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We all know (and secretly love) the Snuggie. You know, that weird fleece blanket/robe that they advertise on late night television where the actors look like cult members? While it’s easy to hate on the Snuggie, I think it’s safe to say that deep down inside, we all think it’s a great idea. Who doesn’t want to curl up in a cozy blanket in front of the TV and zone out?

On that note, I introduce The Thuggie.

About 6 months ago, I came across The Thuggie on twitter. I’d tweeted about a tower of pink Snuggies in Wal Mart and The Thuggie replied back. Our beautiful and lively Twitversation lasted a month or so before I actually came face to face with The Thuggie – and its PR maven Kim Bowie – during the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

So, what is a Thuggie? It’s essentially an oversized hoody that reaches down passed your knees. It is inspired by a breed of steezy park rats who can be found jibbing features in ski resort terrain parks nationwide – but most prolifically in Whistler, BC. These kids wear tall tees and baggy pants. They are cool.

Clothing architect Bryan Pudney came up with idea as a joke last year, but it has since turned into a Thug revolution, after he and his business partners discovered there was actually a market for this type of apparel. The Thuggie has since graced the boob tube on MTV and is even receiving fan letters/sponsorship requests from as far away as Norway. Check out their latest submission from Oslo-based Paal Saatvedt:

“I choose Thuggie clohing because its the coolest design,” he says.

In addition to The Thuggie, Why Not Apparel now has The Chuggie (a beer coozy); The Thugglet (for children) and The Custom Thuggie (anything you want).

“Unlike other semi-ironic leisure apparel, the Thuggie equips the wearer with a sense of security, satisfaction, extreme comfort and a gentle sense of smugness. You are guaranteed to feel smug in this Thug,” says the website.

Kim and I rendezvoused hungover during Kokanee Crankworx and I ended up with a Thuggie of my very own (blue and teal) which I’m now wearing as I type. My Thuggie is the most comfortable thing I own. It is leading me to the no pants revolution. As their company mantra states: “Life is short. Live it long.”

More Information:
http://www.thuggies.ca
Find them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter @TheThuggie
VanCityBuzz Blog “Thuggie Life”

The Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival is gone but not forgotten. And my year’s supply of Schick razors and assortment of other freebies will ensure that the legend lives on.

Canadian rockers, 54-40 finished off the free outdoor concert series. It was very much a family atmosphere and the mellow tunes were a welcome respite from the crazy week behind us.

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5440

From groovin’ to the Latin-infused jump-up tunes of Ozomatli to rockin’ out to the electronic indie sounds of Metric, this year’s Zune Concert Series has brought us an impressive array of bands.

And then there was the Silent Disco, which brought a whole new dance party experience to Whistler. It started with a flash mob and ended with a group of 200-plus people singing with reckless abandon in a silent room; Skullcandy headphones and radio receivers bringing the party to life.

The arts culture scene was astounding. State of the Art showcased talented Canadian artists like Andrew Pommier and Lauren Javor. While Fashion Exposed featured sustainable fashion label We3 to Westbeach and their 30 years in the snowboard industry.

The showdown hosts took it to another level, from hosting in their underwear to coming out in drag. We enjoyed the winter stoke generated from Rocky Mountain Sherpas’ multimedia film, Paper Shredders. We laughed at the creativity and awesomeness of A Ski Bum Musical at the Filmmaker Showdown. We cheered as hometown photographer Jordan Manley’s photos captured the mountain lifestyle we all hold close to our hearts.

Meanwhile, the pro athlete sightings were out of control this week with TJ Schiller and Danny Kass taking centre stage at their respective competitions.

As we ring out the winter season and welcome the melting snow and sunshine, we’ll always look back to the festival with a smile. Stars were born; heroes were crowned and dethroned; records were spun; alcohol, energy drinks and sushi were consumed in mass quantities; and friends were made.

Now is the time to grab your cleanse of choice from the health food store, chillax, swear off alcohol and sleep. April 2010 will come sooner than you think! See you next year…

The electricity in Whistler reached a fever pitch this weekend as thousands flocked to the hippest little ski town on the planet. I’m charging through the last mile of this marathon of good times and my brain seems to have flown the coop. It’s been a whirlwind of parties, concerts, evening functions and friends.

A quick review of the Grenade Games: Myrosha Daley won the Dual Slalom moguls, TJ Schneider took home the bacon at the superpipe competition. It’s also worth mentioning that Sarah Conrad from Halifax, Nova Scotia was the only girl who made it through to the pipe competition. Meanwhile, Danny Kass won the Mini Ramp Jam on Friday, which consisted of pro skaters judging the pro snowboarders. Danny Kass won the competition.

Which brings me to the Grenade Games Grand Finale –a three hit jib jam format that started off with a mega step up, transitioned into a tree jib, a staircase rail and then hit at the bottom.

Unfortunately my photography skills deteriorated due to heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages at the GLC’s Grenade Games Monster party. Photographer and snowboard legend, Dano Pendygrasse got some killer shots of the event, which you can check out on the Monster page here.

I laughed, I cried – thankfully, I didn’t hurl – as we watched the athletes throw down in front of a crowd of more than 10,000. DJ Z-trip got everyone all worked up with his mash-up of metal, dance and rock. In the end, Craig Beaulieu of Pemberton, BC won the grand prize of $10, 001.

The village was rammed with parties as thousands spilled into the bars, pubs and nightclubs of Whistler, not to mention the biggest party of all at the Telus Conference Centre. It was one heck of a night no matter where you spent it. This is slightly random, but has anyone seen Toaster around at the Kokanee after parties? This man has spent the entire week hitting up every event in his crazy flashing disco suit and is fueled only by adrenaline and Kokanee. Check out these platforms:

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“Listen closely, you can hear the fat lady practicing her scales,” says Lisa Richardson of Watermark Inc, the folks who organize this epic event.

The 10th and final day of the festival is here. All athletic competitions are over and most athletes are probably still in bed, sleeping off last night. But, make sure you make it to the Zune Concert Series, featuring 54-40 and Jon and Roy from 2:30 to 5:30pm. Hello! It’s 54-40!

Tonight, check out the Best of the Fest fundraiser at the GLC, which raises money for the Playground Builders Association. Watch all the festival highlights, plus help them build playgrounds for underprivileged children around the world. If you’re feeling like a dose of culture, the Chairlift Revue theatre event is the perfect way to wind down after and intense week.

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