Helly Hansen

Travel report from our road trip in The Andes - Chile/Argentina (part 1) For the time being I'm sitting at hotell Portillo at about 3000 meters above sea level sipping on an espresso and watching the mountains getting snowed on. It's beautiful and relaxing, but at the same time exciting since its going to be cold and sunny tomorrow. I'm here with fellow team-mate Didrik Falck-Pedersen, his sister Karine, Morten Wangen, and Even Ofstad. Our guide from Southamericaski.com Mark Lasseter is here too. The trip over from Oslo was long and exhausting, but it was worth while. After settling in Santiago and sightseeing the town for a day we went to El Colorado - a resort 1,5 hour drive from Santiago. El Colorado is situated between two other resorts^ La Parva and Valle Nevado. El Colorado has the best out of bounds skiing of these three resorts. We got a van and a driver and did what they here call the road runs. You taket he lift all the way to the top and traverse to the backside of El Colorado viewing Valle Nevado. Last time it had snowed was 3 days ago, but still many of the chutes were untouched. The backside was lapsed a couple of times while our driver was at the bottom waiting tatt he bottom o take us back to the resort. We had heard alot of good things about Portillo - resort about two hours away from Santiago towards the Argentine border. After a down day, driving around in our rental van trying to fix Morten's skis, we packed all our stuff and headed towards Portillo. Here I felt like I saw the sweetest terrain I had ever seen. And the skiing out of bounds was so easily accessed. Just take the lift and traverse. Awesome! We found various depths of cold smokey powder, butt he skiing in general was great from a beautiful bluebird day. Our stay in Portillo is coming to an end. The next stop on the trip is to spend the night in a little town called Los Andes. On the way we will stop at a vineyard to "taste" some Chillenean wine, and perhaps, if the weather allows it, to go cat-skiing in Ski Arpa tomorrow. So do keep checking in hellyhansen.com for more updates. The net around the Andes is a bit unstable, but I'll do my best. Thank you again for letting me share! - Pedro and the rest of the crew.

Andrea Caracci goes back to the Ocean trought its main entrance: the Strait of Gibraltar. During this week the Helly Hansen team's athlete will take part to the Festival Dos Oceanos, a regatta to be run in double-handed reserved to the Mini 650 class. The route is made up of 4 steps, and will take Andrea and the Spanish Juan Carlos Oliva from Marsille to Lisboa, passing by Algesiras and Rabat. Juan Carlos bought the boat which won the last Transat with Yves De Blevec and needed a well prepared and competitive co-skipper like Andrea! Juan Carlos Oliva said: -I'm very happy to make this regatta with Andrea. For me it's a great opportunity to practise a type of boat which is new for me, with an exceptional teacher like him, with 4 years of experience and victories in his class.- The HH Team's athlete is going on with his project of his new boat designed by Sam Manuard for the next Transat and in the meantime has won with his old boat the Mini Solo Regatta in Sanremo. The Festival Dos Oceanos is a nice regatta, very interesting from a weather point of view. We will find changeable and demanding conditions!- says Andrea. -I go back to the Ocean but I'm not particularly worried, since it's not the Ocean that made me make a mistake, but just my shallownness in not considering the charges that had to support the backstay junction. (see two video made onboard during the Transat 650 in the second and fourth racing day: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=NO-MlPaLHGQ and http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=UAg1zo_tpO4 ) This regatta with Juan Carlos Oliva is stimulating since his Mini is one of the fastest prototypes and will give me the chance to test some new ideas for the new boat that I'm building. Moreover he needed my help to take place to this race. He is a beginner and according to the rules of the Mini he couldn't have raced in the long race of 700 miles without a co-skipper, who had already run the miles required for the qualification.-

Thomas Coville started in New York and crossed the line at Lizard Point in the UK, setting a new singlehanded transatlantic sailing record. Coville made the finish in a total time of 5 days, 19 hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds. This time beats Francis Joyon's record by several hours, and earns Coville bragging rights as the new man to beat. Helly Hansen has worked closely with Thomas towards this record attempt, and is the proud supplier of all the technical apparel needed to keep Thomas safe and dry during the crossing. Congratulations, Thomas!

Passion, snow, mountain, adventure: these are the principles that have inspired the action of Helly Hansen riders school, Whitexperience. This young affiliation managed by HH athlete, Ettore Personnettaz, involved a lot of riders and fans in the first freeride course, Carpe Diem, some beginners course and a nature trail on Mount Bianco. Whitexperience will be present also this summer by two snowboard camps: one in July at Les2Alpes in France and the other one in August at Zermatt in Switzerland. At the end of the summer there will be also some events of rafting, skateboard, down-hill and golf in Valle d'Aosta to advertise the HH school and this wonderful country. Helly Hansen marries the values of this affiliation (no drug, no alcol but wild mountain and snow) and it will dress the instructors starting from next july.

Team Wilsa Helly Hansen took home a great second place in the world championship series in Ireland. To read more, please check out www.sleepmonsters.com and www.theturas.com Congratulations to all team memebers! Well done!

Malcesine, July 13th The famous Garda Lake thermal breeze didn't show up in the last racing day, forcing Race Director Peter Reggio to put an end to the event. The fleet regatta is however valid, with four races completed including Saturday long distance DHL Trophy. As a consequence, Armando Giulietti's Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano, sponsored by Helly Hansen, conquers the title of Continental Champion. The Helly Hansen team confirms its good results from the beginning of the season and increases its lead in the RC 44 Championship Tour. Patrick de Barros' Banco Espirito Santo finishes second, ahead of Team Ceeref and Team Sea Dubai. The owner Armando Giulietti said: -Of course, we can be very happy. We have done three excellent races and have had a premature start in the first. It is a solid performance.- Two more events will take place before the end of the Championship Tour: the Trieste Cup, on October 7-11 and the Puerto Calero RC 44 Gold Cup, in Lanzarote, on December 10-14. MPZ Fleet-race, final results after 4 races: 1) HH Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano, Armando Giulietti, ITA - 6, 1, 2, 2 - 11 points 2) Team Banco Espirito Santo, Patrick de Barros, POR - 3, 2, 6, 1 - 12 points 3) Team Ceeref, Igor Lah, SLO - 4, 5, 1, 3 - 13 points 4) Sea Dubai, Joki Hellmich, UAE - 1, 3, 5, 4 - 13 points 5) Team Beecom, Isao Mita, JPN - 5, 4, 8, 5 - 22 points 6) BMW ORACLE Racing, Larry Ellison, USA - 2, 7, 9, 6 - 24 points Rc44 Champions Tour Overall Standing (after 4 legs) 1) HH Team Hiroshi-Città di Milano, Armando Giulietti, ITA - 83 pts. 2) Ceeref, Igor Lah, SLO - 110 pts. 3) Banco Espirito Santo, Patrick De Barros, POR - 112 pts.

"14th July at 1400 hours UT, after 5 days and 2 hours of racing, the trimaran Sodeb'O skippered by Thomas Coville was just 258 miles from completing the North Atlantic crossing record and had a 313 mile lead over the record set by Francis Joyon in 2005. The trimaran was making good speed towards the finish this afternoon at an average of 20 knots pushed by 10 to 15 knots of wind. Thomas may well cross the line between 0800 and 1200 UT. The trimaran will then head for the port of Brest where she will be welcomed at the end of the day, between 1600 and 2000 hours UT. However, the weather situation is likely to make things very tense for the tired skipper and his team of routers onshore, as the wind will drop in the coming hours. Currently due West the wind is right on his tail and had already forced Thomas to gybe several times last night, taking him away from the direct course but enabling him to maintain a good speed. These exhausting tacks to reposition himself on the course have nevertheless enabled him to save time in relation to the initial routing. Sodeb'O is set to round the SW tip of Ireland this evening, Monday 14th July 2008 at the end of the day. After that there will be some final tacks as far as Lizard Point (SW tip of England and the finish line of the North Atlantic record). Tonight, it's the same pattern of sailing as last night for Thomas Coville, namely some gybes in 10 to 15 knots of breeze. "He should go quicker than planned as there is more pressure" explained Thierry Douillard this afternoon, the latter a fine regatta sailor and member of the routing team who concluded "he still has a lot more work on his hands. He's really going to have to go and hunt down this record. As a result Thomas is working really hard and the weather conditions are favourable but not exceptional since the start". Setting out on Wednesday 9th July at 1147 UT from New York (Ambrose Light), Thomas Coville must cross the finish line tomorrow Tuesday 15th July before 1547 UT to beat Francis Joyon's record of 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds Text from Scuttlebutt Europe"

A very fine first day's sailing for Thomas Coville who is racking up the miles with the constancy of a metronome. 24 hours after leaving New York, the skipper of Sodeb'O has covered 546 miles and has a 192 mile lead over Francis Joyon's time in 2005. As forecast, Thomas Coville has benefited from relatively flat seas for the first 24 hours and a very steady 20 knot SW'ly. These conditions have enabled him to sail under full mainsail and small gennaker for the majority of the time. During the night, he reduced the sail area a little and hoisted the solent due to a large amount of shipping and a pea-souper fog which prevented the skipper from seeing either the top of the mast or the bow of the boat. Since he has got into deeper waters, the famous fog generated by the Nantucket banks has naturally lifted. Not only can the skipper see the horizon but he can also be seen and pinpointed, which will enable him to get a little rest. This will be very welcome as Thomas has only slept for short periods over the past 24 hours, with just two 20 minute catnaps. Over the next few hours, these stable conditions will last and the maxi trimaran may be able to round Cape Race by the end of Friday - the cape is the most E'ly point of the N! orth American continent and the last taste of land prior to the Atlantic crossing. Once there it will be a big run across the North Atlantic. To beat the record time achieved by Francis Joyon in 2005, Sodeb'O will have to cross Lizard Point (SW tip of England) prior to Tuesday 15th July, 1545 UT, but we should take the maxi trimaran's lead into consideration after just 24 hours. Indeed Francis set off relatively slowly but we know the end of the course to have been a perfect ride of 6 days 4 hours, one minute and 37 seconds, crowned by a solo 24 hour record of the time, that of 540 miles on the second day. Since then, the 24 hour record has developed. It has been beaten several times, notably by the self same Francis. The current record now stands at 619.3 miles and it is Thomas who has held this since January 2008. It should be noted that the WSSRC has validated Sodeb'O's start time: 9th July at 1147 hours UT. Text Scuttlebutt Europe

The gold in Match Cup Sweden went to French sailing star and Helly Hansen athlete, Claire Leroy. But the victory did not come easy. Young uprising Swedish sailor Anna Kjellberg really showed skill and spirit in the Finals series. Reigning Women's World Champion Claire Leroy and her HH Mermaid Sailing Team showed why they've dominated the women's game for nearly two years now, taking the top women's prize at Match Cup Sweden Saturday. In an otherwise all-Swedish field of Semi-Finalists, Leroy is the first non-Scandinavian to win this event. The team is always wearing Helly Hansen from top to toe when sailing! -This feels great. The team has done so well and Claire Leroy is a really experienced sailor. Tonight we are going to party!- the happy home skipper said. Clare Leroy continued: -It was really important for us to win the event, because the story of the team began here in 2003. We received an invitation to do the event, and I want with some friends of me. We did a bad result, but we did really good matches. So, we said that probably we had to build something serious, because we think that we could do something and win the event. So, we did, and since then you know the story. Since 2005 there hadn't been any women's event, so this year when they asked us to come for the women's match cup we accepted, and we said that this year we have to win this event. We had a big training in Sweden in june with the french men team, Linda Rahm, Jenny Axhede and some other teams. So we were more confident with the boat. During the race, we had a good Round Robin, we lost 2 matches. We arrived 2nd of the Round Robins . We had close matches, but we did some mistakes... After during the semifinal, we were very concentrate, we take good start. You know it was a day like when everything is easy... Linda Rahm did a good job, but we won 3 wins at 0. Afterwards we sailed against a local girl, the surprise of this event. Anna Keelberg. We had close matches, and all the public was in favour of them but we had the french open team, and they encouraged us a lot. And we won 3 Matches at once. That's really cool!-

Thomas Coville crossed the official start line for the single-handed North Atlantic record attempt Wednesday 9th July at 0747 hours local time, or 1147 UT (subject to confirmation from the WSSRC). The 105-foot maxi trimaran set off in a 16 knot SW'ly air flow which is set to fill rapidly to around twenty knots. To beat the record set by Francis Joyon in 2005, Thomas will have to cross the Atlantic at a hellish pace of less than 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds. "Maintaining the speed of the maxi Sodeb'O at an average of over 19.75 knots for 2,980 miles for nearly 6 days remains an achievable performance" commented the skipper, who is the 24 hour speed record holder aboard his maxi Sodeb'O, having covered619.3 miles at an average of 25.8 knots.

Thomas should cross the start line off Ambrose Light tomorrow morning, Wednesday 9th July, between 0600 and 1200 UT. On stand-by in New York since 19th May, the maxi Sodeb'O skippered by Thomas Coville, will leave Brooklyn Harbour this evening, Tuesday, prior to nightfall (local New York time) in order to position himself on the start line off Ambrose Light. Today's objective for the skipper of Sodeb'O is what he refers to as "a heavy week's work" since he'll have to reach Lizard Point (south-west tip of England) in less than 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds. This record was previously set by Francis Joyon aboard the trimaran Idec I in July 2005. View the video of Thomas recorded a few hours before leaving Brooklyn Harbour on the website sodebo-voile.com Download the PHOTOS, VIDEOS and SOUND from Thomas Coville directly from the press zone of the website www.sodebo-voile.com Follow all the latest news about the Trimaran Sodeb'O on the website www.sodebo-voile.com

The four final legs - from Inverness in the north, to Portsmouth in the South - became a thrill. The three boats started in Scotland leading the RB4 class, and were first and second in the RB3 class. The two 36 P1 SuperSport was also 1st. and 3rd. overall when the fleet started on the east coast. The four final legs - from Inverness in the north to Portsmouth in the South - should become a thrill... Skilful piloting and excellent navigation had given Team Sealbay in the 29 RIB Tender a confident lead leaving Inverness. The well tested concept of the 29 RIB Tender never let them down the way up north, and should again prove outstanding throughout the rest of race. Pilot Fredrik have been owning an other 29 RIB for a couple of season, and knew exactly how much to push the boat without taking to large risks. This resulted in a in an outstanding 9th place overall, and first in class - 2 hours and 25 minutes ahead of their closest competitor. Well done guys! While the boys in the well tested 29 could concentrate fully on the piloting and navigation, the two teams in the new 36 had two technical challenges that kept them from going full throttle. First of all the Yanmar engine mounts had proven to be too weak for racing. (yes we knew that, but the modified brackets was not ready in time...) Secondly, the Bravo I stern drives became too delicate when the boats where loaded with dead weight of more than one ton. The three teams got new engine mounts before they started on the east cost, and that problem was now out of the world, but the stern drives kept causing GuttaBoyz and Lionhead a lot of worries. Unfortunately for GuttaBoyz, their problems came in the beginning of the legs, and that ruined their chances in the overall. Team Lionhead on their side, broke one of the stern drives twice, but being much closer to the finish line, they could finish the leg without loosing too much time. The two 36 P1 SuperSport took two out of four wins down the cost to Portsmouth. Team GuttaBoyz took a prestigious last win on the final stage. They crossed the finish 60 seconds behind the Buzzi Techno 40 with twin 750 SeaTech, but got an on hour penalty because their went one the wrong side of the last buoy. Team Lionhead was in for an exciting finish. After winning the second last stage, they were in second position (behind GuttaBoyz) on the last leg to Portsmouth when one stern drive broke down again! Going 30 knots+ with one hour the last 25 nautical miles, the toughest competitors was passing us on our way towards the finish line. Luckily we only lost 12 minutes of our 32 minute lead, and crossed finish first in class, second overall! It has been a memorable two weeks, with some outstanding results. We would like to than all the teams that made this event to what is was, and to all the fantastic people in the organizing comity making this possible. Helly Hansen is a proud partner to this project and has supported the teams with offshore apparel to keep them warm and safe in all conditions - in addition to provide the boats with special made canapies and upholstery. Congratulations!

WELCHES, Oregon (June 30, 2008) - What is it about skiing? The Nimbus Independent crew tries to answer that question with the new release, "HUNTING YETI." This film showcases skiing that is more fun and enjoyable for everyone, more about fluidity and style than amplitude or quantity of rotations, it breaks from the norm of pro athletes hitting jump after jump with a couple contrived lifestyle segments, to producing a project that communicates what ski culture is and the community it creates. "HUNTING YETI" searches for the piece of mind and serenity that being in nature, the mountains and with your friends provides from the crazy, fast paced world. Follow the Nimbus Crew on their season long road trip, riding with like minded skiers and snowboarders, whether sponsored or not. From never ending pillow lines to epic sled missions in the backcountry, witness what it takes to make it happen. Not just the high fives and big smiles, but also relentless traveling, flat tires, broken sleds, fast food, early mornings and injuries. "HUNTING YETI" was shot in high-definition and features the sliding abilities of: Pep Fujas, Eric Pollard, Chris Benchetler, Ike Smith, Andy Mahre, and their friends. Throughout the season, the Nimbus crew met up and rode with: Dylan Hood, Bryce Phillips, Erin Valverde-Pollard, Sammy Carlson, Shin Campos, Garrett Russell, Griffin Cummings, Josh Frazier, Christian Sirianni and Tommy Ellingson. The Nimbus hunting ground consisted of: North Cascade Heli Skiing, Whistler, Ski Bowl, Timberline, Mt. Hood Meadows, Sonora, Cooke City, Mammoth Mountain, and Mount Saint Helens. Look for "HUNTING YETI" in stores and on the Poor Boyz Productions 2008 Film Tour featuring athlete appearances, free gear, poster signings and after parties. "HUNTING YETI" is presented by K2 Skis, produced by Nimbus Independent and in association with Poor Boyz Productions. Sharing the Nimbus vision on skiing would not be possible without the support of: K2 Skis, Helly Hansen, Oakley, Evogear.com, Tecnica, Marker, Dragon, Dakine, Bern, Rip.Tv and VAS Entertainment. Nimbus Independent would also like to thank our global media partners: Freeskier, Fri Flyt, Transition, Fall-Line Skiing, Skieur, Chill Factor, Charter, Bravoski, Raiders.ch, Freeskiers.net and Skizofrenia.com. Nimbus Independent is a new ski film company formed in the fall of 2007, by professional skier Eric Pollard. Eric shares a common viewpoint on skiing and filmmaking with fellow pro skiers Pep Fujas, Andy Mahre and Chris Benchetler. Together, four of the world's most influential skiers decided to set out and make ski films that represent the sport as they see it. They joined forces with long time friends Justin Wiegand and Ike Smith to help film and Gary Winberg to manage the business. The goal is simple, to help make skiing better. For more information on the crew, film and partners go to: www.rip.tv/nimbusindependent.

After the last spectacular races run in Marsille in strong weather conditions, the Transpac52s fllet will fight this week in Cagliari. This regatta will be the occasion for CXG Corporacion Caixagalicia, sponsored by Helly Hansen, to try to close the gap that separated it from the winner boats in the first two legs of Ausi Series. The serious crash of HH CXG, happened in Marsille, makes more difficult again its situation. HH CXG sailed next to first mark when the Russian boat impeded to HH boat to give priority to Mutua Madrilena so HH boat struk it hardly while it run to more than nine knots of speed. HH CXG lost almost all its bow and it has been forced to go to build to rebuild it. Chuny Bermudez, the helsman of HH Team: -The boat is really and hardly damaged. We are working hard to arrive to race in Portals in time at the end of July. We have chartered an other boat to run in Cagliari this week so we is working also in bring this charter boat (ex-Artemis 2007) and put everything ready to the race. We will be happy to return to race with another competitive boat.- Vincent Tirado, HH CXG owner, says: - Chuny has wanted repeatedly to be here to achieve some points for the series standing. The charter is a Transpac designed with helm bar, it's very different from the two wheels that normally he used. We are very pleased with this rapid solution and especially I want thanking the crew of TAU and Javier Banderas, who gave us the opportunity to continue scoring in the circuit (the boat was present to first two legs with the name of TAU Ceramica)-. Good job guys and we'll hope that Eolo recompense your efforts! MPZ

Field Productions blew minds with their movie last year. This year looks like it will once again step up the level of skiing, their quality of film making and the pure beauty of the sport. Check out their teaser and Helly Hansen athlete, PK Hunder, at http://www.fieldproductions.com