2009/2010 Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council Associate Members

The Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council (CMSC) has Associate Members across the country, ready to offer their assistance and expertise while planning your next ski group vacation. From resort contacts, to sports medicine professionals, to “where-to-get-your-gear,” Associate Members of the CMSC come from a vast array of disciplines.
No matter what your question, the Associate Members of the CMSC are always on hand to help make your next group ski excursion the best one yet. A comprehensive list of North American members can be found here: CMSC List

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.