"On the Edge of Ice and Sky" — by Luca Varela, Professional Skier
The mountain has always been my cathedral — vast, silent, and brutally honest. Every descent feels like a conversation with gravity, with balance, with fear. I've skied across continents — from the powder of Hokkaido to the frozen peaks of the Alps — but one constant in my gear has become the BWO line.
When you're facing -15°C winds at 3,000 meters, comfort is not luxury — it's survival. What I love about BWO apparel is how it becomes part of my movement. The fabric breathes when I climb, insulates when I descend, and never feels bulky. The stretch panels move with my turns — no restriction, no drag. It's the first time I've worn gear that feels designed by people who understand the rhythm of mountain motion.
Most skiwear tries to look technical. BWO feels technical. Its minimalist design hides a kind of quiet engineering — warmth without weight, wind resistance without stiffness. I've worn it through blizzards, under the glare of alpine sun, and during long chairlift silences where you feel every gust of cold. It performs every single time.
"In moments when I'm carving down untouched slopes, the snow exploding around me, I don't think about gear. And that's the point — BWO disappears into the experience, letting me focus on what I came for: the pure joy of the run."
Luca Varela — Athlete Bio
Personal Details
- Nationality: Italian
- Discipline: Professional Snow Skier (Freeride & Alpine Touring)
- Brand Partner: BWO Mountain Division
Awards & Recognition
- Freeride Europe Champion (2021)
- Best Line Award at Verbier Xtreme (2023)
Major Expeditions
- Dolomites Traverse: Multi-day ski touring expedition across the Italian Dolomites
- Patagonia Ice Fields: Extreme skiing in the remote glacial regions of Patagonia
- Hokkaido Backcountry Project: Deep powder skiing in Japan's pristine wilderness
Luca Varela
Luca Varela is an Italian professional skier specializing in freeride and alpine touring. As the 2021 Freeride Europe Champion and winner of the Best Line Award at Verbier Xtreme 2023, he has established himself as one of the world's premier extreme skiers. His expeditions span from the Dolomites to Patagonia's ice fields and Japan's backcountry.