Dressing to Ski and Buying Equipment
Skiing is a highly active sport. Skiers who have mastered only the basics of the sport can often times stay comfortable with what would seem like a minimum of clothing to the casual observer. Here are the basic clothing requirements for training and racing on the team and some suggestions for safe and comfortable dressing for the weather.
Head, ear, and hand protection appropriate for the weather condition are required before team members can take part in any outdoor practice. Faster skiers who raise their heart rates to higher levels can get by with lighter hats and gloves. Slower skiers will want heavier hats and mittens.
Cotton hats, gloves, shirts, and underwear will not keep skiers warm. Instead, cotton clothing holds water, promotes body heat loss and makes it nearly impossible to stay warm in winter conditions.
There are many flashy and expensive materials available that work well in the cold. They can be found in local ski shops and are very expensive. Inexpensive alternatives can be found in discount department and outdoor stores. Look for long underwear tops and bottoms that are made entirely from acrylic fibers. Socks, briefs and other underwear items should also be free of cotton.
Skiers should wear these insulation layer items beneath light, windproof pants and jackets. The team will provide jackets appropriate for winter skiing shortly before the first race on an “as available” basis but skiers will have to provide their own appropriate gear for the first few weeks of practice. Slower skiers or those more susceptible to the cold can add additional layers of polyester pile, polar fleece, or (still the best) wool. As a general rule, it’s better to start with too much on and take off the extra layers as the body warms up.
Buying Equipment
Skiing can be an equipment intensive sport. The coaching staff and ski community at Bartlett realize this and do everything possible to help team families minimize expenses as they enter the sport. The team has a limited amount of used skis and boots that are available to team members who need and fit the equipment. Team members with the best attendance and who do their best in the daily workouts will have first shot at team gear. Here are some guidelines for purchasing any equipment the team can’t provide.
Advanced racers have two pairs of ski boots, one for skate technique and one for classic.
Beginning and intermediate skiers can get by with one pair of boots. These boots are called combi boots and have high cuffs like skate boots but flex at the ball of the foot like classic boots. Cross-country ski boots should fit comfortably, like running shoes. Skiers should wear light boot socks when trying on ski boots.
Ski boots need to use one of two binding systems. Be sure any boot you buy uses either the NNN II system or the Salomon SNS system. These two systems are compatible with the bindings used on the ski team. If your skier is using skis from the team, be sure boots you purchase are compatible with the binding on the skis. We’ve tried to convert all our skis to the SNS system.
Skis
Like boots, skis are built to be used for either skate or classic technique. Also like boots, some skis are designed to do both jobs reasonably well.
There’s no such thing as a combi pole. Skiers must have poles specific to both skate and classic technique. On the upside, at least they’re cheap compared to skis and boots.
Skate poles should fit so that the top of the pole comes to between the skier’s chin and nose when set in front of them as they are standing straight. If the only poles you can find are too long, the shop you are purchasing them from can cut them down to fit. Look for poles that seem stiff and have small racing or track skiing baskets.
Classic poles should come to just above the armpit on the standing skier, ideally to the socket at the arm and shoulder.
Cutting polesThe team supplies most all wax and waxing supplies, but you might want to purchase a hand cork and a few kick waxes for any classic skiing you do apart from the team.