32km's of that on splitboards. We asked Jake how much vert he thought they’d covered? He laughed. “Not sure on vert, don’t want to think about it haha.” “We rode from Perisher, so 8km up and 8km back. Followed the snow plough the whole way up. The road was closed so had to take bikes. There were contractors stuck at Charlotte Pass so they were clearing the road to get them out.” ERRYN REEDER PASSING THROUGH A SNOWED-IN SPENCER’S ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP OF AUSTRALIA. “The ride was pretty sketchy, fun times trying to navigate black ice with a head torch in pitch black at 630pm.” Jake and the crew got some of the first turns of the season back in May but says the difference in cover was “night and day”. “May was more just the novelty of getting out there after the first fall, lots of rocks, lots of ice and we had to keep that in mind when riding. The latest tour was almost like mid-winter, the cover was great, snow was great and you could ride hard for some fun turns.” Kosciusko received upwards of 90cm of snowfall in a little over a week and it shows. “Usually [you expect] cover like this after the second or third snowfall, maybe late June early July depending on the year." Said Jake. "Conditions were great, some of the best snow I’ve ridden in our backcountry. The snow in the "elevator" chute at Club Lake was the best I’ve ever ridden there, lots of stoke after that run.” The crew also had the pick of the litter out there in terms of busyness. A far cry from the 2000+ people that converged on Mt Buller for the resort’s early opening. “There were a few people out there getting amongst it but they were coming from Guthega. So glad we didn't have to do the bracken bash from Guth, it's horrendous this time of year. When we arrived at Carruthers we had the whole area to ourselves.” Said Jake. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN MAKE OUT THE FIRST TRACKS OF 2019 DOWN THE FAMED ‘SENTINEL’ ... BUT THEY’RE NOT JAKES! When asked who the culprit was? Jake said the man responsible was, “a solo warrior called John.” “What a line it was, he smashed it! When we came over the rise and we saw it we were like, ‘whoever dropped that had the run of the day!’” Follow Jake Sims on Instagram for more photos like these and mountain wisdom like the line he left us with at the end of our interview… “Any day in the backcountry is better than a day at work.” Photos: Jake Sims Words: Matt Wiseman
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LE BENT WELCOMES LAURA ADAMS TO THE FAMILY
One of "the world's most sought after (ski) guides" joins le family! Le Bent’s ever-expanding team of athletes and ambassadors are certainly no strangers to adventure. Professional skiers, snowboarders and ultra runners rely on our gear in some of the harshest environments around. But few, if any, adventure like our latest recruit. Laura Adams is perhaps the most badass adventurer we’ve had the pleasure of bringing on board and we couldn’t have been more excited when, after tossing a few pairs of socks her way last season, she told us: “I’m finding it hard to put any other socks on since I’ve worn yours!” Safe to say Laura won’t be in any other socks now she’s officially a part of le family, but where she takes those socks is anyone’s guess. Laura has spent her life guiding and adventuring in the most remote corners of the globe. These include climbing, skiing, paddling and ocean expeditions throughout North America, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic. Laura was the fifth woman in Canada to become a fully certified ACMG Ski Guide, was New Zealand’s national women’s kite-surfing champion, and even has a master’s degree in Leadership. We first met Laura when she guided Le Bent co-founder Simon Blondel during a week with Mustang Powder cat skiing in British Columbia. Laura 'working' with Mustang Powder... We caught up with Laura amongst the mountains of western Canada to ask a few questions on a storied career that sees her named one of the ‘worlds most adventurous women of 2019’. LB: Laura, thanks for speaking with us, and welcome to the team! Thanks! I’m stoked to be part of le family - the ethos and people involved in Le Bent really resonates with me. So it’s now summer in the northern hemisphere, but you just got back from the mountains… where have you been? I’ve just returned from leading a ski-touring expedition into the remote fiords of central Baffin Island, Nunavut Canada. Baffin Island has the highest concentration of big walls in the world surrounded by spectacular ski terrain, a unique polar ecosystem and fascinating Inuit culture. Epic! You’ve done so many amazing things to date in the adventure world, is there one thing in particular you’re most proud of? Looking back today it is not the trips or objectives that I have accomplished that make me most proud. It is the contributions I have made to enhance peoples lives, to support science, and to inspire others to develop deeper connections with themselves and the natural world. When did you realise you wanted a career in adventure? At an early age I recognized my greatest passion was exploring wild places. My father was an accomplished mountaineer and my first memories were waking up in a tent at a climbing camp high up in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Our parents would swap days doing first ascents with taking care of the kids and introducing us to climbing, paddling and bush craft. I was curious by nature and just couldn’t get enough of it! So I started the mountain guiding program as soon as I was old enough and then became a certified teacher so I could share my love of the outdoors with others. You seem to have a finger in lots of adventure pies – guiding, avalanche forecasting, education and even painting! Was ski guiding always the dream and these other aspects just naturally evolved? I am an explorer at heart and I love sharing these experiences with others through teaching, guiding and speaking. In my 20’s I did an equal amount of rock and alpine guiding over the seasons, however that shifted naturally over time as I started working in both hemispheres and following the snow. After my Masters research in high-risk decision making, I lived in New Zealand for 10 years ski guiding in the beautiful Southern Alps and forecasting for the public avalanche program. Over the years I’ve experienced more ski seasons than birthdays ;-). More recently I am spending an increasing amount of time in the Arctic where my skis propel me only part of the time. On one day I may be driving a zodiac trolling for marine plastics, and on another carrying a shotgun and guarding guests from polar bears. Can you tell us a little bit about how you tie snow science in with social science and decision making in the mountains? The outdoors are full of uncertainty and are places of constant change; for example the terrain, the snowpack and the weather conditions that influence it. However many of the incidents that occur happen because of human factors. I observed this in both recreationists and professionals early in my career, and that inspired me to pursue my Masters to better understand why, and to use this understanding to develop better decision support tools. Understanding the things that influence our judgement and the processes we use to make decisions in the outdoors enables us to be better decision makers. Recognizing when we are being influenced by human factors such as uncertainty, fatigue, personal issues, or group ‘think’ provides a powerful tool to choose better actions, or adjust an existing plan accordingly. Being mindful and present is a big part of the picture. Men’s Journal has called you “one of the most sought-after guides in the world”, what companies have you guided for and where are some of the places they’ve taken you? I started my guiding career with Canadian Mountain Holidays where I was fortunate to learn ‘the ropes’ within a big team of experienced guides from all around the world. I guided at many of the ski-touring lodges in BC, and then spent a decade working with Alpine Guides in New Zealand. Since returning to Canada I do some guiding for Mustang Powder and work on environmental voyages for Adventure Canada in the Arctic. However, I have always led my own private expeditions, and this forms the bulk of my guiding work these days – with a focus on remote, culturally interesting parts of the globe. I do take on interesting exploratory projects for other companies, and last year I lead the first Arctic heliskiing for Weber Arctic in central Baffin Island. Laura leading groups in the Arctic. Has there been one trip or place in particular that has had a bigger impact on you than anywhere else? I’ve really fascinated with remote mountain cultures and the peoples that have lived for centuries in these wild places. In January I explored the ancient Tuvan mountain culture of northern China where skiing originated over 10,000 years ago. And over the past few years I’ve been involved in seven expeditions to the Arctic to guide, explore and support science. The Inuit people have lived there for over 4.5 thousand years in some of the most diverse and pristine ecosystems on our planet. I have seen the impacts of climate change both to the environment and to the peoples, and worked alongside scientists who are studying its implications. These experiences have fuelled my concern about climate change, as these are not only local issues – these are critical global problems with alarming consequences. I’ve painted an Arctic series that is currently on exhibit, and have been speaking and sharing images of the rapidly changing Arctic environment with the hopes of inspiring people to make changes in their lives and for governments to develop policy and tangible actions to respond. Laura and her guided group touring the Altai Mountains of China in early 2019 - one of the first ski expeditions there. Now you don’t have any social media presence, is that a conscious decision? Because your life is pretty ‘instagrammable!’ I am often on lengthy expeditions in remote regions far from internet and Wi-Fi. I reach my followers through my guests, my speaking and writing, and my art. I share my experiences and perspectives through meaningful interactions and conversations with people – it is the ethos that underpins how I work and approach life. What have you learned about ski or hike socks in all your years wearing them? Comfortable feet are the most important thing for us self-propelled adventurers! What is next to our skin is fundamental to both comfort and skin health; particularly when you are doing back-to-back days and lengthy expeditions. I had a colleague develop trench foot (really!) during a ski-traverse in the Bugaboos – now that is something you never want to get! What is it about Le Bent you find most appealing? Le Bent is far more than just exceptionally high-performing socks. The bamboo/merino blend base layers are the most comfortable garments I’ve worn – and super stylish too! I’m looking forward to watching the women’s line grow and evolve into the future! Laura took our Le Snow Sock mountain biking in Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada last week and told us "Le Snow Sock is now my favourite mountain biking sock in the summer months." Where’s the next adventure? I’m home in Nelson, BC for a few weeks now before I head to the West Coast of Greenland, Devon Island and the Canadian Arctic. ABOUT LAURA ADAMS Age: Timeless ; -) Hometown: Nelson BC Canada Home Resort: Whitewater Nationality: Canadian Sponsors: Le Bent, G3, Arc’Teryx Favourite Le Bent gear: Le Snow Sock – also my favourite for mountain biking; and Le Base layers. Extended Bio: Laura’s love of exploration and learning has taken her all over the world; from solo climbing in the Himalayas in her early 20’s to ski guiding amongst the big walls of Canada’s remote Baffin Island. She has kite-surfed New Zealand’s rugged coastlines, explored the Arctic archipelago by ski and water, and ski -toured amongst the ancient Tuvan mountain peoples of far northern China. Laura is a passionate advocate of the natural world and for the peoples that live within these wild places. Alongside her guiding career, Laura has held senior leadership roles in the international outdoor community: as chief executive representing New Zealand’s outdoor recreation and adventure tourism sector; editor of a national outdoor magazine, adviser to government, and lead for a wide-range of innovation and transformation projects. Her Masters research into human factors and decision-making in mountain environments shed new light into the design of decision support tools, and was recognized by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Laura was recently chosen as one of the world’s most adventurous women in the Men’s Journal article ‘The New Adventure Icons’ (January 2019); and by Explore as a women they admire for International Women’s Day in March 2019. She sits on the advisory board for Canada’s Centre for Tourism Policy and Research, is a published author, professional speaker and workshop facilitator, landscape oil painter, and a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Laura lives in Nelson, British Columbia Canada.
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INSIDE AN ULTRA TRAIL RUN
Over the weekend, hundreds of pairs of Le Bent socks ran hundreds of kilometres through the Aussie bush… Whilst we hope our socks are always out and about, helping our athletes float over trails, last weekend was a special one in that it saw our ever expanding team of trail runners converge on the multiday Ultra-Trail Australia (UTA). The race that began in 2008 and had 160 entrants and barely 130 finishers has evolved into not just Australia’s biggest trail running event, but the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere and the second largest on the planet. This year the UTA attracted nearly 7,000 runners and over 12,500 spectators to cheer on the former as they battled not just each other but the challenging Blue Mountains world heritage listed landscape. Le Bent athlete and UTA Hall of Famer Brendan Davies on the home straight on Saturday. THE STATS: Ultra-Trail Australia – May 16-19, 2019 – Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia Total runners: 6700 (50/50 male/female split) UTA100 – 1500 runners, sold out in 3 days UTA50 – 2100 runners, sold out in 3 hours UTA22 – 2100 runners, sold out in 22 hours UTA11 – 600 runners, new race distance for 2019 Injinji 1km-4-Kids – 400 runners We sat down with two of Le Bent’s finest ultra-trail runners and talked about what goes into competing in such a grueling event. We’ve divided up what we wanted to know (and what we think you’ll want to know) into some short clips below… Left to right: Le Bent sales manager Steve Walshe, runner Ben Duffus, runner Brendan Davies and Le Bent director Simon Blondel, pre-race. QUESTION 1 – TRAIL RUN SOCK SELECTION “I’m always in the lightweight socks to keep my feet warm.” – Brendan Davies QUESTION 2 – TRAIL RUN LAYERING “When running you do heat up really quickly so it’s good to be able to strip off when necessary.” – Ben Duffus QUESTION 3 – LONG TERM PREPARATION “From six months, or even the race last year, I could argue that I’m planning in my mind, how I’m going to time my year leading up to it and how other races are going to fit into that timeline.” – Brendan Davies QUESTION 4 – FOOD “When you’re training a lot, you’re eating a lot. I mean, my friends make fun of me because I don’t eat out of regular bowls; I eat out of family sized salad bowls.” – Ben Duffus QUESTION 5 – MENTAL TRAINING “When there are challenging training days that’s an opportunity to build up that mental grit. If it’s cold and wet outside, well it might be cold and wet on race day. If it’s hot and humid, well again, that’s a great opportunity to practice suffering.” – Ben Duffus QUESTION 6 – RACE LEAD UP “I tend to hide in my cave a little bit more. I stay away from all the excitement and stay off social media, all that kind of thing. Give myself plenty of distractions and try not to think about the race too much.” – Brendan Davies QUESTION 7 – EVE OF RACE/RACE DAY “I keep things routine. Tonight I’ll kick back on the couch, watch the footy, maybe have a beer and then go to bed the same time I usually go to bed.” – Brendan Davies QUESTION 8 – RACE TACTICS “That third quarter is when the going gets tough, you’re far enough in to be tired but you’ve got far enough to go for it to be still intimidating. So I really focus on nailing that third quarter.” – Ben Duffus QUESTION 9 – RECOVERY FOOD (BEER & PIZZA?) “I’m probably the first one lining up for a beer or if someone’s throwing a beer in my hand I’ll gratefully accept it.” – Brendan Davies QUESTION 10 – TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS “Don’t go out too hard...” – Ben Duffus Beers are on us fellas! Congratulations to everyone who competed and to all of our Le Bent team for doing us proud as always. As for what Le Bent socks our guys trusted to compete in? Lucy Bartholomew, of course, ran in her signature Le Lucy sock, Brendan was in the Trail Light 3/4 Crew and Ben was wearing the Outdoor Light Mini. Race results: Ben Duffus – 1st UTA22 Brendan Davies – 9th UTA100 Lucy Bartholomew – 2nd UTA50 Vlad Shatrov – Leading 1st UTA100 but DNF (injury) Wes Gibson – 16th UTA22 Matty Abel – 49th UTA50 Paige Penrose – 1st UTA11 Michael Milton – 1957th UTA22 (Badass 1-legged paralympian) See more results.
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WE'RE FEELING THE LOVE, THANK YOU!
Hey, we're in the news! We like to think we've created some of the most kickass next-to-skin products out there, but don't take our word for it. From Freeskier, to Ski Magazine, we are feeling the love from recent reviews. Check out what the world is saying about le bent socks and baselayers. As our friends at Freeskier Mag say, "Le Bent? Le duh." "For those who put foot comfort at the top of their priority list, look no further than Le Sock Snow Light from Le Bent... ski from dawn 'til dusk in these babies, you won't regret it." - Freeskier Resort Guide "Yes we embrace roughing it, but that doesn't mean we don't appreciate the softest fabric against our skin. The Le Base 200's blend of bamboo rayon, merino, and lycra 'felt as soft as my favorite old cotton tee,' says one tester. Another liked the buttery feel so much she slept in it at home." - Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide "Backcountry veteran, Cody Townsend, teamed up with Le Bent to create the Le Send BC Touring sock - created specifically for the uphill. To keep the footsies toasty, a double thickness in the toe accomodates the wider tow boxes found in many touring boots and the compression normally found in the forefoot of the sock was removed to avoid vascular constriction. For increased breathability, an innovative weave pattern on the upper forefoot - combined with Le Bent's signature blend of merino wool and rayon from bamboo - naturally wicks moisture away from the feet. Silicone strips on the heel also elimate slipage, which lead to nasty blisters. Backcountry shops, take notice." - Freeskier Trend book "The Le Send Cody Townsend sock is specifically designed to be a ski touring sock. It aims to deliver comfort and efficiency on the uphill, combining material blends and technical features that the Australian brand says result in warmer, dryer, and more secure feet. " - Outdoor Insights "Get the ultimate in versatility, performance, and comfort with the le bent men's Le Base Crew. Going skiing? Hiking? Anywhere outdoors? Don't leave this baselayer at home... Le Bent? Le duh." - Freeskier Buyer's Guide "Australian brand Le Bent brings its base layers to the US market for the first time this season. Our editors' favorite is the lightweight Le Base, made from a rayon/merino blend, which keeps it super soft but adds just the right amount of stretch to keep you moving comfortably. " - SKI Magazine Gear Guide "Working with backcountry skier, Cody Townsend, Le Bent engineered this sock specifically for ski touring, with a focus on uphilling. Construction details include extra thickness in the toe box, strategically placed weaves that enhance breathability, a proprietary merino wool and rayon fabric blend, and silicon strips on the heel to minimize slippage while touring. " - Outdoor Retailer Snow Show Daily
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MEET THE NEW GUYS AND GALS OF NORTH AMERICA
We are psyched to team up with a stellar line up of North American freestylers, freeriders, photographers, and mountaineers. As we expand into North America, we are thrilled to add to our already stellar list of ski, snowboard, and trail running athletes with a strong winter, North American athlete and ambassador line up. Located in epicenters like Jackson, Aspen, Tahoe, and more, these ambassadors include the likes of pro-freeskier Cody Townsend, backcountry freestyler Sander Hadley, FWT athlete Andrew Pollard, freerider Lexi Dowdall, snowboarder Summer Fenton, Warren Miller athlete Forrest Jillson, backcountry mountaineer Noah Howell, and renowned photographer Christian Pondella. Day-in and day-out, the eclectic team is putting le bent products to the ultimate test in the respective environments. It's a testament to le bent's quality of product, and we are over-the-moon to have them in our gear. What's more? We've teamed up with Tahoe-based freeski athlete and legend, Cody Townsend, to create a signature ski-touring sock, Le Send, available fall 2019. Townsend is currently on a mission to climb and ski all of North America's "50 Classic Descents." Follow along as he conquers all in his Le Send. Stay tuned to Instagram for more from the team this winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
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A FRESH CO-LAB WITH LE BENT
We've combined forces with Australia's leading female ultra-trail athlete to bring you the Lucy Bartholomew Pro Model Sock! It combines our signature blend with a few creative flourishes. We caught up with Lucy to talk about her new sock - check out the interview below: Your le bent pro model sock, tell us more! What was the idea or inspiration behind that?When I was approached about collaborating with Le Bent to make a sock I didn’t really know what I wanted but I knew I wanted it to be colourful and a ‘happy sock’. The mountain used for inspiration on this sock is Mount Feathertop which is my favourite Australian mountain. So, someone buys the sock and hits the trails, what can they expect from the Lucy B pro model?I hope it can join them on some strong memories, share some smiles and keep your feet comfortable and blister-free. Tell us the fun story about the first time you competed in Le Bent socks. You hadn't even tested them yet, but decided run them in competition and ended up winning? Talk us through that decision and how the socks held up etc.I was given a pair of Le Bent socks at the Expo the day before one of my biggest races, the Ultra Trail Australia. When I was laying out my gear for the race day I just decided to try them…..for 100km! I have always been told not to try anything new on race day but I have never been good at listening to advice haha! They worked great, even in the flooded course I was able to keep my feet pretty comfortable and I figured that if I can do that with a new product it must be good. SHOP LE LUCY SOCK NOW About Lucy Bartholomew: Was there a defining moment when you just knew, 'this is it, this is me, this is my passion?”I don't think so. I see it as a series of events that have led me to be in the right place at the right time and being totally stoked with my place on this earth.Talk us through your results and the achievements you're most proud of.I have a lot of different achievements that I am really proud of; some wins, some perseverance, some big adventures, training runs, overcoming obstacles. I am proud of who I am and staying true to me- does that count? What role does nutrition play in your strategy or approach to maintaining peak performance, and life in general? I truly believe in the quote “you are what you eat” and so I try and nourish my body with an abundance of food that will help me be my best version of myself and provide the best fuel for the engine I need in my sport.Who or what first led you to appreciate trail running and the lifestyle or culture?My Dad. I owe him for opening my eyes to the outside world, the community of trail running and finding what I am truly capable of. He’s not only my dad but by hero, my best friend and sometimes my worst enemy ;) What is a daily routine or ritual you couldn't live without?I couldn’t live without tea. Big fan of the hot water hahaWe recently saw a quote of yours which beautifully said - "Giving it everything while keeping it fun along the way." Is that you in a nutshell? And how crucial is having fun while pursuing your dreams and achieving your goals. That’s what I try. I never want to be so serious that I forget to look at this big picture and smile in the moments. I think this leads to a long and happy career and life. What does it take to have a winning mindset and what is the importance of self-belief? Winning starts with believing. Believing starts with you. It’s simple. Is there a spiritual component to your lifestyle or world view? If so, how does this contribute to your own self belief, dedication, persistence and motivation to accomplishing your goals. I believe I have a very holistic approach to life. Through many experiences I have learnt what I can control, what I can’t and how to deal with both success and losses. I am surrounded by a group of people that I learn so much from and I truly believe that you become what you surround yourself with. I am grateful for the people that are in my tribe.There’s a young girl watching this from home, with eyes wide and dreams of winning on the world stage. What advice would you give her? How would you attempt to guide her and further ignite the fires of inspiration, passion, dedication and motivation within her? What would you tell her it takes to succeed?Have fun, stay true to you and that no result defines you; good or bad. These were the 3 pieces of advice I have held on to from my youth. It’s led me to my best life. Where in the world are you most happy and why?Just outside. It doesn’t always have to be running but moving, or appreciating where I am and how incredibly lucky, I am to be alive. BUY THE LE LUCY TRAIL ULTRA LIGHT 3/4 CREW NOW
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LE BENT CROWNED KING OF THE SOCKS
Boutique Aussie Brand Takes Gold at ORWM18 (Denver, CO) While all eyes have remained focused on Australian skiers and snowboarders winning medals in Pyeonchang, an Aussie team of a different sort has brought home gold from another fiercely competitive international showdown. le bent, Australia’s beloved makers of high-performance and ultra-comfortable socks and base layers, has been crowned KING OF THE SOCKS of North America’s Outdoor Retailer Snow Show (ORSS). Outdoor adventure podcast MtnMeister held the competition at the annual industry gathering due to a keen understanding on how under rated yet wicked important the sock category is. “Most people go to the show to geek out on the latest skis, boots, and bindings” says MtnMeister founder, Ben Schenck. “We wanted to focus on a category that reflected the edgy – some might say sexy – nature of podcasts, which is why we chose socks.” Throughout the four-day trade show that showcased 1,500+ of the world’s most renowned brands in outdoor and winter sports, Schenck, Max Littlefield, and Hannah Van Wetter, pitted over 20 brands of socks in head-to-head testing. The outdoor gear gurus would wear a different sock on each foot from two brands as they attended meetings and navigated through the maze of booths. “Conditions were variable – heavy air conditioning in sections of the showroom floor mimicked long days on cold and windy slow-moving chairlifts, while lingering hangovers delivered unpredictable booze sweats.” After 1-2 hours of wear, the tester would remove and replace the lesser performing sock of the two with a new challenger, and the cycle continued that way until there was one sock remaining, which was named the king. That sock was le bent’s le sock. Introduced in 2012, le bent’s secret is their proprietary blend of merino wool and rayon from bamboo, resulting in a sock that boasts all the performance of merino without the itch. Their Definitive Fit System is like the switch backside double cork 1260 that seals the win. “Yew!” says le bent co-founder, Simon Blondel. “Yeah mate, we are honored to bring home the gold for Australia, but more importantly – for the world to feel the difference le bent socks deliver. Ten years of boot fitting didn’t make Anthony or I rich in the traditional sense, but it did make us rich with knowledge on the relationship between feet, socks, and boots.” “Trust us,” continues Anthony Symonds, le bent co-founder. “If you want to win gold in the Olympics, you need gold-medal socks.”
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"THEY ARE HONESTLY THE MOST KICK-ASS SOCKS IN THE WORLD"
See what Jon Olsson says about our socks. Jon Olsson needs no introduction. He is indisputably one of the best freestyle skiers in the world. From inventing new tricks througout his career to double digit Xgames medals. He lives the life of luxury so there's no surprise that le bent socks are one of his "favourite things in the world." Click here for the full video and Jon's latest trip to Japan to find bottomless POW!
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