Our Expert Staff's Most Loved Gear

We have hundreds of options when it comes to gear—but our expert staff picked out the best of the best to help you shop. Explore our staff’s most loved gear, outerwear, and accessories. 

Our Expert Staff's Most Loved Gear

We have hundreds of options when it comes to gear—but our expert staff picked out the best of the best to help you shop. Explore our staff’s most loved gear, outerwear, and accessories. 

Illustrated mountain graphic with 3 colors of blue

Anna H skiing on a steep powder slope

Anna H

Hometown: Woodinville, WA

Favorite Mountain: Mission Ridge

Ski or Ride: Ski

Hometown: Woodinville, WA

Favorite Mountain: Mission Ridge

Ski or Ride: Ski

  • Store/Where you work: Sturtevant’s 
  • What are some key factors you look for when choosing new skis/board: 1. The right length, 2. Is there metal in my ski? 3. Rocker tip and tail, 4. A brand I trust and love (Dynastar please!) 
  • Where do you prefer to ski/ride on the mountain: Moguls! 
  • Product you’re loving this season: Toni Sailor Alla Pant, it’s 30K waterproof, super warm, and best of all, it looks good (The stretch helps)! 
  • Accessory you can’t ski/ride without: Hestra Heli Mitts. They are the warmest mitts I’ve ever used. They are well made with top-of-the-line functionality in mind.  
  • Après drink of choice: Dru Bru Beer at Snoqualmie Pass or a Bloody Mary from the Mission Ridge lodge. 

Anna's Picks:

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Illustrated mountain graphic with 3 colors of blue

Carina B carving on a sunny slope


Carina B 

Hometown: Vail, CO

Favorite Mountain: Beaver Creek

Ski or Ride: Ski

Hometown: Vail, CO

Favorite Mountain: Beaver Creek

Ski or Ride: Ski

  • Store/Where you work: Digital Team 
  • What are some key factors you look for when choosing new skis/board: Variability, I look for a ski that will be something I can bring to the mountain whether it’s a powder day or a groomer day. I also look for something that is fun on jumps and bumps but also carves well! 
  • Where do you prefer to ski/ride on the mountain: I love a good steep groomer, but there’s nothing better than a powder tree run.  
  • Product you’re loving this season: Armada ARW 106 UL
  • Accessory you can’t ski/ride without: Hestra Fall Line Mittens 
  • Après drink of choice: Hard Kombucha

Carina's Picks:

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Illustrated mountain graphic with 3 colors of blue

Jake J spraying a cloud of powder while snowboarding


Jake J

Hometown: Steamboat Springs, CO

Favorite Mountain: Steamboat

Ski or Ride: Ride

Hometown: Steamboat Springs, CO

Favorite Mountain: Steamboat

Ski or Ride: Ride

  • Store/Where you work: Steamboat Support Office/CMM Snowboard Hardgoods 
  • What are some key factors you look for when choosing new skis/board: Despite having access to a quiver of boards. I usually prefer a versatile board that can do it all. 
  • Product you’re loving this season: Ride Algorhythm 
  • Accessory you can’t ski/ride without: Sweet Protection Switcher Helmet 
  • Après drink of choice: Margaritas 

Jake's Picks:

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Illustrated mountain graphic with 3 colors of blue

Jay R wearing ski gear standing on a ski run


Jay R

Hometown: Littleton, CO

Favorite Mountain: "Skiing is like pizza. It's all good"

Ski or Ride: Ski

Hometown: Littleton, CO

Favorite Mountain: "Skiing is like pizza. It's all good"

Ski or Ride: Ski

  • Store/Where you work: Littleton  
  • What are some key factors you look for when choosing new skis/board: Will this new toy enable more smiles on the mountain.  
  • Where do you prefer to ski/ride on the mountain: All the Mountain. Especially if it is soft snow 
  • Product you’re loving this season: Nordica Unleashed 98 
  • Accessory you can’t ski/ride without: Thermic Boot Heaters  
  • Après drink of choice: Arnold Palmer 

Jay's Picks:

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Illustrated mountain graphic with 3 colors of blue

Kumar K carving on a ski slope

Kumar K

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Favorite Mountain: Taos Ski Valley, NM or Jackson Hole, WY

Ski or Ride: Ski

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Favorite Mountain: Taos Ski Valley, NM or Jackson Hole, WY

Ski or Ride: Ski

  • Store/Where you work: Digital Team 
  • What are some key factors you look for when choosing new skis/board: It depends on whether I’m looking for a good all-arounder or a ski for a more specific purpose, but in general, I like skis that have a good balance between stability at speed and agility/playfulness in tighter terrain. 
  • Where do you prefer to ski/ride on the mountain: Bumps, trees, or wherever the snow is best. 
  • Product you’re loving this season: I love my new pair of Atomic Bent 100s. They’re a fun set of skis that fits my style very well. And as a bonus, they have awesome graphics this year! 
  • Accessory you can’t ski/ride without: I almost always ski with a small backpack. Carrying water and snacks with me helps me stay out on the mountain longer! 
  • Après drink of choice: Ska Brewing Euphoria Pale Ale 

Kumar's Picks:

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Illustrated mountain graphic with 3 colors of blue

Larry D smiling with his family with mountains in the background

Larry D

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Favorite Mountain: Mt Baker and Hyak

Ski or Ride: Ride

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Favorite Mountain: Mt Baker and Hyak

Ski or Ride: Ride

  • Store/Where you work: Merchandising Team - Snowboards 
  • What are some key factors you look for when choosing new skis/board: I'm a big fan of decks that have a mostly cambered profile for both all-mountain and park. I like my boards to have a stable and poppy nose and tail while having some flex between the bindings. My favorite bindings are ones I can't tell are on my feet (no pressure points) and have simple, easy-to-make adjustments. 
  • Where do you prefer to ski/ride on the mountain: The trees always hold the goods, but spring park laps are awesome too. 
  • Product you’re loving this season:  
  • Ride Zero with Ride C-9 bindings for family days and spring park laps. It's a twin that has a mellow flex between the bindings with pop and stability in the nose and tail. It's fun when I'm goofing off riding with Jack, my 5-year-old, and still rips in the park and groomers when I get to go "off-leash" for a few laps. The C-9s are responsive, damp, and comfortable. 
  • GNU Gremlin with Bent Metal Transfer Bindings for days without the kiddo. I love directional, volume-shifted boards like the Gremlin. Magna-traction and a C3 camber profile make this a resort crusher. From groomers to pow, and everything in between, this one is a blast on any day in any condition. The Transfer bindings are "Goldilocks" bindings to me. Not too stiff, not too soft. Just right. 
  • Accessory you can’t ski/ride without: Smith Squad Mag Goggles with low light lenses. Unfoggy vision and quick lens changes are crucial in the Northwest. 
  • Après drink of choice: Après is a little different in the Northwest. Coffee for the slog home. There's always someone sharing Rainiers in the lot too. 

Larry's Picks:

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Enjoyed getting to know our staff?

See our expert staff's insights about their favorite products, their unpopular opinions about skiing and snowboarding, and more

Clay - Expert in Snowboarding

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Courtney - Expert in Snowboard boot fitting

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Kumar - Expert in Ski Boot fitting

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