A Ski Bum’s Wishlist for Santa

Living the ski bum lifestyle sure has it’s perks. Skiing endless pow, chasing storms, shirking responsibilities and living the dream are all included, but for some reason, having enough cash on hand to buy nice things tends to be elusive. Well, we can hope and dream, and isn’t that what Santa’s for?

With that said, here’s a list of five things I know I want for Christmas. Hey Santa, ya hear?

Custom Skis: Wagner Custom Skis - $1750+

If Santa is bringing me skis, they better be the exact ones I want. What better way to achieve that than with a pair of custom skis from the folks over at Wagner? The Telluride, CO boutique brand uses a simple process to create a unique pair of planks to bring your skiing to the next level. Tell them exactly what you want and need, and a few weeks later a pair of skis tailored to your style and specifications will arrive on your doorstep, ready for you to start sending.

Outerwear: TREW Powfish - $750

TREW’s brand-new limited edition Powfish collection will make you look like a svelte mountain ninja ready to steal everyone’s powder stash. Jokes aside, this jacket/bib combo is pretty badass. TREW got creative with their new line of pow-specific outerwear, incorporating unique external styling with a super-techy interior, all in collaboration with TGR athlete Colter Hinchcliffe. To keep weight down and material only where it needs to be, the jacket is insulated only as a vest, and features a removable liner. The bib is not insulated, and features a stretchy shell material for moving fast through pow. Like a ninja.

Accessory: Black Crows Trios Freebird Poles - $200

After watching Exum Guides use these as a touring pole during three days of moving A LOT through the backcountry, I was sold on their versatility. Super adjustable, light, and with an extended handle for traverses, I would bring these anywhere in the mountains. Simply put, these are probably the nicest touring poles Santa could bring me this year.

Airbag: Arc’teryx Voltair 30 $1,680

At this point, skiing with an airbag in the backcountry makes a lot of sense. The good ones don’t weight too much more than a normal ski pack, and they have that added bonus of being able to save your life when the white stuff starts moving the wrong way. Arc’teryx makes some pretty nice stuff, and their 30L Voltair airbag is no different. Like anything else they make, they engineered the crap out of it, figuring out materials and functions to implement that simply make sense. Unlike most other airbags, the Voltair is inflated by a battery-powered fan, which means it can be used more than once before a recharge is necessary. It also means that you can fly with this without arousing suspicions from TSA.

Heated Gloves: Hestra Power Heater - $400

Fact: I get really cold hands when I’m skiing. Heated gloves have always been on my shortlist of things I want to ski with, but I have never found a pair that doesn’t feel clunky or cumbersome to wear. I fiddle around with stuff a lot when I ski, so dexterity is paramount. Hestra’s Power Heater gloves feature the same fit, design, and dexterity as any of their other gloves, as well as integrated heating coils to keep my hands nice and toasty.