At the End of the World, ColdAvenger Participates in one of the world’s most exciting adventure races
The 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race is not for prissies. This southern most race in the history of adventure
racing tests the moxy of teams through climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, and backcountry navigation. It’s a huge effort to raise a conservation awareness to this area of the globe. And it’s a setting that provides for an immense challenge with unpredictable weather, harsh terrain, and total isolation from human society.
Team Gear Junkie battled through 600 kilometers within the Tierra del Fuego, snow saturated Darwin Range, and icy waters of the Beagle Channel to complete this race. Prior to the plunge in the frigid channel, Chelsey Gribbon, one of four members of Team Gear Junkie, donned the ColdAvenger.
Photographer: Gray Will www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com
It’s pretty clear from the refection in her glasses that she’s in a kayak. It’s great that she was able to put the water resistant and windproof Polartec softshell of the ColdAvenger to the test on the chilly waters, and we can’t wait to hear more from her about the trip. As a native of Alaska, she knows a little something about cold weather. And as an accomplished yogi, she knows a little something about how important it is to breathe fully and effectively. That, of course, means protecting the lungs and airway. So it’s no wonder that Chelsey is among our greatest influencers. She gets it, and we are grateful. Congrats to Team Gear Junkie on an amazing showing at the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. If you’d like to read more about it, visit The Gear Junkie’s site here. And if you’d like to see what The Gear Junkie himself, Stephen Regenold says about ColdAvenger, see his review of the ColdAvenger Expedition in his “Winter Gear Roundup, in which he says it’s, “in the running as one of the warmest head coverings ever made.”
Oh, here’s another example of how Chelsey uses the ColdAvenger. Check out this picture of her kite boarding on a frigid night in North Dakota earlier this winter.
Chelsey Gribbon kite boarding in North Dakota
Stay out for adventure!
John B. Sullivan III aka ColdAvenger Pro
Here is what Dom thought of his Valentine’s Day ride with the ColdAvenger:
After a very adventure filled day the group safely made it to their destination. Dom noted that, “the mask worked fantastically to keep my glasses from fogging up inside my helmet! This was with a helmet that had the ‘fogshield’ insert on the inside of the visor. Next sub-freezing day, I plan to use a helmet visor without the ‘fogshield’ insert and see how it does with the ColdAvenger mask.”
The Wall Street Journal conducted its own test on three different face masks designed for asthmatics that claim to warm the air you breathe. The masks were tested in 25 degree temperatures during activities such as cross country skiing, biking or both in Boston, MA. This included the ColdAvenger. The ColdAvenger fared very well against the competition and it was noted that the optional nose piece decreased fogging to goggles and increased comfort. Some other kind kudos from WSJ included:
Donna Vano, a ColdAvenger technical advisory board member, asthmatic and long-time Shaun White friend and mentor, is designing some great new masks with the “Slopestyle” crowd in mind. Donna is not only a mainstay in the snowboard and skateboard industry, she’s also an all-around great lady. For 16 years Donna competed in Superpipe, Slopestyle, Boardercross, Slalom and Giant Slalom. In addition to her busy life on snow, Donna is also a fashion designer and has brought some great designs for the new ColdAvenger Slopestyle limited-edition face mask.
We unveiled a few designs at Outdoor Retailer 2010 in Salt Lake City. The masks all have the 
Thanks Donna for the great designs and for showing all those snowboarders how to really protect themselves!
