Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor

Helmet cam wipe out

• Posted on March 11, 2008 at 12:21 AM
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I was in Whistler last week for a media familiarization camp – industry speak for a gear testing holiday. I got to check out some very cool new products from SamrtWool, Giro, Arc’Teryx, VOI and Atomic, while hanging out with other gear writers and reps from all the brands.

We stayed at the new Four Season’s hotel in Whistler. It’s the only five diamond AAA rated hotel in Canada. I’m no great expert on luxury digs, I usually opt for a tent, but this was by far the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. They treated us well.

The first night we were outfitted with our Atomic skis and Giro goggles and helmets and were educated on Giro’s new products and VIO’s POV1 helmet cams.

We were up early the next day to catch a van to Powder Mountain Catskiing just south of Whistler. I thoroughly tested the helmet and the durability of the helmet cam with repeated head first bails in the variable snow. There was sun crust, wind crust and blower powder all mixed together on every run – a nasty combo on telemark skis. You can see live footage of one such gear testing bail at the end of this three minute video pieced together with footage taken by all the campers using the POVs. Yes, those are my sweet turns that end in a face plant, a perfect excuse to stop and take a look at all the great ski terrain.

My next blog will be about our last day – an action packed tour of Whistler and Blackcomb.