If you’re a skier, novice or lifelong, you’ve probably experienced the afternoon bonk. You’ve overcaffeinated to score first chair, skied hard all morning, and haven’t considered hydration until stopping for a late lunch. By now, your body is sore and running on fumes.
Staying hydrated on the slopes is not as easy as it sounds. Cold tends to suppress thirst even though your body craves it. At high altitude, the body loses water twice as fast as at sea level. You may not sweat, thanks to moisture-wicking fabrics, but in cold, dry air, fluid also escapes the body as vapor through breathing.
When it comes to performing in the mountains, water alone isn’t going to cut it. Studies prove that skiers who consume sports drinks instead of plain water are better able to maintain fluid balance and energy throughout the day. But most electrolyte drinks are loaded with sugars.
Frustrated with the lack of quality sports drink options, Aspen natives Dean Stapleton and Erik Godal set out to formulate the ultimate alpine water. Both grew up ski racing – Stapleton competed in two Junior Olympics before retiring at age 18 – and remain avid powderhounds. The duo has spent years formulating a drink with a unique balance of vitamins and minerals that tastes great. The result is Elira, Aspen’s first bottled water.
In researching the recipe, the men discovered an incredibly pure source of mineral water in the Roaring Fork Valley and asked the owner of the land if they could clone the water’s mineral profile. “It’s unlike anything we’d ever tasted,” said Stapleton. “Even if it isn’t cold, it still tastes crisp.” The water contains zinc, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, B12, C, D, and E. The water was vapor distilled, with sea salt and red and black maca added. The latter is extracted from nutrient-rich roots native to the Andes, used for centuries to boost energy. “To our knowledge, Elira is the first-ever functional hydration drink that uses maca,” said Godal.
In addition to a pure water, Elira comes in naturally flavored formulations, including Midnight Berry and Peak Limeade, both of which get a touch of sweetness from monk fruit and stevia extracts. The drink has been peer reviewed and double-blind tested but Stapleton and Godal challenged me to put it to the test. I usually can’t stomach sports drinks, but Peak Limeade wasn’t syrupy or sweet and went down easily on a 10-mile trail run at altitude. It kept my energy levels stable right to the end. I filled my CamelBak with the non-flavored Elira water on my first skin of the season. The crisp taste was refreshing, and the minerals and vitamins fueled me through an epic uphill.
Stapleton and Godal aim to have Elira available in refillable 16-ounce aluminum bottles at Aspen hotels, including the Hotel Jerome and the Little Nell, in the coming months. Elira formula packets launch later in the year, perfect to stash in a pack on heli and cat trips, and a great way to hydrate en route to your next ski trip.
Related Posts
