A telemark skier and music lover, Ron Rod knows what he wants in a winter sports jacket — a garment that keeps him warm, dry and plugged into his favorite tunes on the mountain. So when Rod, 24, a Colorado State University senior, was chosen for Project OR, a 48-hour design- to-prototype competition, he drew on his own experience. Rod’s “Rocker” women’s jacket — in eco-friendly Schoeller fabric and incorporating a Qio integrated music system — was the winning design at the recent Outdoor Retailer show in Utah. “I like to listen to music, but I don’t like ear buds that fall out,” Rod says. “The Qio system works great because it has built-in speakers and you adjust volume by touching the pad on your left sleeve.” His prize is go to the next OR show and look for a job in. See more on the competition, including video, at .
