And she wins the silver! Here the amazing Jennifer Heil is wearing her pre-Olympics Columbia Sportswear attire.
*This article appeared, in full or in part, in The Vancouver Sun, The Montreal Gazette, The Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, The Province, Times Colonist, the Leader Post.
Athletic wear is not exactly considered high-style. That being said, as you swish down the hill under the chairlift or swivel around Beaver Lake, looking as cute as possible may have an uncanny effect on your sporting skills.
“If the (athletes) feel like they look good, it will help them perform better,” said Kelley Korbin, manager of media relations for the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. Her team will be looking top-notch while competing in aerials and moguls during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Canadian athletes are authorized by the Canadian Olympic Committee to don patriotic gear for the Olympics, sans sponsorship logo, but this team’s sleek white, red and black numbers were designed by Columbia Sportswear.
“Columbia is trying to push us in a more fashion-forward direction, and it’s been really well received by the athletes,” Korbin said.
During the World Cup season, the team wore jackets and pants that combined either block colours or designs using sky-blue and lime-green palates — the latest “it” colours in the sports world.
The outfits also feature the latest Columbia technology called ‘Omni-Heat,’ which boasts a thermal reflective layer that’s similar to those ultrathin metallic blankets used by astronauts and medical rescue workers.
The line went into stores this past fall, and includes an electric Omni-Heat boot (not for skiing, but for outdoor activity) with a removable eight-hour battery pack, plus a reserve pack. The boot is available at athletic stores including Atmosphere Sports, 1610 St. Denis St., for $299.99. Many sizes have sold out, but new models will be available this year.
New technology is just one reason amateur athletes might consider upgrading their style when hitting the slopes, trails and rinks this season. Sometimes, a new look is all it takes to enhance performance and motivation.
Slopes
Snowboarders and skiers are notoriously vain, probably because at least a dozen times a day they change roles from being gawking spectators riding up the chairlift to flagrant exhibitionists roaring down the hill.
Still, stereotypically, these two groups have not shared the same look. Snowboarders have dressed in loud colours and baggy clothes — channelling a hip-hop and skateboarder look — while skiers have worn drab, earthy tones and ’70s-style accessories like parkas and woolly hats.
There is a simple reason why black and white are always popular with skiers — and a reason for those outdated accessories, says Oliver Eichwede, an owner of the new Austrian Ski Shop that recently opened on Monkland Ave.
“It’s an age thing. The more traditional skier look is, for sure, with 35 and up, but younger skiers don’t want it,” he said.
The young are influenced by the “free ride” look, inspired by snowboarding culture. These skiers wear jackets and accessories with more patterns and brighter colours, which makes it easier to spot their impressive halfpipe moves from a distance, as skiers and snowboarders now share the freestyle parks.
Hot palates for skiing include aqua blue and lime green, while magenta is popular with girls. These colours can be worn in combination or paired with basic black, white or beige.
Though, ironically, as skiers are looking more like snowboarders, snowboarders’ baggy and loud looks are toning down.
“Before, everything was very big. Now there are tight pants, which are far more fitted,” says Jeremy Berube, a style expert at the snowboard and skateboarding shop Empire on St. Antoine St. W. He says pro snowboarder Joe Sexton pioneered the tight-pants look, which has been adopted by many.
For the skinny look, clothes typically come in shades like dark green and beige. This is partially because snowboarding is influenced by ‘greener’ looks, where younger generations choose clothes that are made with eco-friendly fabrics — and that also boast nature-inspired hues. The popular brand Holden, which sells earth-tone tight pants and extra-long slim-fit jackets, also features eco-friendly fabrics, including hemp and recycled PET polyester.
Plain hues are also popular as snowboarders opt for more simplified looks in general. Snowboarders who are still shopping for baggier clothes (though, few seek out clothes as baggy as in years past) are choosing block pastel shades like blue, yellow, and mauve used in various combinations. Zany prints are kept to a minimum, while subtler plaids and stripes are becoming standard.
Nevertheless, to spice things up, snowboarders are still likely to sport flashy designs on their boards and in their accessories — such as bright green gloves with alligator faces.
While snowboarders are softening their edges and skiers are sharpening their looks with zebra-print jackets, not all generations of skiers and snowboarders are destined to look the same. The youngest snowboarders and skiers usually wear the loudest looks while the older set is more toned down, favouring an overall chic appeal.
However, these days everyone seems to be going for a splash of wholesome retro; cozy knit hats, which are less bulky, owing to a fleece lining, are all the rage.
Long-distance training
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are like the winter versions of running or biking, and often share the same look: ultra-fitted and black with the occasional blast of white. And while solid beige and earth-toned hues are becoming popular — as are crispy shades like orange and magenta on the latest gear — the clothes are very streamlined.
Technically, however, the garb is elaborate and fanciful.
“The clothes are mostly soft shells, which are very light and thin-stretch,” says Steve Beland, a manager at yeti Sports on St. Laurent Blvd., a shop that specializes in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and cycling.
These athletes need mobility, so the clothes typically come with reinforced seams in the knee, elbow or groin areas. Plus, people work up a sweat on their treks, so the gear is made from synthetic micro-fibres (often polyester), which wick moisture away from the skin. Items are also fashioned with hidden vents.
To protect against wind and snow, breathable pants and jackets are covered with hard shells made from trademarked synthetic blends like Gore-Tex, though alternatives exist such as Windstopper, found in the Solero jacket made by Arcteryx. Shells strategically cover the thighs or chest or the entire garment. It all depends on the intensity of the workout and whether the person has a higher or lower body temperature.
Skating and apres-ski
If the sparkly catsuit didn’t give it away, the most style-conscious winter Olympians are figure skaters.
The professional skaters get away with those getups because they’re in indoor rinks, and giant parkas are waiting for them the minute they come off the ice.
What if you’re hitting the outdoor rink at the Old Port and want to show off those sexy legs? Well, as any Montreal diva or style-conscious gent knows — after spending an extended period of time in minus-10 walking the dog or sledding down Mount Royal — snow pants are the only answer, unless temperatures rise a bit, in which case, layers of tights or thermal leggings underneath jeans or black pants are an option.
For ladies, the latest stirrup tights (Ogilvy’s hosiery department has several pairs, priced from $36 to $59) are less restrictive for your toes and can be worn with socks, making it easier to pull up even the tightest skinny pants.
Brilliantly disguised layers are essential for alluring apres-ski looks and outdoor strolling — particularly if you’re one of those lucky Canucks who will be attending the Olympics in February.
Keep your feet warm with Sorel-style boots that have either faux or real fur lining. Keep your other extremities equally sleek with accessories in toned-down colours. Combine the look of that shiny Moncler or Canada goose jacket with natural fibres like wool, cashmere and leather, and top it off with your most fabulous sunglasses. Ladies can add lipstick.
But as your fashion thermostat heats up and your functional athletic needs subside, remember it’s the dawn of the Vancouver Olympics: Time to get patriotic.
So grab yourself a pair of $10 Torchbearer red mittens — proceeds go to the Own the Podium Canadian athlete program (they’re sold out again at The Bay, but a constant supply will become available between now and the games), an authentic native Cowichan sweater from cowichantrading.com, or any garment or accessory that screams Canada to you — and pair it with the rest of your winter glam look. Hey, those style-savvy athletes will appreciate a good-looking cheering squad.
Suzanne Wexler.