Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Glaciers, one of nature’s miraculous creations, may disappear in this century due to global warming.

Since 1990, Italy’s La Venta Association has played a leading role in the exploration of Patagonia’s largest glaciers. Starting in 1990, members of La Venta have carried out research on at least 30 glaciers around the world, which has allowed the identification of factors which cause the formation of glacial cavities and, particularly, the morphological and climatic conditions which in some seasons cause the ice to melt. Ice caves is only one of the many projects La Venta has been carrying on during these two decades, from Mexico to the Philippines, from central Asia to Antarctica. You can learn more at www.laventa.it

An expedition by La Venta, outfitted in Icebreaker Bodyfit and GT, in collaboration with the Italian IB team has just been completed to Patagonia and Perito Moreno and its neighboring glaciers.

We caught up with filmmaker/cameraman/producer Alessandro Beltrame to learn more.

Tell us about yourself
I’m a 41-year-old filmmaker with 30 years experience in outdoor sports, from skiing, biking, climbing to mountaineering.  I’ve been making videos for 15 years - take a look at www.agbvideo.com and www.vimeo.com/agbvideo/videos.

What was the purpose of your expedition to Patagonia to study the ice caves at Perito Moreno?
Exploring the ice caves inside the Hielo Continental Glaciers. Not only Perito Moreno, but also Viedma, Ameghino, Upsala and more.  Take a look at http://www.laventa.it/eng/catalog/ghiacciai-patagonici/ipercarsimo-glaciale.html.  The approach is scientific and documentary, my role was for a documentary.

Who was on the trip?
Fifteen men and three women, including 15 Italians and one person from Argentina, Mexico and Japan.

Why did you want to make a movie about it?
Two reasons:  for a scientific documentation and comparison during the years, then to produce a documentary about hyper-karst in Hielo Patagonico and its influence on the global climate, global warming and fresh water reserve.

When will your movie debut?
My agency AGB with La Venta is trying to produce the film, we have experience in collaborations with National Geographic and BBC, and the Italian national channels.

How did your Icebreaker apparel perform in Patagonia?
An Italian dealer friend introduced us to Icebreaker.  I had never used merino wool before.  It’s not only fabulous, it’s incredible! Really!  I wore Icebreaker baselayer for 30 days, from warm situations, with wind in El Calafate to ice camps on Moreno and Viedma.  Some items I wore for five or six days without any problems.  I have chosen IB for this experience, just the Italian dealer contact, no other way before to know and try it.

How can we find out more about your movie?
About the movie you need to wait some months, we are organizing the production, sharing the HD video with BBC, etc…

If you are interested in supporting the production, email Alessandro Beltrame at alessandro@agbvideo.com

Watch the Patagonia Ice Caves Project 2010 here

Patagonia Ice Caves Project 2010 from Alessandro Beltrame on Vimeo.

Cheers to everyone who participated in our “What’s Next to Your Skin?” Vancouver 2010 competition!

Helen Danglmaier from Irdning, Austria, Europe (pictured below), is the lucky winner of the limited edition Icebreaker Whistler ‘10 gear, which includes a set of Bodyfit+, an Icebreaker “Whistler” Toque hat, Skier Mid Socks, the AC Glacier Scarf and the Long Sleeve Chase Crewe.  Nice one Helen!

We received 255 fantastic entries to the competition — from goats to babies to boys and girls in their Nature and Beast knickers (and less). Take a look back at what was submitted here.

Icebreaker was honoured to be the Official Baselayer Sponsor of the New Zealand Winter Olympic Team, and we’re proud of the Kiwi team who competed in Vancouver last month.  We had an awesome wrap up party on Monday.  The band was fantastic and we sold the bar out of beer!  Photos and video to come once Kent Hawkins, our marketing man in Canada, recovers from a chest infection that knocked him out that night (or so he says).

Let us know what you thought of the competition.  We’d like to do again if you’re all up for it?

Be the envy of all your friends this season - get your hands on a limited edition Icebreaker bag.

The bags are made from our merino outerwear fabric, have a Bodyfit+ camo lining - and are so rare that currently Icebreaker staff are finding various ways (including bribery and corruption) to try and get their mitts on one.

 We have ONE (under lock & key) Icebreaker bag to giveaway - simply post a comment on this blog, on our Facebook page or RT our tweet by the end of this week and you are in the draw!

Hi Icebreaker

I love my Icebreaker tops. I have 2 of them and wear them skiing and around the house. I just got my new top yesterday and took the challenge of re-using the box.

My creation is a spaceboat that cruises through the stars!

Hope you like it.

- Harrison, CANBERRA, Australia

Show us how you have Re-Used your Kids Icebreaker Bodyfit box, and we will post a picture of your creation on our website. You may even win a new Icebreaker if we like your invention a lot!

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.