We all brag about how fantastic our local mountains are, so let’s put our money where our mouth is, and start supporting our local mountain’s brands too.

Nibz is a Whistler-based ski and snowboard bandana brand founded by a professional female snowboard athlete, Sara Niblock. She started making the bandanas when she broke her back, and her triple layer construction works brilliantly to wick moisture and keep your face warm when you are out on the slopes.

With a huge variety of prints and solid colours, it will be easy to choose a pattern. Less easy to board as well as her. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

$29.99 from Nibz.ca, www.nibz.bigcartel.com

If your little ski-wee is already threatening to board out of bounds, you need to know about this.

The new line of kids' body armour from Sweden's PoCito includes these hot orange spine protectors, as well as helmets, gloves and goggles suitable for budding Ross Rebagliati's ages 4 to 10.

Just be glad they aren't "budding" anything else—yet!

Available at Advanced Kinetic Systems, 6-1212 Alpha Lake Rd., Fuction Junction, Whistler B.C., 604-905-1223, www.akswhistler.com

Or order online ($20 shipping to Canada) at Peak Ski Shop.

Whistler too expensive? Too many yahoos at Cypress?

It might be the year to consider a Sun Peaks ski holiday-better yet, visit during their winterwine festival.

On the weekend of January 20, 2004, Sun Peaks Resort hosts its 7th Annual Ice Wine Festival. If you don't like the sweet stuff, not to worry there's plenty of other BC wine varietals to sample.

Be sure to book early for the best travel deals and don't miss West Jet's direct flights to Kelowna, which drastically cut down travel time to the resort.

to do:
Attend the progressive evening wine tasting through the charming pedestrian-only village: squint and you could be in Austria.

Try the cross-country trails: they are pristine, awe-inspiring, and nearly empty.
Attend the entertaining wine-and-cheese pairing seminar featuring BC cheeses.
Stay at the well-designed, friendly, grand dame, Delta Sun Peaks Resort.
Get a few runs in early, then finish with the spectacular Sunday Brunch Festival Finale.

After all, the apres is just as important as the ski.

www.sunpeaksresort.com
www.thewinefestivals.com
www.deltahotels.com
www.westjet.com