We caught up with mountain bike team rider Mads Makken Haugen in-between some early season downhill sessions at his local resort of Hafjell, Norway.

Makken out product testing at the Nesbyen Freeride event in April. Photo by Arild Brun Kjeldaas.

What do you like best about all the new Sweet Protection products?
I like the balance between a really good fit and great protection. The products seem to have it both!

How has your involvement in product development been?
I have been especially involved with the Fixer Fullface helmet. It´s been so fun to follow the product development, starting with an idea and some sketches, and now, I am riding with the helmet. Ståle (Head of Design and Development) has got some insane skills, that´s for sure.

Makken talking tech at Kristiansand, Norway, last weekend.

So, what are your plans for the season?
I just wanna ride tons and make some sick edits. I´ve also got some stuff planned that I still wanna keep a secret, but you will for sure notice it when it´s dropped… Actually I also got some stuff planned for my home spot, 2975 Vang, Norway (http://www.vang.kommune.no/handlers/bv.ashx/i1d5d8b1f-6cc5-482e-b8ff-d8ddc5324961/flyfoto.jpg) that´s gonna be way sick.

We´ve heard rumors about a new bike sponsor, your´re stoked on your new ride?
Yeah, you have no idea! Riding for Trek this season gives me the opportunity to ride the best bike in every category, which makes different things a lot more fun. Its by far the lightest and stiffest bike I’ve ever ridden. I have set it up the best way for my style of riding, and there´s no way I wanna ride something else.

Makken doing 360, Terje Håkonsen follows close behind. Location: Lillehammer, Norway. Photo by Vegard Breie.

What´s your favorite place to ride?
I´ve got different favorite spots for different kinds of riding. For dirts and jumps I would rate Santa Cruz. When I wanna ride my big bike it´s for sure Hafjell Bike Park. For just pure fun, on and off the bike, I would go for Andreu´s Place.

Any thing else you would like to say, Makken?
Every bike rider should check out the Sweet Protection products! They´re just made perfect for riding. I love to have pads that stay put and don’t move when you really need them during a crash. I love to have t-shirts, flannels and pants with a good fit when I am riding, and not have to think about my handlebars getting caught or stuck. Enjoy the ride, everyone!

Check out all the new Sweet Protection mountain products at www.sweetprotection.com/mountain-bike.

The Fixer Fullface MTB helmet is a carbon fiber beast with incredible performance and ultra low volume and weight.
Answer the three questions below about our brand new helmet, and it could be yours.

Send your answers to newsletter@sweetprotection.com, or comment on this post, by March 21st. Amongst everyone that answers, we will pick one lucky winner.

The questions:
1) What is the weight of a Fixer Fullface?
2) What is MIPS?
3) What is CRP?

Hint: http://www.sweetprotection.com/mountain-bike/helmets-protection/?p=fixer-fullface&pid=350

Good luck,
The Sweet Protection Crew

We are proud to introduce a brand new collection of mountain bike helmets, protection equipment and technical clothing. Our new mountain bike gear is all about the fun and freedom of mountain biking – the gnarly winding mountain trails, the whoop-de-doos, the dirt jumps and hitting the streets with your best buddies. It’s about sharing the moment, not beating your opponent.

Product testing at Oppdal:

Three years in the making
With heart, talent and attitude we create the best equipment possible, and with this collection our product know-how has been put to a test. After three years of extensive research and development, exploring the best materials and the most advanced construction methods available, we are proud to present some of the lightest, strongest and best-looking mountain bike helmets and protection equipment out there.

Our technical mountain bike clothing comes with functional and comfortable jackets, jerseys and shorts, and offers total freedom of movement. The jerseys and the shorts are all made from a durable all-way stretch, anti allergenic, moisture wicking material. When it gets chilly or wet, slip into one of our jackets and keep on riding.

Team riders Terje Håkonsen (helmets and protection) and Mads Makken Haugen shredding at the Hafjell Bike Park:

Check out all the new products at http://www.sweetprotection.com/mountain-bike/

things to do in austria when snowed in

snow-remove utility

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Sweet team-shoot, producing like never before, having a day off due to too much snow. Too much snow… Too much snow. hahaha

Heading west next week with Åsmund, getting ready for trying our luck once again in the Freeride World Tour.

That’s something else..

Stay tuned, and I’ll keep you posted

Hi all,
As a lot of freeskiers in Europe, I’m also waiting the snow … and it seams the “White Gold” doesn’t want to land on Earth …
Hopefully I was traveling to Argentina !! My last powder run was in September !!

Click on the image to see it !!

Enjoy, and more news SOON !!

Happy Mati

Developing amazing equipment with new, innovative, functional and technical solutions that makes life on the mountain even more exciting, that’s what we´re all about. Here’s a quick introduction to the 2012 winter collection.

Helmets and Protection
Stronger, lighter, better! We’re proud to present a new hardware collection with improved performance, as well as new colors, details and graphics. This year you’ll see the biggest improvement on our Ramblers. In addition to awesome new colors and graphics, we’ve revised the front area with a small lip. The geometry of the lip reinforces the front area making it stiffer, which provides better support for your goggles. To top it off, we’ve made an embossing for a new metal label.

The new Rambler helmet.

The Rooster LE’s have also been updated with a new TEPEX carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic shell, which together with the Trooper LE, provides the pinnacle of performance. The Rooster LE comes in either black natural carbon with black leather, or pearl silver anodized fibers with white leather. Light or dark, good or bad, it’s up to you!

Technical Clothing, Resolution Series
Resolution represents the ultimate in performance, it´s functional clothes for the roughest conditions. By combining the experience of our team with the skills of our designers, who are armed with the most advanced 3D software, choose the best materials and processes, and use the most advanced production machinery, the chances are you’ll end up with something great. Everything in the Resolution series is about performance, and
now it performs even better than before. We’ve kept what’s working, and improved some styles based on team feedback. The colors are bright and poppy to make you stand out on the mountain, and this time you’ll find some really cool combinations!

The all new 2012 Crusader Jacket.

Sweet Autonomy
The Autonomy collection is 100% governed by our team of park players. We’ve upgraded some of the styles to make them even better, and we’ve launched a bunch of new colors. Choose colors that pop, a crazy colored pant to complete your outfit, or tone it down with darker shades. There’s never been so many cool combinations.

The new Hammer Jacket.

No matter what mother nature throws at you, you’re guaranteed to stay dry and
comfortable, making any day in the park, regardless of the weather, awesome.

Enjoy all the products at www.sweetprotection.com.

Valle Hermoso, Argentina, AUgust 2011.

I was super lucky to be one of the guest of Seb Michaud, famous french Freeskier.

Since 3 years, the Seb Michaud Invitacion is an event that takes place between Chile & Argentina, in the Andes.
The goal is to spend 10 days in a camp in the middle of the mountains, far from the civilization, and use our 3 sleds to shred some lines and enjoy the Pow.

Unfortunately, we have to spend some nights in some really cold temperatures ( -25°C outside, about -20°C inside ! )
As I couldn’t get a warm sleeping bag before I left France, I had to customize one.

@Dom Daher

Here is the result !

As a first layer, I was using my Nutshell Jacket.
Then, my shity sleeping bag ….
On top that, I needed my super warm Sinner Jacket.
To make sure my legs were not cold, I putted my Crusader Jacket around my legs.

Here we go, the Super Custom Sweet Protection sleeping bag is born !!!

I’ll drop you some amazing pics of the trip very soon

Keep riding the mountains for ever

Mati

Hi All !!

A quick post to tell you a bit of my trip in SOuth AMerica.
I got here a week ago, and and the snow conditions are allright.

We just a weel in Las Lenas, Argentina, who was hosting the Red Bull Powder Disorder, which is the first stop of the Freeskiing World Tour.

Unfortunately, I was victim of a judgement mistake …. that happens …

www.Keith-Carlsen.com

I landed one of my biggest run ever in Freeride Comps !!
360 Japan to enter the venue, then a nice mute on my second jump. I backslapped my 360 mute on the third jump. Then Reverse mute, critical on the other cliffs. I finished my run with a nice Cork 7, perfectly landed ….
Despite this run, the judges saw me crashing 2 times … maybe too much alcohol the day before ???
Whatever, they had to apologize about their mistake the day after

That’s all good to be hungry and motivated for the 2nd in Ski Arpa, CHile !!

Stay tuned, I’ll drop you some more news during the week !!