WINTER 2011 | ISSUE 77 | GEORGEFISHER.CO.UK NEW WINTER STOCK NOW IN! SEE INSIDE FOR A FULL ROUND-UP OF NEW CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT FREE PLEASE TAKE A COPY WIN! Blencathra from views Winter Holmes: Stuart BERGHAUS JACKETS WIN A VERSATILE BERGHAUS GORE-TEX 3:1 JACKET 71 DEGREES NORTH HOW ODLO KITTED OUT THE ADVENTURE TV SERIES ELECTRONICS IN A FUTURE FIRST GREAT THE WIND PHONE & WEBSITE THE OUTDOORS CHAMPION? CLIMB? FROM HELL ORDERS RECEIVED Jon Wickham profiles A young local Bill Birkett takes Mark Seaton dreads BEFORE NOON ARE the latest outdoor ski racer has big issue with historical the Chamonix DELIVERED FREE technologies… ambitions… TV claims... weather forecast… OVERNIGHT Page 9 Page 12 Page 16 Page 18 017687 71801 weekdays only GF UPDATE 77.indd 1 01/12/2011 09:54 SALOMON.COM “Applying lessons learned from other glide sports, the BBR is a completely new ski concept in terms of shape, feel, and versatility. It is simply more fun in more conditions.” - Bertrand Krafft (aka BBR) Salomon alpine ski developer and Shaper of the BBR SEE WHAT THE NEW SHAPE IS ALL ABOUT. SALOMON.COM/BBR CHECK OUT THE NEW SALOMON ALPINE RANGE AVAILABLE AT COPYRIGHT© SALOMON SAS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PHOTOGRAPHER: JOE FELZMAN. 2 GF UPDATE 77.indd 2-3 M GET READY FOR THE SLOPES Heading for the ski resorts this winter? ANDY AIREY has the latest gear news. Without doubt, the single most important piece of ski gear you’ll ever own is your boots; these can govern whether you enjoy your holiday or not. If they don’t fit and are uncomfortable, your holiday is ruined; but if you’ve found the boot that fits and supports your foot as well as matches your skiing style then you’ll forget about your feet and just enjoy your skiing. Our range includes boots from Salomon, Nordica and Head that cover various fit options, sizes and performance characteristics. I won’t bore you with the details of every boot because the only boot that’s relevant to anyone is THE ONE THAT FITS. However, I think it’s worth mentioning a couple of innovations for this season. Head Adapt Edge 90 Last season Head’s Edge boots were extremely backcountry option that delivers ski performance which links up with the popular, the medium volume when you need it. Women’s I/OS goggles to fit fo fered great comfort give all-round protection Salomon BBR 7.9 without compromising As usual our ski range covers on-piste and comfort as performance. This and all-mountain alternatives but well as making winter Head has added a before looking at anything a statement! completely new concept... else you have to take a There are more one boot with two lasts! peek at Salomon’s BBR economic The Adapt Edge 90 (£220) 7.9... you won’t have seen helmets and has a cam under the forefoot of the boot that anything like this! The BBR goggles (our can be adjusted with an Allen key and one turn has an oversized, surfboard- helmets start at increases the width from 102mm to 104mm; it shaped tip for flotation in soft snow and terrain £86 and goggles doesn’t sound much but it can make the difference absorption, combined with a narrow tail and short at £36) but there’s between pinched feet and absolute, blissful radius sidecut for quick, precise carving on piste. nothing quite like the comfort. Definitely worth a try! Arguably it’s one ski that does it all – and looks products from Smith! amazing. The other change we’ve seen this season is the Before you go on your introduction of three-buckle boots from Nordica You can buy the BBR 7.9 with bindings for £500, next ski trip come and and Salomon. Rather than have two buckles pulling however you can also take it as a plain ski for £400 talk to our experienced back into the shin and two more compressing the in order to mount ski-touring Fritschi bindings. product advisors and ski forefoot, the three-buckle options have just one Combined with the Salomon Quest 10 boot this technicians; let us help you buckle top and bottom while the third buckle is gives a complete all-mountain experience. find the perfect boots, skis, angled from the top of the instep to the heel. This helmets and goggles that Helmets, like boots, are fit critical; there’s only one ensures that the pressure pulls the will allow you to enjoy your way to find a helmet that’s right for you and that’s whole foot into the rear of the boot, skiing in comfort. holding the foot in the perfect to try several different styles. With a position to transmit power through selection of helmets from Bolle, Head, the boot into the ski. Giro and Smith there’s got to be one in our range for you. Check out the Nordica Fire Arrow F4 (£270) and Salomon’s When it comes to style as well as SKI WORKSHOP Quest 10 (£300) to see this functionality then my favourites have to be the helmet and goggle combinations Don’t forget to bring your new solution in action. The skis in for a service so you’re Quest 10 also combines the from Smith. The low-profile antV age helmet (£160) integrates seamlessly with the I/O ready for that first day on characteristics of a classic the slopes. Our ski workshop downhill boot with the Goggle (£150) to give the perfect blend of functionality, performance is open at all times except flexibility of a ski-touring the Christmas period when it style; the quick release and style. Smith also has the Women’s Variant is closed from 21st December walk mode means that to 2nd January inclusive. the Quest 10 is a credible Brim helmet (£135) Salomon Quest 10 Phone and website orders received before noon are delivered free overnight 017687 71801 3 01/12/2011 09:54 GEAR ROUND-UP Arc’teryx Alpha SV Glove Will this winter be the fourth on women’s styles – at £160 a the trot when we’ve enjoyed (or pair they aren’t cheap but endured) proper winter conditions? if you suffer from cold hands The media has certainly done a then these offer an ultra-warm Outdoor good job of talking up the possibility solution. Research of freezing conditions and plenty Men’s Alti Mitt of snow! For mountaineering gloves you just have to try the legendary Alpha We have definitely seen a change SV Glove from Arc’teryx. Durable of attitude when it comes to 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro Shell fabric buying at this time of year. and flexible Lezanova leather People used to put off buying are bonded together in typical winter clothing and accessories Arc’teryx style – the thoughtful until the weather meant it became a necessity, design and beautiful construction – we’ve got five different styles priced between however the last few winters have encouraged the create a wonderfully articulated glove £35 and £70 made from various blends of Alpaca, early purchase of seasonal gear in order to avoid that comes with a detachable Polartec Wind Pro Merino and acrylic, the styles couldn’t be more missing out once icy conditions arrive. high-loft fleece liner. Priced at £20 per digit they different from the Buffs you know. Make a are an Arc’teryx devotee’s delight. That’s right £20/ statement when it’s cold… as Buff says “Character In previous cold spells, the most popular question digit - £200 for the pair - but just come and try is not an accessory”! was, “What’s your warmest glove?” For those of you them on, you’ll find out why! who feel the cold, the glove to look for is actually For a change I haven’t featured any of our a mitt! Since mitts trap a single large pocket of Before leaving gloves I have to mention (yet again) insulated jackets or ski clothing but it goes without air they are always warmer than gloves and the my favourite ski glove. I have banged on about saying we are carrying our usual broad range of warmest of our mitts is the Alti Mitt from Outdoor Salomon’s leather gloves ever since I bought my functional (and fashionable) styles throughout the Research. The Alti Mitt has a GORE-TEX shell filled first pair five years ago. The men’s Even glove and winter. with super-warm Primaloft insulation, and inside women’s Native glove are in the range again, both is a removable liner that has yet more Primaloft; at £80. They are very clean and simple gloves Our reaction to the changing conditions has been these mitts are designed to cope with the coldest made from high quality, supple leather lined to have winter products available earlier in the conditions imaginable. We stock men’s and with Primaloft insulation. There’s no waterproof autumn AND to buy more of them; yet again this membrane, however the combination of water- year we have seen many people buying well before resistant leather and hydrophobic Primaloft means temperatures dropped and so, even though we’d breathability is maximised and your hands stay ordered larger quantities overall, we’re still in warm in all conditions. Without doubt these are the danger of selling out relatively early in the season. most comfortable gloves I’ve ever owned. Call in and get sorted BEFORE winter sets in! SNAKE in You’ll all be aware of that Multi (this is a ubiquitous multi-functional must!) (£70!) outdoor accessory, the Buff.