Spring has sprung … at least that’s what it looks like through my office window and within a four block radius of my house.
Despite the fact that the province is under another mandated stay-at-home order, I hope you’re all still fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the space around your homes for fresh air and exercise. Luckily that’s all the space you’re going to need to take part in our next challenge with The North Face where two lucky individuals will receive a new pair of VECTIV™ footwear!
VECTIV™ is a brand new footwear technology from The North Face. The shoes are based around a one-piece 3D plate that stretches all the way from the toe to the heel of the shoe. This plate is designed to turn every bit of energy that’s put into it, into momentum to help propel you forward. That’s technology that can benefit anyone from a casual once-a-month hiker, all the way up to an ultra-marathon runner.
At this point you’re probably asking me to cut to the chase and tell you how you can win a pair of these sweet shoes. Well, the process is pretty simply and designed to be easy to complete on the trails, sidewalks and roads around where you live. As an added bit of motivation, the more you move, the more chances you have to win! Just follow these simple steps.
- Join The North Face Blue Mountain Strava Group
- Track all your running, walking or hiking activities from May 10 to June 6 using the Strava app
- You’ll earn one entry in the final draw for every 1 km of running, walking or hiking you track each week, up to a maximum of 10 entries per week
- If you want to mark those weeks on the calendar, they are May 10-16, May 17-23, May 24-30 and May 31 to June 6
- At the end of the contest, we’ll pick two winners from all entries to receive a new pair of VECTIV™ footwear from The North Face Blue Mountain!
Looking for more inspiration to get moving? Check out some of our local friends who have already had a chance to put VECTIV™ to the test!
Melissa Kurtin
Hometown:
Collingwood, Ontario
How would you classify your hiking style?
I am what I like to call forced fitness. One of my dogs needs a large amount of exercise so would I likely run or hike 30-50km a week without her, survey says no. I begrudgingly drag my feet thinking how much I don’t want to wake up early to do this, but then as soon as I step on the trail with the happiest four-legged sidekick, I reset and enjoy every moment of our jogs/hikes.
Favourite trail or trail network?
Duncan Caves in the summer, and the Dougie’s Own Trail in the winter.
Must-haves for every hike or run?
Poop-N-Scoop Bags, Camelback (I get super thirsty, and I can siphon the hose end to pull out water, so my dogs treat it like the garden hose and can drink from it) and Butter Tart (because Duncan Caves is practically next to Ravenna Country Market)
How did you get into hiking or trail running?
When I moved to Collingwood in my 20’s I only really knew the weekend warrior life, where I would come up on weekends from December to April to snowboard. For me it was a good way to get out and explore my new found home. The vast majority of my friends are outdoorsy people so it just became a natural thing to spend our after-work hours going for a hike in the summer or snowshoe in the winter. Working at Blue made it an easy lunch time activity to hike up Cascade. The addition of the above mentioned energetic doggo meant exploring more trails, as neither of us really enjoy pavement.
What are your activity goals for this summer?
In the words of Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod – “Keep Fit and Have Fun”
Olivia Arden
Hometown:
Collingwood, Ontario
How would you classify your hiking style?
Trail Run
Favourite trail or trail network?
Bruce Trail
Must-haves for every hike or run?
Water, my running vest, Apple Watch, band-aids!, and pink lemonade energy chews
How did you get into hiking or trail running?
Growing up in an outdoors-loving family, I was introduced to the beauty of nature at a young age and that love deepened as I grew older. Keeping healthy and fit has always been important to me. My favourite activities include running and hiking, so all the more reason to combine the two while being able to explore this stunning area of Ontario on the vast trail networks!
What are your activity goals for this summer?
To run more of the Bruce trail! My fiancé and I started running segments in August 2020, and our goal is to run the entirety of the trail. 118.5 km so far!
Katelyn Bennett
Hometown:
Wasaga Beach, Ontario
How would you classify your hiking style?
Light Hike (or Big Mountain)
Favourite trail or trail network?
Stawamus Chief, Squamish, BC. Closer to home would be the Peninsula section of the Bruce Trail between Wiarton and Tobermory.
Must-haves for every hike or run?
Definitely my Camelback filled with lots of water and snacks. This hiker gets hangry and stressed without her snacks! Gotta always wear a hat because hats are my thing. And last but certainly not least, sunscreen. In the wise words of Baz Luhrmann “Wear Sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.”
How did you get into hiking or trail running?
My parents have always been outdoor people, so I grew up in the outdoors and have been camping as young as a baby. As a family we camped coast to coast across Canada, which of course by camping so often, it was certain we were going to explore the hiking trails along the way. Moving out west to BC definitely helped as well in terms of getting in to hiking. Once you do the first hike and reach the peak of an enormous mountain to the most breathe taking views, it’s hard to stop after that!
What are your activity goals for this summer?
Same as every summer, get outside as much as possible! Between, hiking, biking, camping or being out on the water in my kayak, there is never a shortage of things to do outside (even in the midst of a pandemic). As soon as the hiking trails at Blue Mountain open, I’d like to also hike every trail on the map.
Dan Hughes
Hometown:
Collingwood, ON
How would you classify your hiking style?
So this depends on who I’m with really. For the last couple of years I have found myself either hiking with a child on my back if I’m with my family or trail running if I’m solo. When going on a family hike I would say that we are fairly moderate when it comes to speed. Now when I’m solo I would say trail running for sure! There is not much better that running through the forest.
Favourite trail or trail network?
My favourite trail network right now is the one at Blue. It’s super close and with the new trails I’ve been able to explore more of than every.
Must-haves for every hike or run?
I’m a big “run in shorts” guy so tall trail socks are key (no poison ivy please!), my faithful Apple Watch, music depends on the day (some times the sounds of the forest is enough motivation), hip bag with water and depending on the length of trail I normally bring some fuel.
How did you get into hiking or trail running?
I have always been a cross country runner since I was in elementary school but as an adult I got back into that style of running after the “adventure race” boom. After doing a few obstacle races anywhere from 5km – 18km I realized that I just didn’t enjoy the obstacles as much as I like the adventure of the trail. After I did my first proper trail race I was hooked!
What are your activity goals for this summer?
With two young boys are home the goal is always get outside as much as possible, thankfully they love the outdoors as much as I do! That said my summer goal is to 250 km of trail runs/hikes until the leaves fall and explore more of the local areas networks.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Subject to the Official Rules available at https://www.bluemountain.ca/terms-and-conditions/social-contest-rules. The Challenge is void outside of the eligible territories (as detailed in Official Rules) and where prohibited or restricted by law. Challenge entry periods are: (1) May 10, 2021 from 12:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) through 11:59:59 p.m. ET on May 16, 2021; (2) May 17, 2021 from 12:00:00 a.m. ET through 11:59:59 p.m. ET on May 23, 2021; (3) May 24, 2021 from 12:00:00 a.m. ET through 11:59:59 p.m. on May 30, 2021; and (4) May 31, 2021 from 12:00:00 a.m. ET through 11:59:59 p.m. on June 6, 2021. LIMIT: Ten (10) entries per person or address (physical or email) per entry period. Prizes consist of (1) one pair of The North Face VECTIV™ shoes (model and size based upon availability) (estimated retail CDN$180-$270).