ZipFit athlete Aaron Rice approaches backcountry skiing with a similar mindfulness and routine as monks practicing meditation. It’s a daily commitment and with the variable Vermont winters, that is often cause for others to take notice. In 2017, Aaron chased after snow and ski toured over 330 days, totaling a mind-numbing 2.5 million feet of vert. It was this effort that caught our attention and through mutual friends, ZipFit connected with Aaron as we starting toying with designs for a touring ski boot liner. Alongside former US Ski Team member Max Hammer and IFMGA guide Dan Corn, Aaron helped bring the concept of ZipFit touring liner to life.
This past winter, Aaron was touring early mornings at Stowe and nearby Smuggler’s Notch when some of the editorial staff from Backcountry Magazine caught a glimpse of his GFT liners. It’s only fitting that the initial exposure of the GFT was at a trailhead, being used by a skier who uses his gear as much, if not more than every other skier out there. One thing led to another and we are pleasantly surprised and proud to share that the GFT was named Editor’s Choice by Backcountry Magazine.