Snow falls, ski lifts operate, polar furs and thermal clothes are fighting for space in your closet. You feel almost creamy texture powder snow under your skis. But are you really as ready as you think? Skiing and snowboarding are sports that require a consistent material. The list of hardware requirements can seem endless. Where to invest your money? To guide you in this huge choice, we did some research to help you establish your priority list.
It all starts with the ski boot. As explained Toff, Manager at Surefoot, “It’s easy to ruin a day because your feet are not comfortable. With shoes that have been adjusted correctly, you will be comfortable and your performance will be improved throughout the day. These are your ski boots who must control your skis, not the opposite. ”
The feet are all different in shape and size, what we must do to find the Shoe Fits? “We must be honest … about your abilities and your ambitions,” says Nick, founder of Mountain Air and resident guru shoes. In return, a good specialist shoes will ask the right questions, analyze the feet, legs and customer posture and choose a shell and an appropriate type of liner. Injection foam at thermal molding, or a combination of both, the end result should be a comfortable custom shoe that greatly improves your level of skiing.
“It is important to invest in your shoes,” said Toff, “and to take care of.” Accessories such as a boot dryer (or heat freshener) significantly help preserve your shoes by emitting ultraviolet light that kills all bacteria, the main cause of smelly shoes! The simple habit of closing the loops before putting your shoes extends their life by preserving the shape of the plastic shell.
As for storage, the choice and terminology may seem too complicated. All Mountain categories in Big Mountain, Backcountry Powder is a minefield evolving. Your strength, your weight, your level and your favorite ski terrain will guide the seller to your most suitable choice, but ideally, the only way to find happiness remains to test the skis. Most sport shops offer test versions of all their skis, so take advantage of this service and do not feel under pressure to make a quick choice. For example, the Faction Skis Test Center conveniently located in the Ski Ruinettes Service offers more than 50 pairs of skis to test before buying.
To be kept warm and dry, there is really no equivalent to the merino wool as the first layer. She’s so strong that you can spend several days in the mountains before it needs a wash. The same goes for socks, no need thick cotton slippers if you have a pair of suitable shoes. And as you see the wool logo, no need to choose well-known brands.
The two most important considerations for the outer layers are breathability and impermeability. The breathability of the fabric is the ability to evacuate the vapor removal (perspiration) outwardly. To be waterproof jacket needs an outer layer having received a water repellent treatment. This treatment that the water forms droplets on the surface instead of penetrating tissue. The ideal combination is to wear a normal soft shell and hard shell Gore-Tex. The soft shell can be worn dry days where you spend a lot, such as a sealskin day and should reasonably protect you if a little snow had to return. As for the hard shells, although Gore-Tex competitors such as Mountain Harware and Polartec NeoShell, choose a jacket with a Gore-Tex membrane if you buy one. The company not only offers a lifetime warranty, but also plays an active role in making any clothes that bear his name, and all the products pass stringent quality tests, so that it does not exist Gore-Tex products of dubious quality on the market. To preserve the life of your jacket, keep it rolled in its cap when not in use.
An excellent ski mask is essential to ski safely. All this bright white snow can seriously damage your eyes. A 100% protection from UVA and UVB is common these days, but orient yourself Polycarbonate lenses or NXT, they are tough enough to withstand any impact. The ideal glass is spherical, for a better field of vision, and limits glare and fogging. The yellow, blue and pink lenses let in more light and therefore more suitable for days without visibility, while the darker lenses are more efficient sunny days. If you can not offer you 2 different pairs, choose a mask with a photochromic glass that adapts to the light conditions.
The old helmet is certainly the most important safety feature and also the one that is neglected more often. “There is no logical reason for not wearing one, they are warmer, safer, more comfortable, and whatever your level of skiing, you still need one!” said Joe Bartholomew of All Mountain Rentals. It is simply to find one that suits you best. If you have special hot head, choose a helmet with more vents, and do not forget to take your ski mask to test your headphones and prevent the annoying look that involves having too much space between the helmet and mask.
Finally, but by far not least, the safety equipment for avalanches. For anyone considering not even a moment to practice off-piste skiing, shovel, probe and transceiver (avalanche detector) are absolutely essential. An airbag is useful too, but as stated Sebastian Mountain Air, “there is no life insurance in the mountains!” Having these items on you does not count if you do not know how to use. You have no excuses in this area, you can indeed take free courses Avalanche Research in La Chaux Sunday afternoon in the season.
There is a limit to what we can handle in this space but as Nick wisely summarizes: “There are 16 sports shops in Verbier who opened gradually over a period of over 40 years of high-level skiing in the resort There is thus a greater knowledge and more. wide range of equipment in 2 square kilometers than anywhere else in the world. ” So enjoy this opportunity and be ready this winter!