Ski/Board Clothing

[Predictable Bob]

It'll take more than you lot to offend me - but don't take that as a challenge

Katie's at DMU Leicester and is a member of Demon Snow and Board (I think). As I understand it a helmet and gloves are mandatory and TBH I've no intention of trying to dissuade her - up to now her idea of exercise is getting out of bed to raid the fridge !

She's had loads of advice from her friends in Demon but as I don't know them at all I regard their advice as suspect until proven otherwise. Rental of board and boots is included in the package so it's really just about clothing, helmet and goggles.

She says that she'll need two pairs of sapolettes but won't need a baselayer, she's also been advised to get either reactolite goggles or a spare lens with a different level of tint - I'm not sure that a beginner would actually need that (And I'm sure reactolites will be damned expensive !)


Any further comments gratefully received

[Kiter]

Dont scrimp on the gloves either - these heated ones are fab - and definately a snow skirt on the jacket - spend so much time on your rear (well I do anyway). Also a helmet - seen some nasty head injuries, in most places you can hire these.

If you want to put her off - give her a taster weekend in Scotland on sheet ice - gauranteed to change her mind.

[Eddleston]

Should probably mention I am a student too

[Eddleston]

I have a 686 jacket, it's amazingly good. Waterproof, breathable and warm.

Vans boots, uber comfy and got the ratchet wheel instead of laces which is a blessing.

Can't remember what make my trousers are but i like em.

What uni is it? I may know of somewhere/someone in [uni] snowsports club to direct them to.

[joker??]

as sancho says decathlon ,,,no offense intended to you bob or family ,my advice was she gets cold she loses intrest in new hobby ,,as for richard hes mind is like sewer which is overflowing with sewage

[Predictable Bob]

The idea IS interesting BUT she is somewhat petite - she usually wears clothes for 13 year olds so anybody paying undue attention to her may well get dragged away by a mob of vigilantes!

[stormforce]

buy her string vest and tell her that latest fad for snowboarders ,when she wears it on slope bet she gives it up ,,kerchingggg u save more money

I wouldn't mind being on the slopes watching if thats all she's wearing..

[Predictable Bob]

Adam - you're my new best friend !

All I've got to do now is persuade her ...

[joker??]

buy her string vest and tell her that latest fad for snowboarders ,when she wears it on slope bet she gives it up ,,kerchingggg u save more money

[Sancho]

As above, TK Maxx for as much as you can, Decathlon for anything else.

Don't bother with the expensive brands, they all rip the same.

If you're worried about the fashion thing, take her into TK Maxx to choose stuff.

I speak with 25 years of skiing and ten years of snowboarding experience....

[Predictable Bob]

Cheers guys - lots of info which I'll be chasing down for weeks !

All I need to do now is find a bag of money ...

[Wolfracer]

Waterproof ratings, breathability.
Its fecking cold and you get fecking hot. wicking layer. long sleeve T, fleece and decent coat.
As has been said, Snowboarding has it's own fashion. As long as you know what to look for, its then easy to pick the "fashion"

When we kitted ourselves out for skiing a few year ago, the first thing I did was put everything on and then stand in a COLD shower for 10 mins.
Not a drop came through and I didn't feel the cold.
Needless to say when I hit the alpine slopes, the sun came out, was quite a few degrees above and I got nose sun burn - the coat was wrapped around my waist and my sleeves rolled up.
The following holiday we went on a glacier, it was minus 26 and the wind chill would burn your nose off if it could get to it. Other than Tesco's Chilled Distribution Centre, which holds a temp of Minus 40 and freezes your nasal vapour to the hairs on your nose, this was the coldest place I have ever been.

In short, be prepared.
Good luck.

[g3po]

Tk maxx is good and also decathlon here's a link to decathlon women's wear http://www.decathlon.co.uk/jackets-p...MAN_12658.html

[Osborne]

This is my local shop, brought my board and boots from them a few years back when I was boarding. Not the cheapest but very helpfull and friendly.

thesnowboardshop


Other than that, the only other shops that I have been to for kit is freespirit when they have had a sale on or TKMaxx as they occasionaly have clearance items in. A lot of the time you will find yourself paying for the brand but then thats true of most sports I guess.
With jackets one of the most important things to pay attention to is the waterproof rating and wind resistance in my opinion, then the colour and brand. Other things to look for in a jacket would be an elasticated snow skirt to stop snow going up your back or down the crack of your arse when you fall over and insulated pockets for warming hands up. The advice I was given was layers, use multipul layers as oppossed to one heavy jacket. So a compression type top as a base and micro fleece or softshell for a mid and then a jacket.
For trousers same rules apply really, waterproofing is a must as sitting in the snow tends to feature quiet a lot as a learner and a wet cold backside is not very pleasent.
Might not hurt to look at pads as well, certainly knees and elbows as falling over is something she will get good at to begin with and most deffinately head protection. I learned at Milton Kenyes indoor and they provided head protection as part of the training so I suspect most ski resorts would probably do the same but it wouldn't hurt to check, so long as wearing a sweaty scabby crash helmet is ok of course.

Can't think of anything else of the top of my head, has been a while since I was last involved with the sport but I don't imagine much has changed. Hope thats in any way helpfull and that your Daughter has a great time.

[PM0077]

Have a wee look at the snowboard asylum, it's a part of the outdoor retailer Ellis Brigham and they usually have the previous seasons clothing/equipment on sale at not bad prices. I bought a new board and boots last year, fortunately I have a mate who works for an outdoor shop in Aviemore so I got the items at trade price and with a staff discount too but it still came to around £400. Ebay is also worth a look for clothes as most of them have only been worn at indoor snowdome's so should be in fairly good nick.

http://www.snowboard-asylum.com/sale.htm

Also worth a look:

http://www.boardwise.com/

Good luck

P.s. A word of caution: Most "snowboard" clothing manufacturers clothing is really only suitable for alpine climates i.e. cold and fairly dry and as such aren't terribly waterproof. If this is only a one off type holiday then should be fine but if she's planning to have a go at snowboarding in this country I would seriously suggest Goretex fabrics which can handle a fair bit of moisture.

Paul