Don’t miss out on the Official Winter on the Rocks Afterparty downtown at NATIV HOTEL.  NO COVER!!  

Words by Rachel Croft:

It was hard to feel nervous standing in the start gate on day one of the Revelstoke 4* FWQ event. I had clicked into my new Nomad 125's for my competition run, but their predecessor, the Gypsies, were waiting in my ski bag, freshly mounted with tech bindings, itching to take me on an adventure in the breathtaking British Columbia backcountry. If I didn't qualify for finals day, I had plans to go touring with friends. I was almost hoping I'd fall.

The Nomad 95 is meant to suit a wide variety of skiers and is meant to do a whole lotta things. Here's how Icelantic athlete Zach Masi likes to use them.

New year's 2017 brought lots of snow to the west. Thiss first storm of the year was described as an "overachiever". Here's Icelantic athlete and team manager Scotty VerMerris getting amongst it at Alta on the new Nomad 125

It's dark, it's cold, it's been snowing for a while. Click. Click, click. Click. Click, click. The sounds of the tech bindings attaching my feet to the feather lite skis that will gingerly grip their way up the mountain. So light it's like they aren't even there. With grace and ease I kickturn my way up the mountain, the summit getting closer with each step. Surveying snow qualities and visualizing the best descent from the peak I notice the mountains not caring that I'm there. This is for me, I find meaning in this pursuit and flow state combination. Skins are peeled from my bases and the skis take on a new life! I am exactly where I want to BE.

Wilderness Exchange Unlimited (Wildy X) is an independently owned and operated business in Denver, Colorado.  They specialize in buying and selling equipment that is primarily used in outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, backpacking, and camping. High quality outdoor gear is expensive, but WildyX tries to make it more affordable and accessible to the first-time adventurer, as well as the seasoned expert, by finding the best deals in the industry.  The store provides an outlet that helps their vendors and manufacturers run more efficiently by buying Closeouts and Cosmetic 2nds below wholesale, and then passes on these significant savings to their customers. 

Sad to lose a fellow skier and cherished friend. Adam Roberts was a bright light and a rich soul, we will always remember him and his immense spirit and passion for life, love, skiing, and nature. The Icelantic family would like to pay tribute to our fallen friend.

RIP Adam, you taught us a lot and you will be missed.

Jaron Stadler just released a personal project with La Familia Channel documenting the last two years of his ski career. This entertaining edit takes you through all the highs and lows of his urban and backcountry ski pursuits. Enjoy

Jumbo size snowflakes floated from the sky as I clambered in my ski boots through the Alta Ski Area parking lot until I found fellow Icey athlete and team manager, Scotty VerMerris. I squinted to see through the blustery snowfall as he pulled out a pair of skis from his truck. This was my first moment meeting The Maiden. Scotty handed the skis over to me, and we hustled to the Wildcat lift. After clicking into the skis and getting lifted into the sky on the two-man chairlift, I recall staring down at the ski’s topsheets mesmerized until it was time to put those babies to use. All afternoon, we repeated the cycle. Lift ride to pow slashing, pillow bashing, and cliff dropping. I immediately fell in love with the Maiden for it’s versatility of being playful and surfy in the smooth powder while maintaining a durability in the chopped up snow and providing a stable ski to land airs on.