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Foo goes skiing. Sartorial disaster?

Kaplan

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Foo, for base layer consider wool like this short sleeve or this long sleeve (optimally both, so you can change dependent on temps). The benefits of wool are that they stay pretty much odourless compared to synthetics. For a mid layer, a light weight fleece like this (I have the Silverstone) is great. The full zip for quick venting is nice. Combined with your soft shell this setup should work nicely. For wet conditions, a hard shell would be better.
 
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Harold falcon

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I can't imagine wearing a helmet skiing unless one is in avalanche country. No thanks.
 

jrd617

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^^^ Do I need some kind of eye protection, or do beginners not need (i.e. look stupid) wearing goggles?



Yes, and make sure that there is a gap between your goggles and hat or helmet. It helps to ensure that you get enough ventilation in the goggles so that they don't fog up.
 
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Bradford

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Don't forget the parachute

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]
 

jrd617

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Tahoe snow is the worst on earth. Sierra cement. Those promo pics of people doing figure 8s in champagne powder are a joke.


You always bring the LULZ
 

cbbuff

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Foo, for base layer consider wool like this short sleeve or this long sleeve (optimally both, so you can change dependent on temps). The benefits of wool are that they stay pretty much odourless compared to synthetics. For a mid layer, a light weight fleece like this (I have the Silverstone) is great. The full zip for quick venting is nice. Combined with your soft shell this setup should work nicely. For wet conditions, a hard shell would be better.


Those Delta's are awesome.
 

TheFoo

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I assume I need a new base layer for each day, as I will sweat through them. Do I need to change mid layers too, or can I re-wear?
 

Bradford

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Guys - he's only going skiing for one weekend.

Foo - you can go to Sports Authority and pick up base layers and a fleece for less than half of the cost of the ones shown. Columbia or Hot Chili brand should do just fine for the one weekend you will be in Vail.

You might want a different underlayer for each day, it depends on how much you sweat and personal preference, but the middle layer you can easily wear more than once.
 
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F. Corbera

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Yes, and make sure that there is a gap between your goggles and hat or helmet. It helps to ensure that you get enough ventilation in the goggles so that they don't fog up.


I think that :foo: should just wear the goggles that he already has:


2r6pk5d.jpg



Maybe spritz with anti-fog, and put some zinc paste on the nose.

Thoughts?
 

Kaplan

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Those might be too large for the helmet, though.
 

Spark

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Foo -

I'm in the Pacific NW (115" of pow in the last 7 days - don't hate boys!) and ride a few times a week all the way into late spring and place a season's pass on the same level as a regular haircut. Lots of good advice so far, but here are a few thoughts:

- You did really well on the basics, but a performance base layer setup is mandatory as its role it to wick the sweat away so your skin stay's dry and "dry = warm." Cotton is a lousy wicking material and offers zip on insulation when it gets wet. Poly works well, but will stink; wool works great and doesn't smell. I wear poly bottoms from Patagucci and a wool top from icebreaker. Just think of them as a good set of long underwear - you'll be able to use that plenty in NYC's winters.

- Goggles are the call for the hill; amber lenses for overcast and snow; mirrored or dark for sunshine. I know you wear glasses and am not sure if you will be wearing contacts, but I have some friends with specs who have gone mad over their glasses fogging under goggles. I saw someone recomended an RX pair, but that will be spendy and take time to get made. Smith makes a pair that have a small fan built in (runs on AAAs) and this seems to solve the problem. I saw a guy on the lift this AM this morning with a pair and we were talking about it - so it's top of mind...

- If you have contacts, then no problem. All of the big brands out there make good stuff - easy enough to find on sale.

- Insulation. This is a mandatory. As said earlier, layers are the way to go and Colorado can be COLD and if it's crowded then you can chill up waiting in the lift line. The amount you need will depend on how warm your body runs. I generally wear a wool zip neck and a Patagonia's R2 pullover and my shell and I am toasty once I get moving. Last week it was around 15 and blowing 60mph at times I wore a heavier fleece and then wound up adding a soft-shell vest. If you pick basic colors - black, navy, grey - this is stuff you can use in plenty of other parts of your life.

- I'd also suggest a simple fleece (or smart wool) neck gaiter over the scarf. Adds an extra layer around the neck, seals out drafts, can be pulled up in a breeze to cover your nose and face. Cheap...you can get one there.

- Socks should be wool (see base layer above). I have smart wool snowboard socks, but I think that thickness is really the issue to debate as my wife is skier and I'm always blown away by how thin her socks are.

- I'm sort of surprised by the helmet debate here as the number of folks I see without them these days is probably in the single digits. I used to joke that mine "stoked the illusion of fearlessness in the trees," but now the biggest risk I see are kids just bombing along with their iPods cranked up high and completely oblivious. Snowboarders can be the worst because of the backside blindspot.

Anyway, you can fill in the remaining gaps pretty easily - there's tons of sites with last year's colors at slashed prices - and much of this (aside from the helmet, goggles and the pants) can be used casually.

Have a great trip!
 

cbbuff

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I assume I need a new base layer for each day, as I will sweat through them. Do I need to change mid layers too, or can I re-wear?


Unless you sweat a lot, you will be fine for a couple of days. Certainly the mid layers and above don't need to change. If the base layer does get funky or you are totally anal, its easy to rinse/wash in a sink and hang it dry for the next day. It will take almost no time to dry, combination of the quick drying material (that's why you wear it) and the low humidity here in Colo.
 

greger

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^^^ Do I need some kind of eye protection, or do beginners not need (i.e. look stupid) wearing goggles?


Bolle and Smiths are good glasses for skiing. There are others, too, of course. You want to buy something that is a working fit. In other words, you don't want light from above coming through between frame and head. This is also true of reflected light from below or the sides. But you do want some gap for airflow so they don't fog up, but not so much that snow comes through. Some people like goggles for snowy weather, and they are fine, but I prefer sunglasses. If you don't find sunglasses that fit as mentioned above goggles may be a need. Metal frame glasses can get cold.

Also, Don't wear them all the time if it is sunny out or people will wonder if you are a raccoon.
 

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