Freeski icon Mark Abma and Outdoor Research launch the exclusive Multicam Alpine Skytour Ascentshell Collection. Photos :: Blake Jorgenson.
Most young freeskiers learned this lesson the hard way, usually after a photographer or filmer berated them. “How am I supposed to shoot someone wearing a jacket that blends into the background?”
Forest green outerwear was immediately out, same with sky blue. And for decades, most shred stars have opted for a colourful kit that pops on camera, especially in the low light of a snowstorm.
Mark Abma is going the opposite direction.
A two-decade-plus veteran freeskier with more than 20 iconic video parts and pages and pages of magazine coverage, Abma says he’s appreciating blending in a bit more these days. And he has the right kit for the job—a military-inspired, snow camo suit he designed with Outdoor Research: the Multicam Alpine Skytour Accentshell jacket and bib pants.
“The Sky Tour is a proven garment and it was perfect for staying dry and warm, even on big 16-hour days. I wore it all last year—BC, Cali, Nevada, Jackson, Japan and then wrapped the season up in Chatter Creek,” Abma says just days before the official start of ski season. “I wanted to try a suit that felt like I was more a part of the environment. Rather than bright colours that stood out, I wanted something that blended in. It changed how I felt out there—I kinda went into stealth mode and developed a sort of ‘swift, silent, and deep’ mentality.”
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That tactical-inspired mindset grew from the garments themselves, which use a proprietary fabric—the Multicam Alpine print—that’s only available to partners of the US Special Forces.
“One of my favourite things about Outdoor Research is they are based in Seattle,” Abma says, “so they understand the west coast climate and how to stay warm and dry in the mountains. The other thing is it’s easy for me to head down to their sales meetings and at one of them I met the team designing the OR tactical gear.
I was enthralled by the technical nature of what they do and the gear they had, but they had a tight, tapered fit—they are mostly walking around, not skiing. I asked if we could take what they have going and make it more suitable for what we do in the mountains? Everyone was into it, and then some leftover fabric came available, and now we have 125 of these awesome suits.”
Some of the shred alterations include a looser fit, bib pants to reduce snow going down your back on big snow days, the pant cuffs also include a power-strap slot to better secure them to your boots.
“If you spend much time bootpacking or post-holing in deep snow, you know that your pant cuffs can eventually get pushed up and snow gets in your boots.” Abma explains. “This way, the cuffs are always secure and your feet stay warm and dry. A bib pant with suspenders allow the pants to wear a bit lower without getting that waistline hanging off your ass look. And the bib pocket is the perfect spot for my transceiver.”
But, as a professional athlete in the mountains all season, did the camo, blended-in look translate to less usable photos and video?
“I was a bit worried about that, but no! The kit has dark sleeves and shoulders so that was enough for me to pop in the photos. The colours definitely seem to match nicely with the rocks in the alpine here in the coast range, but we got great shots.”
Abma says he’s been spending a lot of time boating on Howe Sound this autumn and has been scoping potential lines to hit and “take advantage of those early season cold snaps we get. Get some more local laps with the ocean in the background. Then I’ll work my way north and follow the snow.
It looks like a good start to the year so far and I’m ready to go. This kit feels incredibly natural and intuitive, I love the sensation of moving through the mountains in stealth mode.”
Mark Abma—you won’t see him, until you see him ripping.
Outdoor Research only produced 125 Multicam Alpine Skytour Accentshell kits which are now available online at Outdoor Research and at the Outdoor Research Flagship Store in Seattle, WA. MSRP $499 (jacket) and $499 (bibs).
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