Extreme sports come in a wide range of shapes and forms, but they all share a common goal; achieving the adrenaline rush athletes crave when they risk their lives for the glory of the sport. Many of these sports find their way to the fringe of culture, as they are either too dangerous or too specialized. But a peculiar case comes in the form of ski jumping, which at its heart is deceptively simple, offering its thrill with just a few basic elements; “a ramp, a jump and a man equipped with two long pieces of wood.” But from this humble arrangement comes an excitement like no other in the world. Working with jumper Taylor Hoffman in his hometown of Lake Placid, outerwear brand Moncler has translated the art of this thrill into an equally simple yet alluring ski suit, capturing Hoffman wearing it in a short film as he descends the looming inrun and flies off the end of the table. And “flies” is really the only way to describe the jump, as when Hoffman goes airborne he seems to be in complete control of his flight and landing, at peace with the world blurring by him. Performing such a perfect jump may look easy (just as the elements that make up a ski jump are at first glance very basic), but the calmness in Hoffman’s posture and attitude comes from years of intense training and hours of meditation before a jump. This reflects to a T the work behind the Moncler suit he wears, as its streamlined build and use of only blue with white accents seems like a straightforward piece to the untrained eye. But just like ski jumping, these elements in reality come from decades of experience in the apparel industry funneled into hours of sketching, prototyping and finishing design, leaving a look that is purposefully unpretentious and unassuming. Moncler perfectly captures the wonder and the simplicity of the sport of ski jumping in their outfit, showing how modesty can lead to great heights while flashiness only leads to cheap thrills.
