Suiting up for the Slopes

If you want to look as good in the lodge as you do on the hill, you’ll find plenty of fun and functional choices from all manufacturers. From diva outfits with girly touches to sleek Olympic racer styles and everything in between, there’s something to satisfy every skier, boarder or après ski lounger.

What’s Hot and What’s Not
Say goodbye to bulk and weight and hello to freedom of movement. Anatomically contoured jackets with tapered waists made from stretch fabrics are definitely hot. They’ve helped create a slimmer, cleaner look.

You’ll find a wide selection of everything from glitter crystals to floral prints. Choose from hot reds and shades of violet, raspberry, green, rose and orchid, plus eye-catching combinations of solids and patterns. Guys find plenty of color and cool styles, too─just no glitter.
But skiwear isn’t just about color. Other factors are progressive styling, added comfort and more performance features. Skiers will find better waterproofing and breathability, along with more watertight zippers and strategically placed vents─even special pockets for your iPod and cell phone.

High-flying Boardwear
How do manufacturers please such a diverse group of free spirits, anyway? By giving them what they want! Look for funky, urban styling and cutting-edge stretchable, breathable, waterproof fabrics, plus features like articulated knees that allow maximum freedom to move and jump.

The slim look is in for boarders, too. Some brands have even removed hoods from their jackets and kept pockets for gadgets to a minimum to further the slim silhouette.

But they haven’t held anything back when it comes to color. Look for eye-popping blues, purples and citrus-y yellows and greens with splashes of bold graphics. Your friends will be able to spot you a mile away.

Hi-tech has Gone Even Higher

On the technical side, you’ll find many innovations, including new fabrics for layering straight from NASA, designed to keep your body temperature controlled─not too hot, not too cold. Even kids’ ski and boardwear has gone high-tech, with adult technologies and designs.
Outerwear offers lots of stretchable, breathable, waterproof and windproof fabrics. These performance fabric innovations blend function and technology to meet the needs of all types of skiers and snowboarders. Several manufacturers even offer special insulation designed to absorb body heat into the jacket lining and then distribute it throughout the upper body when needed. Talk about renewable energy!

You can even buy skiwear with negative ions in the fabric fibers. Negative ions relax the body and mind and are clinically proven to decrease blood pressure. Wearing this skiwear, you could be the most relaxed skier on the slopes.

Whether you’re a skier, boarder or just like to watch, snow sports clothing has come a long way since the days of big puffy jackets and mittens the size of boxing gloves.

The Fine Art of Layering
Whether you stay warm or not is all about layering, as you probably know. But here, from Viking Ski Shop, is a refresher course in the basics:
The base layer, which is next to your skin, draws moisture away, keeping your skin dry and warm. Choose synthetics over cotton as cotton becomes wet and heavy and doesn’t wick moisture away.
The middle layer is the insulating layer, or the filling in the wicking system “sandwich.” It allows moisture to escape but keeps the heat in. Choose a lightweight fabric such as fleece, which can be used later in the year for spring activities.

The outer layer is the breathable, weatherproof one. It completes your layering system─almost. Heat escapes through your head, so to “top” your system off and keep the warmth in, don’t forget that cool looking hat.

Helmets: The Safety You Need

Helmets have come a long, long way from those sweatboxes that felt like a beer cooler on your head! They’re lightweight, stylish and come all sizes, shapes and colors. Many have advanced features─like Bluetooth technology that’s adaptable to your cell phone or iPod. In fact, helmets have become such must-have accessories that you almost forget their main function─safety. So don’t leave for the slopes without one.

For all the latest styles in ski and boardwear, check out the selection at Viking Ski Shop locations in Chicago and Barrington, Ill., and other ski shops throughout the Midwest.

Blind Skiers Keep Good Company

Close your eyes. Imagine your body moving, the wind in your hair. Imagine feeling a sense of acceleration that you’ve never felt before. Imagine you have no idea if something is in front of you, how far away it is, or even if you’ll know about it before it’s too late. Try imagining any of these things, and you’ll come close to understanding what the thrill is for the blind skier.

The term “blind skier,” I’ll admit, sounds about as foolish as “blind truck driver,” “blind pilot,” or even “blind surgeon.” But what barriers do the slopes pose for the blind skier? When you think about it, there are actually very few. The sight-impaired skier can stand, balance, and, inevitably, fall like any other skier. The only snags are the potential obstacles on the slopes. Get a guide to tell the skier when these are approaching, however, and the problem melts away. Just as pilots, while “flying blind,” rely on their instruments to tell them of looming disasters, the blind skier’s traffic controller is right behind, in front of, or wherever the skier needs him or her to be. Opening the slopes to the sight impaired was a simple idea, but one that required somebody somewhere to make a quantum of leap of understanding.

Skiing for people with all varieties of physical challenges became very popular at the end of World War II. Injured veterans wanted to return to their former active lifestyles, and programs addressing the need began appearing at ski resorts. Today, very active programs are run at resorts like Winter Park, Colorado. The development of specialized equipment, like the mono- and bi-ski, can bring the thrill of the slopes to those with almost any kind of physical challenge.

While the methods employed to propel disabled skiers may differ, the thrills that skiing provides them know no distinctions. The sense of freedom, the joy of speed, and the sweet taste of the first après ski cocktail last long after the snow has melted. My fondest memories of my first season as a sight-impaired skier, however, have nothing to do with any of these. They come from two extraordinary people who guided me down the slopes. The story is not mine so much as it is theirs.

My Guided Tour

I’ve been sight impaired my entire life. I’d heard about skiing for the blind back in the early 1980s. I understood the concept, and though I wasn’t particularly frightened of the idea, I wasn’t especially motivated to try it. At that point in my life, I felt stimulated enough. I felt I knew the world, my place in it, my strengths and my limitations. I thought it was a great opportunity – for those who needed it – but I didn’t. I had my other interests and stories of the hot cocoa, steam tubs, and beautiful people all around me simply didn’t interest me.

When I decided to try skiing many years later, my life was a little different. I was feeling a little confined, a bit stifled. It wasn’t the speed, the snow, the cocoa, or the lifestyle that attracted me, but the idea that I would be doing something so illogical for someone with “my limitations.” I approached the American Blind Skiers Foundation (ABSF), based in the Chicagoland area, not knowing what exactly I’d find. I was, at most, hoping to find an activity I could enjoy. I never expected the difference it would make in my life.

I don’t think I’ve ever been sorer than the day after I first strapped on a pair of skies. Every inch of my body ached. Skiing, I realized, wasn’t easy, sight or not. I had told myself that everything would be fine if I just learned how to stop when I needed to. My entire time on the slopes, however, was spent stopping, usually in a prone position. So much so that a joke began to circulate: “Hey, have you seen Dan skiing? “No, but I’ve seen him lying on the ground.” I realized that, before I should waste my energy worrying about smashing into an unseen tree, I needed to stay vertical for at least ten feet of hill.

As I stumbled and scraped my way through my first season the slopes, however, something hit me with a far greater force than any centrally located tree ever could. My guides were some of the most giving and caring people I ever met. After one particularly horrific day, when my guide, Kurt, had convinced me to try a “nice simple” blue slope at Copper Mountain Resort, I had bruised my way down it and I asked him, “Why do you do this? Why do you, a great skier, want to stand there and watch some idiot like me make a mockery of something you love to do so much?’ “Because people like you inspire me,” was all he replied.

I hadn’t quite thought of it that way before. All the time growing up, trying to do the same things my friends did, I had always thought I should try to be exactly like them. I thought that being a part of what they did meant my having to overcome my limitations. In his response, Kurt showed me that this wasn’t the case at all. There were people out there who were, in fact, fine with what I was—people willing to let me be what I was, despite any strain or inconvenience it might cause them. More importantly, there were people out there who were happy that I was just who I was. It may seem a simple notion to many, but believe me, this is not a perception of their place in the world most people with disabilities carry with them easily.

My Non-Fall from Grace

On the last day of my first ski season, I had one request for my guide, Dawn. “I want to go down the slope one time without falling.” I didn’t care which slope, just one time without falling, and so we started out. We chose one of the easiest slopes available. Groups of eight-year old kids seemed to wiz by me every second; I tried not to listen. On the way up, Dawn and I talked about life, skiing and Italian food. I think she was trying to ease my conscience over the promise I’d made myself. The first time…a fall. And the second. And the third. She explained a certain tricky portion of the slope to me again and again, and warned that, when she said to turn right, I really should turn right, that it wasn’t simply a suggestion.

On my fourth and final attempt that day, I made it down the slope without falling. It remains one of my proudest moments. It’s customary that the blind skier provides the first round at the après ski for the guide. That day, however, Dawn treated me. That’s when I came to understand what it meant to be skier. Why the slopes failed to attract me twenty years ago, I have no idea.

My whole life, I have read books on philosophy, searching for answers. I have poured over thousands of years of great thoughts and epic struggles and tried to learn from them how I should live my life. In some ways, a handful of ski outings gave me a much better perception of the course my life should take. I indeed loved the rush of the slopes, but more importantly, I loved the dedication of the guides that made my rides down them possible. Just as I may inspire them, they have inspired me to try and help others in realizing their own potentials. I ski now as much for the guides as I do for myself. I simply enjoy the company I get to keep.

By Dan Barrett

What’s New in Boots & How to Get a Good Fit

You want to go skiing but aren’t sure what to look for in a ski boot for your type of foot. Or, maybe you want to get some basics down while training during the off season. These concerns and others often plague beginner and advanced skiers alike.

To begin, you must buy the proper ski boot. When buying ski boots make sure you wear the ski boots for at least 30 minutes at the ski shop. Wearing them for only a few minutes will not allow you to judge the fit of the boot properly because it takes time to notice any areas of boot pressure that will begin hurting after skiing for extended periods.

If you have problems with your feet that are mildly discomforting, your boot fitter should be able to address them. If you have a small bony prominence on your foot, adjustments can be made by “blowing” out the boot where it rubs your foot. As a general rule of thumb, if your feet hurt only with ski boots, your boot fitter should be able to address the problem. If your symptoms are elicited with normal shoe gear and ski boots, then it would be a good idea to consult a trained sports medicine physician. If you have foot and ankle problems which have been diagnosed by your physician, your ski boots should be modified by a podiatric or orthopedic physician qualified in biomechanics of the lower extremity.

There are some new boot designs that will allow better fitting of ski boots to individuals. In the past, boots were much more difficult to get a good calf fit – especially in women. Ski boots had high cuffs & then later low cuffs (the upper part of the boot that goes around your calf). The high cuffs gave more stability but were difficult to fit to different calf sizes. The low cuff boots were more comfortable – but less stable. Now boots are made in different heights & cuff diameters to allow better calf fitting without loss of support. Another way boots are offering more support without adding more cuff to the boot is the fact that there are more four-buckle boots versus three buckle boots. The extra buckle allows better boot fit and control. Manufacturers are also paying more attention to the bone structure differences between men and women across the board, as opposed to one or two gender specific models.

One of the biggest changes in boots is the addition of a dual cuff cant adjustment. A cant adjustment is the movement of the boot cuff to a more outward position to compensate for the natural outward curve of the lower leg. Now some boots have an adjustment on both sides of the cuff to allow inward movement as well. Other adjustments or variations in boots are different ramp angles available in certain boots and bindings. (Ramp angle is the angle between the heel and ball of the foot parallel to the ground.) A higher ramp angle will lift your heel and have a tendency to move your ski position forward. A higher ramp angle may also help some skiers who have tight calves, especially women. If a boot has a high ramp angle then it needs to be balanced with a binding with less of a ramp angle. Ramp angles may also be introduced or reduced by a footbed or orthotic.

Some boots can change the forward lean from an outside adjustment. This will not change the ramp angle.  Ramp angle and forward lean are separate adjustments from a flex control, which allows more or less flexion (stiffness control) mimicking a higher ramp angle. Flex control allows softer or harder transmission of the forces from your body down and the reactive ground up (the ski slope). Just about all boots now have heat-moldable boot liners, which makes for a more comfortable fit and for the ability to set the liner in the person’s “skiing position.”

Don’t get hung up on all the ‘bells and whistles” available. All adjustments or features may or may not be necessary, and vary according to your skiing abilities and body type. These adjustments and recommendations should be made only by your boot fitter or sports medicine podiatrist because they affect balance & the dynamics of skiing – so let a pro identify your body shape and mechanics to make the best recommendation for you.

Things to keep in mind while barreling down the slopes are the temperature of your feet and the tightness of your boot. If you find your feet feeling cold, you may need to insulate the lining of your ski boot. If your feet feel cold, numb, and have a pins-and-needles feeling or burning, you may have overexposure to the cold or the boot’s tightness may be cutting off circulation to your feet.

If it is indeed due to overexposure to the cold weather, simply loosening the boot buckles will not relieve the symptoms. Therefore, it is imperative that you find your way to a first aid station immediately to prevent the possibility of frostbite. If the cold feeling is due to an ill-fitting boot, have your boot fitter lower the shellbed, remove extra padding, remove material from the tongue, or decrease the bulk of the footbed.

Now that you a few ideas on choosing ski boots and how to care for the feet in them, it is up to you to use what you know to get your best fit!

About the Authors: Dr. George Tsatsos is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medical Specialties, the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and the American Academy of Pain Management. He is a Clinic Advisor for the American Running and Fitness Association, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and official podiatrist for the Viking Ski Shop. He and Dr Kurtz specialize in child and adult foot & ankle disorders, surgery and sports medicine in their practice in Chicago and Elmhurst.  The practice facilities offer digital x-rays, video biomechanics and gait analysis, and computerized digital orthotics.

Alpine Skiers Have A Nordic Advantage

I began skiing in 1965 in western New York State.  In those days the equipment was rudimentary to say the least.  I was a downhiller for 15 years before discovering there was another way to slide on snow.  What wasn’t immediately apparent as I became enamored with cross-country (XC or Nordic) skiing was that my alpine experience gave me a great leg up on others who began skiing with XC.  In fact, as a professional ski instructor, I recommend to those who got into cross-country without ever having bought a lift ticket that they rent some equipment and take an Alpine lesson.

Of course not every down hill skier will opt for Nordic skiing but it’s likely that our image keeps many from trying the sport.  So how do you know if you would enjoy Cross-Country skiing?  Do you find that you tire of coming down the same runs over and over and go exploring the edges of an area, where the trails tend to be narrower, the trees closer?  Do you bike, run or do some other aerobic exercise during the warmer months?  Maybe you even race in one of these sports.  Do you love hiking in wild country?  On the other side, are you tired of crowded runs, lift lines, and high daily rates?

You’re not about to abandon Alpine, but there’s nothing like variety to renew your enthusiasm for being outdoors in winter.  In the seventies I dreamed of skiing out west and finally got to Telluride in 1978.  In 1980 my wife purchased a pair of XC skis and I crammed my feet into her boots and gave it a try.  I immediately went out to get a pair of my own.  Here was a snow sport that was accessible any time it snowed; on a Wednesday at lunchtime or on a snowy Saturday.  I was no longer limited to driving north to ski three times a year.  Through the eighties and nineties it was possible to get on skis more than thirty days each year.  Since the mid eighties I’ve down hill skied twice, once at Breckenridge and once at Solitude.  It was OK but the thrill was gone.

It’s a fact that the average North American Nordic skier is considerably older than those involved in Alpine.  But in the largest ski race on the continent, the Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wisconsin, the bulk of racers are in their thirties and forties.  My son was a downhiller as he was growing up and has now converted to the skinny side (Nordic skis are often called “skinny skis”).

It’s great skiing in forest preserves and the few places in greater Chicago that groom trails for cross-country skiing.  There’s a feeling you get, being out in snowy woods, that is even more beautiful than in the summertime.  The U.S. has some superb Nordic ski areas and some of the best are in the upper Midwest.  At the most elite of these, trail fees are less than $30 per day; in fact it’s rare that a daily fee exceeds $10.  Compare that to Alpine lift tickets.  Unlike Alpine, most beginners don’t bother with a lesson.  That’s too bad because proper technique can make the experience far more rewarding.

That brings me back to the Alpine – Nordic advantage: no fear of descending a hill.  Hills in cross-country are far tamer than at down hill areas.  Modern ski equipment allows excellent control so that in spite of the boot-heel not being connected to the binding, it’s possible to turn the skis at will.  In areas where trails are groomed (tracked), you can just ride down the tracks.  If a turn is involved, you can stem one ski out of the tracks to assist in the turn or just jump out of the tracks to use both skis on a steep descent.  Alpine skiers have the confidence to do this.

Of course what goes down must come back up.  I often hear, “Oh, cross-country skiing – that’s too much work!”  If one had to climb an Alpine hill that would be true but Nordic hills are smaller and, hey, it’s good for you.  And when you’ve worked to get up the hill, the run down seems far more delicious.  Nordic clothing is much lighter when you are generating your own internal heat and you’re often shielded from the wind by trees.  The new, breathable fabrics keep you warm and dry.  I don’t miss coming over the crest of a hill on the chairlift and getting blasted by a brutal, chilling wind.

An alternative style of Nordic skiing is skating.  Skiing in tracks is now referred to as classic skiing or diagonal striding (or just striding).  In the eighties Bill Koch, an American, developed skating which revolutionized Nordic skiing.  Skating form is similar to speed skating on ice but here we use a packed trail with no indented tracks.  It is somewhat more energy-intensive but it’s faster for a given effort.  It also requires specialized equipment to ski efficiently.

Most races in the U.S. allow the skating technique and have a separate category for classic skiers.  If you have raced in a warm weather sport, you truly would love Nordic racing.  It has even more excitement than summer racing in my opinion.  Of course most people don’t race and still get great enjoyment out of this sport.  A complete set of good equipment can be had for under $300.  Or you can rent it locally at Arrowhead Golf Course in Wheaton or Camp Sagawau in Lemont for around $10 a day.

Most CMSC clubs probably have some skiers that are both Alpine and Nordic but I’m aware of two clubs that are exclusively Nordic.  The Nordic Fox Ski Club (www.nordicfox.org) that meets at Arrowhead in Wheaton and Northwest Nordic Ski Club (www.nwnordicskiclub.com) that meets at various locations in and around Arlington Heights.  Also the Lake Shore Ski Club has a strong Nordic contingent (www.lssc.org).  Just to give you a sense of the kind of bargain that’s available for a Nordic trip, my club, Nordic Fox, spends a week in Ironwood on the west side of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula every January.  The cost for Sunday through Thursday night’s lodging, breakfast, dinner and area tickets is under $200.  Our further distance trips range from $500 to $1000 for a week.  Every few years we head out to Yellowstone National park which is truly magnificent in winter.  This trip runs as high as $1400.

Any questions?  Contact Scott Smith – Nordic Fox Ski Club at trinord@yahoo.com

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