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TIM EDDY ON THE MARAUDER PH: COLIN WISEMAN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
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Contents
10 Matt and Dans Campervans
Mount Kosciuszko Photo series by Alexander Ramaekers
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Two friends who love everything to do with camping and van life.
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Made in Voyage
This story is about a first adventure, the beginnings of a dream.
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George & Willy
Unique display solutions and signage for creative businesses.
59 Native & Co. High quality and discretely designed homeware.
Julia Gursha
New Zealand through her lens.
72 Cover:
Editor: Guy Jansen Instagram: @outpostvisual Contributors: Alex Ramekers, Matt Andrews, Dan Baxter, Sharon Jo-Young, Cody Cirillo, Kellyn Wilson, Paddy O’Connell, Matthew Tufts, George Wilkins, Will McCallum, Julie Gursha, Sarah Howson, Tin Košir Popovič.
For anyone interested in contributing content to the magazine or enquieries about advertising, please get in contact via Email: outpostvisuals@gmail.com OUTPOST | 6
Cody Cirillo, Kellyn Wilson & Thomas Delfino infront of the Honey House Bus. Image: Matthew Tufts
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Mount Kosciuszko, is mainland Australia’s highest mountain at 2,228 meters abouve sea level. Named by the Poliash explorere Pawel Strzelecki in 1840, in honour of Polsih-Lithuanian freedom fighter General Tadeusz Kosciuszko. OUTPOST | 10
Images by Alexander Ramaekers @a.ramaekers OUTPOST | 11
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Le’andre Sanders OUTPOST | 1
SKATEABILITY MEETS SUSTAINABILITY.
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Two friends (Matt and Dan) who love everything to do with camping and van life. Their aim is for you to get a personal, friendly experience from some Kiwis who love to travel the way you are about to. Friends for 10 years, they decided to do what everyone comes to New Zealand to do - look at some beautiful scenery, hike some mountains and travel in a van. They built their first van for a surf trip around New Zealand and the rest is history. We sit down with Matt & Dan and talk about the beginings, essentails and traveling New Zealand. Interview by Guy Jansen Photography by Julie Gursha
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Outpost: How did you and Dan first meet and what was life like before starting your Matt & Dan Campervan? Matt: Dan and I met in high school, so we’ve been friends for close to 15 years now. Our parents lived on the same street so our friendship was formed mostly from convenience (hahaha), but we’ve managed to keep it going even though we’ve moved to DIFFERENT streets. Life was chill, we built things, travelled together, played in bands, messed about. Now we do a lot of work but it’s cool we can still spend together in a more productive way. OP: What has been the biggest challenge running your business? M&D: Just running a business, being the wearer of all hats, having to figure everything out (mostly) yourself which can be very rewarding or extremely frustrating. You have to quickly overcome and adapt to problems thrown at you, the most recent being COVID-19
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essentially cutting 70-80% of our customers out, with the boarder closures and no international tourism. There are also plenty of upsides, you work when you want, you are passionate about what you’re doing and that helps get you through. OP: Future plans for the company? M&D: We’ve got plans! We’ve also had to adapt pretty rapidly to what customers are available in the current market. Mid-late in 2020 we decided to move from solely campervan rentals and into custom campervan conversions. This is pretty much a whole new business and with that comes a whole lot of things to figure out and overcome, so that’s the current challenge. Looking forward we’re waiting to see what 2021 brings with international tourism. All going well, I’d love to expand our current fleet and potentially move into some different vehicle types - we will see! OP: Tell us more about your customising service! M&D: Prior to COVID we solely converted vans for our rental fleet. However, with rentals stopping pretty quickly we switched lanes and begun to take on private campervan conversions. It’s pretty exciting for us to be able to make someones
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campervan dream a reality and apply all that we’ve learnt building vans for ourselves over the last 4 years into someones project. OP: Peaks and pits of a camper van trip? M&D: Peak: Ultimate freedom, especially in NZ. Being able to figure out where you want to stay at the time not having to plan anything too far ahead + a lot of the campsites (especially DOC ones) have amazing settings, beautiful lakes, dense bush or incredible mountain backdrops. Pit: Bugs man, they’re everywhere in the summer, just bring some (a lot) of bug spray to keep them away! OP: Go to essentials for a campervan trip? M&D: Things to do that aren’t your phone - books, games, journal, food, whatever. Bring someone who you don’t mind being in close quarters with + one of our van’s of course!
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OP: You have two weeks holiday and planning a trip to New Zealand, what does the perfect road trip around the south island look for you?
M&D: Depends on what you’re into! Personally, I think the ‘loop’ on the South Island is the best way to do it (if you haven’t done it before). (In no particular direction) Start in Christchurch, then drive either through Arthurs or Lewis Pass, stay there to see the beautiful forest & go for a hike. Next, head to the West Coast, stay for a few nights but definitely stop at Frans Joseph for a night.
Continue down the West Coast and head back east through the Haast Pass, plenty of cool campsites around this area to spend a few days at. Now you’re onto Queenstown/Wanaka/Arrowtown, take your pick or visit them all! From there you’re heading back toward Christchurch, but or before you stop to check out Tekapo & Mount Cook for a few days. From there, it’s a leisurely drive back to Christchurch.
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OP: Cooking in the campervan what facilities are there and give us your top three meals on the road.
M&D: In our vans you get a fridge, twin burner cooker + everything you need to make a great van meal! Easy + delicious meals are anything pasta based, burgers are pretty yum and I’ve done a pretty awesome peanut tofu/rice dish before! OP: Top 5 spots you have to visit in New Zealand? M&D: Well, 5 spots that come to mind are (no particular order): Mt Cook, Fiordland area, personally love Lewis/Arthurs Pass for camping & hiking, love the bays along the Queen Charlotte drive in the Nelson/Tasman region, also Takaka up in the Nelson Lake region is a pretty cool little spot. OP: Each pick your favourite activity/restaurant/experience you wouldn’t find online relative to the holiday mentioned above. M&D: You will find this online (haha). Activity/experience, if you’re into climbing stairs head to Muller Hut in the Mount Cook region - amazing views of the glacier and avalanches, keas hanging about and just an all around incredible experience. Great campsite in the West Coast (near Franz Joseph) is called Otto/MacDonald. This campsite is next to a lake that can be so still it looks like glass, and when the stars come out, it will blow your mind.
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Story, Kellyn Wilson & Paddy O’Connell
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Images, Matthew Tufts, Cody Cirillo & Kellyn Wilson
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What makes a good story? What makes a good adventure? Typically, we hear tall tales of some epic climb up an unclimbable peak, some endless journey across an uncrossable ocean. Throw a dragon in there and you’ve got yourself one hell of a tale. But this is not that kind of story. This is about breaking free from a life as it once was.
“This is a story about a first adventure and the beginnings of a dream, one of freedom and chasing paradise” And it starts with a man by the name of Cody Cirillo. An artist by trade and a skier by passion, Cody has a bit of an affinity for wooden boards on snow. In fact, he loves it more than aloe loves a sunburn. Like any snow-starved skier, Cody was a man on which the 9 to 5 weighed heavy. Freedom still existed out there; he knew it. Maybe he could transport to a time when things were indeed a bit more simple, when the pace of life was determined by the sun and the moon, not punching in and out of the clock. The only problem was that he never had the right way to get there.
covered in frosted spines and blower powder so deep you’d think it was a French poet. But who in the hell would’ve thought the key to that dream was this 1962 Chevrolet C50 with a big old Superior School Bus Chassis? What some would see as what could only be described as vehicular roadkill, Cody saw a long-distance champ, a four-wheeled steed of friendship and gear-hauling’ strength, a vessel to kick the 9 to 5. This was it.
Admire the smooth aerodynamic racing fins, see how the grill glints that perfect rusty hue. He was no See, Cody always had that dream of freedom, that mechanic, but this thing sure seemed solid. Yeah, sure vision of paradise. And this dream was one that had it was a bit worse for the wear, and maybe a little bit manifested itself on the top of a faraway mountain more than a fixer upper. But all it needed was a person OUTPOST | 1
with a vision- someone with a dream. If he was a rational man, Cody probably wouldn’t have bought this heap. But, why let smarts get in the way of some fun. Only a few hundred miles laid between Cody, the new rig, and their unknowing and freshly crowned first mate. Kellyn Wilson.
time to chase the steep lines and bottomless pow that they had been dreaming of since they were kids. So, this crew shed the restraints of their normal lives and set their sights North. Two travellers and a bus from 1962. Nothing but the open road, and powder on the mind.
Kellyn, like Cody, was another snow slider with dreams of what laid beyond those northern horizons. As a matter of fact, Kellyn had been chasing winter in South America at the time of this new purchase. A purchase that she wasn’t upset about as she was curious to see where Cody’s “Visit Kellyn in Chile”
The plan was to keep heading straight north. But plans change. Any skier knows you don’t leave powder to find powder. Word had come in that the storm of the decade was rolling’ in nearby. An old friend had hollered with the news.
fund had run off to. Still, the rig needed some love. It was time to go to work and to work they went. For a whole damn year. They built their dream chasing, land-yacht-on-a-budget one screw at a time. Slow and meticulous, Kellyn and Cody poured all of themselves into the old bus. With a little reclaimed wood, solar panels, recycled parts, and both of their combined savings, this bus saw new life. Some may call it a miracle, but this road veteran had transformed into a majestic, paradise-bound, vessel of exploration with a peak speed limit of about 50 miles an hour.
That friend was Ian Hamilton. Ian’s a lightning fast, kung fu quick, big air loon. When he pops outta the snow ya just gotta stop and say. “Dang look at that whirly bird go.” With Ian in tow, Kellyn and Cody headed upwind to see what all the hubbub was about. Turns out, Ian was a man of his word. It was deep, real deep.
This detour was supposed to be an overnight stop but stretched from 2 days to 10. The snow was non-stop, with avalanche danger high the three opted to ski It was time to kick their 9 to 5’s to the curb. It was some low angle terrain. With blower powder, every OUTPOST | 2
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turn was magical and constantly reminded them why they loved skiing so much, they skied into the night ever day with the biggest grins on their faces. Bottomless snow, and I mean truly bottomless, has a way of doing that. But when the blizzard finally coughed its last snowy breath. Saying their goodbyes to Ian, it was time to get back on the road. With quads burning’ like forgotten toast, and a promising first glimpse of their powder-filled paradise, Kellyn and Cody made their way back down the hill, back into the loving embrace of the unknown. Ahhh, yes...the open road. Now the thing about loving the embrace of the unknown is that it ain’t always that loving. And sometimes there’s a few bumps in the road. But every dream has its dues, and this one was no exception. Nothing worth a damn is ever easy. During their quick pit stop, these young travellers were told of a place at the end of a road. “A place where mountain dwellers gathered from
far and wide, and weary wayfarers could sleep at the base of a mountain”. A ski area not stuck in a year gone by- but thriving in it. Fortune had favoured the bold in Utah, so the two figured it was time to go forth once again. As the scarce winter light dwindled away, the roadside brush changed into a jungle that seemed impossibly lush and alive for a midwinter’s night. The air was thick with darkness and the road had finally come to an end. Kellyn and Cody figured they’d arrived at their long-awaited destination. All there was left to do was wait and see. Maybe they had found the fabled mountain of their dreams. As all mornings do, this one came fast. Last night’s snow still glittered in the air. And as the sun’s warm embrace crept its way into the windows of the bus,
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What makes a good story? What by makes good Cody and Kellyn were awakened whata could adventure? only be described as a damn near mirror image of Typically, hear tales ofthis some epicschool climb bus up the picturewethat hadtallsparked whole an unclimbable peak, some endless journey across pipedream to begin with. an uncrossable ocean. Throw a dragon in there and you’ve got yourself one hell of a tale. But this is not that of story.for-vagabond This is aboutsouls, breaking fromfora This kind Shangri-la this free Mecca as itland onceofwas. traveling homes, alife true misfit toys. If it had wheels and a place to lay your head, it was there.
“This is a story about a first adventure and the Across the lot,ofthey were met with and through beginnings a dream”, one smiles of freedom and the lens of a hammered old Bolex they found a new chasing paradise”. friend. Micah Evangelista.
And it starts with a man by the name of Cody Cirillo. Like Cody, this man had an artistic sensibility about An artist by trade and a skier by passion, Cody has a him. like Kellyn, “he boards was uponfor whatever bit of And an affinity for wooden snow. In fact, adventure wasthan thrown his way .” They all hatched he loves it more aloe loves a sunburn. Like any asnow-starved plan to meetskier, at theCody mountain. It was time to gear was a man on which the 9up and what heavy. this place had tostill offer. to 5 see weighed Freedom existed out there; he knew it. Maybe he could transport to a time when things were indeed a bit more simple, when the pace Once the determined skins wherebyonthe Cody, Kellyn and Micah of life was sun and the moon, not headed into the unknown, one thing they did know punching in and out of the clock. was build awas decent So,had afterthe a good The how only to problem thatkicker. he never righthard session ski there. touring through the mountain, they set to way to get work on the build and what came next was an array of acrobatical twirls, that have made See, Cody always hadflips, thatspins dream of would freedom, that an Olympic gym instructor proud. Many more slops vision of paradise. And this dream was one that had hiked, and itself lines on ridden, theof three filledmountain their boots manifested the top a faraway with everinlasting covered frostedmemories. spines and blower powder so deep you’d think it was a French poet. With the light quickly fading and some chores to attend to,inthe the bus. But who thecrew hell returned would’veto thought the key to that dream was this 1962 Chevrolet C50 with a big old Fire crackled in Bus the Chassis? stove, andWhat twangs of would harmonica Superior School some see solos and laughter glided into the night. The perfect as what could only be described as vehicular roadkill, nightcap their day waschamp, the distant howl of a new Cody sawto a long-distance a four-wheeled storm blowing into the valley. steed of friendship and gear- hauling’ strength, a vessel to kick the 9 to 5. This was it. Or maybe not. The storm had come in. But it had come in the with a soggy vengeance. racing And this Admire smooth aerodynamic fins,here see roof was asglints leak-free as a colander. TheHerig could how about the grill that perfect rusty hue. was easily withstand feet of dumping snow, but inches no mechanic, but this thing sure seemed solid. Yeah, of rain... so worse much.for Water creptand in through sure it wasnot a bit the wear, maybe aevery little unknown holeaand crack bus andwas showed bit more than fixersecret upper. Butof allthe it needed a no signs of slowing down. person with a vision- someone with a dream. If he was a rational man, Cody probably wouldn’t Kellyn and Cody dragged theirletsoggy selves out of have bought this heap. But, why smarts get in their brand-new waterbed withhundred hopes that the way of some fun. Only a few milesmaybe laid rain down low the meant up their high?unknowing But they were between Cody, newsnow rig, and and wrong about that too. What had once been endless freshly crowned first mate. Kellyn Wilson. fields of glorious pow were now rain ruts and crown lines as like far asCody, the eye see.snow At least these two had Kellyn, wascould another slider with
dreams ofAnd whatthere’s laid beyond their bus. plentythose to donorthern while youhorizons. wait out As a matter of fact, Kellyn had been chasing winter the rain. in South America at the time of this new purchase. A purchase that shesowasn’t upset about she was and There’s something comforting aboutas the smell curiousoftopopcorn see where “Visit Kellyn in Chile” sound onCody’s the stove top, as Kellyn tended fund hadwonderful run off to.puffs Still, the love.for It to the of rig air needed Cody some searched was time to go to work and to work they went. For a their game of Battleship, boy what a battle they had. whole damn Howling galeyear. and soaking raindrops had nothing on the relentless back and forth between the two. Every ship hit resulted in looser being attacked with a water They built dream land-yacht-on-amister justtheir to make it chasing, that much sweeter or soggier budget one screw at a time. Slow and depending on which side of the table meticulous, your sat. Kellyn and Cody poured all of themselves into the oldrained bus. With a little reclaimed wood,ting solar It and rained until the sharp of panels, raindrops recycledsilent. parts, and both of their combined savings, became this busbegan saw new life. Some may callshelters it a miracle, but Skiers to emerge from their and heard this road veteran had transformed into a majestic, rumblings of a ceremony to pray to the snow gods. paradise-bound, vessel of the exploration withcomes a peakwith Maybe it was born from lunacy that speed limit of about 50 miles an hour. being hunkered down for days, or maybe there was really something to it. Either way, the thought of drying out by a bonfire was reason enough to join in.
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Bottomless I mean truly bottomless, has And so, withsnow, their and sights set further North than North awas waythought of doingtothat. But when the blizzard finally be, they pushed the pedal down and coughedon….orrrr its last snowy breath. Saying their goodbyes moved so they thought. to Ian, it was time to get back on the road. Turns out their bus had a different plan all together, With quads burning’ like forgotten a had throughout this adventure Cody toast, and and Kellyn promising first glimpse of their powder-filled gotten pretty good at dealing with breakdowns. paradise, Kellyn and Cody made their way every back mile When you constantly expect the worst, down the hill, back into thebecause loving embrace driven becomes a victory, this bus of is the such a unknown. yes...the open road. quirky, old Ahhh, machine she decided to dig her heals in, Nowway theof thing about embrace of the The her doing thatloving was a the broken transmission. unknown is that it ain’t always that loving. And outcome was the tow of shame from Baker down to sometimes there’s a few in the road. But every Billingham in search of bumps a transmission mechanic. dream has its dues, and this one was no exception. Nothing worth damn isonly everallotted easy. so much good If it’s true thata you’re fortune, these two were happy to have spent it. But of During theirmeant quick pit these young course, that thatstop, misfortune was travellers gearin up to sock them in the kisser. And as they’ d found out the were told of a place at the end of a road. A place day before: when it dwellers rains, it really does pour. where mountain gathered from far
and wide, and weary wayfarers could sleep at the Praying for to snow a shared It was time kickistheir 9 toreligion 5’s to theamong curb. mountain It was folk. An olive branch between skier and snowboarder, time to chase the steep lines and bottomless heck even snowshoers if they pray hard enough. More pow that they had been dreaming of since often than not, all that unified energy amounts to they were magical. kids. So,And this crew something with shed luck,the it’llrestraints come in of the their normal lives and set their sights North. Two form of snow. travellers and a bus from 1962. Nothing but the open road, powder onyour the mind. Now, and usually paying ski burning, alcohol bathed respects to Ullr has a pretty iffy success rate. But The plan was keepthis heading north. Butrainwhatever the to cause, time straight it worked. Those plans change. Any skier knows you don’t leave soaked fields of rutted yuck had become all but a powder to find powder. Word had come in that the distant memory. storm of the decade was rolling’ in nearby. An old friend had hollered with the It was time to find Micah andnews. see what the storm had
produced. That friend was Ian Hamilton. Ian’s a lightning fast, kung fu quick, big air loon. he pops the Crown lines and rain rutsWhen no more, theoutta glorious snow ya just gotta andwith say. deep “Dang look atpower. that field covered oncestop again beautiful whirly go.”new With Ianthey in tow, Kellynon, and Codyto Excited bird to find lines pushed stoked headed upwind to see playground. what all the hubbub was about. be in mother nature’s Turns out, Ian was a man of his word. It was deep, real deep. The day was a good one, but dark clouds once again This detour washorizon. supposed to be anechoed overnight stop but formed on the Thunder through the stretched 2 daysping-ponging to 10. The snow non-stop, valley. Thisfrom weather surewas wasn’t part of withparadise avalanche danger thehad three opted up. to ski any Kellyn andhigh Cody thought some low angle terrain. With blower powder, every turn was andhere constantly reminded them why When it magical was good it’d been great, but enough they and loved skiingcold so much, theyanyone skied into thea night rain brutal will shake from dream. every with biggest grins on theirthe faces. It wasday time to the press on and continue search for their snowy nirvana. OUTPOST | 1
base of a mountain. A ski area not stuck in a year Suddenly it felt like the dream just wouldn’t work. gone by - but thriving in it. Maybe the search for that endless winter was indeed that, always a search and never a reality. Maybe that Fortune had favoured the bold in Utah, so the two winter paradise was a mirage. Maybe it had been the figured it was time to go forth once again. As the whole time. scarce winter light dwindled away, the roadside brush changed into a jungle that seemed impossibly lush and alive for a mid-winter’s night. But life is thickly sown with thorns, and there’s no other remedy than to pass through them. It’s best not The air was thick with darkness and the road had to dwell, because standing still in a thicket is a good finally come to an end. Kellyn and Cody figured way to get stuck. they’d arrived at their long-awaited destination. All there was left to do was wait and see. Maybe they had found the fabled mountain of their dreams. And hell, scars always come with a good story. Why give up now? Mountains have valleys, don’t they? As all mornings do, this one came fast. Calamity forces character, and if you can rise to meet it, that is a story to recall. And this, now this was Last night’s snow still glittered in the air. And as the adventure. sun’s warm embrace crept its way into the windows of the bus, Cody and Kellyn were awakened by what So no, they wouldn’t turn back. In fact, they’d go even could only be described as a damn near mirror image further. As skiers, the Great North’s splendours were of the picture that had sparked this whole school bus woven into the very fabric of their existence. If snow pipedream to begin with. was they’ d be sure to souls, greet this it - Mecca “comeforhell This falling, Shangri-la for-vagabond or high water. hadn’t hell traveling homes, And a truesince land ofthey misfit toys. Ifseen it had wheels a place to lay your got head,that it was there. yet, theand water never really high” . It was time to venture onward. So onward they went. Across the lot, they were met with smiles and through theCody lens ofmade a hammered Bolex they d ever Kellyn and it as far old North as they’ foundAnd a new friend. Micah Evangelista. been. they needed someone that knew their way around these Canadian mountains. Likethey Cody, thistoman artistic about So, went the had bestan place theysensibility could think of to find truelike local to guide him.aAnd Kellyn, he them. was up for whatever
As they walked theall Revelstoke adventure wasthrough thrownthe hisdoors way. of They hatched Forum, knew they were in the right place. a plan tothey meet at the mountain. It was time to gear The Revelstoke playing up and see what Grizzlies this place were had to offer. the 100 Mile House Wranglers, a highly anticipated game. The arena wasskins packed, andon electricity was inand theMicah air! Once the where Cody, Kellyn headed into the unknown, one thing they did know And there he was, Thomas Delfino, asa Canadian was how to build a decent kicker. So, after good looking as one could through be. Poutine in his lap, hard session ski touring the mountain, theyan earflap hat, on andthe a build well-tempered of the set to work and what appreciation came next was gentleman’s game of hockey. an array of acrobatical twirls, flips, spins that would have made an Olympic gym instructor proud. Many They more had slopsfound hiked,their andguide. lines ridden, the three filled their boots with ever lasting memories. Only, he wasn’t Canadian at all. Thomas Delfino was full French! Withblooded the light quickly fading and some chores to attend to, the crew returned to the bus. Fire crackled No matter. the board, he had solos the stoke, in the stove,He andhad twangs of harmonica and and
fieldsitofdid. glorious pow were now rain ruts and crown And lines as far as the eye could see. At least these two had their And there’s plenty to do while you wait And it wasbus. glorious. out the rain. “It felt like something from a dream”. There’s something so comforting about the smell and on the top, as Kellyn As asound matterofofpopcorn fact, it was the stove dream. tended to the wonderful puffs of air Cody search for theirthe game of journey Battleship, what asomething. battle they When had. But long hadboy changed Howling gale and soaking raindrops had nothing on you roll slow and break down, time becomes your the relentless and forth between Everyit. friend. There’sback no stress of arrival, no the needtwo. to rush ship hit resulted in looser being attacked with a No way ya could even if ya wanted. And the upswater and mister just to make it that much sweeter or soggier the downs, well, they’re maybe one in the same. It’s depending on whichthat sidecounts, of the the tablewhole your experience, sat. all of the adventure the big long chase. It rained and rained untilthat the lived sharpinting of raindrops That glorious mountain their mind, and became silent. all it stood for, well it wasn’t really a location. It was a
laughterto glided Themountains perfect nightcap seemed knowinto thethe waynight. around he didn’t to theirhisday was the distant howl of a new storm know way around. blowing into the valley. So, the crew and their plus one loaded up, and it was Or maybe not. on.
feeling; it was a moment. It was right now. Skiers began to emerge from their shelters and heard rumblings of a ceremony to prayfeel to the In Revelstoke you can really thesnow soulgods. of the Maybe it wasprominent born frompeaks the lunacy that comes withof mountains, and long ski tours being hunkered down forzones days, the or maybe theretowas solitary bliss. Particular trio chose ride reallyasomething Either way, the thought of the took few hourstotoit.get to ski touring, however dryingwere out undescribable by a bonfire was joinfeel in. views andreason madeenough the hardtowork not so hard as their thoughts distracted by reading the Praying forface snow a shared religion mountain andis planning the ridesamong to come. mountain folk. An olive branch between skier and snowboarder, heck even snowshoers if they pray hardthe enough. Moreturn often than not, allinthat As last deep was slashed thisunified “paradise energy amounts to something with found”, spring began to sing itsmagical. song andAnd home began luck, it’ll come in the had formfound of snow. to call. Our travellers what they had set out for and it was as glorious as they had hoped. The crew Now,goodbye usually paying yourand ski burning, bathed said to Thomas set their alcohol sights back on respects to Ullr has a pretty iffy success rate. But the horizon. whatever the cause, this time it worked. Those rain-
The storm had in. But itpillow had come withdrops, a Thomas did notcome disappoint, lines,inrock soggy vengeance. this here was about as the darting in and outAnd of trees and roof beautiful kickers, leak-free as aand colander. The rig could three hiked rode until their legseasily wherewithstand burning feet of dumping snow,joy butpowered inches of rain... so and and eyes tired. Pure the finalnot hikes much.before Waterheading crept in back through every unknown hole turns to shelter. and secret crack of the bus and showed no signs of slowing down. The trio rode out the tail of the storm in the bus, Kellyn and soggy outbooks. of toasting to Cody good dragged fortune.their It was oneselves for the their brand-new waterbed with hopestothat maybe Their thoughts had already begun shift to what rain down had low meant snow up high? theygoing were to tomorrow in store. Rumour was,But it was wrong go blueabout that too. What had once been endless
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But this time they weren’t going deeper into the moving’ forward. And here we’d seen a journey spread unknown. This time they were going back to where across time and fragmented by struggle, breakdowns this whole journey began. Home. and bad weather. But it was all paradise, one filled with stories, characters, and vivid memories of a time Because you see, a journey is only a journey if it has well spent. an end. And after all, they had found the dream and the place they had set out in search of. But they’d Sure, this part of the path had come to a close. But, if discovered more than they’d intended. This dream you’re doing it right, the adventure never really ends. of freedom, of paradise; they’d thought it’d be found Because that dream of freedom and paradise is always in that land of bottomless powder and faraway out there. Only it ain’t on a map. It ain’t no ski resort, mountains. no big mountain, no perfect snowstorm. It ain’t one thing or one time. But from the second they put that first nail in this tired old bus, they’d already achieved the dream. Because it’s a dream you have to chase. A dream you When tracking down freedom, we usually eyeball a have to live. place. It’s the story we tell ourselves so we can finally put the first foot on the path. But happiness isn’t an It’s a dream that’s made, in voyage. outcome, it’s not a final stop. It’s a by-product of
Cody & Kellyn
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Splitboards 2021/22 K2snow.com
01
03 02
01 Terrain: Sidecountry and Backcountry Riding Style: All-Mountain Freeride Ability Level: Advanced to Expert
02 Terrain: Sidecountry and Backcountry Riding Style: All-Mountain Freeride Ability Level: Intermediate to Expert
03 Terrain: Sidecountry and Backcountry Riding Style: All-Mountain Freeride Ability Level: Intermediate to Expert
The Freeloader is K2’s newest family member. Coming packed with a new Paulownia core to assure less weight when touring, and a new SnoPhobic Topsheet to eliminate nasty snow build up on the topsheet.
The Split Bean checks the boxes again and again as the most fun, nimble, easiest kick-turning splitboard in the game. Flat between the bindings and a float inducing, exaggerated tip-rocker that simply won’t allow the nose to dive in deep snow, the Cool Bean is a splitboarding cult classic.
The Marauder is purpose built to get you into the backcountry utilizing our BAP core, tip-to-tail integrated carbon stringers, and a fully cambered profile that’s complemented by early rise rocker in the tip and just a hint in the tail.
Freeloader split, mounting pucks and skins / £1125
Split bean, mounting pucks and skins / £720
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NATURAL ENERGY
PURELY FROM PLANTS. NICE.
@MAXWILKO IN CHAMONIX, PHOTOGRAPHED BY @KNOWJACK
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The world’s first carbon negative energy drink. OUTPOST | 2
In a world where displays and signage lacked imagination and creativity, childhood friends George Wilkins and Will McCallum took it upon themselves to transform the market. In 2014 they launched their company George & Willy who pride themselves on making beautiful and functional signage, menu boards, and home products. Today they operate from their head office (situated in Mt Maunganui, New Zealand) and their warehouse/ distribution centre in Idaho, USA. In true kiwi fashion, this dream was born in a shed. George’s grandfather had built said shed in hopes that his grandchildren would use it as a creative outlet. On the weekends, you could find 12 year old George selling what he had created at the local markets. Many years on, Will had moved to the South Island to study a Bachelor of Commerce at Otago University majoring in marketing. George was finishing his last year at high school, unsure of his next move when Will told him he should
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move down to Dunedin and study BCom as well. They both minored in design and enjoyed their time in the workshop. For one of their design projects they built kit-set wooden helicopters using a laser printer. Not only did they receive an A+ for their project they went on to sell the helicopter kits and donated the earnings to Westpac rescue helicopter. After graduation, both moved back to Mt Maunganui and their company George & Willy was born. Starting out making items they felt were missing from their day to day, they then directed their focus on unique signage and display products; creating classic and timeless products for homes, cafes and studios with the aim of making other businesses stand out from the crowd. Their signature design aesthetic means their products are easily recognised throughout New Zealand and Australia. Their bestselling products being the Studio Roller, the Wooden Letter Board and the Hanging Drying Rack.
Wooden Letter Board The Wooden Letter Board is a beautiful way to use display lettering for your menu, to-dolist, or for announcements in your space.
Studio Roller Simple and functional, the wall-mounted Studio Roller easily dispenses butcher’s kraft paper rolls so you can design the next dish on the menu, plan your day, use as a memo board, or get creative.
Hanging Drying Rack Suspended from the ceiling using a seamless pulley system and crafted from timber and aluminum, our pulley maid clothes dryer is an economical, and environmental way to dry and air clothing.
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It did not take long before it caught the eyes of buyers overseas and their ecommerce website now ships globally, with America quickly becoming their biggest market. It was for this reason they set up a warehouse in Idaho to handle all of their US distribution. Despite their early success and resulting growth, George & Willy have managed with a relatively small team of nine due to their lean operation model and unlike most brands that follow seasonal drops and chase trends they continue to pave their own way, releasing new products when it’s right for them. Their goal is to help people become proud of their businesses. They feel that your business is an extension of yourself, people need to be inspired when they walk into a space. George & Willy have found a niche in display solutions and creative signage for boutique businesses and their plan is to keep focusing on making their customers stoked and become the best in the world at what they do. Words by Guy Jansen.
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Julie Gursha After spending six years in Portland, Oregon where she worked as a creative producer for Wieden+Kennedy on projects with some of the biggest brands in the world, Julie left America last year and has been residing in New Zealand since where she has been able to persue her love of photography. She has taken full advantage of the countries beauty, establishing herself as one of the leading landscape and adventure photographers. She travels the country working with outdoor brands, exploring their relationships with nature and helps them tell their stories. Here she shares some of her favourite locations with us and shows us why New Zealand is so special to her. www.juliegursha.com @jgursh
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Lewis Pass Take a track to the tops of Lewis Pass on a clear day and you will not be disappointed. On this day in particular, it was cold and windy and our faces felt like they were going to freeze off. But the 360 degree views are so worth it and absolutely insane.
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Burke’s Pass On route to Lake Tekapo. A clear evening was a great excuse to pull over and take a photo of our van. Nothing better than traveling by campervan around New Zealand.
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Haast Pass One of my favorite places to date in New Zealand. The picturesque Brewster Hut is surrounded by mountain peaks every which way. It was such a privilege to watch the sky change rapidly from the time the sun began to set to when we finished making dinner.
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Haast Pass (cont.) With every bed taken in the iconic red hut, we decided to sleep in our tent for a little more peace & quiet. Although my toes nearly froze in the night, it was worth waking up to the sounds of keas in the morning before sunrise.
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The Catlins At the very south of the South Island of New Zealand, you’ll find some of the most rugged & wild gravel roads leading to incredibly remote & untouched beaches. Feels like a scene from Jurassic Park.
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Opening in late 2014, Native & Co emerged from a desire for high quality and discretely designed homeware by two London based product designers, Sharon Jo-Yun Hung and Chris Yoshiro Green, originally from Taiwan & Japan. Seven years on, Native & Co continues to select household items from specialist workshops and individual craftsmen across Japan. Showcasing regional specialities, through a code of craftsmanship and aesthetical quietness. We had a chance to sit down with Sharon to discuss the importance of Native & Co, their history, relationships with suppliers and much more. Interview Guy Jansen
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Outpost: What was life like before found the answer which is Native consultancy Né Studio. Native & Co and how did the & Co. company come together? Né in Japanese means origin and foundation. O.P:Tell us about the company In general Chris is the creative eye Sharon Hung: Before we started and what your roles are there? for the company, and I’m the brain Native & Co, it was like a journey which pulls everything together. searching for purpose in life. We both had great passions for craft, S.H: Chris and I both studied O.P: It has been seven years design and objects, and we needed Product Design from Central Saint since launching Native & Co, to find a purpose to pull everything Martins. During our studies Chris congratulations! When you together. We have always been was very interested in seamless launched did you anticipate how intrigued by the idea of origin and details which blends with the the company would have evolved natural materials, and we both care surrounding environment. I was and grown in this time? a lot about where the products are more drawn into designing using made, the materials they are from natural forms of materials such as S.H: During these years Native & and how it is made. Therefore wood, ceramics and iron. Therefore Co has grown organically. When we started this journey from our after setting up Native & Co, we first launched Native & Co, we own origins which are Japan and with our spare time which is very were hoping to eventually move Taiwan, and eventually we have little, we started our own design & on to filling up the store with
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our own designs over the years. The pandemic and lockdown has really given us a clear vision to focus on launching our own design collections under Né studio. O.P: We would love to hear about the relationships you have built with the craftsmen whose products you stock.
working with these young craftsmen, they often come to us with inspiration and feedback on how to adapt and alter these traditional crafts to make it more accessible for everyday use.
S.H: In Japanese, ‘Shokunin’ is roughly translated as craftsmen. A shokunin means one who is devoted to the mastery of a skill. Throughout the years working with different shokunin, we have come to appreciate and admire O.P: How did you find their focus on a specific skill / craft. approaching stockist from Japan and internationally? In general all shokunin are very focused and devoted to what they S.H: We find the way working in do, but in more recent years we Japan is very different from the came to realise there is a younger west. In Japan when approaching generation of craftsmen which a maker is all about building trust. are emerging in the Japanese We often get rejected initially by craft industry. This young group the makers as they perceived us as of shokunin are adventurous and a ‘foreign company’. We often have open-minded, and they want to to visit them in person during our adapt and share the craft with the trips to Japan, in order to open that world. We find it very interesting door of communications. OUTPOST | 74
O.P: Introducing such wonderful products to England and Europe, how did you find the initial reception from consumers? S.H: It was a little bit difficult at first introducing Japanese products into the UK/EU.Through out many years of trials and errors, we come to find a balance between Japanese
design and western use. One of the key issue is that Japanese products tend to be too small for our local customers. The size of the bowls, the size of the slippers, and even the size of the cups. After years of searching, we have come to find the right balance, and we often reflect these customer feedbacks to our japanese makers, and we always encourage them to scale up the size in order to suit western customers. O.P: Has the Notting Hill Store always been your home in London? S.H: We’ve always liked Notting Hill for its quiet atmosphere, which we think matches with Native & Co’s ethos on having objects quietly and seemlessly blending with the surrounding environments.
O.P: Unfortunately retail in the UK has had to withhold trading for the better part of a year, how
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O.P: What have been some of the most popular items sold throughout the Lockdowns? S.H: The most popular items have been from our Japanese specialty kitchenwear. Such as the Japanese cooper omelette pan, Japanese clay pots and pestle and mortar. During the lockdown our customers started to experimenting with cooking more traditional Japanese meals. O.P: What is on the horizon for Native & Co? S.H: We are focusing on growing our own design range and more on Né studio which is something we have wanted to do throughout the years but always had too little time to work on. Currently we are working with one of our crafts men which he specialises in glass cutting and we are designing a set of glass wear, the theme of the project is called emptiness. Starting from there we are hoping to work with some of our existing makers and also to bring out our have you found this has affected more with home cooking, having own design. As well as few different your business, have you seen a really nice kitchen and tablewear. table ware design projects. boom in ecomm ? S.H: The pandemic has really change the focus of our business, we have been lucky throughout the lockdown. I think the fashion industry as a whole has suffered hugely because people are going out less so they don’t really have those fancy occasions to dress nicely. I fell customers are shifting more towards being at home and having a more healthy life style. We had a boom in ecommerce which we hope to maintain after lockdown finishes. We think the lockdown has given our customers a new perspective in life, how to enjoy yourself at home, experimenting
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O.P: If you could only pick one item that you sell to use on a daily basis, what item would that be and why? S.H: It would be our cast iron pot, I think it’s always an all-time classic. A Japanese cast iron pot is great for cooking, especially towards the winter months. We are having Japanese hotpots and stews, warm and hearty dishes, it’s always a really good piece to add to your kitchen also you can put it in the oven.
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The Purist Futurelight Jacket Lightweight and wholly capable, our Purist FUTURELIGHT™ Jacket offers major stretch for maximum mobility and features pass-through zippers in chest pockets for easy access to midlayer pockets. RRP £490 www.thenorthface.co.uk
The Black Series Three-Layer Futurelight Vest Drawing on there deep mountain sport knowledge they’ve combined high-tech performance fabrics with an urban cut to bring you the Black Series Three Layer Vest. Made from there ground-breaking FUTURELIGHT™ fabric, it delivers unrivalled breathable waterproof protection. Gear loops, mesh side panels and webbing adjustments on the sides and back give it an outdoor aesthetic. RRP £550 www.thenorthface.co.uk
Men’s Brigandine Futurelight Bib Trousers Breathable-waterproof FUTURELIGHT™ bibs with FuseForm construction allow you to move more freely while keeping you protected when freeriding and skiing in tough-toaccess backcountry powder stashes. RRP £590 www.thenorthface.co.uk
Speedtour Stretch Jacket The Speedtour Stretch Jacket is what you want on when actively pushing to the summit. It features WindWall™ technology to block out cold winds; it’s stretchy yet durable and seamless shoulders make carrying a backpack more comfortable. Reflective detailing ensures you’ll stay visible in headtorch beams during night-time excursions. For optimum moisture and temperature management, we recommend combining our Speedtour products. RRP £125 www.thenorthface.co.uk OUTPOST | 78
Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero X Camber Splitboard Hometown Hero X Splitboard is their lightest split model. Its lightweight build and Methlon base lighten your load to explore further, while their Split Channel mount is the most reliable system in the splitboard game. The directional shape floats in powder and offers plenty of pop when you need it. RRP £1250 www.burton.com
DB Journey The Hugger 30L Backpack The Hugger 30L has the utility of a duffel with the features of a smart backpack. Our iconic bestseller is now enhanced with a durable pressed E.V.A. front panel, giving it a refined look while maintaining incredible durability. This cabin friendly carry-on loyally follows you anywhere you want to go. RRP £159 www.dbjourney.com
Burton Hitchhiker Splitboard Binding A revolution in splitboardspecific performance, the Burton Hitchhiker Splitboard Binding pairs the easiness of Spark R&D’s Tesla T1 System baseplate with exclusive features like the Hammockstrap and Supergrip Capstrap, both featuring the speed and strength of Double Take buckles. RRP £450 www.burton.com
DB Journey The Douchebag Snow Roller The best designed ski and snowboard bag on the market. Combining lightweight materials, length-adjustability and smart storage solutions, the awardwinning Douchebag has redefined traveling with ski or snowboard gear. RRP £229 www.dbjourney.com
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Snugpak | The Softie® Expansion 4 Built-in deployable side baffle, to allow for more room. The Softie® Expansion sleeping bag has a unique expanding system called the EEP (Elasticated Expander Panel), this allows the user the option to make the bag wider when required. You can do this to give yourself more room to move or to help cool the bag allowing you to regulate your body heat for a more comfortable night’s sleep. RRP £114.95 www.snugpac.com Suunto | 9 Baro Titanium The all-new Suunto 9 Baro Titanium is a premium upgrade of the brand’s flagship sports watch, the Suunto 9, designed for the most demanding outdoor sports and adventures. Highlighted features include an intelligent GPS system for optimal battery management, comprehensive weather tracking features and 80+ pre-built sport modes including hiking, skiing and mountain biking with customizable screens providing unlimited options for in-activity views. RRP £539 www.suunto.com
Snow Peak | Takibi Fire & Grill The most durable, well-designed and packable fireplace on the market. This fireplace makes a campfire possible anywhere with an outdoor grill attachment, serving as the foundation for amazing customization. Set includes Grill Net, Grill Bridge, Pack & Carry Fireplace L, Baseplate, and Carrying Case. RRP £343 www.snowpeak.co.uk
DISSIM | Inverted soft flame lighter. The world’s first lighter designed for upright and inverted use. Low temperature candle flame, patent-pending circle grip, adjustable flame, angled flame port.
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RRP £35 www.dissim.com
Snugpak | Travelite Sleeping Mat Full The Travelite sleeping mat full is designed to provide extra comfort, selfinflating, non-slip sleeping mat. Light, comfortable and compact, this mat is a convenient way to get a good night’s sleep when travelling. RRP £74.95 www.snugpac.com
Herschel | Little America Backpack A popular mountaineering silhouette, the Herschel Little America™ backpack elevates an iconic style with modern functionality. Padded and fleece lined 15” laptop sleeve, Front pocket with hidden zipper and key clip, Internal media pocket and Contoured shoulder straps and air mesh back padding RRP £95 www.herschelsupplyco.co.uk Nambu Tekki |Cast Iron Pot Nambu Tekki ironware is renowned for its durability, heat retention and austere design. The iron is subject to various processes to prevent rusting, such as baking the ironware in charcoal to create an inner oxide film and further coating the surface with urushi lacquer. The 400 yearold tradition was officially certified as a Traditional Craftwork of Japan in recent decades and it continues to be revered for its enduring beauty and practicality. RRP £145 www.nativeandco.com
Snow Peak |Entry Pack TT Designed with space for the whole family, the Entry Pack TT is the ideal set for any outdoor adventure. The Entry Pack TT combines the Vault Tent with the Amenity Tarp Hexa for the ultimate car camping set-up. With space for four, the tent and tarp can be used together as a full set or separated for additional modularity. Use the tent for sleeping, and the tarp area for gathering and cooking. The tent’s arch frame consists of color-coded pieces to ensure easy setup for first-time use. The compact tarp acts as a shade on warm days and shelter from unexpected rain or wind. We recommend pairing with the Entry Pack TT Mat & Sheet Set for additional comfort and protection. RRP £570 www.snowpeak.co.uk OUTPOST | 81
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