Design Obsessed
Each season our ski and snowboard clothing buyers are challenged to the daunting task of editing thousands of styles down to what they feel is the crème de la crème of outerwear for our stores. It may appear to be a matter of simply choosing what is pleasing to the eye, but our obsession for good design makes or breaks the fate of many garments. Our buying team is not only interested in clothing design but is also educated in architecture, fine art and floral and interior design. A very detail oriented team!!

Often, our staff or customers remark, “I saw a particular jacket in another store. Why don’t you have it at Skiis and Biikes?”

For many reasons, garments are rejected from our assortments. Our first consideration is the first impression. If it is not pleasing to the eye, we immediately move on. The next consideration is performance. We buy under the assumption that the consumer will be skiing or snowboarding in cold, mountain conditions. Garments with inferior insulation hit the cutting room floor. They are often attractive and well priced but if we do not believe the garment will perform to our standards, it is rejected. Same goes for fit, waterproof ratings, breathability of fabric, overall comfort and construction, warranty considerations, ease of zippers and findings, and the list goes on.

We participate in winter sports and take pride in offering products we would only consider wearing for our own use. The last thing you want when you are on the mountain is to feel cold or uncomfortable. Our design obsession ensures we are working hard so you can maximize your on-hill enjoyment staying warm and comfortable.

Cover Your Butt
A guide to buying ski pants for the 'not so average' person
Buying ski pants might just be the runner up to shopping for swimwear. Not exactly something we all look forward to as it can pose a problem for the short-legged, long-legged or anyone who does not conform to the ‘average’ body type. Skiis and Biikes believes that we all deserve great clothing to ski in, regardless of size and body type. We go out of our way to find basic black pants for men and women in a variety of sizes and lengths. All pants in our assortment are warm (minimum 40 g insulation), waterproof and breathable. We bring in a variety of brands and fits to suit many bodies. It is best to shop early for the best selection and please provide us with your feedback. We are often pushing our suppliers to expand their size ranges and sometimes they need to hear it from you too!

Here is a list of the brands that made the cut for the 2009/10 season.

Arc'teryx, Colmar, Decente, Halti, Helly Hansen, Karbon, Killtec, Killy, Lole, Marker, Mountain Force, Obermyer, Orage, Phenix, Rossignol, Salomon, Spyder, SunIce, The North Face, Westcomb