Blogs
WHAT IS A SPLITBOARD
Homies shops equip you for the backcountry and allow you to try out splitboard -style snowboards for your next adventures! WHAT IS A SPLITBOARD? Basically, the principle of a splitboard is to divide your board in two for the ascent and remake it into a single piece for the descent. It perfectly meets the needs of all-terrain enthusiasts, and it's the perfect tool for exploring Quebec's mountains and off-resort glades. A splitboard often sports an ideal shape for off-piste riding, with a longer nose and camber underfoot. Its dynamism will definitely make you happy in the glades. The box construction with a wood core and fiberglass layers ensures lightness and durability. A splitboard is the ideal tool for exploring the unmarked slopes that Quebec is full of. HOW DOES SPLITBOARD RENTAL WORK? First of all, whether you're from anywhere in Saguenay, our splitboard equipment rentals are available in our Chicoutimi and Alma stores. Each store has its own rental lot, and a simple phone call will let you learn everything about our equipment. BOARDS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL CHICOUTIMI: Salomon Highpath Splitboard 156 cm - Ideal board for the average man. Salomon Highpath Splitboard 159 cm - Ideal board for taller or heavier men. Salomon Pillow Talk Splitboard 151 cm – Ideal board for women. Salomon Bellevue Splitboard 152 cm – Ideal board for women. ALMA: Salomon Highpath Splitboard 159 cm – for men. Salomon Bellevue Splitboard 148 cm – for women. RENTAL INCLUDES: The fixings: Of course, all our rental boards come with bindings. The majority of our splitboards are equipped with Union Explorer bindings. These bindings offer a very snowboard-like feel and allow the two tips to be firmly glued together when it comes time to join your board for the descent. A simple twist, then we lock everything together and it's done! We also have a board equipped with Burton Hitchhicker bindings. Equipped with the Burton Spark base and straps, you have everything you need for quick assembly and optimal comfort once attached. Backpack: Homies has you covered with the explorer's kit! Hiking poles, a binding adjustment kit, and a screwdriver. You've got everything you need once you're out and about! All this in backpacks designed for splitboarding and carrying gear in the backcountry . They'll allow you to carry safety gear, water, a few accessories, and a change of clothes. Perfect for long days outdoors and unpredictable weather! Who knows, maybe you'll even head out overnight ! That's why we're offering two 30-liter bags; for those who are going on big trips! Ascension Skins: This is what you put under your splitboard to make your ascent. It grips when you go up and slides when you go down! It's simple as that! Once at the top of the mountain, or the Côte du Parasol (we don't judge you), you put them in your backpack and you're ready for a well-deserved splitboarding ride ! There are several types of skins, some more flexible and lightweight, perfect for days in the refuge and others more robust for hardened snow and climbing trails. Don't worry about that: if you have any questions, our team will be happy to give you a little 101 course on skins before your departure. To quickly summarize, if you want to rent a splitboard set, all you need is your outerwear and your snow boots. We'll take care of the rest! TERMS We should also warn you about the small conditions for renting a splitboard. : The rental amount is $64.95 per day. You will pick up the split equipment the day before your first rental day and must return everything before the store closes on your last rental day. For example, if you rent equipment for a Saturday outing, you can pick it up at the store on Friday evening and return it on Saturday before closing. A $500 deposit must be taken on a credit card. This amount serves as security in case of theft, and this amount will be returned to you upon return of the board. You need to make sure you already have snowboard boots and goggles, a helmet, and adequate outerwear to keep you warm. For everything else, the Homies technician will give you a short course and some tips on how to use it before you leave!
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WINTER 2022/2023 EVENTS
Here's a summary of our 2022/2023 events calendar. Here's everything you need to know about the key winter dates so you don't miss out on the chance to have fun with us!
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WORKING AT HOMIES
As you already know, we celebrated our 10th anniversary at Homies this year (we promise we'll stop talking about it soon). Ten years ago, we opened Homies with our heads full of ideas and dreams. A lot of changes have happened in the last few months, and it made us realize that we've never really told you what it's like for us to work at Homies. SPIRIT AND CULTURE ARE THE BASIS AT HOMIES Since the beginning of Homies, we have worked extremely hard for the soul of the company. For us, the soul of our company can be summed up in a few key factors: the spirit of the company and the team, the culture we represent and in which we live, an ideal balance between fun and good work, and, finally, impeccable customer relations. It was with this in mind that the company was founded ten years ago. The company's management, founders, and owners embarked on the project while being active in the world of skateboarding and snowboarding, whether practicing the sport or encouraging others to do so. NEW ARRIVAL IN THE OFFICES We spent ten wonderful years enjoying our customers, and we wanted to make sure we could continue to do so for a long time to come. However, over the years, we felt we were going to lose some feathers in terms of presence. With management aging and less present, we found that it was the soul of the company, the one we were proud of at the beginning of Homies, that was gradually being affected. NEW BRAND MANAGER So this is where we introduce you to our new Brand Manager, our friend who is back among us, a former employee whom we are very happy to see again, Philippe Couture. A brand manager is someone who represents the company, organizes events, and manages our social media. In short, someone who ensures that the company is as present in the region as we have been for ten years. Phil's arrival is a boost to snowboard culture, a breath of fresh air entering Homies. He's been on the job since the beginning of August, and a trip to Montreal with the skate team has already been organized to shoot the next Homies skate video. Stay tuned, because the video will be released very soon! WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK AT HOMIES? Before getting to the heart of the matter, I would like to point out here that this blog is not written by management, but by a good old staff member who has been working at the shop for five years now. So, don't be fooled by what you're about to read and don't think that these are just nice words to give the impression that working at Homies is cool, because what you're about to read is the testimony of an employee who has a thousand and one anecdotes to tell about these wonderful years at Homies! SICK ENVIRONMENT AND NICE WORLD Working at Homies means working in a sick environment with such nice people! Basically, it's working with people who are like you, friends, people you're happy to spend 35 hours a week with! WORK-STUDY BALANCE Working at Homies also means having bosses who know that studying is important, who go the extra mile to give you a schedule that fits with your school hours, and they are also bosses with whom you can have a lot of fun over dinner or during an afternoon of hard work. STAFF MEETINGS OR FAMILY PARTIES? We also have at least two staff meetings during the year, and during my five years at Homies, I've seen all kinds: a chalet in the Monts-Valin for backcountry, a homemade snowpark in a camp in the middle of the woods, BBQ dinners at the shop, dinners at the restaurant, big bowling games or, even more recently, a karting grand prix. In short, these parties are like family parties! WE DON'T FORGET OUR SPORT You think all this is cool, huh? Well, imagine that I'm not even done yet! Working at Homies also means having the right to a day off on the weekends to go skateboarding or snowboarding. Plus, we're extremely lucky as employees because we have access to the famous Toujours à la montagne program, where all our snowboard tickets are reimbursed 50% by the company, all of this to encourage us to practice our sport and be present in the community. In short, if all this isn't spirit, I don't know what is!
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THE PERFECT CAMPING GEAR FOR SUMMER 2021
It seems like we're in for another great summer this year in Quebec, and that's why Homies is equipping you for the camping adventure you've been meaning to do for the holidays. Several new arrivals are hitting our shelves, and new companies are making their way into our stores! HOMIES HAS THE PERFECT CAMPING GEAR FOR SUMMER 2021 THE NORTH FACE The North Face is already a well-known company in our country, and their camping gear is of the same excellent quality as the other products they've made their name in. You can shop for The North Face tents, among other things, in the style you're looking for. We have weekender style tents for those who go camping once in a while or would like to camp for 2 or 3 days with friends. We also have expedition-style tents for those who want better quality equipment, are serious about their expeditions, and don't want to worry when the night comes! Additionally, The North Face offers a wide selection of sleeping bags at Homies, ranging from the not-too-insulated ones perfect for hot summer days to the warmer ones that can extend your camping season. Since we don't do anything by halves, we even have a few winter models! Finally, we also have hiking backpacks in stock, for those looking for a more technical trail bag. KLYMIT CAMPING MATTRESSES If you didn't already know, Klymit is a company renowned for its sleeping pads. So, we've decided to fill our shelves with all kinds of mattresses to satisfy all your needs: single and double-sized air mattresses, half-foam and half-inflatable mattresses, insulated mattresses for sleeping in your tent despite the cold weather, and even mattresses for hammocks. A cool thing about Klymit is its small rechargeable pump that you can use to inflate and even deflate your mattress. The pump is small and recharges via a USB cable. You no longer have to empty your lungs, mate! ESSENTIAL BIOLITE ACCESSORIES Biolite makes a lot of very useful accessories for camping. We have headlamps and light sets, USB-connected lamps, solar panels, and batteries. What can be really nice is to have, for example, a light set, a battery, and the solar panel to recharge everything, and you have your lighting set for your evenings near the tent. Biolite also has the essentials for cooking meals outdoors. The company offers beautiful little fire pits and griddles so you can cook your food directly over the fire! CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FIREPIT+ INFORMATION SHEET UCO GEAR AND ITS PRACTICAL ESSENTIALS Uco Gear is all about small accessories that can make your camping trip so much better! If you don't like eating with your hands, we have camping tableware sets, urethane plates and utensils, and even aluminum glass and utensil sets. Other must-haves are survival matches and fire starters that are water and moisture resistant to ensure you can light your fire anytime. Above all, you must have their famous candle that helps manage the humidity in your tent. When burning, the Uco Gear candle releases BTUs, and with its 9 hours of autonomy, it helps reduce the humidity level in the tent and that, my friend, I tell you, is a game changer! ESBIT AND SOLID FUEL If we had to describe Esbit, we would use the terms practical and compact. The best example: their famous stove that burns gasoline pellets, a solid fuel. There are also different sizes of pellets to offer different burn times! Let's face it, a gas tablet is much easier to carry around than a propane tank when you go on an expedition! TRANSPORT YOUR CAMPING EQUIPMENT WITH YAKIMA Yakima is a roof rack brand that also makes everything you need to transform your vehicle into a real shed on wheels! Yakima is a company that offers roof racks for virtually every make and model of vehicle. In addition to these bars, it is also possible to place tombs on your roof, tombs which are available in different formats. Yakima is also very innovative in bike racks, as the company offers one of the best racks on the market, which allows you to hang your bikes vertically, and therefore, carry more. Finally, if you're the kind of person who loves van life, but you love your pickup truck and don't want to change it, Yakima also offers rooftop tents. Now you have no reason not to go on a trip! If you're interested in Yakima roof racks, these marvels will be sold by appointment only! Go on an adventure in 2021 with camping equipment available in your Homies stores!
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GREEN GLASSES TO SAVE OUR PLAYGROUND
WHAT IF WE TOLD YOU THAT A PAIR OF PLANT-BASED SUNGLASSES IS POSSIBLE? Dragon did it, and we're completely crazy about this product. Starting this summer, you can proudly wear your eco-friendly sunglasses. The key phrase in this project: let's protect the oceans we love to surf, the mountains we love to climb, and the land we love to explore. MOUNT MATERIAL The look of the frame is usually what will determine your choice of glasses. Let us surprise you with some information that will make you say "wow, that one is beautiful inside and out." THE CASTOR PLANT What exactly is a plant-based resin? In the case of Dragon frames, the frames are made from castor resin. Castor is a common plant that grows almost everywhere and resembles a small shrub. Around the world, approximately 700,000 farmers cultivate it. To this end, the company has partnered with the Global Network of Suppliers and trained and certified by Pragati, an organization that aims to reduce environmental impacts through education and the establishment of more sustainable supply chains. This association and the use of plants in the production of their frames reduces the company's ecological footprint and environmental impact, and who doesn't love a company that takes care of our planet? Especially now. CASTOR RESIN What does castor resin ultimately offer? Essentially, it's a renewable material (yay) and creates a stronger plastic that's both lightweight and durable. ACETATE Acetate is one of the most popular materials used in frame creation. At Dragon, they chose to use a plant-based thermoplastic for a more durable product and a more aesthetically pleasing look. The company certainly has an eye for detail; some of their frames are even hand-finished to offer you the highest level of quality! THE GRILAMID This material makes their frames SUPER sturdy. Plus, the company made them with nylon, making them even lighter and more eco-friendly, as they'll last a long time. Dragon didn't just think about making sturdy frames. They also took care to make lenses that are as sturdy. So you have twice as much reason to make a responsible choice by choosing one of their products. LENS MATERIAL Sun protection is key. But when the protection is effective, green, and clear, it's literally the ultimate in comfort for your eyes. POLYCARBON Polycarbonate is one of the components of Dragon's lens. You can find it in several of their models, including the Monarch, Monarch XL, and Compass. This component makes your lenses both featherlight and durable. THE CR39 You'll find this type of lens on acetate frames. This component will give you crystal-clear vision! When shopping for frames, look for styles like the Hype or Jake. NYLON You'll definitely find this component in Dragon's famous floating goggles. A little tip from a friend: with summer coming up and all the water sports you plan to do, wakeboarding, fishing, or even the beach, you definitely want these kinds of goggles to avoid disaster! You'll have the advantage of clear vision and lightweight as a bonus! The Jam H20 and Vantage are made of nylon. DRAGON, THE INFORMED CHOICE FOR THIS SUMMER We're all making an effort when it comes to making eco-friendly choices. You carry your reusable bags, you always have your little metal straw, and you try to do zero-waste grocery shopping as much as possible. We're doing our best to save our beautiful playground, and the good news is that now you can give Mother Nature a helping hand when you buy your sunglasses!
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CHOOSING YOUR MID-SEASON SHOES AND BOOTS
Here's a guide to help you choose the right mid-season shoes and boots for all temperatures and conditions! Designed to thrive in the harshest conditions, these shoes combine water-resistant fabric with synthetic insulation for protection against seasonal temperatures. 1. Cleated sole For maximum grip in both the rain in autumn and on ice in winter, look for shoes with a durable rubber sole and studs for improved traction. 2. Water-repellent protective gaiter A tongue is added to the shoe to keep snow and water out. A waterproof membrane for dry feet at all times! 3. Complete insulation W arm linings to face the elements! Choose shoes with advanced materials to improve heat retention and wick moisture away from the toe area. High-performance management that preserves the breathability of fabrics. 4. Cold cut between the soles To ensure heat retention and maximize your comfort, choose shoes and boots with a cold seal between the outer and inner soles. Shop Men's Shoes Shop Women's Shoes This fall, with the purchase of shoes worth $100 or more, we are offering Granger's waterproofing treatment for free. A water-repellent finish for complete, premium insulation! Protect your footwear from moisture and dust with this easy-to-apply spray treatment. A coating that seals seams and prevents stains. Designed for use on all types of boot and outdoor shoe fabrics, whether leather, suede, nubuck, etc. We did the test, the water flows in the form of droplets and cannot soak into the fabric.
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WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLCOM PANTS, DO YOU HAVE ANY?
Sometimes we have to decipher customers, no problem, it's our job. However, we wanted to give you the truth about the "Volcom" pants. In fact, what you're looking for is a CHINO pant. It's true that Volcoms are good, but each company makes its own Chino. RVCA, Vans, Brixton, A Thousand Words, name it. What is a Chino : Chinos are cotton trousers, originally light-colored. They were originally military clothing. The term chinos comes from the name given to trousers acquired locally by American soldiers stationed in the Philippines. These garments, which were originally produced in Manchester, were resold there by the island's Chinese merchants. This neologism dates, according to specialists, to the years following the Spanish-American War (1898) or to the 1930s.
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FOR OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY: OUR FIRST SNOW FILM!
Calling all our Homies riders, we'll meet on October 11th at 6 p.m. on the Kingsnowmag platform to watch our first snowboard film. If you didn't already know, you'll be seeing it a lot in the coming weeks, but Homies is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To celebrate, we're going to bombard you with events and promotions. Our first surprise to you is nothing less than the screening, a preview of our first snowboarding film: HomiesDIX. We'll even give you a teaser so you can see some of what might await you: So far you've figured out that you and all your friends can watch our launch from the comfort of your living room, right? #STAYHOMEHOMIES HAPPENS AT YOUR PLACE! We're expecting you and your gang (remotely) on October 11th at 6 p.m. in your best Homies hoodie with popcorn and a little drink, but that's up to you. To all our Homies riders, this one's for you. Friendly tip: head straight to the event page on Facebook for all the latest information on our HomiesDIX launch. Read on; you'll love it! HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? To access the viewing, it's going to cost you a whopping $0, NADA! If that's not the deal of the year, I don't know what is? SPONSORED BY HOMIES Normally, when making a film, there are several sponsors, but this time we wanted Homies to be the headliner. It's our 10th anniversary and we want to take all the space! Any questions? No? Next! BEETLE GANG MOVIE As an appetizer, we present to you a film from our friends at Beetle Gang "Snowboarding is not dead: an east coast story" as the first part. A 100% Monts-Valin backcountry film. Does it seem like we can't wait to show you this? In fact, we're going to put a teaser right here to make your mouth water for the crazy film that's coming. FILM BOUTIQUES HOMIES STREET AND BACK COUNTRY RIDERS We filmed for weeks last winter, before and after everything shut down due to the virus. We managed to shoot some incredibly impressive scenes. We traveled a lot of miles to find the best spots in the region—and beyond—to ride street snowboards, and our camera pros were able to capture some seriously sick footage of the best street riders we could find. The film also features some amazing backcountry scenes. We're proud to bring the performances of such a talented crew to the big screen. WITH WHOM? Phil Couture Alex Vézina Alex Jean Nic Roy Louif David Arseneault Xavier Boudreault WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU Hurry up and click “I'm Participating” on our Facebook page. A virtual event, from the comfort of your home, that respects health measures and will mark the beginning of fall. And who knows, maybe it will snow a little to give us a taste of the next season. Anyway, let's all tune in on October 11th for a viewing that promises to be pretty hot!
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WAKESURFING
Summer and winter, we can't help ourselves; we have to glide on a board. On concrete or on water, we're comfortable when our two feet are vertical. So, we're talking about wakesurfing. WHAT IS WAKESURFING? Wakesurfing is a water sport that's a cross between wakeboarding and surfing. (Either way, you spend your day on the water, so we love it!) Unlike surfing, you'll be pulled by a boat to get you out of the water. And unlike wakeboarding, wakeboarding moves at a much slower speed to generate a wave that allows you to surf. The board itself is much more like a surfboard, but in a miniature version and without attachments for your feet. You therefore have to rely solely on your balance to stay upright. Given that waves are becoming scarcer in our area, wakesurfing is the ideal alternative to give you the feeling of surfing behind a boat! GETTING EQUIPED FOR WAKESURFING Equipment-wise, it's super simple: all you need is a board, a trackpad, and fins. THE BOARD We recommend Lib Tech wakeboards. Over the past few years, the team has worked hard to develop boards that feel like high-performance surfboards, but behind a boat. They figured out that straighter shapes give you speed… So they made the rail lines straighter. When the tail of the board is wider, it's also faster and allows you to jump more efficiently. Guess what they did? They made the tail of their wakeboard wider! You'll instantly feel the difference, and you'll definitely have more control with this board. Lib Tech wakesurfs were designed and engineered by surfers who enjoy controlled waves from the back of a boat. You'll have a blast with these boards! WAKE TRACKPAD OR WAX? The trackpad is the part that gives you more control over your board. Some people prefer it to wax. It provides a much cleaner finish and is more comfortable. As a bonus, it will allow you to grip your board more easily at certain times. Another great thing about the trackpad is that it works in all temperatures, so you don't have to worry about the weather when you go out to practice your sport. And, as we mentioned above, it's very clean, so you don't have to worry about staining your boat's interior coating. For beginners, the trackpad is the perfect solution. It can be a little tricky to install, but once in place, it will last longer than wax. So you don't have to worry about it and you're always ready for a ride! On the other hand, the trackpad has some negative points: - it can limit your movements: when it does not cover the entire board, the surface can become very slippery if you put your foot next to it; - you feel less of the board under your feet due to the thickness of the trackpad. Wax does essentially the same job as a trackpad. It's a long-standing and, as they say, proven method. There are several techniques available for application, and choosing one is entirely up to each individual. Unlike the trackpad, wax allows you to better feel the board's vibrations and increases your response time. Importantly, wax is obviously less expensive than the trackpad. Since the differences between the trackpad and wax are minimal, it's really a matter of feeling at this point. Some people even use both! KEEP YOUR LUNCH COLD WITH OUR COOLERS. Every good outing should be accompanied by a lunch, as everyone knows. So, we've selected two pretty versatile coolers for you to bring along on your summer activities. FOR YOUR GANG AND YOU You know us, we never do things by halves. So, when it was time to make you a cooler that reflected the store's image, we made you the ultimate cooler. Here are some aspects that will charm you: - capacity of 35 liters; - keeps fresh for five days. So you can be sure that no matter what adventure you embark on, your lunch is fresh; - cutting board included; - separator; - interior light; - all-terrain wheels; (Because we know that lugging a cooler around is the worst thing in the world...) - retractable handle. Available in two colors (turquoise and white), this is the item you need for all your outdoor activities! THE PARTY PACK FOR YOUR SOLO MISSIONS We understand that you don't always want to carry lunch for the whole team! (And that it's not always lunch you're carrying... #freshbeer). In that case, we present to you THE bag that will follow you everywhere this summer: the Dakine party pack. It has all the elements that a good party pack should have: isolated storage; a special space for dry products; a hatch to grab your cold drink without opening the whole bag. It helps you arrive ready to get the party started! From the beach to the backyard barbecue, it'll make you the person who's always ready to party! And in the "always-ready-to-party" spirit, there's even a built-in bottle opener. SPEND THE EVENING IN THE WARM PLACE TO MAKE YOUR DAY PERFECT FROM START TO FINISH, WE'RE THINKING OF YOU, EVEN IN THE EVENING. AFTER A DAY ON THE WATER, OR SIMPLY FOR COLDER DAYS, YOU'LL NEED A BLANKET, BUT NOT JUST ANY... RUMPL blankets are designed to fit easily into a bag. They don't take up space, are warm, and practical. Made from outdoor materials, they're durable, so you can take them anywhere without any problems. What we like most about these blankets is that in addition to being practical, they are available in several models. You're now ready to have a great summer with our suggestions. Whether you're looking for advice, fun, or camping gear, come see us in store or online! It's always a pleasure for the team to make sure you have as much fun as possible in what you do!
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