WinterSports

Laphroaig Celebrates Scottish Heritage with Curling Partnership

Talk about "Scotch on ice" - with the excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympics upon us, Laphroaig single malt Scotch is kicking off a year-long celebration of Scottish heritage with its official sponsorship of the United States Curling Association (USCA). At an event to kick off the partnership, bringing together two of the greatest traditions from Scotland – Laphroaig and curling – Scotch Malt Master Simon Brook (right) engaged guests in a Laphroaig tasting while Jessica Schultz (left), 2006 Winter Olympics Curling Team Member, led a hands-on curling demonstration.

Rich, smoky Laphroaig, established in 1815 on Islay, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales and bears his heraldic three-feather badge on its label. "There are few brands out there that have as deep a Scottish history as Laphroaig," notes USCA President Leland Rich. "We are honored to have such a respected brand sponsor the United States Curling Association. This truly brings the spirit of the winter games to new heights." Often referred to as "chess on ice" or "winter golf," curling originated in Scotland in the 16th century.

Tags: curling, Islay, Laphroaig, Olympics, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Scotch, Scotland, single malt, United States Curling Association, UnitedStatesCurlingAssociation, Winter Olympics, winter sports, WinterOlympics, WinterSports

Cartier Captures Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports, Wealth

The team fielded by famed French jeweler Cartier beat back rivals Brioni, Maserati and Swiss banking house Julius Baer to capture the 26th World Polo Cup on Snow in St. Moritz the other day. 15,000 well-heeled spectators cheered on during the four-day event, culminating in a nail-biting finale where Cartier and Julius Baer were tied 3 - 3 up until the very last minute when Cartier won a penalty shot with only 8 seconds remaining on the clock. A team of seven well-known Swiss star chefs with a combined total of 118 Gault-Millau points catered to the guests on the chic resort's frozen lake where the matches are staged. In snow polo the ponies are shod with special cleated shoes to provide better traction, and the ball is larger, lighter, and painted bright red to accommodate winter conditions.

Tags: Cartier, equestrian, Maserati, polo, snow polo, SnowPolo, sporting, St. Moritz, St.Moritz, Switzerland, winter sports, WinterSports

Go Snowboarding on Chanel

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

For you brand loyalists out there here's a way to indulge your Chanel addiction that's especially appropriate for this time of year: snowboarding. Simple, clean cut, and uber-stylish. And also perfectly coordinated for the slopes in natural woodgrain and crisp white.

This snowboard is my personal fav (if only I knew how to snowboard) but if it's not striking your 'gotta have it' chord take a look at some of Chanel's other winter sports offerings, like boards and skis in darker shades of woodgrain, black instead of white, and coordinating poles and goggles.

Gallery: Chanel Winter Sports Accessories

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Tags: chanel, skiing, skis, snowboard, snowboarding, sports, winter sports, WinterSports

Wally Carbon Fiber Superyacht Skis

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Sports

Monaco-based boatbuilder Wally, known for its avant-garde yacht designs, has expanded its range of high-tech, high-performance skis made using carbon fiber technology borrowed from seagoing craft. The collection now includes six different models engineered for a range of expert skiing styles and conditions. Wally's skis are 30% lighter than conventional ones and combine exceptional grip on ice with high performance on powder. The carbon fiber is accompanied by cores of ash and birch wood, titanium accents and steel edging. The models in the range are the Original, Tradition, Magic, Freewally, Minipowder and Wallypowder. At 176 cm long, the new Wallypowder is one of the widest skis ever produced and the only full carbon ski specifically developed for off-piste runs.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: carbon fiber, CarbonFiber, Monaco, skiing, skis, Wally, winter sports, WinterSports, yacht

Luxe Skis by Bentley & Paul Smith

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

The sport of skiing gets a luxe boost this season from the automotive and fashion worlds thanks to new collaborations between Bentley, Paul Smith and high-end sporting good firms. Bentley has partnered with Swiss firm Zai on a "Supersports" set (top) comprised of handmade skis, poles and a ski bag worthy of bearing the famed British marque's moniker, limited to 250 pairs. The skis are fashioned from a special carbon fiber material called "Zaiìra" with a natural rubber core, and chromium-steel-infused carbon fiber for the flexible components backed up by Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites.

The Zai Supersports poles use the ExoGrid tech usually associated with the world of golf clubs. Each pair is priced at $9,800, making them some of the priciest skis on the snow. British designer Smith meanwhile has collaborated with Austrian experts Edelwiser on a pair of skis decorated in his signature multicolored stripes (above). Dubbed the Paul Smith Swing 162, at $1,000 a pair they're far more reasonable than the Bentleys. Every pair of Edelwiser skis is hand-made and built with state of the art materials like wood cores, laminated sidewalls and graphite bases for optimized flex and torsion characteristics.

Tags: Bentley, carbon fiber, CarbonFiber, Paul Smith, PaulSmith, ski, skiing, skis, snow, Switzerland, winter sports, WinterSports, Zai

Winter Sports for Thrill-Seekers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Heading off to a ski resort and alternating snow on the slopes with hot drinks in the lodge might be the epitome of a dream winter vacation for some, but for others it just won't do. Some need a little more excitement, a little more danger, and a lot more of something different.

If you're already a proficient skier then there are several ways you can step things up a notch. KiteWing is a large 'kite' that you hold above your head so it catches the wind and pulls you along on your skiis (or snowboard) at incredible speeds and over outrageous jumps. Heli-skiing (a helicopter drops you off) is an option for those loving deep powder in inaccessible locations that may never have been skied before, or if you don't mind climbing then ski mountaneering might be for you (climb up, ski down).

If skiing isn't your thing you can still enjoy the slopes by flying down them on a snow mountain bike instead. Or you can go Olympian and try your hand at flying down Cresta-Run faster than fast via toboggan, the luge, or the skeleton. Ice diving (brrrrr!) is a magical, thrilling way to experience the arctic, and for those who prefer to be on the ice instead of under it climbing up a waterfall is another way to go.

Whatever winter-thrill you decide to embark on this snowy season just be sure to plan ahead, stay safe, make sure you know what you're doing (or have an expert along with you who does), and pack an emergency kit just in case.

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Tags: winter, winter sports, winter-travel-pedia, WinterSports, wintertravel-pedia

Moncler Opens in Gstaad

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports

While many luxury labels are in the dumps these days, luxe French sport line Moncler is bucking the trend and opening new stores instead of shutting them. They recently opened their first freestanding US boutique in Aspen, and also just opened an impressive new shop in another ritzy ski resort, Gstaad. The Gstaad boutique features a luxurious alpine chalet theme with bluestone floors, pinewood ceilings and walls designed to evoke downhill skiiers in motion. Moncler, founded in France in 1952 and now based in Milan, has collaborated with the likes of Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto and Fendi, and is a favorite with stars such as Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Victoria Beckham and Kanye West. It's high-end Gamme Rouge line (above) is designed by Italian fashionista Giambattista Valli. Last summer we reported that private equity firm The Carlyle Group acquired a 48% stake in the company.

Tags: Aspen, entertainment-awards, Gstaad, Kanye West, KanyeWest, Moncler, Ski resorts, Skiing, SkiResorts, Switzerland, Winter sports, WinterSports

Dunhill Skis by Speciale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

The latest offering from timeless men's London luxury outfitters Dunhill is a super-stylish set of skis specially commissioned from racing experts Speciale. The Dunhill Skis (above) are available in either teak (bottom) or carbon fiber (top) finishes with tough titanium bases. Available in two sizes, the $2,100 skis feature Vist bindings, handmade in Italy, which "fuse innovation with security." The speed lock can be adjusted with the use of a simple lever "moving the center of gravity of the skier depending on his skill or angle of slope." The Dunhill and Speciale logos are engraved on each ski, and owners can also have their names, initials or even their favorite resort - no doubt Aspen or Gstaad - engraved there as well.

Tags: Aspen, Dunhill, Skiing, Skis, Winter sports, WinterSports

First-Ever Aspen Fashion Week Slated for March

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

The first-ever Aspen Fashion Week, a five-day event celebrating the "Mountain Lifestyle", has been slated for March 1 - 5. Aspen Fashion Week will serve as "a consumer showcase and industry marketplace for winter sports products," a fast-growing sector that took in nearly $3 billion last year, organizers note. Combining "the stunning backdrop of the Rockies with Bryant Park glamour," the week will feature nightly fashion events, in-store presentations, and après-ski soirees. An estimated 15 designers will showcase their Winter 2009/2010 collections to fashion buyers, media, and customers from around the world; full-scale runway productions are slated for the following year. Confirmed sponsors for the inaugural event include W magazine, Veuve Clicquot and the St. Regis Aspen Resort.

Tags: Aspen, Colorado, Fashion Week, FashionWeek, Ski resorts, Skiing, SkiResorts, Winter sports, WinterSports