Roots Maple Leaf Collection

Roots shoots... you score, with this seasons new Maple Leaf Collection!  For the fan in all of us, Roots has created a collection to fuel that spirit.  Available in both men and women's styles, this collection bridges the gap between Roots lover and Leafs lifer. 

Everything from T-shirts, to hoodies, to sweat pants and hats, Roots has Leafs fever!  This Men's Leaf Club Jacket is timeless, with embroidered NHL team logo on left chest.  Stylish and durable, this is the ultimate gift for the Leafs fan in your life.  

Looking for something a little more basic? Check out our Toronto Maple Leaf Street Jersey.

 

For those women who love the Leafs but still wanna look stylish while cheering on the team, Roots Maple Leaf Novelty Long Sleeve Top is a great buy.  Cute, with a touch of vintage, this novelty T-shirt is sure to warm the heart of any hockey fan.  

For added comfort check out our Toronto Maple Leaf True Blue Scuba Hoody (similar styles are available in grey and vintage white).

 

Once a Year the Country Comes to The City: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

The Royal Agricultural Winter fair is a special event that takes place every November in the City of Toronto.  The Royal is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world. Where Canadian and International breeders, growers and exhibitors are declared champions and where hundreds of thousands of people attend to learn, compete, shop and have a great time with friends and family.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair began on November 22, 1922 with an astonishing 17,000 agricultural entries and over 150,000 visitors. Now in its 87th year, The Royal continues to hold an important place in the world of agriculture and in the hearts and minds of the many participants and visitors - now over 326,000 strong - who continue to appreciate this one-of-a-kind event.

"I go every year!" says Julia Cook, an avid horseback rider and fan of The Royal.  "I've been riding since I was eight and many of the girls at my riding club have competed in The Royal (Agricultural Winter Fair).  It's lots of fun, and inspired me to start riding."

From great food to concerts and animals there's something for everyone. "You don't have to be into horses to like this fair." says Julia. "The agricultural part is fascinating!  My favourite part is The Giant Vegetable Judging. It's so cool!"

One of the many exhibitors and sponsors of the Royal is Greenhawk, the exclusive retailer of Roots Equestrian.  Roots Equestrian in partnership with Greenhawk is offering an exclusive Roots Genuine Leather gift at this event for all customers who spend $50 or more on Roots Equestrian apparel.

 

So, if you are looking for an adventure this week, make sure you go check it out!  Running from November 6th-15th.

Ovechkin Spotted Playing Football in His Roots Sweats

Alexander Ovechkin from the Washington Capitals was recently spotted playing a bit of football and wearing his classic Roots Salt & Pepper sweats.

Get your own Roots Original Sweatpants in Salt & Pepper or browse all Men's sweats.

Golf 101: Some things to keep in mind when getting started

Watching the British Open (one of the PGA's four major tournaments) this past weekend can make us think that  golf isn't that difficult, that we can all hit the ball 300 yards off the tee or that putting is just like playing at your local putt putt course. Anyone who has played more than a couple times, however, knows that this is not the case.

It has been said that golf is 90% mental and 10% physical. The reason for this is that the slightest difference in your swing, stance, head movement or grip can completely change the direction the ball takes and distance that the ball travels. This requires golfers to keep a mental checklist every time they approach a shot. It also requires players to keep emotions in check when things aren't going well. These are challenges that almost all players struggle with.

Many veteran golfers will give those new to the sport the same advice: Take lessons!

The reason for this is that golf is a very technical sport. If you develop bad habits early (and you will), they will be very difficult to break when you do decide that you want to get proper instruction. In addition to this, most golfers will say that you must play regularly to improve. Playing once a week for eight weeks during the summer will not allow anyone to improve.

Along with taking lessons, it is vital that you take the information learned in the lessons and practice good habits on a very regular basis and take the time to work on different aspects of your game.

Keeping these few tips in mind will help any beginner golfer learn the game in an efficient manner. Good luck on the links!

Oh Canada! Algonquin Park

 

Summer is in full swing. And when we think of summer we also think of the great outdoors! Algonquin Park in Ontario is one of our favourite spots for summer adventure.

 

This park is truly magical. It's not hard to see why. Algonquin Park is a great place to connect with nature and the wilderness. From its rocky ridges, maples hills, to its wide diversity of animal and plant species and thousands of lakes, Algonquin Park in Ontario is definitely on our top list for places to visit this summer.

What we love about this park is that it not only offers natural scenery and wilderness but is also a great place to be adventurous and try a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, canoeing, fishing, biking, camping or just exploring the park's miles of trails. No wonder Michael Budman and Don Green (Roots Co-Founders) found it so inspiring!

A Roots Inspiration

Algonquin Park is the inspiration behind the Roots brand. Michael Budman and Don Green were so inspired by Algonquin Park's natural beauty and everything it stands for that they created Roots in 1973 in order to translate their affinity for the Canadian wilderness into a line of genuine leather goods and athletic wear. Algonquin Park is certainly one of those places that you have to see and experience.

For more information, visit the Algonquin Park Website

Related posts:

• Roots Survivor Weekend Kit: All You Need for the Adventure
• Oh Canada! Reversing Falls in New Brunswick
• Oh Canada! Anna of Green Grables House

Sources:

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/

http://www.ontarioparks.com/

Get this Look: Our Friend Shows Off Her Roots Picks for Golf and Yoga

We went shopping with our athletic friend Pilli to find the perfect outfit for her golf and yoga activites.

First off, she immediately eyed the Motion Wrap Sport Skirt. This is one of those pieces that is super comfortable yet flattering. Being a very active girl, Pilli knew this skirt was a keeper once she noticed the built-in shorts. She chose the bright blue colour for this cute little skirt.

Pilli topped this chic sporty look with the City Polo Shirt, a great classic with a girly twist. She liked the fact that it was fitted and very soft.

Last, to complete the "look," She followed the suggestion by one of the Roots employees and added the modern-looking Canyon Che Cap. Words can't describe how cool this cap looks. It is modern, well-designed, and has a strap in the back. Pilli wore her hair up in a pony tail and it fit perfectly. She definitely looked stylish while practicing her perfect golf swing.

Pilli is definitely one active girl. She also needed some clothes to practice her yoga flex moves. This was her Roots yoga "look"...

She wanted comfort, and the 12 Oz Athletic Pant  in black gave her that functionality for her yoga needs.

Then, she chose the Energy Wrap Tank Top. She loved the built-in sports bra with sweat-wicking fabric. She described it as her new yoga top.

And for an after-class piece, Pilli grabbed the Synergy Jacket II in black. She felt so good in it that she even popped the collar.  

So what do think? Did Pilli strike a hole-in-one with her golfer look? Or do you prefer her balanced yoga look?

Like either of these Roots "looks"? Check out our website or find a Roots store near you.

Got a Roots "look" to share? Let us know and you can be featured too!

Canadian Sports Player Profile: Dwayne De Rosario

The Toronto FC of the MLS (Major League Soccer) are quickly becoming the hottest ticket in the city this summer! In a heated battle in their division (currently tied for second with D.C. and Kansas City) the team is doing almost everything right, in large part because of one of the most exciting players in the league, Dwayne De Rosario.

Not only is he lighting up the scoreboard with four goals and an assist in ten games but the best part is, he’s Canadian! Hailing from Scarborough, this attacking midfielder has finally made the trip home to Canada to play with the FC this summer, and fans couldn't be happier about it!

De Rosario has been a fixture in the soccer world, especially the A-League and the MLS for more than a decade, and has thrilled fans all over

North America. He's got the winning attitude and experience that Toronto needs this season as they make their run at the MLS Cup. He has won four of them in his career (two with San Jose and two with Houston) and he's played a big part in all of them as the MLS Cup MVP in both 2001 and 2007. He has also taken "Goal of the Year" honours twice in 2004 and 2005 (the only player in league history to accomplish this feat). As Toronto approaches the half way point of the season they will continue to rely on #14's leadership and experience and we'll all be expecting big things from him as they make their playoff run. Put simply, if De Rosario can keep playing the way that he has been so far this season, then Toronto will have a great chance at making the playoffs and competing for a championship this season!

 Buy Tickets for Toronto FC

View Match Schedule

Roots Canadian Sports Update: Week of May 19th - 25th

Soccer

This week in the wild world of sports the TFC were the Canadian stars!

The Toronto FC played on Saturday May 21st at the BMO field in front of 20,478 screaming fans dressed in red. The TFC came out on top beating the New England Revolution 3-1 in their highest scoring game since October 18th 2008. New England started the scoring match in the 13th minute by a header from Shalrie Frei. The TFC fought back just a minute later to tie the game. The winning goal for the FC came in the 68th minute which was later followed two minutes later by a goal to double the lead! 

Jay Skull, self-declared #1 TFC Fan and one of our co-op students joined the action at the field saying, "The game was amazing. The crowd went absolutely nuts in the last 10 minutes when Toronto scored twice."

Baseball

Unfortunately there isn't much to celebrate this week for the Jays. Since May 19th the Jays have not been able to get their groove back. Having lost 7 straight they are finding it harder to rebound and pull out a win. After loosing the series 3-0 to the Boston Red Sox they followed that heart brake by loosing another series 3-0 to their old rivals the Atlanta Braves. They are trying to regain their composure in a new series in Baltimore, but after loosing the first of 3 games they need a serious mental make-over! I still have faith! 

Go Jays Go!

Softball

On a fresh note! Our very own talented softball player Danielle Lawrie was named USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year. Lawrie who calls Langley B.C. home, was a member of the Canadian national team that played at the 2008 Olympics. Lawrie is a junior at the University of Washington and is the first Canadian to win this exciting award. Lawrie has pulled out record breaking numbers this season finishing with 472 strikeouts, 37 wins, 19 shutouts, and not to mention 6 home runs and 25 RBI's. You can follow Lawrie this weekend at the 2009 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Sources: 

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/639439

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=tor

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/article/639673

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2009/05/27/sp-lawrie-softball.html

Roots Canadian Sports Update: Week of May 13th - 19th

Baseball

Go Jays Go!

This weekend saw the Blue Jays shut out the Chicago White Sox in 4 straight games. Brett Cecil started the series off on Friday with a 8-3 win over the Sox.

Saturday night saw rookie pitcher Robert Ray, who is only 25 might I add, win his very first Major League game 2-1 over the Sox. 

On Sunday our very own Roy Halladay pitched the Jays to a 8-2 win. Marco Scutaro gave the Jays their first scare of the season when he was hit in the chest by the ball successfully stealing third base.

Later x-rays showed we had nothing to worry about!  

 

Monday came with another 3-2 win for the Jays with help from pitcher Scott Richmond. Unfortunately their winning streak came to a screeching halt Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. With pitcher Brian Tallet the Jays lost a close 2-1 game. The Jays are set to play the Red Sox Wednesday and Thursday night at Fenway Park in Boston. The Sox trail the Jays by 4 games in the American League East and lets hope it stays that way! 

Following on the success of the Blue Jays, Roy Halladay was named American League's Player of the Week presented by Bank of America. Halladay was the first in the Major League to win his 8th game going 2-0 this week with a 1.13 ERA. This is Halladay's third Player of the week award. Not too shabby for someone who just turned 32 on May 14th!

 

Soccer

This weekend also saw our very own soccer team the Toronto FC play the Chicago Fire at the BMO field. After a a tough fight the FC lost 2-0 to the Fire. The TFC who was undefeated in four MLS games outshot the Fire 11-7 but just couldn't get it in the net! Chicago didn't score their first goal until the 59th minute. Toronto fought back with a couple close calls but the next goal came from Chicago in the 81st min to finish the game. Chicago's win put them 2 points ahead  of the TFC. Their next hope for a win comes against New England Saturday May 23rd. Go RED Go! 

Sources:
The Toronto Star - B.J. returns as Jays rip up Sox
The Toronto Star - Major Ray of hope in Blue Jay comeback

The Toronto Star - Blue Jays' Halladay and Scutaro hang tough
The Toronto Star - Jays sweep Chisox
ESPN MLB - Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays Official Site
The Toronto Star - Toronto FC burned by Fire as offence falters again

Roots Canadian Sports Update: Week of May 5th - 12th

Roots is proud to announce some highs and lows in the Canadian sports team world. 

Hockey

Canada is supposed to be known for their amazing hockey skills, but unfortunately all of the lows over the weekend came in the world of hockey! The weekend started off on a high with Canada making it to the finals against Russia in the world tournament in Bern, Switzerland. Even though our Canadian team drastically out shot the Russian team 37 - 18, the only score that matters is the 2 -1 LOSS to the Russian team.

Canada proudly takes home their second straight silver medal. The next international game will be the Olympics in Vancouver. Lets hope our home ice advantage pulls out a gold.

 A second low was the Vancouver Canucks 5 - 7 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday taking them out of the playoffs. "Yay" to the Blackhawks for making it to the conference finals for the first time since 1995. "Boo" to the Canucks for being Canada's last hope to bring the Stanley Cup north. The Holy Grail of hockey has not been on our land since 1993 when the Montreal Canadiens beat Wayne Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings. (COME ON LEAFS). 

Golf

In the wild world of golf Mike Weir finished in a tie for 14th at the Players Championship over the weekend at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. For those of you curious like me, Tiger Woods finished 8th. Yes I know he's not Canadian but he's a great golfer. 

Baseball

Lastly the Toronto Blue Jays are still on top! (for now). They had a successful weekend playing the Oakland Athletics winning 2 out of a 3 game series.

Their next series against the New York Yankees has started off with a bang. Roy Halladay pitched the Jays to a 5 - 1 win last night at the Rogers Centre. Halladay did not walk anyone and struck out five to win his fourth straight start! Alex Rodriguez happened to be the only guy to score a run on our Roy. The Blue Jays face the Yankees tonight and again on Thursday at the Rogers Centre. Go Jays Go!