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#Repost @helenefnl with @get_repost ・・・ . 📷@connymarshaus 🗞Nikitakatalog2017 #nikitanation #herbstkollektion2017 https://www.instagram.com/p/BveLfN9g-vj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=as3s5zyggp12

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FW15 STAFF PICKS

We’ve just released the Fall/Winter 15/16 collection on nikitaclothing.com, and it’s already available at hundreds of retailers worldwide! As you scan the new looks for your favorite pieces we thought we’d share some of our staff’s favorites with you!

Kristin Normansen, Designer/Developer is drawn to the Avant Dress in Plum Perfect Pinstripe. “It feels like high fashion with its vertical stripes. I love the contrast of the androgynous fit with its feminine purple-black color combo.”

Vicki Vasil, our Marketing Manager, loves the Carter Hoodie in jet black.

“This piece is so rock and roll. It’s the perfect alternative to my motorcycle jacket, but versatile enough that I can wear it to the gym too. The functional back zip is #hawt.”

Northwest Sales Rep Laicina Canham’s pick is the Delano shirt. "For the last couple seasons I’ve ordered every colorway of the Delano shirt and now my friends know it as the main staple in my wardrobe! Living life on the road I can wear it snowboarding or with a body con dress, tights and my favorite boots. It’s a no brainer!”

One of our ambassadors, snowboarder and behavioral neuroscience student, Hailee Soderholm was in our office when we were writing this blog, so we asked her favorite is. And same as last season…. “The Boxy hoodie in black. This is by far my favorite hoodie. It’s warm enough to wear on the mountain and comfy enough to keep on all day. A go-to piece for the winter months.

And, finally, from our social and community maven Jenna Kuklinski-

“Oops. I love it all. Here’re two:

The Ragged Jacket- it’s exactly what I want hugged around my face when summer gives way to fall. I love being able to layer long pieces and this jacket lets me do all that I want  while snapping up any pair of slacks and t-shirt that I pair with it.

The Turner Jacket- This jacket makes me want to go hunting, or at least pretend to (since I don’t want to actually shoot anything. Maybe I’ll gather some berries instead.) I can’t wait to throw it on and start wandering through some crisp fall foliage.

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Linda Paluc Tells You How To Succeed

Spring is here. I can feel it in my eyes and nose - my allergies alarm me the moment it arrives. But that shouldn’t be a problem because another great thing comes with spring – my one and only love – Mountain biking.  With this short blog, I would like to help all beginner mountain bikers start their season being as prepared as possible – to avoid injuries and have the highest amount of fun ☺. As every other sport, it requires a certain amount of readiness before you begin the season. There are many different ways you can go about getting ready for biking when spring strikes, but I’ll tell you about mine (which I find to be very fun and enjoyable).

The first rule to follow is – the season is never over! That means you should not throw your bike in the corner as soon as the first snowflakes start to fall. Of course, you should take a brake from biking, but definitely don’t go the whole winter. Whenever the weather allows you, take a spin with your bike, just so you don’t forget how much fun it actually is. It also keeps your level of riding up during the whole “off season”. Other winter sports help you to develop motor skills that are helpful for mountain biking too. For instance, I snowboard a lot during winter which helps me keep those finely-tuned skills.

Another very important thing is to keep your level fitness/condition as high as possible. There are many different ways to achieve that, as we all know, but my favorite is hiking or running in the mountains. Nothing can beat that harmony between workout and the peace in your soul. If you’re not that type of a person, you can just go jogging around the neighborhood or working out in the gym, it also keeps you in shape! I recommend working out at least two times a week. It’s not only great for your personal fitness, but also for your general health, as we all know.

In addition to hiking, I also do cross fit. I’m not a fan of indoor workouts, but it’s just a MUST if I want to stay in perfect shape and condition to ride my bike the way I want to. Though you don’t have to do all of this if you’re just a beginner, but it’s absolutely not bad for you – it only makes things easier when you get out there on a bike! If you decide to add crossfit to your workout, just be sure that you are doing all the exercises right! This is very important so you can avoid risking doing any permanent damage to your joints and muscles. There are many tutorials on the web that can help you learn safe practices with that.

Biking is a very comprehensive sport. By that I mean, it combines the skills you learn from every other sport you do and helps you ride easier. If you were ever a snowboarder or a skier, or even a horseback rider, things on your bike are going to be easier for you. But don’t worry if the beginning seems hard. Practice makes perfect and Rome wasn’t built in a day – so take your time and enjoy every minute with your bike to the max.

Now my time is up and my Specialized Enduro is waiting for me to take him for a spin. I hope that this was helpful and if you have any questions about biking, don’t hesitate to contact me on my Facebook – Linda Paluc.

Enjoy!

Watch the new teaser for Linda’s upcoming Mountain Biking video: Ponytail Trails!

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Katy Caringer Gives You Time to Travel

Words: Katy Caringer, Photo: Carolyn Jaime

As I near the end of my twenties, I admit I have a fear of life’s adventures passing me by, and waking up one day late in life with the question, “What have I done?”

Most young twenty-somethings tend to get trapped in the vicious thought cycle of “once I have more money, more time, and when I’m done taking care of things, then I will go”. You then wake up one day to find you have lost your dreams in order to conserve your days. Without adventure and travel, you live your life in a routine that is both comfortable yet limiting because of your fear of taking risks. By making time for adventure, I have learned that it’s absolutely worth it to take the chances the traveler must take. I’ve never regretted this decision.

With an uncertain economic future facing young adults these days, it makes sense to travel now, instead of saving travel for a future that is in no way guaranteed. To get motivated to make time to travel, here are a few tips I have learned along the way that inspire me to make the time:

1. Don’t wait for others, go solo!

Solo trips can be the best thing you can do for yourself - by getting to indulge fully in yourself, you find out what you are truly capable of. The best part is being on your own schedule; you don’t have to feel obligated to please anyone else but yourself. Adventure always awaits because you never know who you will meet.

Want to go bungee jumping or learn how to snowboard? You can go and not feel guilty that someone is waiting at the bottom for you. Mistakes are truly yours and so are the rewards; it’s a constant learning process with unforgettable memories that you can take with you forever.

2. Check out a new music festival:

There’s always the option of visiting big festivals like Coachella or Bonnaroo that celebrities and big name bands frequent, however I believe finding smaller, more close-knit festivals can be a much better experience. Music festivals are a great way to break up the monotony of everyday life and commitments and see a side of a city or a forest you never knew existed. Less expensive and a great opportunity to meet new people, you can open your mind to new and upcoming music. Most of the biggest musical acts today, all started on those tiny stages tucked away in the corner. Music truly unites people from all walks of life, and dancing next to strangers and good friends can be a perfect way to escape from everyday life.

I just visited a smaller music festival in Austin, Texas this past month called Euphoria Music and Camping Fest, and it was truly a lifetime experience. With the option to camp just outside the grounds for three nights, you literally escape into a world filled with positive energy and no obligations, where you feel a sense of belonging with people you would never meet in your everyday life.

3. Remember to be a real traveler:

I hear from time to time of people taking trips where they get trapped in tourist attractions and never really experience the local culture or leave their own lives when they are there. They try to bring their own world with them wherever they go, moving from hotel to motel, protected by money and credit cards, and don’t truly immerse themselves in the world which they are traveling.

Taking the time to sit with locals and find out where to go and what to do is the best thing you can do, because it leaves you with a unique story to tell. By giving yourself over to the present moment, you experience an everyday life in a completely different place. Their world becomes part of yours.

Travel really is the only thing in life that makes you richer, and making time for it will give you a peace when you are older that is truly priceless. Especially if you haven’t quite found your passion in life just yet, traveling gives you time to reflect on your life questions and decide on your next career choice.

It’s common these days to think bumming around in our twenties for too long is a bit immature or irresponsible , but I also find it crazy to work unfulfilling jobs only to feel like you are doing what you are supposed to do. And if we have the ability to take a break, meander a bit, and reevaluate, then why not take advantage of that opportunity?

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Faye Young Wants to Jib With You

Words: Faye Young. Photos: Florian Trattner

Last month,  Julia Baumgartner (along with the help of Mary Luggen) hosted a girls-only jib contest at a snowboard park in Innsbruck. The weather forecast looked great, so me and my friend Polly made a short car ride from Mayrhofen to join in. Over 30 girls made the effort to come together for a really fun day of shredding. Patscherkofel was easy to get to, being just ten minutes drive from Innsbruck and you can even catch a gondola from the city center to get there. It is a small and quiet resort, so apart from a few local lads the girls had the park to themselves.

The Patscherkofel park is a really fun jib park with lots of nice features. There are sections of open piste between the parks, so you can do some side hits and butter around in between hitting the rail lines. The park is nicely colour-coded based on difficulty, so there is something for everyone. You can stick to the features within your ability or take it up a notch and try something new. That was the great thing about this contest- you really felt like you could try new things and if you did land something cool everyone was cheering and supporting each other.

The competition was a jam format, so no pressure and lots of laps to land tricks. After a morning of practice the jam took place on a section of the park that had a t-bar alongside it so we could get plenty of laps in. The atmosphere throughout the day was amazing, I've never been to a contest that felt this relaxed! The highlight of my day was when every single girl did a full park lap together, it was like being on our own girls-only mountain!

After an hour-long session, all grabbed a deck chair and waited for prize giving. Austrian sisters Katha & Sandra took the top spots after throwing down some really stylish tricks, Katha easily claimed trick of the day with a back board through a triple kink rail! Her sister Sandra also did a steezy nosepress 180 out on the same rail. All of the girls rode really well and everyone left with a nice goody bag and a smile on their face! Hopefully next year will be an even bigger turn out and we can get more girls involved with this girls only rail jam!

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Laura Lawson Visconti Keeps You Strong

30 Minute Workout to Prep For Your Winter Season. 

What’s happenin’ NIKITA Nation! My name is Laura Lawson Visconti, and I am privileged to be one of the ambassadors repping Nikita! A little about me: I currently live in Portland, Oregon (just a hop skip and a jump from Nikita headquarters!) with my husband Nick Visconti, former professional snowboarder and quintessential mountain man. I am your classic right-brained jack-of-all-trades: personal trainer, artist, author, photographer, social media influencer and overall life lover. I work full-time in downtown Portland as a trainer, helping inspire others to live a healthier, more fulfilling life. My interest in fitness originally spawned out of my love for the outdoors. Moving to the Pacific Northwest a few years ago prompted a lifestyle change, one I know you are familiar with: embracing the outdoors and all the “ings” that come with it: trail running, hiking, bicycling, snowboarding, you name it; I can’t get enough. I always tell my clients that investing in a little time in the gym ensures spending a lifetime outside. And that’s really what it’s all about.

Now that the sun’s out and we’re all hurriedly slapping on some suntan lotion and trying to cover up our white legs (or is that just me…?!) it’s more important than ever to stay fit in these off-season months. If you’re a snowboarder, your summer workouts should emphasize squats, core strength and stability. I went ahead and put together a little routine for you focusing on just that – do this workout 1-2 times per week, and you’ll be progressing next winter faster than you can say handplant. Ready to kill it?

30 Minute Core/Leg Workout

Muscles Engaged: Core, Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads, Calves

Materials Needed: 1 heavier dumbbell (I use 20 lbs), 1 medium weight kettlebell (I use 25 lbs), 1 step or bench, BOSU ball, mat, 2 medium weight dumbbells (I use 15 lbs)

Note: When choosing weights, don’t opt for the lightest one you see, but you also don’t want to choose the one you can barely lift. You should be able to lift the weight for 10 reps without straining your back; it should start feeling super challenging about halfway through. Make sure to keep your core engaged at all times – navel in and back straight; imagine tucking your tailbone under your hips.

Spend at least 5-10 minutes on a killer cardio warmup before you get started. For bonus points, run or bike to the gym instead of hopping on the elliptical and watching Paula Deen. #daytimeTV

Start with 30 seconds of bicycle crunches immediately followed by 30 seconds of mountain climbers. Rest briefly, then repeat.

You’ll want to perform the following strength exercises in a circuit: one immediately followed by the other with minimal rest. This ensures you’re burning fat while simultaneously building muscle. After you’ve completed one set of all three exercises, rest and repeat the circuit two more times.

 Perform 24 dips (12 each side) holding your medium weight dumbbells in either hand, one foot on your step with the other straight in front of you on the ground. Make sure to dip nice and low, while keeping your back straight. Don’t let your front knee pass over your ankle (watch yourself in a mirror if necessary to ensure proper form). Don’t lock your knees when you come up; the movements should be fluid and controlled without resting.

Next, grab your kettlebell and hold it with both hands in front of you, allowing it to hang. Get into sumo squat position: your feet should be wider than hip distance apart with your toes pointed out on either side. Slowly, lower your torso down to the ground, holding the kettlebell with your elbows locked, until it almost touches the floor and you’re sitting in an invisible chair. Raise back up, without locking your knees out, and lower back down without resting. Complete 20 reps in total. Make sure your core stays tight the whole time. For an extra challenge, hold your squat at the bottom for 5 seconds after every 5 reps.

Now let’s challenge those stabilizer muscles and work on your balance. Hop onto a BOSU ball (flat side up) while holding your heavy dumbbell (if you’ve never stepped onto a BOSU before, practice first without the weight). Your feet should be pointing straight ahead on the outer edges of the ball. Hold the weight with both hands and slowly squat down, keeping your chest up and hips down. Make sure you’re squatting through your heels. Get down as low as you can without compromising form, and come up without locking your knees. Complete 20 reps in total.

Rest, then repeat circuit. Aim for three sets total with minimal rest in between. Make sure to have plenty of water on hand!

When you’re done, hop on your mat and make time for some yoga and stretch it out. Try a balancing pose or two. The more you work on your balance, strength, and cardio, the more prepared you’ll be when that first pow day hits. Now let’s get out of the gym and start our summer adventures! Yeewwww!!

For more fitness tips and inspiration from Laura Lawson Visconti, check out her blog at lauralawsonvisconti.com or follow her on Instagram @lauralawsonvisconti

Pictured, I am wearing the ­­­­­­­­­­­­Agave bra top. I love it for hot days in the gym, or a bikram yoga class!

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Spring Snowboarding Progression

@hail_sods gets the most out of some sunny rails.

Words: Jenna Kuklinski

Snowboarding through endless open powder fields is every snowboarders daily fantasy- it’s fluffy, it’s fun and makes you feel like a pro who has no limit to their potential. But what about when spring rolls around and the snowboarding feels less like power hour and more like mashed potato dinner? Don’t pack up your gear just because your insulated jacket has become too stuffy- bust out the windbreakers and get ready for the season’s second progression session: Spring Riding.

Spring is for the people. The hard-charging winter is over and everyone who’s still out riding is on the slopes simply to have fun. It’s the time to learn weird grabs, floppy flat-land tricks and master the quarter-pipe. You get the same forgiving riding conditions of a powder day without the guilt of knowing there are fresh powder-loaded cornices you should be dropping.

Here are three tricks to master in the slushy spring-time (in no particular order):

Handplants

Do you know how many times you fall on your face when learning how to handplant? A lot. You have to go fast, you have to get your feet above your head and then get them back below yourself again. It’s tough. Always use your core- that’s why you have abs. Guaranteed, one of the best days you’ll ever have is sessioning a quarter-pipe with your friends and taking turns trying to plant your hand on top of the lip. People will be penguin-sliding left and right, but- no harm, no foul. You’ll find yourself unstrapping and hiking back up to try again in no time at all. 

Backside 180’s (or for those who already have that and their 360’s down-- back 500. It’s basically the same thing, as show by Eero Ettala and Heikki Sorsa in this throwback Transworld Trick Tips clip).

If you don’t have the back 180 down yet, spring time is the right time to get it dialed. We get it- you’re spinning blind and terrified of catching your back edge. But you know what makes that better? Knowing that catching your back edge won’t be all that bad (because let’s face it- it will happen. many times). Push yourself beyond your comfort level. If you aren’t falling, you’re not learning.

Double Tail

Got your tail grab down? Great, now double it up. Two hands are better than one, and a double-tail grab looks even sicker than a single. The most difficult part of this trick is going to be landing both hands on the back of your board at the same time (duh), so keep doing it until you have it on lock. Pop off the lip of the jump, grab the tail with your back hand and stick your front hand back there too. You’ll be twisting more than a normal-handed grab, so be ready to adjust accordingly for when you land. Think: Pop, grab, land- don’t try to do everything off the jump at once.

Sure, it can take a while to master these tricks, but you’ll be rolling through the snow laughing at yours (or your friend’s) latest attempt and forgetting about the fact you ever thought they were, “intimidating” to begin with. That’s what snowboarding is all about anyway, right? Having a good time.

Do you have any favorite spring-riding tricks to master? Share in the comments- we’d love to hear about them.

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Nikita Fun Run Recap

For five days 

Tremulous skies threatened to downpour on Portland. To rain. As March 28th approached, the forecast flip-flopped between boasting predictions of sunny skies and soggy afternoons. Finally, the day arrived. The skies were filled with patches of sun and white fluffy clouds-- and not a drop of rain in sight. Nature had given it’s blessing to the first ever Nikita Just For Fun Run here in Portland, OR.

Laura Lawson Visconti was one of the many that showed up for the day of activities, bringing along a few more friends and a lot of energy to get the run going. She lead the enthusiastic group in a series of pre-race stretches, ensuring everyone was safely warmed up to begin the run!

This wasn’t just any normal 5K- fans who joined us for the #NikitaFunRun were in store for a lot more than a jog through the neighborhood. Local businesses partnered with Nikita to host the event, putting together mini-challenges at a total of five different stops along the run route. Runners had to visit each stop, complete the mini-challenge and receive a “task completed” wrist-band before continuing on to the next stop. Challenges consisted of such high-skill-based trials like: The Hula Hoop Walk, Corn Hole Toss and Frisbee Golf Challenge.

As each person crossed the finish line they were met with cheers, high-fives and (for those over 21) a nice cool Basecamp Beer, kindly served up by evo. After everyone completed the run, Clutched Key Collective began taking people through the steps of tie-dye and shibori. While the running portion of the day was over, there was still a snowboard to win and tons of give-aways to raffle off (See our Facebook page for more photos from the event!).

The giveaways went fantastically, with amazing items from Nikita, Next Adventure and Basecamp getting raffled off to the animated crowd. Giveaways culminated with the announcement of the winner of the Instagram contest (and soon-to-be owner of a new Nikita Chikita snowboard). @prairiechicken; aka Amie, a visitor from Canada, took home the grand prize!

Everyone gathered together after the raffle for one final group photo. Sweaty smiles (and a few birthday wishes) were abound in the group as everyone gathered together in high spirits. As people filtered out of the evo parking lot, there were more high-fives, hugs and grins being exchanged between all who were there. The day was an amazing success, and not even one drop of rain fell the entire time.

Stay tuned for more Nikita events! The requests for more events has been heard and there may well be something coming your way soon...