This blog post is sponsored by Sierra.
It’s almost a crime not to partake in winter activities here in Alaska. There are a lot of activities I’ve done over the nearly 15 years I’ve lived here, including: snowshoeing, sledding, skate skiing, classic skiing, ice skating, broom-ball, and even curling!
Usually once or twice a year Cullen wants to go downhill skiing, but I’ve never done it with him. I used to ski in high school occasionally and took lessons, but I haven’t done it since then, and I’ve always wanted to go! It has just never worked out, so I decided it was time to change that and rent some skis myself this time and do some skiing. Plus, we have a really nice ski slope right here in Anchorage, so it seems like a crime not to go with it being so accessible.
Since it has been years since I’ve been downhill skiing, I did not have any of the right gear, so it was time to buy some pieces that I could use for the occasion. I didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg buying expensive skiing gear since I only go a few times a year, so I was happy to find some really affordable pieces at Sierra as I know they have top brands for the outdoors that are 20-60% less than department and specialty stores.
I wanted some snow pants that were warm and insulated because I always get cold outside, and I couldn’t pass up this hot pink color! How fun are these?! I can also use these when I go sledding with the kids (which we just did last weekend). Sadly, it looks like the hot pink pair is sold out (which is why you shouldn’t wait to buy an item if you see something you like!) but there is this hot pink pair that is very similar. There is also this teal pair in the same style I have, or there is a black version if you prefer something a little more subtle.
I have quite a few winter jackets because ahem. . .it is Alaska, but I wanted a proper ski jacket, so I snagged this ski jacket for 71% off the retail price. Say what?! I am all about a steal, so I was stoked to find this so deeply discounted. I was okay spending a little bit more on a jacket because I can wear it out-and-about–even while running errands on the weekend.
If you like a little bit of fun color in your jacket, be sure to check out this one. Or if you want a classic black color with some additional warmth, grab this one.
Finally, I got this super cute cable-knit hat that I couldn’t pass up! It was very warm, not itchy, and fits great. I also thought about getting this black hat that is very similar.
It was so fun to strap those skis on again and do some downhill skiing. Thankfully it came back like riding a bike, but I did stick to the easy to medium difficulty runs for the time being–no black diamonds for me. Ha!
I will always say having the right gear makes all the difference, and I love that I was able to get them for a fraction of the price from Sierra’s website. And they have a lot more than just ski-related items; they also have apparel and footwear for running, hiking, yoga, and camping. I have linked my exact pieces from Sierra below as well as some similar items. If you see something you like, I’d grab it right away since items sell out quickly!
