Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Last Saturday, on one of the sunniest days of the year, the very first Icebreaker Dragon Boat team hit the Wellington Harbour to compete in the NZCT Dragon Boat Festival.  Dressed in their green IcebreakerGT Tees, they redefined what it meant to stand out in the crowd.

Consistency was their strongest asset – placing THIRD out of five in all five races – always within a metre or, in the case of the Social Grand Final, 0.03 secs of the top placing teams. Not only did their crew improve in each race, but they shaved seconds off their personal best time too. Beating Piri Weepu (an All Black) in a race was a highlight also.

As a virgin team, up against corporate teams with 10 years or more to boast in the sport, Team Icebreaker did (to quote Trevor our IS Manager), ‘Bloody well.’ Bronze medals now line respective mantelpieces and the team is already dreaming of next year.

From the Icebreaker Dragon Boating 2011 Crew, we hope you will join us next year!

Caleb Brown is an Icebreaker sponsored athlete who we are proud to support as he climbs his way to the top of Canada’s competitive free skiers.

“It has been a few years since Jackson Hole hosted a Free skiing World Tour, and this year was no different than the last; huge hucks and crazy crashes amongst the legendary Jackson Hole terrain.

My friend Aaron Schmidt and I are both from Fernie, BC and we were pumped to be able to make our down for the big competition.  Day One of the Tour was warm and sunny, and the venue had lots of options, with some chances for big airs.  Aaron was skiing before me and decided to tee up one of the bigger airs in the venue (which was the winning line in 2008).  ‘Oh I’m going to stomp it for sure’, Aaron had said to me.  I was confident that he was confident but when he came off the cliff with perfect form the landing cut him up like a garbage dispenser.  I remember grinding my teeth as I watched him tumble with his 192 size skis on.  He got up and tapped his head letting the judges and viewers that he was OK and skied to the finish.  ‘Careful Caleb’, he said to me, ‘the snow is weird and there are a lot of rocks showing in the entrance you want to take’.  I considered his advice and chose a slightly different line, which worked out perfectly as I moved on to the finals in a comfortable 3rd place.

What really helped me on this day, was that I was wearing several layers of Icebreaker which I was able to shed, each layer one by one as I needed during the sunny hike up to the start gate.  And consequentially,  put them back on, once I got to the top, to keep me warm.  My favorite thing about Icebreaker is the helmet compatible hoods.  I wear a full face helmet everyday and having a hood that fits underneath it is really  hard to find.

So the final day arrived, I was well rested and was fully confident that I had picked out a winning line.  Aaron had made a snow couch and was cheering me on.  I was standing in the start gate warm and ready.  I skied my line almost perfectly, and got to the bottom stoked, and watched eagerly as the two men ahead of me did their final run.  ‘It’s going to be tight’, remarked Aaron after watching the last two  competitors ski.  And tight it was, I bumped Corey Felton into third and moved into second place behind Jesse Bryan who held onto his top spot.  It was a pretty good outcome, I almost did what I went there to do.  There’s always next time.  Jackson Hole, I’ll see you again soon.  Thanks Icebreaker for being part of the ride”.

- Caleb Brown, Icebreaker sponsored athlete

Jackson Hole Day 1. Caleb Sending it into Third Place. Photo by Tristan Greszko/MSI

A 20-foot tall image of merino sheep is being hung, and the paint is still drying, but this Friday, November 19, is the soft opening of Icebreaker’s first TouchLab store in New York City located in SoHo!

Since it’s 8,815 miles from New Zealand to New York, please help us get the word out!

Give your New York friends our SoHo store Secret Password!
If your friends say “Baa Baa” at checkout between now and January 1, 2011, they’ll receive 10% off their purchases (not to be combined with other discounts). Please invite them to follow us at facebook.com/icebreakernz and twitter.com/icebreakernz.

Enter to Win
As a way to say thanks for your help, we’re giving away 50 pairs of delicious Icebreaker merino socks.  Just email cs@icebreaker.com a copy of your Facebook or Twitter post or email to your friends and you’ll be entered to win via random drawing on January 5.  Please put “Baa Baa” in the subject line of your email.  Please include your full name, mailing address, phone number and sock size (S, M, L).

Kiwis, Friends & Family Event Dec. 2
We’ll have a special event on Thursday, Dec. 2 for Icebreaker friends and family and all East Coast kiwis!  Watch the events page on facebook.com/icebreakernz for details!

Store Details
The Icebreaker TouchLab store in SoHo will showcase our complete line – from Outdoor, Running, Cycling, Travel, Kids, to Underwear and City collections, all made from handpicked merino wool born in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

Address: 102 Wooster Street, between Spring and Prince Streets (Spring Street subway station)
Hours: 11-7 Monday-Saturday; 11-6 Sunday
Phone: +1 646.861.2523