BEST IN SNOW

LIVE FROM THE SLOPES OF SNOWMASS, COLORADO, HERE ARE A FEW OF THE COOLEST THINGS SPOTTED ON THE SLOPES AND SHOPS ROUND TOWN. THERE ARE STILL AT LEAST A COUPLE OF SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING MONTHS LEFT THIS YEAR, SO START SHOPPING NOW!

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Clockwise from top left: BURTON ANT-SOCIAL SPLITBOARD $699.95. Hike it up, ride it down. You'll never guess you're on a splitboard as you float through the powder; MONTBELL U.L. DOWN JACKET $169. This insulating jacket seriously weighs less than most T-shirts. It's a perfect insulting layer and wind resistant enough to be worn on its own; POC SYNAPSIS 2.0 Aurelien Ducroz Helmet $250. POC makes the most beautifully designed helmets, equally matched for their safety features. Utilizing POC's Anti Penetration Barrier, the Synapsis helmet is ultra light and ultra safe with a turnring adjustment system for perfect fit. Can be worn with or without visor; ARC'TERYX STINGRAY PANT $399. These highly technical Gore-Tex insulated pants will keep you warm and dry on those deep powder days; HESTRA ALL LEATHER PRIMALOFT GLOVES $150. The brand of choice of the pros, this soft and supple warm leather glove with Primaloft insulation are perfect on the coldest winter days; ZEAL iON CAMERA GOGGLE $399. 1080p HD digital camera is integrated into the lens with an in-goggle viewfinder and 170-degree view that automatically adjusts exposure for changing light; Center: ANON FASHIONABLY LATE SUNGLASSES $109.95. From Burton Snowboards comes Anon, their technical line of goggles and stylish shades; MARMOT NEWTON HAT $44.95. When the helmet is off, this striped beenie protects your head from the other elements.  MAMMUT Schneefeld Zip Pull Light Women $145; This lightweight insulated layer can be worn as base or second layer for cold days, and looks super cute on its own. 

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THE NFL ON INSTAGRAM

Although I am not really a big football fan, other than cheering for the home team, I have been a follower of the NFL Instagram feed all season. These little square photographs that look like poloroids, faded with filters and framed with rough borders, have been given a special vintage quality that harken back to those early Sports Illustrated days. But it is also the image itself that is different. It is not the big play that is captured but something more intimate and almost innocent, as if the NFL were a high school football game.

So with the Super Bowl just about a week away and only 2 NFL teams left on the playing field, I thought I would share some of my visual highlights from the season.

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SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN

The sporty girl gets dirty and when it's time to clean up she likes her soap to leave her smelling naturally fresh. Flowers like jasmine and freesia, fruits like lemon and lime, herbs like verbena and sage are some of her favorites from nature's scents. She appreciates nice packaging too. CLICK BELOW TO SHOP.

1.THREE SOAPS SPORT SOAP SET $19. Set of three triple-milled bars crafted from organic oatmeal, olive oil, shea butter and essential oils. This environmentally sensitive soap is packaged with an irresistible nostalgic sporting theme.  2. MARIO BADESCU AHA BOTANICAL BODY SOAP  $8. Enriched with fresh fruit extracts like papaya and grapefruit to exfoliate, cleanse, and leave skin feeling soft and smooth. 3.CLAUS PORTO BANHO CITRON VERBENA BATH SOAP $18. Floral verbena and a hint of citrus are blended in this 100% natural shea butter oversized bath bar. 4.L'OCCITANE VERBENA SOAP ON A ROPE $10. This old-fashioned rope soap is delightfully scented with verbena. It hangs in the shower to dry, conveniently mess-free. 5.SABON DELICATE JASMIN SHOWER OIL $18. SLS and paraben free, this combination shower gel laced with essential oils smells great and leaves skin feeling luxuriously silky and soft.  6.FRESH FREESIA OVAL SOAP $15. This triple-milled, vegetable-based soap is enriched with moisturizing shea butter and infused with a delicious floral scent. 7.BLISS ORIGINAL BLUE BODY BAR $15. Bursting with a crisp, fresh scent this long-lasting French-milled moisturizing bar with massaging nubs delivers a lot of bath for your buck. 8.(MALIN + GOETZ)  LIME BAR SOAP $10. This foaming cleansing bar is synthesized with refreshing lime, to gently purify and balance all skin types.  

Thanks to my guest beauty editor Evan Pepper! 

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JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE BEACH

Spreads from "THE PLIGHT OF THE TORPEDO PEOPLE" by Keith Malloy (top) & "LIFE'S A BEACH" by Martin ParrI received my Artbook / D.A.P. spring catalogue this week and in it were two books on a spread: Keith Malloy's The Plight of the Torpedo People and Martin Parr's Life's a Beach. I'm not sure if the intent was to show the two extremes of a day at the beach but I loved the juxtaposition.

The Plight of the Torpedo People by Keith Malloy is a collection of photographs, frame grabs and personal essays documenting the making of his first film, "Come Hell or Highwater", about the sport of bodysurfing. While Malloy is most widely known as a surfer, his exploration into the world of bodysurfing began some 10 years ago in a quest to reconnect with the ocean. "Come Hell or High Water" looks at the history, culture and beauty of the sport of bodysurfing, alongside the purity of experience that is riding a wave.

8 FOR THE ROAD: CYCLE SHOES A GO-GO

Spinning, triathlons and road riding are all extremely popular at the moment, and chances are you are participating in at least one of these activities. If so, you are in need of a good cycling shoe. Now as we are talking about shoes here, you want them to be kinda fab. In sports however, performance is key. What is most critical in a cycling shoe is that they be lightweight for efficiency, have a stiff sole for power, good ventilation, and adjustable straps for a secure and comfortable fit. Above I present 8 that have it all and are pretty hot looking too. So yes, you can have your cake and eat it too, as long as you keep riding!

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Row 1: MAVIC ZXELLIUM Road Shoes $149.99 (on sale); SHIMANO SH-R191 Road Shoes $229.99; Row 2: NORTHWAVE FIGHTER SBS Road Shoes $79 (on sale); DIADORA AEROSPEED 2 $99.99 (on sale); Row 3: GIRO FACET TRI $200; SIDI GENIUS 5 Pro Carbon Road Shoes $239.99 ; Row 4: PEARL IZUMI PRO LEADER Road Shoes $269.99; LOUIS GARNEAU FUTURA XR Road Shoes $179.99

ALL SHOES AND MORE AVAILABLE AT PERFORMANCEBIKE.COM

WINTER WHITE: ITS THE COLOR OF THE MONTH

With the beginning of the new year and record snowfalls, white feels like the perfect color for January. It's makes a great canvas for accent trims, patterns and graphics to pop. From kayaks to sunglasses, watches to gloves, there is nothing more chic than white for sport apparel and gear!

CLICK PRODUCT NAME BELOW TO SHOP

PUMA MOSTRO PERF EXT SNEAKERS $74.99; MILLY FELICITY TOTE $450; JULBO WAVE OCTOPUS SUNGLASSES $190; EDDYLINE FATHOM LV KAYAK $2699.00; NIKE NEW BORDER TENNIS SKIRT $50; NIXON WATCHES THE RUBBER MURF $300; SHIMANO SH-TR31 CYCLING SHOE $140; ADIDAS ADISSAGE FADE SLIDE $30.00; POC TRABEC RACE MIPS BIKE HELMET $200.00; PEARL IZUMI INFINITY SHRUG $45; KARLA COLLETTO CUTOUT HALTERNECK SWIMSUIT $300; PUMA MONOLINE VISOR $15.40; MARMOT ARMAGEDDON UNDERCUFF GLOVE $150

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"EDDIE WOULD GO"

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAN MERKEL

We are almost at the halfway point of the holding period (Dec.1-Feb.28) for the 28th annual "Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau", a one-day big wave invitational surfing event requiring waves of at least 20 feet -- wave face height over 30 feet-- in order to be contested. The event, which has only been held 8 times in its history, was founded in recognition of the great Hawaiian surfer Eddie Aikau.

During the 1970's, Eddie Aikau was considered one of the best big wave riders in the world. He was the first official lifeguard at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore, and became recognized for pulling people out of waves that no one else would dare to. His life took on mythic porportions after his untimely death during the "Hokule'a" in 1978. During the 2500 mile traditional Hawaiian canoe voyage, retracing the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands, the canoe developed a leak and capsized in stormy weather. Aikau set out on his surfboard, paddling towards Lanai in an attempt to get help. The crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, but despite great search efforts, Eddie was never seen again.

The "Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau" event was established in 1984 and was won by his brother Clyde Aikau in its first year. The popular phrase "Eddie Would Go" originated during that first contest. The waves were huge and conditions extremely dangerous. While the contest organizers were discussing whether to put it on, competitor Mark Foo looked out and said "Eddie would go." The phrase stuck and spread around the Hawaiian Islands and rest of the world.

I have always loved the image above by Dan Merkel, which has become one of the most iconic images of Eddie Aikau. The minimal blue and yellow tonalities highlight the purity and beauty of the sport and let the soul of this lengendary waterman shine. The posters below are a few of my favorites as well, elegantly commemorating his life.

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JANUARY: 31 DAYS OF WORKOUTS

Happy New Year! The holidays are behind us and time to say farewell to December's excesses. January is traditionally the shape up month and with that I thought I would offer 31 days of workout options. As I did with 31 Days of Sneakers in December, each day will feature a new class, sport, gym, dvd or other fun way to get back in shape or just change up your workout. 

JAN.31: CRUNCH. Wow, I cant believe it's my last day of 31 Days of Workouts! I have had so much fun trying everything out, and for my last day wanted to feature a place that has it all, including some workouts I missed. Crunch started in 1989 as a basement aerobics studio in NYC's East Village and now has gyms across the country. From the untraditional decor to the unbelievable class offerings, that mix traditional workouts with their own creations, like Bodyweb Bosu, Boing With Kangoo, Cycle Karaoke, Retro Robics, Cardio Striptease, Jillian Michael's Bodyshred, and many many more... their philosophy has always been to make exercise FUN! So if you would like to try some of the workouts I featured this month and some of those I missed, Crunch is your place for one stop fitness. 

JAN.30: STAND-UP PADDLE YOGA. From the snow to the water we go. Stand-Up Paddleboarding is a fun and great way to get some exercise, but unfortunately for many us enthusiasts it's a summer or vacation activity only. I stumbled upon a this crazy workout called Aqua Stand-Up, an indoor stand-up paddleboard pool workout, which I couldn't resist featuring. Besides paddling, there are lots of exercises you can do on a board, Yoga being one of them. Because the poses are performed on a moving surface, different muscles are engaged. So when the weather permits and you're back on the board, why not give it a try. I myself am headed to Mexico in March for the 4th Annual Punta Sayulita Classic. Sayulita was voted as one of the top 10 SUP destinations in the world by Men’s Fitness magazine. Hope to see you all there!

JAN.29: WINTER SPORTS. Mother Nature has given us a good blast of winter this year, with lots of snow and cold temperatures. Why not take advantage! Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, iceskating, and sledding are just a few of the fun ways to get outside, enjoy the weather and burn some calories at the same time. Consider it part of your cross training. I'm actually writing from Snowmass, CO where the sun is shining after a night of snowfall. Can't say much more... gotta go hit the slopes!

JAN.28: MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, and Jiu-Jitsu are just a few of the disciplines of Mixed Martial Arts. Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts, established in 1984, is one of the most recognized Martial Arts training facilities, with many east coast locations. I myself checked out Jeet Kune Do at Anderson’s Martial Arts Academy, an impressive 12,000 sq.ft training facility located in downtown Manhattan. Jeet Kune Do is the martial art system Bruce Lee developed and draws its inspiration from many different philosophies of street fighting. While teaching practical fighting and self-defense skills, the punching and kicking of Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai and all the other martial arts make these intense cardio workouts, in addition improving agility, increasing flexibility and building strength. To find a training facility near you click here.

JAN.27: KINECTED PILATES CENTER. With all the intense and crazy workouts out there, it is really important to incorporate some stretching and alignment into our fitness regimens. Pilates is a great way to do that. I took the Bands and Physioball mat class at Kinected, a Pilates studio recognized for their teaching training program and integration of wellness into their practice. This deceptively hard class, features exercises that focus on the Pilates tenets of core strength and body alignment. The studio is located in a lovely loft space, with cheerful attention to detail noticeable in the coordination of things like the bright blue walls, orange mats and clear Physioballs. Kinected also offers private and semi-private classes, physical therapy, Gyrotronics, Rolfing and other custom programs. 

JAN.26: THE GYM AT CITY CREEK. Well I did not imagine I would be featuring a gym in Salt Lake City, Utah, in my 31 Days of Fitness but here I am for the Outdoor Retailer show, and what am amazing facility I stumbled upon. Located in downtown Salt Lake City and catering to a corporate clientele, The Gym at City Creek, located in the impressive new City Creek Center, is a state of the art sports and fitness club. With a hip industrial modern look, cutting edge equipment, swimming pool, full size basketball court, racquetball, full spectrum of class offerings, juice bar and more, this gym is as nice as it gets anywhere. 

JAN.25: IRONSTRENGTH. "The key to a happy running life is a strong butt" says Dr.Jordan Metzl, Ironman Triathlete, marathoner, nationally recognized Sport Medicine Physician at New York's Hospital For Special Surgery, and author of The Athletes' Book of Home Remedies. Dr. Metzl has created "Ironstrength", a class he teaches twice a month at Equinox, designed to prevent those injuries he finds himself treating so often. Runners in particular, often lack the overall body strength needed to support their activity level. "Ironstrength" focuses on conditioning and strengthening the muscles and joints most prone to injury. Filled with athletes, his classes are tough, but the workout, which is featured on the Runners World website, can also be done at home. For more information on Dr. Metzl and the schedule of Ironstrength classes click HERE.

JAN.24: STOKED 360: Kira Stokes is the energized force of nature behind "Stoked 360", "Stoked Primal", "Stoked Abs" and the rest of the "Stoked" series she has created. Kira is seriously ripped and extreme proof of how effective these workouts can be when done a lot, which clearly she does. I checked out "Stoked 360" at Reebok Sports Club, which she also teaches at various Equinox locations. This is Kira's all-encompassing total body workout, which is an action packed 75-minute circuit class combining traditional and functional training with high intensity cardio intervals. Each circuit has 3 moves, a combination of strength, plyometrics and balance, done three times, with jump rope intervals in between sets, in case it wasn't tough enough. For more information on Kira's other killer classes click HERE. 

FROST FREE FINGERS: WINTER RUNNING PT.2

LULULEMON BRISK RUN GLOVE $28

A week ago I posted about the pleasures of winter running and featured some of my favorite layering pieces. Gloves are critical part of the equation as well. Once you start moving, hands warm up pretty quick, so you want gloves that are flexible, moisture-wicking and breathable. Here are a few I really like (and you don't have to wear them for running only). Pearl Izumi, Mountain Harware and The Northface come in men's sizes too. 

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MOUNTAIN HARDWARE WINTER RUNNING GLOVE $40; THE NORTHFACE POWER STRETCH GLOVE $35

 SMARTWOOL LINER KNIT GLOVE $24; PEARL IZUMI THERMAL GLOVE $25 

NATHAN TRANSWARMER (glove with mitten shield) $35; ATHLETA PILAYO GLOVE $39

CLICK HERE FOR WINTER RUNNING PART 1