Gear & Beer: Worth “George,” Mio Fuse, Queen City Brewery Yorkshire Porter

Worth Skis: The George

Spring has sprung and after the sensational snowfall we’ve had this winter a long spring ski season is certainly upon us. With all the skiing still ahead, now is a great time to check out new gear tailored specifically for variable East Coast surfaces. By designing their skis for the terrain they shred, the guys behind Vermont-based Worth Skis have created a quiver suited to their playground.

The three-man crew at Worth have dialed in the specs in the George skis to tackle everything from powder stashes in steep glades to fast and cruddy groomers while remaining nimble and balanced to turn sharply in tight spots. The secret behind the George’s dexterity is sustained engagement throughout the entire length of the ski – from tip to tail – by elongating the effective edge to create a stable and predictable ride. Rocker in the tip, taper at the tail, a setback stance along with a powerful cambered core and aggressive side cut maintain control through it all. Available in four lengths, including the longer, wider Mega George, and your choice of two cores.

For a price tag comparable to that of factory sticks, you can build your own set from a menu of custom specs. Expect an exciting announcement this summer from Worth regarding a new production partnership in the works with even more competitive pricing to follow. For now, stock and customized skis range from $699 to $899. Updates will be posted at worthskis.com.

Mio: Fuse

As roads and trails start drying out this time of year, rubber soles and tires will slowly replace metal edged boards underfoot. The color green will soon resurface in the Green Mountains and so too will fitness and training regimens. Mio’s latest wearable fitness tracker monitors daily activity and workouts to help get you back on track after the long, cold winter.

Out of the box, the Fuse is simple to set up. Charge the Fuse via the included USB charger then sync it with the Mio Go app on your smartphone or tablet to get started (free to download on Google Play and iTunes). The app prompts you through setting up a personal profile, linking the Fuse to your device via Bluetooth, setting activity goals and choosing training settings.

The Fuse’s charge lasts up to seven days and can store up to two weeks of daily activity data and 30 hours of workout data, plus it tells time, so there’s no need to train with your phone in hand. It syncs with GPS watches or bike computers via Bluetooth or ANT+ wireless connectivity. Just select your activity, start workout mode, and get moving.

The Fuse is worn on the wrist and is closefitting but comfortable. Except for the optical heart rate monitor, a soft silicone material covers every inch so it seems very durable. Even the display is protected. Three touch-sensitive buttons on the face of the dot matrix LED display allow you to scroll through menus and the central button controls turning workout mode on and off. Three or five heart rate zone alerts can be set as LED and/or vibration alerts, so you can monitor your heart rate during training without looking at a screen.

Most third party fitness tracking apps can link with your Mio account, but the included Mio Go app provides some basic feedback on data the Fuse collects. A weekly workout summary and breakdown of each workout provides average and maximum heart rate, speed, pace, distance and time as well as calories burned and heart rate zones reached and duration in each zone. Daily activity statistics include distance, steps, active and total calories burned, and how successful you were at reaching your daily goal.

Information I miss from this app includes access to route maps and a field to enter notes about my workout. Other drawbacks to the Fuse are the lack of a sleep-tracking feature and idle alert reminder to get moving. But for those of us who like to disconnect at the end of the day, this monitor does a great job. Available in two wrist sizes. $149

Queen City Brewery: Yorkshire Porter

By far the most popular variety flowing from Queen City Brewery, Yorkshire Porter is in high demand across Vermont. The Yorkshire is an English style dark ale – Queen City takes pride in sticking to traditional brewing styles and their hard work shines in this one.

The Yorkshire is characteristically dark in color with aromas of toasted malt and just a hint of hops amongst coffee and chocolate overtones. The smooth balance follows through on the palate, too, making this an easy drinking porter. Its popularity is no surprise and with 5% ABV, it’s easy to enjoy a pint or two at a time.

Find Yorkshire Porter on tap at establishments in Vermont or visit their tasting room. Queen City Brewery is located in Burlington’s South End at 703B Pine Street, where you can stop by to fill a growler or stick around to taste all eight varieties on tap. Be sure to visit the brewery on Fridays and Saturdays during April to enjoy full pints – guest chefs have even been sighted there serving their fares. Follow QCB on Facebook for updates so you can time your visit right.