A new design is a journey. Sometimes all the way to Canada.

_{It all starts with a blank canvas, two skis, and an authentic lifestyle.}

By Lisa Sinnegger, product designer at Ortovox

If you know Ortovox, the 25/26 freeride collection will immediately catch your eye. Because of the bright orange and blue tones? No—because they are missing. But the changes go much deeper. And they begin with a journey. I'll take you along with me.

A search for clues

We fly to Calgary, Canada, to explore road trips from here and discover how freeriding is experienced outside the Alps. It's a search for traces of the untouched, the authentic. Not only in nature, but also where I find inspiration as a product designer: in people's lifestyles. In what shapes freeriding culture today in Canada and perhaps tomorrow in our own country.

From Banff to Lake Louise via the Trans-Canada Highway, we drive towards Golden – to the freeride mecca Kicking Horse.

Wide roads, endless expanses, log cabins against bare mountain landscapes. Until the mountains finally break through the clouds and we take our skis out of the back of our pickup truck. In a group with locals, we pass a sign informing us that from here on, we are on our own. This is different terrain—not my native Dolomites.

Into The White

The wilderness here is rougher. Cougars and bears are not uncommon here. The snow is deep. It is impossible to rescue yourself from a tree hole, which is why we always travel in groups. There is hardly any cell phone reception. We use GPS to send messages home from time to time to let them know that everything is okay. Sometimes we hear calls. A short “Ehhop” signal to let everyone know to stay together. We climb up and quickly descend again. This is common among freeriders here. A 400-meter climb, then descent, another 400-meter climb, then descent again.

Always zigzagging up the mountain. Always returning to civilization. Here in Europe, the summit is often the goal, but here in Canada, it's the descent. It's easy to see why freeriders here are so heavily equipped. Layer upon layer, right down to the oversized insulated jacket that looks like it was borrowed from a big brother. And it's precisely this look that defines the style here. Because the same jacket you wore yesterday to brave the elements is the one you wear to go for coffee in town the next morning. The style is called “Gorpcore” – wearing highly functional clothing in everyday life. But here in Canada – unlike in Berlin-Mitte – it is lived authentically, because after the flat white, you really do head out into the deep snow. Where the high-tech insulated jacket is essential for survival.

Into The White

The wilderness here is rougher. Cougars and bears are not uncommon here. The snow is deep. It is impossible to rescue yourself from a tree hole, which is why we always travel in groups. There is hardly any cell phone reception. We use GPS to send messages home from time to time to let them know that everything is okay. Sometimes we hear calls. A short “Ehhop” signal to let everyone know to stay together. We climb up and quickly descend again.

This is common among freeriders here. A 400-meter climb, then descent, another 400-meter climb, then descent again. Always zigzagging up the mountain. Always returning to civilization. Here in Europe, the summit is often the goal, but here in Canada, it's the descent. It's easy to see why freeriders here are so heavily equipped. Layer upon layer, right down to the oversized insulated jacket that looks like it was borrowed from a big brother. And it's precisely this look that defines the style here. Because the same jacket you wore yesterday to brave the elements is the one you wear to go for coffee in town the next morning. The style is called “Gorpcore” – wearing highly functional clothing in everyday life. But here in Canada – unlike in Berlin-Mitte – it is lived authentically, because after the flat white, you really do head out into the deep snow. Where the high-tech insulated jacket is essential for survival.

Functionality meets aesthetics

What strikes us in particular is that the style we encounter in the streets, cafés, and shops is not purely functional, but also always a personal expression. Often driven by a clear aesthetic. Fur-lined gummy boots in striking yellow are combined with checked shirts and plain-colored oversized jackets. The balance between performance and personality is crucial.

True authenticity comes when style meets what you really need. Bib pants, baggy hardshell jackets, imaginatively quilted insulation jackets, and lined wool earflap caps reflect the freerider lifestyle and are a means of self-expression. And that's exactly the approach of our new freeride collection: it combines functional performance with clean design. Every piece in the collection gives you the freedom to mix and match and wear it your way. In fresh powder. Or wherever you want. Draw your line.

Functionality meets aesthetics

What strikes us in particular is that the style we encounter in the streets, cafés, and shops is not purely functional, but also always a personal expression. Often driven by a clear aesthetic. Fur-lined gummy boots in striking yellow are combined with checked shirts and plain-colored oversized jackets. The balance between performance and personality is crucial.

True authenticity comes when style meets what you really need. Bib pants, baggy hardshell jackets, imaginatively quilted insulation jackets, and lined wool earflap caps reflect the freerider lifestyle and are a means of self-expression. And that's exactly the approach of our new freeride collection: it combines functional performance with clean design. Every piece in the collection gives you the freedom to mix and match and wear it your way. In fresh powder. Or wherever you want. Draw your line.