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Prior Fissile Sp lit XTC Carbon | BCBusiness
Prior Fissile Split XTC Carbon
The Whistler area offers a wealth of spectacular backcountry ski-touring terrain that’s among the most accessible of its kind in the world. But if you prefer your powder served under a snowboard, you’ve got more of a challenge. Until recently you were forced to hike the backcountry using ungainly snowshoes, but Whistler’s Prior Snowboard Manufactory Ltd. is at the cutting edge of a new solution: the splitboard. Prior’s Fissile Split breaks into skis for the way up and reconnects as a backcountry-shredding snowboard for the way down. The carbon-fibre option gives you more pop with less weight and, as with all Prior’s products, you can choose from a selection of graphics ($1,200, priorsnow.com).
Smith Recon I/O Goggle
Recon Instruments Inc. introduced the world to wearable heads-up display technology for snow sports with its groundbreaking goggle. The next generation offers more info and connectivity, plus integration with a wider range of goggle frames, including the industry-leading Smith I/O ($650, mec.ca).
Grass Frames Internal Gear Hub Commuter Bike
Bike commuters have a penchant for buying green and local, so why are so many of them cruising around on metal contraptions made in far-flung factories? Since 2011, east Vancouver’s Grass Frame Works Ltd. has been building custom bamboo-framed commuter bikes with performance comparable to that of conventional rides ($3,000, grassframes.ca).
Arc’teryx Altra 65 Pack
With its composite construction, innovative suspension system and pivoting hip support, the Altra 65 is a summit-conquering pack. Sure, you’re no Sherpa, but watch for Arc’teryx to adapt this top-of-the-line tech to its more mass-market models soon ($400, arcteryx.com).
SAHN Classic Urban Cycling Helmet
Just as not every cyclist aspires to contest the GranFondo, not every cyclist looks for the same sporting esthetic in a helmet. Launched in 2012 by Vancouver designers Matt Kelly and Sen-Huy Tan, SAHN Helmets makes lids for urban riders who are more concerned about style and comfort than weight and aerodynamics ($130, sahn.cc).
G3 Alpinist High Traction Climbing Skins
North Vancouver’s G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc. has roots in designing better safety gear for guides, giving it serious credibility with the backcountry-bound crowd. G3’s new Alpinist High Traction Climbing Skins are the perfect companion to a splitboard—they’ll get you to the top by allowing your skis to slide forward without slipping back ($205, genuineguidegear.com).
Westcomb Revenant Jacket
Not only does Westcomb Outerwear Inc. design its products in Vancouver, but everything is also manufactured at its facility just off Clark Drive in east Vancouver. As a high-quality, weather-beating, breathable shell, the Revenant jacket compares with the best on the market ($550, shopwestcomb.com).