Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Hi, I’m Craig Manson, and I’ve been working at Icebreaker for almost 18 months as the Upper North Island (NZ) Account Manager.

Last year I completed my first marathon – the Auckland Marathon. My time was an agonizing 4:00:28. That’s correct – 28  seconds quicker and I would have broken the illustrious sub 4 hour mark. However I didn’t! So, about 6 months ago, I signed up for my second Auckland marathon… this time determined to go under the 4 hour mark. I started serious training after our magnificent Fall Winter 11 product launch. My training consisted of 4 runs per week – averaging 50km a week. This lasted for 4 weeks until I decided to up the anti to 80km a week. This was a major increase in kilometres, but I had to achieve my goal. Some of my mates thought I was on the verge of insanity!

As D-day approached, I seriously started to self doubt my targeted finish time. I’d been very busy with work and my training intensity wasn’t great. Two weeks before the marathon I decided to spoil myself, in the hope of increasing my speed and also a reward for doing a 35km run the week before, I bought myself a brand new Icebreaker Run wardrobe. I purchased an Ace Short Sleeve Tee in Field, a pair of Beast Anatomica boxers and a pair of Run Ultralite Micro Socks – the BEST run socks in the world!

D-day, the 31^st of October, 5:30am, preparation complete – it was just me and the course! Nerves running wild, I was going to run under 4 hours no matter what. The first 5kms were pretty difficult but I was feeling good. As I approached the 10km mark my speed increased and at the half way mark, my time was 1:43hrs. I knew the last 10 kms were going to be the hardest. I was very mindful of this and kept pushing on as hard as I could…well the last 10kms were pretty difficult and slow, however…… at the 40km mark I knew I was going to achieve my goal. With my goal almost  in the bag, I started to enjoy my time out there, although it was still really difficult. About 100m from the finish line, I acquired a special friend, Ramotaur!! I crossed the finish line in a time of 3:45:41! I was pretty stoked and as always my Icebreaker performed perfectly. No stink, only a very sore body!

If you’re ever looking for a running buddy up in Auckland, feel free to drop me a line. Next year’s marathon time…………… who knows?

- Craig Manson, Icebreaker NZ Upper North Account Manager

Unbaalievable!

Years ago I took a trip to NZ with my family from the US…it was in about 2000 I think. It was there I first met Icebreaker garments and was moderately impressed with the quality, feel, and wearability of the hat and sweater I purchased. On returning back to the US, I found merino boxer shorts online and immediately ordered a couple of pairs for shipment. It was through those wonderful trousers that I really fell in love with the product. Now that I’ve traced the baacode of my most recent boxer short replacements (after about 100+ days of use in the field as a wilderness guide, the waistbands are kaput and holes are forming in the high friction zones) to the actual stations from which they originated, I can’t help but upgrade my assessment to WILDLY IMPRESSED!

My first pair of shorts had thick seams and no front “outlet.” The second generation was a quantum leap into comfiness and durability and was purchased at a mountaineering store in Boulder, CO (they were finally catching on). FINALLY, this generation that I now own (bought two pairs of size medium 200 weight boxers with fly…my wife insisted as the others were falling around my ankles and full of holes…please forgive the detail, but I have a close relationship with these garments J) represent a level of industrial integrity like none I’ve seen before. Thanks so much for what you do!

Here’s what your garments have helped me do:

Over 100 days in the deserts of Utah and Arizona working with drug addicts and “restless” teens learning survival and interpersonal skills…I’d wear your boxer shorts and 260 weight sweater for as much as 8 days at a time! I’d advertise this fact to my clients too as a testament to the wonderful “non-wifiness” of merino.

Over 3.5 years guiding in Oregon, Colorado, and Florida with Outward Bound…challenge and adventure for all walks of life. I think I lost my IB skull cap somewhere in these journeys L

NOW with over 50 days in the Colorado Rockies this summer, I’m going to use my newest shorts as a Project Coordinator for a Veterans Green Corps…military vets doing trailwork and forest fire fuels mitigation in the Colorado Rockies. My Corps members already know how much of a fan of your product I am. Keep up the great work. You guys rock!

Sincerely,

- Jason Lawrence, Icebreaker Fan, Veterans Green Corps

At Icebreaker, we know how to party. So it’s no surprise that a recent launch event held for New Zealand media in Auckland was noisy, raucous and action-packed.

Our models hammed it up on stage, throwing killer “blue steel” looks from the catwalk and treating guests to outrageous twirls, spins and dips. They even formed a human pyramid to show their commitment to Icebreaker’s athletic, outdoor image.

CEO Jeremy Moon had a great time telling everyone about Icebreaker, and a grower had a yarn about his merino sheep.

Guests were given a cool new Bodyfit+ top, and used our online traceability programme, Baacode, to trace the merino fibre in their new garment through the supply chain and right back to the farm where it was grown.

The Ramatour – our sexy mascot – was a hit with female guests, and everyone loved watching Junior range models Leo (five) and Scarlet (six) strut their stuff on the catwalk. We also showcased our Bodyfit+ and Icebreaker_GT ranges at the event.

Guests enjoyed snacking from their bags of sheep poo – which, you’ll be relieved to hear, were actually chocolate-covered raisins. Equally delicious were cocktails from 42Below canapés from Mint Kitchen, and the models serving them (all clad in our Nature and Beast underwear ranges).

Check out the pics of the event – you’ll love them.