Skiing

We were introduced to Louise Waldron, the founder of Snow Finel Ski Wear and couldn’t help but be impressed not only with her, but with her range of ski wear.   She certainly has spotted a gap in the market for quality thermals, layers and accessories but without the very high price tags of those up-market brands which we aspired to but somehow couldn’t quite justify.

Made from the finest Merino wool and styled with an understated good taste and stamped with her own unique detail, we’re sure that Snow Finel Ski Wear will  be recognised in the same way that a flash of red on the sole of a shoe is unmistakably, Christian Louboutin.

Now is an excellent time to visit the Snow Finel website as there are some timely offers for this season! (Just click on the photos or logo to go to the site and view  the  whole fabulous collection)

We asked Louise to tell us her story which we are delighted to share:-

Snow Finel Ski Wear

 

I started Snow Finel quite simply because I couldn’t fine anything I wanted to wear!   I was lucky enough to own lots of lovely ski jackets and ski pants but when I stopped for those long lunches or apres ski drinks I was rather embarrassed about the scruffy old fleece and T-shirt combos.

After visiting lots of factories in the Uk and persuading three of them to work with me, I started in 2013 with a small range of ladies jumpers and hats. I launched at the Spirit of Christmas Fair and attended a small number of small fairs.

Having been well received I realised that stylish thermals and mid layers were lacking in the marketplace.  My aim was to create  stylish, coordinating layers which looked fantastic on and off the slopes.

Snow Finel Ski Wear mid layer tops

The range has grown to include base layers, mid layers, gilets, leggings and a range of accessories for men and ladies.

Snow Finel Ski Wear Mid Layer Top

Merino Wool Mid Layer with Contrasting Zip and matching Cashmere Hat 

 

I design all the garments myself and have everything manufactured in the UK. I felt very strongly about this as I want to support British industry.

All the garments are made from high quality merino wool.  Merino has fantastic qualities as a fibre to wear for sport.

  • It naturally regulates the wearer’s body temperature.
  • It wicks moisture but doesn’t cool the wearer.
  • It retains heat but you won’t ever overheat in it!
  • An added bonus is it never smells.

The business is growing organically, I am proud of the products that are designed for skiing but are worn by anyone who enjoys sport. The quest for new products and colour ways makes the design process exciting, as does trying out all the samples on the slopes to ensure they perform well.

Snow Finel Ski Wear Mens Top Layer

Men’s Top Layer in Merino Wool

 

Snow Finel Ski Wear Made in UK


Pure Powder Logo

Pure Powder Heli Skiing Presentations

 

With winter creeping up on us it’s nearly snow-time and (in our humble opinion) there’s nothing better to get you in the mood for the winter than coming along to one of our Heli Skiing presentations which start next week.  We’ll be discussing all things Heli Skiing in Canada with experienced Canadian ski guides Craig McGee and Lindsay Andersen.

Read more…

Heli Skiing with Pure Powder in Chile

Southern Skiing, Staying Fit & Dreaming of Pow

 

It’s that time of year again that I start pining for my skis; it’s the midway stage between the last turns of the late season and the start of another winter. What to do? If the urge to ski some powder is overwhelming, why not head south to chase the snow in the Chilean Andes where big mountains and heavy snowfalls combine with warm Chilean hospitality for an unforgettable skiing experience.

Read more…

Chalet St Peres in St Martin de Belleville

The Vintage Magazine, that is the editor and his wife, two daughters with accompanying husbands and their respective two children apiece recently spent a fabulous week skiing at St. Martin de Belleville, actually that is not technically correct, we stayed in St. Martin but skiied in the vast area of the Three Valleys (aka Les Trois Vallées if you are French) which incorporates,  Courcheval, Val Thorens, Méribel, Les Menuires, Saint Martin De Belleville, La Tania, Orelle and Brides les Bains; that makes 600 kilometres of slopes to explore and a resort to suit every taste and budget and every level of skiing ability from wonderfully groomed blue pistes to vertiginous couloirs.  There are in fact 321 Alpine ski runs made up of 51 green, 132 blue, 106 red and 32 black making this area perfect for families.

We chose St. Martin de Belleville as we had stayed here about 12 years ago and had fallen in love with the authentic charm of this Savoie region village but also because of the high speed gondolas and chairlifts which whisked us off and up into all the other ski areas.

Read more…

Pure-powder-winter-is-coming

Countdown to Winter

I love this time of year!  The days are getting shorter, the temperature is dipping; it can only mean one thing – snow is just around the corner…

With winter’s imminent arrival what better way to get you in the mood than coming along to one of our heli skiing presentations which start on 27th October and take place in London, Glasgow & Aberdeen. You and your skier friends are invited to join us for a relaxed evening of ski movies & presentations mixed in with a healthy dose of drinks & canapes.  For info & registration click here.

Read more…

Pure Powder is proud to be the UK’s leading heli-skiing specialist with over 30 years of experience.  Pure Powder organises more heli-skiing trips than all the other UK heli-ski operators put together!

Read more…

Bell 212 Helicopter at CMH Heli-Skiing

The 7th February 2014 will see the opening of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games, which will be held in and around the resort of Sochi in Western Russia.   They will be the largest and most expensive winter games ever, with a record 98 events in 15 winter sports disciplines.  New to the Olympic programme will be Parallel Slalom for snowboarders and something called Slopestyle, a development of freestyle, in which young people on skis or snowboards hurl themselves off artificial ramps and perform various gymnastic contortions in mid air, with marks awarded by judges.

Read more…

Hannes Schneider jump turn circa 1940

Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) Heli Skiing

Canada is where heli-skiing all started and the interior ranges of British Columbia are seen as the Mecca of heli-skiing; famed for huge snowfalls of light, fluffy champagne powder and endless amounts of fantastic terrain, this is some of the best skiing on the planet!

And who better to explore this with than CMH Heli-Skiing, the inventors of heli-skiing in 1965.   CMH has an exclusive playground of incredible heli-skiing terrain 40% the size of Switzerland just waiting to be skied, but without the queues!

Read more…

Helicopter Landed