Useful Information

Ski and Snowboarding Checklist

If you are going skiing or boarding for the first time you may need some advice on what to take with you. On your first trip it is usual to hire equipment such as boots, boards, skis and poles, and often this will be part of your holiday package. The following list deals only with clothing and accessories.

Wintersports Essentials

A jacket and salopettes/trousers. An insulated jacket or waterproof + fleece combination can be used at home as well as in resort and you may already own something suitable. These must be water resistant and windproof but they do not have to be completely waterproof. They should have covered zips and fit closely around the cuffs and collar. Boarding jackets may feature longer or reinforced backs for sitting on, and the pants will often not fit tightly around the boots. The overall look may be different to 'ski' ranges, but as long as your choice is comfortable, gives you room to move, and performs properly with your equipment, boarding and skiwear is virtually interchangeable. (A one-piece ski suit will also be fine, especially for small children, but they tend to have fallen out of favour in recent years, with the introduction of more technical and crossover clothing.)
Gloves or mitts. Mittens are usually warmer but gloves leave your fingers free. Try on both, but make sure that the fit is not too tight as this will restrict your circulation and leave you with cold hands. Boarding gloves should have tough materials on the fingers, as these take a lot of wear, and you may want to consider those with integral wrist protection.
A hat. You may never wear it but you should always carry a hat. Conditions can change dramatically in the mountains, and you can conserve a great deal of body heat by covering your head.
Socks. For most people, loopstitch tube socks with a high wool content are ideal. We do not recommend cotton, nor do we advise wearing more than one pair of socks at a time. Depending on how often you want to wash them we would suggest that you have at the very least three pairs of socks for a week's holiday.
Good eye protection. This is vitally important. Cheap glasses can be dangerous so look for lenses which are actually designed to cope with the very bright conditions found in a snowy environment. Usually skiers wear glasses when it is sunny and goggles if the weather is dull or if it is snowing - boarders often prefer just goggles. Both will protect the eyes from harmful rays, so you can opt for one or the other.
High factor sun protection, particularly late in the season. We would suggest Factor 15 as a minimum, but we tend to use 25 and upwards ourselves. Don't forget lips, as too much exposure to cold and sun can cause cold sores.
Sensible footwear, particularly if you are using ski boots rather than soft board boots. Snow boots should provide warmth, some water resistance and a reasonably grippy sole. Walking boots or other sturdy shoes can be worn instead, but will not give you as much protection in deep snow.
Helmets - there is no way our kids would be allowed on snow without their helmets and more and more adults are becoming aware of the benefits of head protection. Find helmets in our Hire Department.
Protection - specifically for boarding. We would strongly recommend the use of wrist guards and impact shorts to reduce the risk of injury. They will also decrease the discomfort you could feel when you fall, which you will. Often.

Useful Extras

Neckwarmers especially are incredibly versatile. They can really make a difference to your comfort level - they are probably the Useful Extra we would least like to be without.
Thermal underwear is preferable to cotton, as it maintains a dry layer next to the skin. Thermal inner gloves are also good if you suffer badly from cold hands.
A waist bag or back pack for cameras, sandwiches, extra layers, etc.
Ski ties. These are straps which hold your skis together making them easier to carry.

General Hints

Wear a couple of thin layers of clothing under your jacket, rather than one thick jumper. You will be warmer, and you can always take a layer off if you are overheating.

To keep your gloves warm, if you remove them, put them inside your jacket . If they do get cold, try blowing into them.

Make sure you apply sun protection regularly, especially to nose, lips and ears.

If you are skiing late in the season it is important to avoid getting dehydrated. If you don't want to use the mountain restaurants, carry some water with you.

Useful Links

www.GONEboarding.co.uk - The UK's leading online snowboarding community. Visit GONEboarding for the latest snowboarding forums, reviews, news, photos, videos. Created by snowboarders for snowboarders.