ZipFit Athlete Hut Trip 2022

Early on in our work with Giray Dadali, he made two things clear: a) if we build a team of athletes, call them athletes and b) few brands are still hosting events that bring together new faces and create memories with their athletes. We took both of these to heart. ZipFit is based in the Roaring Fork Valley and one of our non-profit partners that we support is the Braun Hut System, a local system of 7 huts accessed out of Aspen or Crested Butte. We reached out to our team in Colorado and Utah and planted the idea — three days of seeing what type of terrain we can ski with early February Colorado snowpack. Much thanks to Sam Goodhue and Chris Goodhue for coming along to capture excellent photos, video, and share in the good times.

Giray Dadali and Turner Petersen drove over with their brap mobiles, Erin Spong made the epic trek from Idaho and kindly scooped up Ana Eyssimont, Chris and Sam, Alec Finke in SLC, Gregory Hope came in from Telluride, locals Luke Penton, Austin Johnson, Victor Major, and Sierra Schlag came in, as did Jeff and Chris with ZipFit.

The team planning our ski lines and playing some games. Thanks Giray for bringing such a nice hat.

After a hefty breakfast and some coffee, the group worked our way up to a beautiful basin with Star Peak to assess a number of line options. For the most part, everyone on the trip got to do something that was new-to-them, be that ski their first couloir, ski their first Colorado fourteener, their first pillow line, or be on their first athlete hut trip. Colorado delivered with a couple cold days with blue sky, keeping the avy danger in the low to moderate range above tree line.

Hut living is good living. We served up some tasty ramen, shared stories and laughter, stretched like we had enough time in our day to stretch, and let the vibes consume us. The combination of ski boot liners and ski boot shells proved that everyone does have their own preference and customizable liners can work for many different skier types.

Giray Dadali at the top of the Dr. Evil line, named for that suspect pinky finger rock spire. Friends watching Giray ski Dr. Evil and link a nice hand drag three over the roller at the bottom.

We got to talk shop about what everyone wanted to see out of ZipFit on the product design front, their positions on sustainability, team building, event partnerships, and ski trips to come. In the days after the hut trip, Giray and Turner joined Austin for more sled skiing and cliff hucking throughout the Elk Mountains and we heard from at least one source that the trip made their winter, so check the box, it was a success! We left with our memories and our sympathies to whomever visited Lindley after us, cause we tracked up every line in the valley.