Mountain Girl blog: Winter Works of Art

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Ok so I don’t want to be the one who has to break it to you but winter is indeed coming and you’ve not got long to go until….eek….Xmas. The recent settled sunny weather might have made it easy to ignore of late but we all know it’s time to submit to the passing of the seasons when Strictly and X Factor start up again. For many, the very thought of big thick jumpers and long dark nights is unwelcome at best but for others the concept of imminent winter is a thing of great joy. With colder temperatures comes snow, and with snow comes SKIING!

If you’re hoping to get out to the Alps this winter for some serious shredding then you may be interested to hear about a brand new female specific line from The Faction Collective. Faction are an uber cool freeride/freestyle ski brand born in Verbier, Switzerland in 2006 and work with some of the most influential skiers on the planet including the unsurpassable Candide Thovex from La Clusaz in France. In an amazingly short period of time Faction have made a huge impact on the international ski scene and this looks set to continue with the 2014/2015 launch of their women’s specific ski and apparel range – the Artist Series.

Everything that Faction do comes with imagination and originality and the new Women’s Artist Series is no different. For many ski companies, making a female specific ski involves nothing more complicated than taking the original men’s ski and adding some pretty pink graphics. But not for Faction. Far from it in fact. The thought that has gone into their new range is really something to behold. To help them create something really special Faction pulled in the creative genius of Kay Leggott and Rosie Monks, two artists/skiers who spent a week in Capbreton in France conceptualizing and designing this year’s skis and apparel.

The results are quite literally works of art – high performance kit that is rooted in authenticity and driven by a genuinely creative vision. Leggott’s Supertonic ski design was inspired by her early morning gondola rides in Verbier, passing through the larch trees on her way to the top of the mountain. The Supertonics are a big mountain/freeride ski designed to rip through the trees and float through the powder – they are definitely my ski of choice for the coming winter season!

In a snowy world where the overwhelming priority is to be warm, Faction have genuinely succeeded in creating practical wintersports clothing that looks so good you’d be proud to wear it strolling down Bond Street on a wintery London day. The Earhart Puffer is an ideal example – a tough and toasty 550-fill down jacket with a lining so beautifully designed you’ll want to wear it inside out. The Earhart is perfect for enjoying a spot of après ski and a cheeky vin chaud while the Tinsley Jacket/Lenox Pants combo will keep you looking good when you hit the mountain. Both pack a whole bunch of ski-specific features (helmet compatible hood, powder skirt, venting, leg gaiters etc) without sacrificing fit and style.

If you’re looking to stand out this winter or find the ideal Xmas gift for the hard charging female in your life, Faction’s Artist Series is well worth a look. This is a line up that will take you from the street to the backcountry in style with a whole host of admiring glances along the way.

Find out more about Faction Skis here: www.factionskis.com

Find out more about the Artist collection here: www.factionskis.com/collections/artist-series

Sophie Nicholson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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