Free-ride ski attire more in style this year

BOULDER ? As the ski season gets under way, many local manufacturers and retailers of ski attire are predicting what some of the hot, new trends will be.

David Jacobs, president and founder of Boulder-based Spyder Active Sports Inc., which designs and markets high-end, high performance ski clothing and accessories, said he expects anything from Venom, Spyder’s fastest-growing collection, to be popular this year.

Venom is designed for extreme or free-ride skiing. The line caters to 15 to 25 year olds, but it also can be worn by older skiers who aren’t into extreme skiing, Jacobs said.

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One thing that makes the Venom collection stand out is versatility. Unlike other brands, Venom ski clothing can be worn both on and off the slopes. A jacket and pants outfit in the Venom collection costs about $400, while a jacket alone is about $200, Jacobs said.

Jacobs also expects to sell a lot of items in Spyder’s core collection, which features ski clothing and accessories designed for any type of skiing. Both the Venom and core collections include sweaters, pants, gloves, jackets and hats.

Many people, especially women, are buying the technical ski clothing in the core collection, Jacobs said. This highly breathable line is designed to be comfortable and minimize

heat loss.

The insulators, which are made of light nylon and can be used for layering, also are going to be a hit this season, Jacobs said. Sleeveless insulators, which resemble vests, sell for $75 while the long-sleeve insulators are $99.

Jacobs said insulators are replacing fleece. “Two years ago, you didn’t even see this product,” Jacobs said. “Now it’s starting to really eat into the fleece market.”

Spyder’s Kyds line for pre-schoolers to juniors also is strong. A new product Spyder is launching this season is Moto Ts, jerseys that are made of woven cotton and have lots of graphics. Jacobs expects the Moto Ts, which are geared toward youth and cost $60, to sell well this year.

Kim Makoveck, marketing communications manager for Spyder, said many people are buying the company’s Quest line of ski clothing because it provides a good value in terms of price and performance.

Makoveck pointed out that the “less is more concept” will be popular this year. Many people will be wearing streamlined jackets that don’t have a lot of obvious features, she said.

In terms of color, various shades of blue and gray, as well as red, yellow and white are in right now, Jacobs said. Purple, green, neon or earth-tone items are not in this season.

Rachel Summers, buyer and manager for Doc’s Ski and Sport, said Spyder’s technical line will be popular this year. Doc’s Ski and Sport sells a lot of technical fleece and some high-end fleece. Summers said her store is not selling insulated coats at all and that manufacturers are not making them. “It’s too limiting as far as when and where you can wear them,” she said.

Kathy Spinzig, senior buyer for snow sports and outdoor apparel for Gart Sports, said skiers always want clothing that is multi-functional. One example is a jacket where the sleeves come off so it can serve as a vest in the afternoon as the weather gets warmer.

Both Spinzig and Summers said that today there’s more of a crossover between ski and snowboard clothing. People will wear snowboard jackets with ski pants or just in general mix and match, Spinzig said.

Tony Martinez, manager of Boulder’s Crystal Ski Shop, said the “non-skier look” is in right now with many people wearing water proof cargo pants for either skiing or snowboarding.

Martinez pointed out that contrary to years past, it’s now fashionable to wear helmets on the slopes. He said more people are becoming aware of the safety that helmets provide, and helmets today are warmer, lighter and more attractive. They also offer more ventilation than those made a few years ago, Martinez said. “You have a generation of kids who know helmets from bicycling and in-line skating so it’s easier for parents to get kids into helmets,” he said.