Well the anticipation has been building and we are now ready to start showing off what we have coming out in the near future. New factory, new patterns, new sizing arrangement, new fabrics, and new styling, has basically meant that we started from scratch again – and having learned a lot of lessons from our previous range, we’ve waited until now to start showing you what’s next for Nine22.

This year will see the birth of two Nine22 ranges – a snow range and a street range. We hope to have the snow range ready for shipping around the end of January, and the street range will slowly release thereafter. This is primarily for two reason – firstly we wanted to make sure that all the product was exactly as we wanted – this involved a range of efforts from testing fabrics to working with The Sample Room on our new fit. Secondly we sit between the Northern and the Southern winter and so by releasing the range shortly, and having it ready around the end of Jan, we align ourselves with the Northern spring and the Southern winter – the seasons that our garments are most suitable for!!

This years snow range will feature some much more appropriate fabrics for riding in. We will release details as we release each sneak peek, but we can tell you that all the garments in the snow range have some level of water resistance and all the long and short sleeve tees will be thermal.

So, here it is, the Nine22 Itinerary Hoodie – named so because this is one you can take with you anywhere and everywhere regardless of where your travels take you!!! We are stoked on this product, and we think you will be too! Made from a poly softshell fabric with DWR treatment, this highly water resistant hoodie features zippered air vents under the arm like last year for those extra warm days, a high collar to zip up on those slightly colder/windy days, a media pocket on the chest so you can keep your music close by, embossed buttons, branded drawstrings, and thumbholes for those nice detailed touches, and an embroided Nine22 logo on the front so you can rep hard!!! The Itinerary Hoodie is available in 2 colours, Toothpaste and Frigate, and comes in our new 3 size range, MT, LT, XLT! Check it out and let us know what you think… Pre order will open very soon!!!

Whilst training for the Olympics on the last day of 2009, snowboarder Kevin Pearce sustained a serious head injury which saw him hospitalised for months. KP’s brain trauma was severe, and it took extensive rehabilitation with neurological experts to get KP on the road to recovery. Lucky to survive, KP had to learn to walk again, to eat again, to talk again, and there was barely a moment in this process where he wasn’t 100% positive and committed to do so!! This inspiring story has reached a prolific moment in this last week, as Kevin returned to Breckenridge, Colorado, to strap into his snowboard for the first time since the 31st of December 2009. For us snow dwellers, going a few months, let a lone a full year, without being on snow is incredibly hard to deal with. Imagine now, that you were at the top of the game, one of the best halfpipe riders in the world, and that world came crashing down with no definite light at the end of the tunnel. Once it’s ingrained in us, snowboarding/skiing, whichever action sport you partake in, is a way of life. Simple. To have that taken away from you for two years, with no guarantee of getting it back, would be one of the toughest things to endure in life. It is testament to an atheletes dedication to their sport to positively approach rehabilitation for two years, always pushing for that chance to get back out there. When it started to become evident to Kevin that snowboarding was back on the cards soon, the elation he felt must have been earth shaking! What I wanted to focus on, was not only Kevin’s positivity – never losing sight of the opportunity to snowboard again, but also the stoke you get from the little things in this industry.

As you watch this video below, just take a minute to soak it all up. Remember all the little things that you get to enjoy in everyday life, and in whatever it may be that is the passion of your life. For us, things like stickering up a pair of skis, a helmet, a skateboard, mounting up a fresh set of bindings on your skis, throwing new bearings on your skatey –  soooo many little things that we can take for granted, are the foundation of the stoke we have for our sport. The second we lose sight of these things to concentrate on the big things – X Games, Olympics, winning, being as good as someone else, is the second that we lose sight of why we are passionate about it in the first place.  Watch as KP stickers up his snowboard for the first time in years, and as you feel some of his excitement, let it reinvigorate all the little things that make up the big picture you are so passionate about!!

Such an inspiring story, and such a positive attitude. Well, KP got back out there, and was welcomed to the bottom of the chair at Breck by hundreds of inspired riders that were all there to show their support. You will see a huge number of people wearing “I Ride for Kevin” t-shirts, stickers, etc – a movement that was put forward to help KP in his recovery, both financially and mentally. It is a wonderful reflection on the community aspect of the industry that so many people can get together to support one persons road to recovery! As you watch the next video, think about all the times you get disappointed when the weather is bad, when the park is closed, when you haven’t slashed pow for a couple months, and then watch as KP and hundreds of like minded snowboarders take a cruisey lap down a groomer – and remember that snowboarding/skiing is whatever you make it. It’s a far cry from the day he hurt himself trying double corks in training for the Olympics, but you can be that KP was just as stoked taking that lap as he was on landing the double in the pipe. Cherish every moment you get to ride, for every reason, because if you don’t – what are you riding for?!?!

It’s the little things…

So inspiring!!!!

Matty

Here’s a few new edits of what some of the Nine22 boys have been getting up to this season!!!

Firstly, Vail/Beaver Creek local, Patty Baskins! I had the pleasure of catching up with Patty last season in the USA, and let’s just say this kid LOVES skiing, and he is one of my favourite skiers to watch! Patty’s style is second to none and his fluidity riding through the park and the mountain is so aesthetically pleasing!! Without further ado…

Next up we got Nick Miles! Nick churns out edits with his Montage crew, always destroying every feature Mammoth has to offer! Nick is a Nine22 loyal, and is always repping hard! We are stoked to have Nick on board, and his recent move to 4FRNT skis and Sessions Outerwear are testament to his dedication to the shred!! Here’s two edits showing what Nick and the Montage crew have been upto…

Finally, it’s new Nine22 member Chris Laker!! Chris has been tearing up everything recently, and is looking in good shape to make a huge impact on the competition scene this season. Having just won the first qualifying heat at the Dew Tour in Breck yesterday, Chris has stamped his name on the comp scene and you can take a good bet that you will be seeing him on some podiums this season! Chris is an epic addition to the team, and you can see why right here…

I’m sure you have all noticed the links on the right hand side of this news section, and hopefully some of you have had a chance to check them out! One of the links is to Rocky Maloney’s website. Rocky is a photographer out of Utah, and has risen to prominence in the ski industry through his incredible skills behind the lens. Rocky’s talent behind the lens, coupled with his journalistic instincts has led to his position as a photographer/editor for Newschoolers.com – skiings largest online community!! Rocky’s coverage of events is always thorough, well rounded, and informative – and his knowledge on all things skiing always lead to a good article, and great angles for both photos and stories!! Rocky always teams up with the best of the best – which speaks volumes about his work. You will see a lot of Rocky’s work in the future as he shoots with numerous Nine22 riders across the USA!

Tim Gage, by Rocky Maloney

Rocky, however, is not only a skiing photographer. He also has an eye for landscape, other action sports, and also lifestyle/portraits etc. Recently, Rocky has entered a photography competition called The Open, a $50,000 worldwide search for great photographers!! I want to encourage everyone that comes to this site to head over and have a look at the photos (there are some amazing ones), and vote for Rockys pics! All you have to do is simply sign up (takes 2 seconds), and then click the heart on Rocky’s shots! Rocky is a great supporter of, and contributor to, the ski industry, and we should all strive to give something back – this is a great place to do so!!!

Simply click on the photo below!!!

One of Rocky's entries in The Open

ATTENTION all lady skiers!!!!! In line with our new range dropping around Christmas time, which will include some female specific garments (ChicFit), we have opened up a contest for all the chick skiers out there to win a place on the Nine22 team!!

Leilani Pearson wearing the mint Fresh Hoodie from last years range!

What we are looking for is an edit, of no longer than 3mins, consisting predominantly of skiing content, but also requiring a lifestyle element. Head on over to Newschoolers to get the full drum on the contest and check out the entries. We are currently debating the cut off date, but it currently sits at 17th of December, so get you’re edit on girls! Everyone who isn’t entering, sign up to Newschoolers so you can vote and help up decide who wins the spot on the team!! Here’s a link to the contest, head on over and check it out!!!

Nine22 ChicFit Contest