(Lawrence, Mass.) June 8, 2010 - Polartec, LLC, the developer, manufacturer and marketer of Polartec® performance fabrics, announces the European APEX Award winners for 2010. This prestigious honor goes to the finest Polartec®-based garments that will be available to consumers in the fall of 2010. A panel of judges selected the winners based on the style, function and fit of the garments as well as the most innovative and appropriate uses of Polartec® fabrics in the designs.
Out of the dozens of garments submitted, the judges selected 12 European APEX winners ranging from flame-resistant firefighter turnout gear, to innovative and high-tech softshell jackets. And the winners are:

• Flower Gloves Ultimate Firefighter Suit - Polartec® Power Dry® FR
• Eider Power Pro Jacket - Polartec® Power Shield® Pro
• Montura SuperNova - Polartec® Power Shield® Pro
• Ternua Whales & Kids - Polartec® Classic 300 recycled
• Montura Scalda Muscalo - Polartec® Power Shield®
• Trangoworld Axial Woman Trouser - Polartec® Power Shield®
• Vaude Baltoro Pant - Polartec® Power Shield®
• Colmar MD 9312 Women's Full Zip Tecnofleece - Polartec® Thermal Pro®
• Wild Roses L-Maloja PD Shirt - Polartec® Power Dry® High Efficiency
• Ternua Identity - Polartec® Power Stretch®
• Sweet Protection REDLINE Jacket - Polartec® Thermal Pro®
• Norrøna trollvegen warm2 fleece jacket - Polartec® Thermal Pro®

(Lawrence, Mass.) June 8, 2010 - Polartec, LLC, the developer, manufacturer and marketer of Polartec® performance fabrics, announces the North American APEX Award winners for 2010. This prestigious honor goes to the finest Polartec®-based garments that will be available to consumers in the fall of 2010. A panel of judges selected the winners based on the style, function and fit of the garments as well as the most innovative and appropriate uses of Polartec® fabrics in the designs.
Out of the dozens of garments submitted, the judges selected 12 North American APEX winners ranging from haute couture fashion, to high-tech flame resistant work wear, to the latest and most innovative soft shell jackets. And the winners are:

• Mountain Mama Fairview Wrap Jacket - Polartec® Thermal Pro®
• REI Lightweight MTS Baselayer for men and women - Polartec® Power Dry®
• Patagonia Women’s R3 Hi-Loft Hoody - Polartec® Thermal Pro® and Polartec® Power Stretch®
• Vaute Couture, Inc. Vaute Coat - Polartec® Wind Pro®
• Sealy Embody™ By Sealy Collection - Polartec® Body Climate®
• US Army/ADS Tactical/Peckham Vocational Flame Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE) - Polartec® Thermal FR®
• Canada Goose Tremblant Pullover - Polartec® Power Shield® O2
• Arc’teryx Alpha SV Glove Liner - Polartec® Wind Pro®
• Marmot Variant Jacket - Polartec® Power Stretch®
• The North Face Kishtwar Jacket - Polartec® Power Shield® Pro
• Under Armour 2010 US Olympic Freestyle Team Audio Hoody - Polartec® Wind Pro®
• True North Dragonfur® Job Shirt – Polartec® Thermal FR®

This year: 28th February – 7th March, saw the coldest edition of the Polartec®-ScufonedaTelemark&Freeride week. An international event staged in Moena, deep in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, it attracts the very best in Telemark ski where competitors vie for the prestigious Freeride Cup and Italian FISI Telemark Championship.
With temperatures plummeting to an all-time low, a cutting wind and deep powder snow, the clear, vibrant blue skies watched as the gauntlets were thrown down for the ultimate challenge for Polartec® fabrics and skiing prowess. This year saw the European pros testing their mettle against the honed talents of Polartec® clothed Americans: Nick Devore, a former Telemark Freeskiing World Champion and Polartec’s very own Nate Simmons who battled it out on the slopes of San Pellegrino. In the overall ranking the Europeans bagged it in the Freeride Race on the 6th March with Italian Armin Senoner grabbing first place and US Nick Devore nudging his boots with a second and “Best Trick” accolade. Nick Devore was also the winner of the Telemark category. Germany’s Fritz Trojer came a credible third. The Alpin category saw Italians Matteo Bordoni and Aldo Valmassoi bag first and second place respectively. Canada’s Ross Janzen came third. The Snowboard category was won by Italy’s Francesco Fersuoch followed by fellow Italians Maurizio Davarda [2nd] and Mauro Tarter.
Extreme skiing isn’t everyone’s bag, for some of us competitive sports were left behind when we quit school. That’s why this event works for everyone. It’s venue –Moena in the Val di Fassa - offers tempting wide slopes and deliciously squeaky freshly laid snow that this year was many a skier’s indulgence.
As title sponsors of the event Polartec® was all over Moena. From its welcome tent, banners and flags denoting the race routes to its competing staff. What’s more, its NEW Polartec® Power Shield® Pro fabric, due for launch this fall/winter underwent an extreme and rigorous testing. Dubbed the ultimate soft shell it passed on all counts, staving off cold and keeping athletes and opinion leaders dry [it’s very breathable and extremely water resistant, a balance that, till now, has been unattainable].
The Polartec® Scufoneda – Telemark&Freeride week was inspired by SCUFONS del COGO, a non-profit, non-professional association based in Moena, Trentino. Founded in the 90s by a group of Telemark enthusiasts it is now the point of reference for Telemark fans worldwide. An event that tests Telemark ability to the max working with Polartec®, a fabric brand specialized in the production of high performance fabrics, suitable for facing all climate conditions.
Oh, and the ripped pants? Let’s just say, a Polartec® employee came a cropper on the Moena slopes, sliding many metres down the rocky terrain and doing himself an injury that saw seven stitches in his behind. Not his fault, his bindings sucked. Thankfully his clothing rocked.


Want to come? Check out scufons.com or Polartec® Scufoneda page on Facebook for details on next year’s Polartec® Scufoneda Telemark&Freeride week.

Moena (Italian Dolomites), 7th March 2010

In Moena (Dolomites) has taken place the third edition of the “free heel” Championship: the Italian skier Julian Giacomelli conquers the gold medal for the category “Male – Senior” as well as the title of “absolute winner. Adrenaline and performance in the beautiful landscape of the Italian Dolomites

This morning in the beautiful mountains of Moena – Alpe Lusia has taken place the third edition of the FISI Italian Championship of Telemark. The event has marked out the end of the 13th Edition of the Polartec® Scufoneda, the popular telemark and freeride kermesse that every year collects a number of international athletes. Also this year the competition circuit was extremely challenging: the Mediolanunm slope (departure at 2060 mt, arrival at 1770 mt) had 22 poles, several jumps and many difficult passages. Among the 50 participants, the Italian Julian Giacomelli has won the gold medal for the “Men -Senior” Category as well as the title of Absolute winner, with an amazing time of 1.31.45. Great performances also for the other categories, that have focused the attention of the numerous spectators who have enjoyed the competition thanks also to the complicity of a bright sunshine day.

The Telemark Championship is the last appointment of this 13th Polartec® Scufoneda. The organizer – the sport association Scufons del Cogo – and the main sponsor – the producer of the Polartec® high-performance fabrics – are extremely satisfied of the whole event, which has reconfirmed itself as one of the biggest telemark and freeride appointments of Europe. Thanks to the Polartec® Scufoneda, the Italian Dolomites have been once more the protagonist of high level snow sports, big entertainments, culture and great fun for adults and children.

All the winners:

Category “Children”:

1.Chiocchetti Andrea (1998) - 2.10.28
2.Costa Daniel (1998) - 2.21.53
3.Broglia Andrea (1998) - 2.31.14


Category “Young”


1.Canclini Patrik (1991) - 1.42.96
2.Brezzi Ludovico (1992) - 1.46.75
3.Chiocchetti Massimo (1995) - 1.52.67


Category “Young Women”


1.Beber Sabrina (1993) - 2.10.58


Category “Men – Senior”

1.Giacomelli Julian (1990) - 1.31. 45
2.Zini Richard (1984) - 1.33.78
3.Cusini Christian (1984) - 1.33.82


Category “Women – Senior”

1.Tommaselli Francesca (1980) - 1.44.20
2. Vidori Linda (1980) - 1.47.98
3. Giordano Roberta (1974) - 2..21.72



Category “Men- Master”

1.Dellantonio Luca (1964) - 1.47.97
2.Ghirardini Gherardo (1960) - 1.52.36
3.Canclini Felice (1962) - 1.52.48



Category “Women – Master”

1. Di Chiara Barbara (1970) - 1.47.97
2. Cenati Fiorella (1958) - 2.12.58
3. Vigagni Piarosa (1961) - 2..24.92






For More information visit Just A Zipper

Moena (Italian Dolomites), 6th March 2010 Today the Italian Passo San Pellegrino – right in the heart of the Dolomites –has hosted the 5th edition of the Freeride Cup, one of the key events of the popular Polartec® Scufoneda. Over 60 participants, men and women, coming from all over the world (America, Australia, Germany and, of course, Italy) have challenged the dizzy North face of the Col Margherita, with their telemark skis and with their snowboards. The circuit presented 800 mt of height difference, connecting the top of the Col Margherita to the Passo San Pellegrino: a big challenge only for expert freeriders. The public was numerous, thanks to the prestige of the event and also to the bright sunshine day, real anticipation of spring.

The winner of the Alpine Category is the Italian Davide Benacci, while the first place of the Telemark Category has been conquered by the American Nick DeVore, who was invited as “special guest” for the competition. Together with his amazing performances, Nick has brought to the Polartec® Scufoneda the ancient philosophy of the American Natives, in particular the “Hopi”, a people that still lives in harmony with Earth and Nature, according to their ancient traditions. Nick shares their philosophy living in a “tepee” like the most authentic American Natives’ cultural heritage. Francesco Fersuoch has conquered the gold for the Snowboard Category, and Alia Radetti is the winner for the category “Women”. The absolute winner of the Freeride Cup is the Italian Armin Semoner, who has obtained the best score.


The Freeride Cup anticipates the Italian Telemark Championship, which will be the last appointment of this 13th Polartec® Scufoneda. The organizer – the sport association Scufons del Cogo – and the main sponsor – the producer of the Polartec® high-performance fabrics – are extremely satisfied of the whole event, which has reconfirmed itself as one of the biggest telemark and freeride appointments of Europe. Thanks to the Polartec® Scufoneda, the Italian Dolomites have been once more the protagonist of high level snow sports, big entertainments, culture and great fun for adults and children.


Ranking Telemark Category Freeride Cup

1 Devore Nick USA 20/07/85 M TELE 35,6 Best Trick
2 Trojer Fritz GER 20/01/83 M TELE 32,9
3 trojer michi GER 06/02/86 M TELE 32,1

Ranking Category Alpin Freeride Cup

1 Bordoni Matteo Giulio I 11/10/81 M ALP 32,1
2 Valmassoi Aldo I 08/03/88 M ALP 31,8
3 Janzen Ross CAN 10/08/1974 M ALP 31,6

Snowboard Category Freeride Cup

1 Fersuoch Francesco I 22/06/87 M SNOW 31,5
2 Davarda Maurizio I 13/11/81 M SNOW 29,2
3 Tarter Mauro I 22/01/76 M SNOW 26,3


For more race results and photos visit Just a Zipper

March 10, 2010.
The 2010 Polartec® APEX Awards are fast approaching! Congratulations to the following North American Nominees:
Mountain Mama, REI, Westcomb, Patagonia, Sage, Vaute Coture, Sealy, Reebok, Uppababy, Rugged Bear, Plow and Hearth, Pacific Coast Feather, Isis, US Army and ADS Tactical, Mountain Hardware, Marmot, The North Face, Merrell, LL Bean, Norman Equine, Janska, Canada Goose, CYC Design, Arc’teryx, MEC, and Cilla.

European Nominees:
Berghaus, Tog24, Buff, Ternua, Trangoworld, Lorpen, Campamento, Haglofs, Peak, Sweet Protection, Norrona, Houdini, Nordkiswear, Lafuma, Racer, Eider, Flower Gloves, The North Face, Lowe Alpine, Wild Roses, Montura, Colmar, Zajo, Vaude, and 66 North.

Winners will be announced June 1.

Each winter Polartec sponsors the Scufoneda Telemark Festival in Moena, deep in the Italian Dolomites. The event features a few days of ski touring, gear demos, a fair share of local wine and grappa tasting, and an extreme skiing competition on the last day. This year we’ve invited a crew of US journalists and pro telemark skiers to experience the event first-hand including Josh Madsen from Telemark Skier magazine, Nick Devore and Eben Mond. In addition to lots of skiing fabric testing, some of the group will be competing in the freeride competition this weekend. It’ll be interesting to see how the American pros stack up against their European counterparts.

Sealy has announced the launch of its new line of specialty mattresses, Embody™ by Sealy, featuring a brand new Polartec® Body Climate® fabric from the Polartec HOME Collection.

Exclusive to Sealy, the soft and unique Body Climate® fabric features air channels for breathability and enhanced temperature regulation for ultimate comfort. Embody by Sealy will be available in both Latex and Memory Foam styles. If you love your Polartec clothing by day, now you can enjoy Polartec 24 / 7.

The Polartec team is converging upon Munich, Germany for the annual ISPO tradeshow and we’re incredibly excited to be greeted by not one, but two coveted ISPO Awards. The North Face Kishtwar jacket, featuring Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric, won an Outdoor ISPO Award in the textile category. Likewise, Patagonia’s new R3 HiLoft Hoody, made with recycled Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft fabric won the Eco Responsibility Award for textiles.

These awards are a tremendous honor for The North Face, Patagonia and Polartec and an awesome way for us to kick-start the largest outdoor tradeshow of the year.

Below are excerpts from the ISPO website.

Outdoor sports can become a true challenge if the weather does not cooperate. Ice rain, snow storms, wind gusts not only batter the athletes but also his or her sports apparel. The North Face promises the perfect combination of ventilation and protection against the weather with its “Kishtwar Jacket” – thanks to the new Polartec Power Shield Pro. The materials is 99% wind-proof, the remaining percent circulates in the membrane and supports active moisture wicking. In addition the jacket’s outer material is extremely wear- and water-resistant.

Jury Statement: The most prominent feature of the men’s Kishtwar jacket is the use of the new Polartec Power Shield Pro material. This new technology ensures the highest degree of breathability with optimum wind protection for outdoor sports enthusiasts. The product is perfected with a well-though-out design and extremely well finished.

Click below to learn more about Polartec® Power Shield® Pro.

The fleece jacket “W´s R3 HiLoft” is one of many eco-friendly products manufactured by the Canadians (ed. note I think they mean Californians not Canadians, close enough, right?) : it is made almost entirely of recycled and recyclable Polartec materials. In addition, the light weight, warm jacket is bluesign certified. This means that the production process was evaluated to determine the use of resources, level of consumer protection, water and air pollution, and working conditions. The jury was not only impressed by the jacket , but also by Patagonia’s long-time continuing, successful overall concept.

Jury Statement: For many years Patagonia has been proof that a sustainable overall concept for the entire production chain is feasible. The R3 HiLoft Jacket is no exception and impressed us with its high degree of function, well-though-out design, and excellent solutions for sustainable production.

Click below to learn more about Polartec® Thermal Pro® High Loft.

The 19th annual Polartec® Challenge Grant recipients have been announced. A total of $20,000 will be awarded to four separate expeditions in 2010: a climbing attempt in Pakistan, a 10,000-kilometer bike ride along the Silk Route, a quest for endless skiing and the continuation of 13-year-old Jordan Romero’s quest for the Seven Summits.

The first grant recipient is climber and writer Kelly Cordes. Cordes, who is a member of Polartec’s Athlete Advisory Board, and his climbing partner Kyle Dempster will travel to Pakistan’s Charakusa Valley, home to massive technical peaks including K6 and K7, along with scores of unclimbed rock and ice objectives, to attempt the first ascent of an unnamed rock spire. The 6,200-meter spire, near K7, has been attempted several times and its virgin summit remains an objective that requires the rare combination of high-end rock skills, tenacity and high-altitude mixed-climbing.

The second grant is awarded to Kate Harris and Mel Yule for a bike expedition along the ancient Silk Road. During their year-long ride from Nepal to Turkey, Harris (a Rhodes scholar with a Master’s from Oxford and M.I.T.) and Yule (an environmental scientist with a Master’s in international development) will use their scientific, environmental and sustainable development training to investigate the natural and social impacts of six unique transboundary protected areas. The goal is to raise awareness about environmental conservation across borders as a peace-building endeavor in transboundary wildernesses along the Silk Road and beyond.

The third grant will go to renowned ski mountaineer Greg Hill, who will attempt to climb and ski over two million vertical feet in 2010. Hill, who set a world record by climbing and skiing 50,000 feet in 24 hours, plans to seek out and explore new ski descents on mountains in Canada, the U.S. and South America over the course of the year. Throughout his quest, Hill will film and document each climb and descent, offering viewers an unparalleled glimpse into the world of backcountry skiing.

The final grant recipient is Jordan Romero from Big Bear, California who, at the age of 13, has climbed the highest peaks on six different continents. This spring, Romero intends to climb Mt. Everest and later this year, Mt. Vinson in Antarctica. In his attempt to become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits, Romero has become a role model and mentor to other children, speaking at schools about climbing, exercise and the outdoors.

"The Polartec Challenge celebrates our heritage as a technical outdoor company by supporting dreams for big adventure,” states Global Director of Marketing, Nate Simmons. “Kelly is a terrific ambassador for the climbing world and his goal is truly ambitious; Kate and Mell will use their journey as a powerful tool for conservation; Greg is a machine on skis; and Jordan inspires a whole new generation of mountaineers.”

In addition to the grant money, all of this year’s Polartec® Challenge winners will be fully outfitted with Polartec® garments, designed to keep them warm, comfortable and dry in the harshest of climates.

About the Polartec® Challenge Grant

The annual Polartec® Challenge Grant seeks to assist frugal, low impact teams who respect the local culture and environment and serve as role models to outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Applications are evaluated on the basis of their vision, commitment and credibility. Past recipients of the Polartec® Challenge Grant include outdoor pioneers and adventurers such as Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, Steve House, Marko Prezelj, Andrew McLean and John Shipton.

Click below to learn more and submit your application!

After a few years hiatus, Polartec rejoined The Conservation Alliance in 2010 as a new member. The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor industry companies that disburses its collective annual membership dues to grassroots environmental organizations. Funding is directed to community-based campaigns to protect threatened wild habitat, preferably where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. The Alliance was founded in 1989 by industry leaders REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and Kelty, who shared the goal of increasing outdoor industry support for conservation efforts. There is now more than 170 member companies, and disbursed $900,000 in 2009.

Since its founding in 1989, The Alliance has contributed more than $7 million to conservation projects throughout North America. The results of its funding has been remarkable. Grants have helped organizations in their work to protect more than 49 million acres of land, stop or remove 27 dams, and preserve access to thousands of miles of rivers and several climbing areas. For more information on The Conservation Alliance visit www.conservationalliance.com

Polartec, LLC and Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI) announce a new partnership introducing performance fabrics made with REPREVE 100. REPREVE 100 is made from 100% post-consumer waste (clear plastic water bottles).

Polartec and Unifi have been industry leaders in the development of high performance recycled content yarns and fabrics. Collaborative efforts have grown Polartec’s recycled product line from less than one percent of total production to over thirty percent in the past 4 years – dramatically reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. The introduction of Repreve 100 will enable Polartec to shift much more production to recycled content by 2011. Every pound of REPREVE 100 yarn contains approximately 27 water bottles.

Andy Vecchione, president of Polartec, LLC, states,“Unifi has been an excellent partner in our quest to deliver high performance, recycled content fabrics while reducing our overall footprint throughout the supply chain. The goal has always been to use as much post consumer content as possible. We expect REPREVE 100-based Polartec fabrics will hit the consumer market in the Spring of 2011.” “In the past, limited technology presented many challenges in offering a high quality 100% post-consumer product,” said Roger Berrier, executive vice president for Unifi. ”As technology has evolved, we are now able to offer a first quality, 100% post-consumer product in the right colors and styles that Polartec requires for its fabrics.” The transition to REPREVE 100 will be transparent to consumers except for a new hangtag and joint marketing program highlighting the benefits of Polartec performance products with REPREVE 100. The look, feel and performance of the new fabrics will be the same as virgin polyester fabrics. Every year over 21 billion plastic bottles enter the landfill, and through this partnership Unifi and Polartec hope to raise the visibility of recycling and further educate consumers to adopt more eco-friendly practices.

October 5, 2009 (Lawrence, Mass.) – Polartec®, LLC, introduces a new brand video that brings to life what Polartec® is all about. We allow you to focus on your activity and not the gear.