Header: 1. Jim with son RJ on the top of Rattlesnake Mountain in Vermont, wearing his Patagonia Synch Snap-T fleece. 2. Daughter Molly wearing the same Patagonia fleece at the Burlington, VT Waterfront - the exact location where Jim and his wife, Patricia renewed their vows on June 7th of 2016, after 30 years of marriage.
Left: Jim with son RJ on the top of Rattlesnake Mountain in Vermont, wearing his Patagonia Synch Snap-T fleece. Right: Daughter Molly wearing the same Patagonia fleece at the Burlington, VT Waterfront - the exact location where Jim and his wife, Patricia renewed their vows on June 7th of 2016, after 30 years of marriage.
Kids Kat, Molly, and RJ at Snow Bowl - all wearing Patagonia fleece.
Kids Kat, Molly, and RJ at Snow Bowl - all wearing Patagonia fleece.

When kids grow up in an active home, they become active adults. When their parents embrace the outdoors, they will as well. Taken to extremes, the kids turn into fun-hogs. They live to play outdoors in many different ways. They plan their time around the need to “get after it."

I have had the pleasure of watching our three children turn into such creatures. They all embraced skiing at an early age, with the youngest, Molly, on skis at 18 months old. All three learned the basics. They took lessons, then progressed to racing. The oldest, RJ, found the woods, park and pipe more to his liking. The girls raced through high school and beyond. All three eventually became instructors or coaches as young adults. As a coach and instructor for over 25 years, I was glad to see that some things resonated with them.

They also inherited my love of Patagonia product and culture. Every weekend, we would get ready to ski, donning Capilene base layers, fleeces, jackets, pants and more, with Patagonia playing a dominant role. They always saw me in my cobalt blue Synchilla Snap-T Fleece in ski school. The fleece was purchased in 1989, to replace my well worn Bunting Jacket from 1982. Each had a Snap-T, with fleeces being handed down. When we outgrew one, we passed it to another family. This went on for years.

The youngest fun-hog was Molly. Anything her older sister Kat would do, Molly wanted to do as well. Skiing before two, she went on to inline skate at 3, along with learning to ride a two wheeled bike at 3. After every fun-hog activity, we would pile the children in the van and they would be asleep in minutes. No video games in our house!

Kids Kat, Molly, and RJ at Colorado Loveland, where Molly taught skiing and snowboarding.
Kids Kat, Molly, and RJ at Colorado Loveland, where Molly taught skiing and snowboarding.

After adventuring from Vermont to Colorado, Molly has since returned to Burlington where she is working at Patagonia Burlington’s sister store Skirack. She still wears my old Snap-T fleece (since it no longer fits me and has been replaced with a red one). Work, vacations, travel and living are all done with an eye toward fun-hogging. When I see my old Snap-T still in play, it brings back many great memories for me and of our kids.

I don’t coach or teach anymore, but I do relate my experiences and the stories we wear with our customers. Those memories will be with me as I continue to fun-hog into my golden years.

Jim Cournoyer
Patagonia Burlington Floor Lead

Jim's daughter, Molly works at Patagonia Burlington's partner store, Skirack in the run, ski/snowboard department. 

Read Molly's Skirack blog post: "Raised to be a Fun Hog"