Icebreaker - Pure Merino

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

Hi everyone my name is Randy Schultz and I am writing to tell of an amazing adventure I have recently been on.

Two months ago a dream of mine came true. I was invited to join a team of elite athletes to go north of the Arctic Circle to spend 28 days living in tents on ice and climbing mountains to reach the summits so that we could jump off!

I am a Canadian BASE jumper and this wonderful area was not only one of my highest priority destinations but also a very rare opportunity to explore a northern region of my incredible home, Canada.

The trip by no means was easy or very comfortable, but more than anything it was completely amazing and fulfilling.

The trip started as such, Kamloops to Ottawa then private charter to Iqaluit and onto Clyde River, one of the last most northern habitations in Baffin Island. We spent a quick night there setting up tents on the frozen tundra, with a slap in the face realization of where we were. Two tents with bags in them lifted off the ground and flew a couple hundred feet away twirling like leaves in the wind. This wonderful place is truly rugged.

With an early rise and some boiled snow and dehydrated food we were on the snowmobiles and Kamoteks (special Inuit sleighs). A five to six hour ride across the tundra and ice fields guided at this point by wise Inuit guides. We stop for an excellent lunch of Arctic Char and Bannock right beside my first iceberg, beautiful and blue looming thirty feet out of the frozen ocean.

A couple hours later we arrived, mind blown, as the land had gone from flat to five thousand foot shear walls of glorious proportion. I have lived in the mountains most my life and travel to mountainous regions often but I have never seen such a display of our ice age, smooth paths carved into the mountains straight to the ocean. And not just a few – as far as you can see all around you. I was in a living piece of my own heaven.

We joined up with the other half of our team who had arrived the day before due to the amount of gear and size of group. We set up our tents and the team shut down, we all know tomorrow is jump day.

Our camp is situated right below some amazing 3500 foot cliffs with summits not far off, just a few hours to reach. As I lay going to sleep I realize how truly stoked I am to have geared myself the way I did, the wind blowing, the freezing cold setting in, and me comfy in my tent warm and safe from the elements.

For this I need to thank Icebreaker for my base layers, as well Taiga for my outer layers and sleeping bag, and Hillsound crampons for grip on ice later in the trip (so necessary for safety), and all my friends and family that helped me so much to make this trip a possibility. Thank you all for believing in your friends and sons dream.

In total – I climbed 18 mountains, 70000 vertical with 17 flights! This trip brought me so much, I am extremely grateful for my safe experience of this truly amazing rarely touched piece of our country and world…..YAHOO FREEDOM!

Below I have attached a link to our groups slide show compilation of our trip, put together by a fellow jumper and personal friend Douggs, it gives a view of our adventures, experiences, friendships, hikes, flights and camp site.

I hope it finds you all entertainment.

Baffin Island Photo slideshow 2010 from douggs on Vimeo.

-Randy Schultz, Canadian BASE Jumper and Icebreaker fan

A pure-bred Icebreaker baby, 16 month old Mila Poppy Culpitt (born to Rosie and Jem – both long term Icebreaker New Zealand employees) was seen sporting her Icebreaker Kids Rascal Hoodie in the car park at the Treble Cone opening day on Saturday 27^th June.  Don’t worry about the apparent lack of snow in the photo – there was PLENTY and heaps of Icebreaker to be seen on the bodies of the people enjoying the sun, fresh air and the snow!  At any time of the day, Mila can be found racing across the lawn, living room or lakeside path on her blue car… her favourite mode of transport, and the best thing is she’s both warm and comfy wrapped in her Icebreaker.

More adventures of Mila in Icebreaker to follow soon…