Whistler Outerwear, Lifestyle Clothing & Adventure Gear

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Après goes hand in hand with ski season but there really is something special about enjoying a pint in the spring sun after a day on the hill.  Connecting with your buds and reliving the best moments of your ski day are all part of the mountain experience. And so is ending up dancing in your ski boots at 2am. So get ready to laugh, let loose a little and après like a boss with these tips!

Pick Your Poison

Pick what you’re drinking and stick with it.  Drinking from the early afternoon into wee hours of the following morning leave a lot of room for options but those options might make you miss a day of skiing. Also, stay away from the shot ski…no one ever regrets that the next day!

Eating Is Definitely Not Cheating

Fun fact: Skiing is hard work and burns a ton of calories. Replacing those calories is crucial in order for you to hit the slopes hard again the next day. And, it also enables you to party well into the evening. Grab a quick bite to eat on your way to the bar or even order a round of world-famous nachos while hanging on the patio.

Don’t Forget To Sleep

If there’s snow in the forecast, it warrants skipping the night out to get a good sleep so you’re ready for the first chair. Après is an awesome tradition, but fresh tracks and face shots will always take priority. Even if there’s no new snow, starting to après right after a day on the hill means it’s okay to call the night early. That’s the secret to being able to do it day in and day out.

Alternate Drinks With Water

Beer, water, beer, water. If you want to feel good the next day and make it back on to the hill, hydrate like you’ve never hydrated before. Sure, you might be hitting the washroom more often but when everyone else is complaining of a hangover and you’re not…it will be worth those few extra trips.

Dress For Success

Nail the après-ski style. And no, that doesn’t mean wheeling out your best cashmere, cat-eye sunglasses and colourful faux fur. It means being able to comfortably transition from being on the mountain to being in a bar. Try layering peices like a plaid shirt and a tee. Also, don’t forget a hat to cover up that helmet hair. To gain more insight into the world of après-ski style, stop by McCoo’s for some real advice.

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Since skiing powder becomes a bit harder as spring progresses, it’s a great time to work on your steeze in the terrain park. But if you’ve neglected this part of the mountain all season long, it can be intimidating and downright dangerous to just drop in. The terrain park is an outdoor recreation area containing terrain that allows skiers and snowboarders to progress at performing tricks. The keyword is “progress”. Here are a few tips on navigating the terrain park that will have you pulling tricks out of the bag that you didn’t know you had.

Start In The Beginner Terrain Park

Most mountains have multiple terrain parks, each with different features geared to different ability levels. Depending on your current skillset, it can be either terrifying or tempting to hit the largest jumps you see. To begin with, it’s useful to identify if it is a beginner or expert park, how big the jumps are, and how big the other people in the park are going. This is both for your safety and the safety of others around you. What’s more, starting small lets you develop the basics you’ll need to advance.

Check Everything Out

Real talk: If you’re reading this blog, chances are you shouldn’t be sending features blind. Take the time to do a ride through lap and familiarize yourself with the features you will be attempting.

Learn Park Etiquette

There are a few pretty simple rules you should generally follow with regards to other riders in the park.

Don’t get in the way of park features

This means don’t sit or stand in the run-in, take-off, or landing of any park feature. Always try to keep these areas clear and when you hit any park feature you should try to avoid stopping in any of these areas. If you need to stop, always do it away from park features where you won’t get in the way of other riders.

Don’t follow too close to other riders

You aren’t a mind reader. Give space to the rider ahead of you in the park.

Don’t cut people off, but also don’t hold up line ups

Wait your turn but be aware when it is your time to drop in.

Try not to brake on the landings

Bails and crashes happen, that’s fine. However, try to avoid braking while still in the landing area of any park feature. It damages the features.

Grab A Lesson

It can be challenging learning tricks on your own. For expert instruction, Whistler Blackcomb run park-specific lessons.

Remember, everyone has to start somewhere, so don’t feel intimidated by better riders in the terrain park. It can help to look the part. Come stop by McCoo’s for all the latest gear trends.

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Skis and boards waxed- check. Lift pass purchased- check. Snow falling- check. With the exciting opening of Whistler Mountain last week it is time to make sure all your gear and accessories are sorted for the upcoming season. Gearing up for adventure is all a part of the fun and here at Mccoos Whistler, we have been helping mountain enthusiasts look and play the part since 1987. The ski and snowboard industry is seeing great innovations in gear and technology. To keep you in the loop we have compiled a list of the hottest items to get your hands on this winter season.

A new generation of Goggles

Goggles-Mccoos

The world has just entered a new generation of goggles where condensation and flat, low contrast vision is a thing of the past. No longer are your goggles just an outerwear accessory they are now a device to help you record, film and monitor your speed and performance. This season look for goggles with Prizm technology- a new lens technology that allows you to see the snow and surroundings with precise and crisp detail. Also look for goggles that have Bluetooth and GPS integration enabling you to measure your speed, jump analytics, vertical, navigation and more. Mccoos has Whistler’s largest selection of goggles as well as the resort’s leading goggle repair shop. Upgrade your goggles this year and step into the future.

Go Pro built for Whistler

GoPro-Mccoos

If you don’t have an action camera yet what are you waiting for? The action camera market has been on the rise for several years now and the latest technology, design and functionality of cameras is state of the art. Our favorite action camera is the Go Pro Hero4 Sessions. This is a camera that was built for Whistler conditions. It is small, light-weight and completely waterproof without a case. There are plenty of additional accessories you can purchase like mounts, straps, wind-savers and more. Capturing your adventures on film is all a part of the fun. Make sure you add an action camera to your accessory list this year.

Boot liners with Intuition

Epic days on the mountain start with quality gear. Making sure your feet are comfortable, dry and supported is paramount for top performance. Intuition boot liners are the newest technology in ski and snowboard boots. The revolutionary liner heat molds to your feet giving you a customized fit for optimal power, control and performance. Mccoos has been the go-to place for boot-fitting ever since its inception nearly 30 years ago. Legendary George Mckonkey, who is recognized world-wide for his boot-fitting expertise, works at Mccoos (he was actually one of the original owners of the shop back in the 1980’s). Your feet are in expert hands at Mccoos- why go anywhere else?

The Year of the Helmet

Helmets have always been kind of a lame outerwear accessory. Don’t get us wrong. They are extremely important for obvious safety reasons, but practicality has been the only thing going-on for helmets for a long time. Well, not anymore. This year your choice of helmets is bigger than ever! At Mccoos we have a huge stock of helmets ranging in colour, design and functionality. Find a helmet that suits your taste and style this year. Finally helmets that express your style!

Whistler’s Home of Herschel

Herschel-Backpacks

If you haven’t heard of Hershel you must be living under a rock. Based in Vancouver, BC Hershcel is an International brand that has exploded in popularity over the last few years. With a huge selection of thoughtfully created bags and accessories all artistically designed, Herschel bags draw on inspiration from all corners of the world. At Mccoos we have Whistler’s largest collection of Herschel bags with loads of colours, patterns and designs to choose from. Herschel’s make a great bag for on the mountain or any type of travelling and adventuring you have in mind. Come by and check out our collection of Herschel and get your hands on this season’s hottest accessory.

So there you have it- Mccoos Hot List for the 2015/16 season. Make sure to stop in and see us before the mountain opens this year and get sorted with your gear and accessories. You can find us as the base of Whistler Mountain in Mountain Square and on the Village Stroll (our Ripcurl location). Wishing everyone an excellent winter season ahead! See you in the shop or on the slopes!