Forget snow - it has been all about socks for members of the United States women's ski team.
The team spent Friday afternoon at Nokomai Station, in northern Southland, where they were introduced to the origins of the wool that went into their SmartWool socks.
SmartWool is a Colorado-based outdoor apparel brand which has direct supply contracts with the New Zealand Merino Company for fibre for use in its socks and garments. It is a sponsor of the ski team.
The women met the Hore family, who own the high-country sheep and cattle station, saw sheep being shorn, sheep dogs working and ''talked wool and asked lots of questions'', NZM global partnerships manager Dave Maslen said.
It was great to link the farm source through to the final end-user and the skiers had an opportunity to see first hand the attention that went into classing specifically for the SmartWool contracts.
They were ''blown away'' by that care and attention and also the experience of being on an authentic, working high-country station, Mr Maslen said.
