Skiing Scotland in May…

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After something of a disappointing ski season north of the border, the last few weeks have seen the skiers and boarders in store frothing at the mouth, as snow falls over parts of Northern Scotland in May. Last week Pete and Gina headed to the Cairngorms for some backcountry skiing, they were greeted by fresh snow, friendly lifties and a blue sky, it was so good they stayed for an extra day, and put together this little film.

As reports flooded back south, the web team got wind of the fresh powder, left the office and hit the road north, for some of the best skiing so far this year.

Snow continues to fall over the Cairngorms, with reports that it is down to car park level, meaning that the season is suddenly far from over for Scottish skiing. Will we be skiing in June?

Black Diamond kit now online

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Rueben has been hard at work over the past couple of days getting the summer range of Black Diamond climbing equipment online. We have something to suit all breeds of climber. If you’re into ticking off blocs in you bouldering guide, going for the chain on a bolted line or fiddling gear into a crack on a trad classic. We thought we’d share a video from the Black Diamond  vimeo page to get you hyped up for a weekend of climbing. Sit back and enjoy a few minutes of Cody Roth on A Date With Death before getting psyched for a weekend of climbing. To view our range of Black Diamond equipment click here…

BD athlete Cody Roth climbing Date With Death (5.13+), Sandia Mountain Wilderness, New Mexico from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

Climbing crew excited by first day of spring

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The crag rats here are all excited now that we’ve officially hit the first day of spring. Soon It will be time to migrate from the cellars and climbing walls for all day sessions at the crag. Our team has a good mix of trad, sport, boulder and mountain / alpine enthusiasts all of whom are itching to get some evening sessions after work once the clocks are on our side. Last year we had people climbing in Val di Mello, Chamonix, Fontainebleau, Dolomites, Rocklands South Africa and across the UK and Ireland. Kirsty gave up on the coldness of winter and headed off to the forest of Chiang Mai for some sport climbing in the sun Earlier this year as well.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be revamping our range of climbing kit on the website and planning adventures to put our own kit to good use. See you at the crag…

 

Norrona Summer 2012, sneak peek!

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Norrona has been a strong seller for us over the past couple of winters so we’ve decided to introduce it to our summer range. For those of you who aren’t aware of the brand they were established way back in 1929 in Norway making canvas backpacks and cotton clothing. Today the Norrona range covers snow sports, outdoor, biking, running and hunting using fabrics of their own and from renowned manufacturers such as Gore-Tex.

The Bitihorn dri1 jacket is Norrona’s lightest waterproof jacket. It is ideal for hiking, biking and trail running. It offers great breathability with pit zips for effective underarm ventilation. The Bitihorn dri1 jacket packs into its own pocket making it very easy to stash away in your rucksack. The jacket features adjustable velcro cuffs, chest pockets, storm hood and a waterproof centre front zipper. The Bitihorn dri1 is available in both a mens and women’s fit.

You can pre-order the men’s here… and the women’s here…

Staying with the Bitihorn range, the light weight quick drying knee-length short comes with a custom-fit quick waist system. As well as having roomy cargo pockets with contrast zips  there is also a secret waist pocket to hide cash / cards and a mesh pocket to store your mobile phone. If you mange to run out of space there is a pocket in the rear of the short as well.

You can view the Bitihorn Light weight short for pre-order here…

The Svalbard cotton anorak is already a firm favourite with staff. Norrona’s fashionably retro organic cotton anorak mixes classic design with contemporary style. Made from a soft and durable windproof  organic cotton and recycled polyester fabric the anorak is perfect for the beer garden after a summer evenings adventures. There is a kangaroo pocket to stash  your belongings and fleece lined hand warmer pockets for the chilly walk home.

You can pre-order the Svalbard Cotton Anorak here…

The Fjora short is designed for all day technical trail riding. Meshed side venting will help keep you cool on the long climbs to the top of a trail and the rear stretch panels help with movement as you throw your bike around on the way back down. The shorts have enough room for a padded under-layer and feel as good as they look.

To preview or pre-order the short click here…

Below is a video from Norrona’s Vimeo page promoting the Fjora range and making all of the staff  here at LD Mountain Centre envious of the beautiful Norwegian trails.

NORRONA (V) MAGAZINE fjora replayed from Norrøna on Vimeo.

New brand Montane, sneak peek.

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As with every new season summer 2012 will see a handful of new brands represented by LD Mountain Centre online and in store. Much to the satisfaction of our staff we’ve added Montane. With over eighteen years of experience behind them Montane are renowned for lightweight and breathable clothing for mountaineering, climbing and running. The range is developed with a focus on endurance events ensuring the kit is both light and breathable. Montane is one of the main sponsors behind the Kielder 100 mountain bike race and the Lakeland 100 foot race. Both events push the competitors to the absolute limit and are where the clothing works at its best.

With the product due in store in the next couple of weeks we thought we’d give you a sneak peek at some of the range we will be stocking. The full range is now online and available for pre-order.

The Lite-Speed jacket is a microlight Pertex shell jacket. It is ideal for spring / autumn hiking or to fling in the rucksack on a summer’s evening to use on belay duties. The Lite-Speed packs down unbelievably small for those who like to go light and fast. and features a roll away hood, elasticated cuffs, zipped chest / map pocket and reflective trim. Click here for the full spec…

The women’s Atomic jacket is designed as a multi-sport mountain rain shell and is a classic piece from the Montane range. If you’re running along soggy trails or summiting in Scotland this jacket will protect you from the wind and rain whilst effortlessly beading away any moisture generated from your efforts. The women’s Atomic jacket features a full length zip with external storm flap, single hand-operated adjustable drawcord hem and hook and loop adjustable cuffs with rubberised tabs. To see the full spec click here...

For our full range of Montane products click here...