Winter’s not over yet
We may be mostly dug out from back-to-back blizzards and a little
topping off last weekend, but news flash: Winter ain t over until El Niño
says it s over. Best make the most of it.
Sprout some flair
Trick out a tired helmet with a Helmet
Headz cover from Boulder-based Vazi
Sport. Kids are the target market,
which explains why the rainbow-tailed
unicorn is a top seller, but the covers fit
helmets from kids extra small to adult
XXL, which would account for a run on
the puffer fish version. $24.99-$29.99
at Christy Sports, Colorado Ski & Golf,
Eskimo Ski Shop and resort shops all
over the high country.
No toe-sicles for kids
Don’t forget about keeping the tots’ tootsies toasty.
Chilkats lace winter boots for kids are insulated with
PrimaLoft so they re light, but they still stay warm even
when they re wet, and the lug soles are grippy on the
steepest sled hill. Find them at REI in pink and brown,
or head to thenorthface.com for the bright yellow
version that will allow you to spot your kid when she s
stuck headfirst in a snowbank. $55.
Greatest of ease
Nothing like getting stuck in your
driveway for days to get you
dreaming of blasting through the
drifts on a snowmobile. Yamaha s
2007 Phazer Mountain Lite might
be just what the Yeti ordered.
Lighter than its predecessors
because it has titanium components,
this entry-level machine – a 4-stroke, 500-cc, fuel-injected
engine – doesn’t have quite the
testosterone charge that the
high-end sleds do. But it does come
with the promise of big fun while
it gets you where you need to go.
$7,199 at Xtreme Performance
Centers in Dacono and Castle Rock,
xtreme-performance.com.
For your ears only
You don’t have to sacrifice warm ears
when a hat just seems too heavy.
Try 180s ExoLite Heat ear warmers
as a compromise. They re light and
fold up small enough to stuff in a
pocket. $25 at Dick s Sporting Goods
and REI.
Get a grip
Chains for your tires, chains for your
feet. Since the ice set in, practically everyone
we know from oldsters to
people who are fearless in the great
outdoors has been swearing by
Yaktrax. They re a web of heavy rubber
bands wound with metal that
stretch to fit tight against your shoes
and provide enough traction to help
keep your bum off the ground. The basic
model, called Walker, runs $19.99;
add a strap over the instep for running,
and they re called Pro and cost
$27.99. Get them at Sports Authority
and Runner’s Roost in Denver and
McGuckin Hardware in Boulder.
