Gerry Willomitzer's
Blackjack Racing Kennel
Introducing: Sportees Mushing Pants
Weather can only be as bad as your gear is. If you wear good gear
chances are you won't encounter bad weather. Well, at least it won't feel that bad.
Last year temperatures during the Quest came close to 50 below for two nights and one day.
I was wearing my 5 year old mushing pants handcrafted by Sportees Active Wear of
Whitehorse in 1999. With just a pair of fleece long johns underneath I was fine even in
this extreme weather. The pants were not bulky, allowed me to run behind the sled, and yet
kept me warm - even after 5 years of use and abuse (= Leslie washing them too often!).
This year Sportees owner Andrea Rodger provided me with a new and improved pair of
the Sportees Mushing Bib pant.
The new pants feature:
- waterproof outer material and Polartec fleece lining
- reinforced knees and back
- double layered fleece lining around front zipper, where cold can be most uncomfortable
- velcro closure at ankles to prevent water from climbing up inside the pants
(every musher will end up in water eventually)
- bib with custom designed pockets for battery pack and dog medication
- adjustable bib
- belt loop and adjustable velcro closure at hips
- custom sizing - these pants will fit you like no other because they are not off the shelf!
You can find Sportees on Wood Street in downtown
Whitehorse and at www.sportees.com .
Thanks, Andrea!
Here a few images:
 Front... |
 ... and back reinforced with nylon (yellow - many other colours available!) |
 Bib with pockets to hold battery pack and foot ointments for dogs (do I have to say: "not included"?) |
 Flap with button hole for battery pack cord. Items won't fall out of the pockets when taking off the pants. |
 Leg with zipper, velcro flap and closure |
 Velcro closure and zipper at hips |