My name is Chas; and time spent in the mountains, rivers, lakes and sea; is time well spent.
I thought I would gather useful information, from our experts, for those who like outdoor activities such as water sports, snow sports, walking, climbing etc. Having 'had a go' at many of the sports, myself, I see things from the customer's perspective!
I trust the articles help, enjoy!
The Les Arc 1800 resort is located on the outer edge of the Vanoise National Park which forms part of the Italian border around 10-12 hours drive from Calais or a 3 hour transfer from Geneva Airport. The resort is linked with La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry creating one of the largest skiing areas in the world called ‘Paradiski’ and boasts 425km of pistes; ranging from easy relaxing blues to challenging blacks.
What a view! 425km of pistes; ranging from easy relaxing blues to challenging blacks.
Les Arc itself is made up of four smaller resorts Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 with its claim to fame being the first resort of its type to open in Europe. I stayed in Arc 1800 picked for its location close to the Vanoise Express which is a huge 200 person cable car connecting Les Arc and La Plagne, in fact it’s one of the longest and fastest cable cars in the world!
Les Arc 1800
Built back in 1975 Arc 1800 is not only the largest resort but also the liveliest with lots of bars and restaurants, my favourite being ‘Barking Mad’ with its comfy outdoor seating and views out over the mountains with a pint of beer costing €5, the perfect location for a spot of après ski.
Blue bird sky! Comfy outdoor seating and views out over the mountains with a pint of beer costing €5, the perfect location for a spot of après ski.
We stayed at L’Alliet in a self catered apartment located in the Charmettoger region of the town. This apartment is a little gem recently renovated in 2015 in true alpine style, what we loved was the flexibility of either cooking some homely food or dining out at the various restaurants found a short 5-10 minute walk away.
L’Alliet in a self catered apartment located in the Charmettoger region of the town.
In all there are five lifts out of Arc 1800 but by the best and easiest is the Transarc 1 which connects to the Transarc 2 at the mid station. Once at the top you have excellent access to a huge variety of newly groomed runs (if like us you got the first lifts up). The snow conditions were good throughout the week although some started to become icy leading back down to town at the end of the day, all in all the conditions were good despite the slow start to the season. And best of all we had blue bird days most of the time we were there, what more could you ask for!
One of my favourite runs would have to be the Grands Melezes which starts at the top of the Vagere chairlift, the run is both long and wide with the conditions being perfect allowing me to perform some large sweeping carving turns.
An adult lift pass to the whole Paradiski area is €291 (about £222) or the Les Arc local area is €250 (about £190).
B-e-a-utiful; but respect the mountains. Warning! Danger avalanches!
Overall this resort and ski area is one of my favourite with its mix of glacial high altitude runs and the option to ski through the trees lower down during poor snowy conditions.
Mons Royale is from Lake Wanaka, New Zealand. Lake Wanaka is one of the adventure capitals of New Zealand, with anything from winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding to summer activities such as mountain biking. And a good Merino wool thermal base layer is advisable with any of these sports.
However rather than just sticking to looking at just the performance of the thermals, like some of the other brands, Mons Royale wanted to create a base layer that, as well as having the performance, had a look and style for everyday use. Who’d have thought – cool thermals!
Merino wool has many qualities!
So why all the fuss about Merino Wool?
Mons Royale uses merino wool because it has many qualities, suitable for a baselayer:
It’s soft on your skin. Merino wool is finer than traditional wool which therefore makes it softer on your skin.
It keeps you warm, even when it’s wet, and breathable. The wool has a natural crimp which provides superior insulation and breathability.
It can help regulate your body temperature. Merino wool has the ability to ‘wick’ away moisture which will help regulate your temperature.
It dries quickly.
It doesn’t stink; you can wear it for longer before washing. The natural antibacterial properties of the wool means that it resists odour build up by locking the molecules in the fibre and releasing it when it’s washed.
How aware are you about the risk of avalanches? One of our guys jumped at the chance to improve his knowledge with Salomon Mountain Academy. Their website offers a theoretical course of eight modules for just €29, but they do the first introductory chapter for free. So it would be foolish not to check it out. Here’s his thoughts:
The chapter took around 15-20 mins to complete, and each subsection was a mixture of video, text and pictures. It gave me enough information to realize how ignorant I actually am when I go to a resort; and actually how lucky I have been in the past, blindly following better skiers than me around off the sides of runs etc. Its what we all do to get better and push ourselves right?
Some of the bits will be pretty self explanatory to people that have skied a few times, however there are some very interesting bits of information. One of the biggest statistics, that opened my eyes, was that 55% of Avalanche deaths happen with a Level 3 Avalanche Risk, and only 1% on Level 5. Basically most of us are sensible enough to know not to venture off the pistes in a Level 5 but a Level 3 seems to be an acceptable risk, being middle of the scale, despite it officially translating as “Considerable Risk“.
The chapter finished with a multiple choice quiz, which had some questions in which I guess are covered in other parts of the course. Again opening my eyes to how little I know. Consequently, I’ll be reading up on the whole course before heading off next week!
On a side note, Epic TV are doing an short video series on ‘off piste skiing’ with Graham Bell from Ski Sunday. Also worth a look! The series aims to explain how to prepare your gear and yourself before heading into the mountains for your backcountry adventure.
So what does a quinquagenarian, recreational skier think of the Volkl Kendo skis? Volkl kindly provided a pair for me to review on my annual ski holiday to La Rosierre, France.
Quinquagenarian Recreational Skier
I taught myself to ski at the Lecht, Scotland in the 80s and had a few lessons, in Austria, while the children were in ski school (the only way to convince them to go was to say we were all having lessons)! I go skiing once a year, and look forward to six days of fun sliding down a mountain. I’d class myself as an intermediate to advanced skier, but fully aware that purist would pull my technique to pieces. I’m happy that I can control my skiing, at speed (which means I think it’s fast, but my sons tell me otherwise), down red and some black runs! Historically I would hire what are considered piste or all-mountain skis. And when I say all mountain, they are 80% piste 20% off piste.
Fortunately most holidays have been groomed pistes (corduroy), until last year when knee-deep powder on the piste took a little fun out of the sliding down a mountain! I wasn’t very good in knee-deep powder; was it me or was it the skis. Whatever it made me think; I go skiing for six days a year, what type of skis should I buy? Piste or something suitable for powder? If money was no object, I’d have one of each.
The Kendo skis are a 50-50% piste off-piste ski, for an advanced to expert skier, so may be ‘punching above my weight’ with these skis!
The first thing I noticed was how much wider the skis felt, the waist was in fact 10mm wider at 90mm compared to my old skis. The ski also had a much larger rocker at the tip which helps push the ski up on to the powder rather than slicing through it. And the bindings were drilled onto the ski, rather than the usual rail system I was familiar with.
So it was in at the deep end (literary) because there had been plenty of snow in the resort! I would have like a few groomed pistes to find my ski legs, but that wasn’t an option, so the first morning wasn’t great. However after a stern talking to myself, and a few pointers from my son, the afternoon was better; and I began to embraces the conditions and what the Kendo skis offered!
During my week’s skiing we had over a metre of snow, and poor visibility, so not quite the conditions I had hoped for, but never-the-less ideal conditions to test the skis.
La Forte, La Rosiere France
So what did I think? A bit like the skis 50-50. The skis were a lot stiffer than I am use too, because they are designed for someone of a higher ability, and turn radius was bigger than previous skis at 20.8m; so I found myself having to work extremely hard down the slope. The poor visibility didn’t help! I also struggled a little on the ice, but that may be more down to technique and not fully engaging with the ski. However, what I did find, is that the skis floated through the powder, which had hampered me before.
When the visibility improved, it was a different story. With greater confidence I carved with gusto down the piste. The skis just ploughed through the powdery ‘crud’, that had built up from other skiers, thanks to the ‘rocker’; and the large turning radius no longer hindered my progress, as I zig-zagged down the slope. I had fun!
I now understand where the guys in the Pro Shop were coming from; a ski for all conditions because the weather and snow conditions cannot be guaranteed for the six days I am in resort. And these Kendos certainly ‘cut-the-mustard’.
I think I had ‘bitten-off-more-than-I-can-chew’ with the Kendos, though, but I certainly like that style of ski. Perhaps a similar all-mountain ski that is more suitable for my ability, such as the Line SuperNatural skis would be my choice. And this is an important point to note when buying skis – be honest!
When the visibility improved, it was a different story. With greater confidence I carved with gusto down the piste.
Epilogue: there isn’t a right or left ski, but I found I skied better when I could read ‘Volkl’ across the tips of the skis 🙂
Here’s our expert guide to this seasons best snow jackets and pants; for men and women.
Picture Dayton Jacket
Gone are the days of just 10K/10K jackets, today Picture have produced this awesome technical jacket with a rating of 20K/15K allowing defence against anything that the mountain may throw at you. What I love about the Dayton is the ability to add in a mid layer and connect it via a zip turning it into one continuous item and best of all is extremely warm perfect for those of you that feel the cold much more!
Generally I would pick a tailored fitting jacket despite the Dayton being a freestyle orientated fit it still felt great with the medium being the ideal size for me allowing more layers if needed. The material feels extremely hard wearing only time would tell how well it stands up to the rigours of riding through trees etc but my initial thought is it will be great, not only that but Picture have incorporated recycled polyester into the shell material giving you piece of mind that the lack of snow at the start of the season isn’t down to you.
What I love about the Dayton is the ability to add in a mid layer!
Pros:
Internal Atlas mid layer connects seamlessly
Good fitting adjustable hood
1 Large mesh pocket with 1 smaller zipped pocket
Durable hard wearing material
Extremely warm especially when combined with the Atlas mid layer
Fully waterproof taped seams
Soft lined chin area helps to prevent chaffing
Good waterproof rating 20K
Good breathability rating 15K
Thermal dry system
Cons:
Wrist gaiter feels too tight around my hand
Not a tailored fit
Small non slip shoulder pads
Slightly too loose around the neck/chin area (for me)
Fit: Medium jacket was a good fit not too baggy despite not being a tailored fit, looks great especially when the Atlas mid layer is added. (My details 180cm Tall, 32” Waist, 37” Chest, 75kg)
Picture Books Pant
This is the ultimate addition to the Dayton Jacket in combination these Book pants look awesome! Unlike any other snow pant these come equipped with its own powder skirt that is extremely stretchy, fitting my waist perfectly just giving an extra layer of protection against the powder.
The inside has a super soft fleece liner that feels great and I found help wick some moisture away from my legs perfect for a long days riding. What I didn’t like was there were no reinforced cuffs to guard against sharp ski edges but if snowboarding this wouldn’t be a problem. As with fit I wasn’t a big fan of the baggy look but if you are after a freestyle look these would be perfect.
Pros:
Warm and soft fleece liner
Large inside thigh vents with contrasting lime green netting
Extra stretchy waist powder skirt
Tags to attach the Drayton jacket
Metal boot hook
Good waterproof rating 20K
Good breathability rating 15K
Cons:
False cargo pocket
Doesn’t have reinforced cuffs
Slightly baggy feel and look
Fit: Medium pant was a good fit around the hips and waist with a slightly baggy/freestyle look but some people may like this. (My details 180cm Tall, 32” Waist, 37” Chest, 75kg)
Helly Hansen Progress Jacket
First off Helly Hansen have really progressed their technology and design with this jacket, personally it is my favourite mid ranged jacket we sell not only is the price great but it has the tech to match with its 15K/15K waterproof and breathability ratings! Unlike others with the same ratings the Progress Jacket has a soft stretchy outer fabric which adds another dimension to this already awesome jacket.
Although not tested up in the mountains the added Primaloft makes this a very warm jacket in temperatures around 0 degrees with enough room for added mid/base layers for colder conditions. My only negatives with this jacket are that the zips aren’t taped only a real issue in extreme heavy rain and there are no wrist gaiters which would allow snow to get into the jacket sleeve when riding through deep powder.
The Progress Jacket has a soft stretchy outer fabric!
Pros:
Large cuff openings
Internal media pocket
Large fully adjustable hood
Soft external shell material (slightly stretchy)
Large side pockets
Good underarm mesh venting
Lightweight with Primaloft insulation
Good waterproof rating 15K
Good breathability rating 15K
Cons:
No wrist gaiters
Slightly short in the length
Zips aren’t taped
Fit: Small jacket was a good tailored fit with good length in the arms yet comes up slightly short in the body but once combined with the pants shouldn’t be an issue. (My details 180cm Tall, 32” Waist, 37” Chest, 75kg)
Helly Hansen Legendary Pant
This is the perfect addition to the Progress Jacket, if I hadn’t already got a complete set up I would definitely get this pant after trying it on and the integrated tech it has! What I like about this Legendary Pant is 3 keys points; reinforced cuffs which perfect for skiers like myself helping to prevent unwanted cuts, 2 way stretch Helly performance fabric gives excellent levels of protection against the elements and finally the tapered fit around the knees helping minimise the bulky look you sometimes get with snow pants.
I forgot to mention the additional internal clip that helps stop the traditional single button from popping open when you sit down or are riding hard which has happened to me many times in the past. My only real concern with these pants is the small thigh vents which could cause you to get too hot during the warmer spring months.
Pros:
Reinforced cuffs
Taped pocket zips
Soft external shell material (slightly stretchy)
Lightweight
Great fit/length
Dual button clip waist closure
Good waterproof rating 15K
Good breathability rating 15K
Primaloft insulation
Cons:
Slightly small thigh vents
Single rear pocket
Fit: Medium pant was a good fit around the waist with a tailored fit that narrowed towards the knees. (My details 180cm Tall, 32” Waist, 37” Chest, 75kg)
Roxy Sassy Women’s Jacket
First off trying on this jacket it felt slightly baggy around the shoulders but a good fit around the waist despite this it was extremely comfortable and felt really warm in the zero degree conditions we tested it through. What was unusual with this Sassy jacket was the contrast between the textured grey material and the smooth yellow giving this an edge in the looks department.
For the brief time wearing this jacket we are confident it will meet and excel your expectations up in the mountains the only two negatives to consider are the button on hood rather than a zipped one and also no thumb hole in the wrist gaiter which can ride up when putting on gloves. Overall a great piece for the 2016 winter season with 10K/10K waterproof and breathability rating.
The Sassy jacket it felt slightly baggy around the shoulders but a good fit around the waist!
Pros:
Mixture of hard wearing textured and smooth material
Fully adjustable hood
Good mesh lined venting
Fully insulated
Fleece lined rear back pad
Jacket to pant attachment
Soft fleece lined chin guard
Cons:
Button on hood rather than zip
No thumb hole in wrist gaiter
Fit: Medium jacket was a good fit around the waist but felt slightly baggy around the shoulders doesn’t feel like a slim fit more like a regular higher up. (My details 170cm Tall, 30” Waist, 36” Chest, 66kg)
Roxy Winter Break Women’s Pant
Heading away on the winter break of a lifetime? After testing this pant we think this is the one for you! Overall the pant felt amazing easily providing comfort for a whole days skiing or snowboarding. The velcro adjustable waist gave me the ability to fine tune the fit whether I had layers underneath or not it coped well.
When riding hard I have had previous pants pop open but I found the triple button/clip closure was bulletproof with the added ability to expand the cuffs to accommodate my ski boot with ease. A nice feature was the lift able cuffs helping to reduce the risk of getting covered in dirt when walking across car parks or roads. The only real negatives were the rear velcro pockets which could pick up snow and also this colour could show dirt fairly easy. Overall a great pant.
Pros:
Adjustable velcro waist
Triple button clip waist closure
Heavy duty zips
Smooth hard wearing fabric
Button up cuffs when walking
Mesh lined venting
Expandable cuffs
Cons:
Velcro rear pockets
Colour could show dirt easily
Fit: Medium pant nice fit around the waist with a more relaxed fit and feel over the Salomon fantasy. (My details 170cm Tall, 30” Waist, 36” Chest, 66kg)
Salomon Fantasy Jacket
What an amazing jacket certainly covering all my desires and fantasy’s I would want from a ski jacket whilst up in the mountains! First off trying this jacket on sends me into another world the fit is perfect and also comes with a fleece lined back which is both soft and provides excellent levels of warmth.
On those snowy days the fully adjustable hood will be perfect giving an extra level of protection. Having this on for just a few minutes raised my body temp but no problem as it has large under arm vents which cooled me down in a matter of minutes. My only real negative is the tech specs are slightly low to what I’m use to but still perfectly adequate, with 10K/10K waterproof and breathability rating, and the wrist gaiter doesn’t come with a thumb hole which slides up when putting gloves on.
Certainly covering all my desires and fantasy’s I would want from a ski jacket whilst up in the mountains!
Pros:
Fleece lined internal back
Lightly insulated hood with peak
Soft fleece chin guard
Fully adjustable hood
Hard wearing textured material
Large under arm vents
Internal media pocket + strap
Taped zips
Cons:
No thumb hole in wrist gaiter
Couldn’t find any more
Fit: Medium jacket was the right length in both the arms and body with a tailored fit hugging the body. (My details 170cm Tall, 30” Waist, 36” Chest, 66kg)
Salomon Fantasy Pant
Shell pants are great but don’t offer the insulation many people want, whereas this Fantasy pant is fully insulated tested outside around 0 degrees these pants were extremely warm and felt great due to the soft internal fleece lining. The external twill material is extremely hard wearing standing up to branches and sharp ski edges with the reinforced cuffs.
With this pant there isn’t an expandable cuff but not a big issue due to being quite wide anyway but when it comes to spring or those warmer blue bird days there is no mesh venting to help cool you down so requires removing layers. Overall this is a great pant at a good price!
Pros:
Fully Insulated
Adjustable velcro waist band
Dual button clip waist closure
Hard wearing textured material
Internal soft fleece liner
Multiple front pockets
Reinforced cuffs
Cons:
Tight waist
No expandable cuffs for boots
No mesh vents
False rear pockets
Fit: Medium pant was a little tight around the waist but fits great everywhere else, the slim fit doesn’t feel too tight good movement overall. (My details 170cm Tall, 30” Waist, 36” Chest, 66kg)
To see our full range of technical snow jackets, please click here, and for snow pants click here.
If you’ve not heard about Power Plate; its the ‘whole body vibration technology’ that helps fitness levels, including skiing!
Vibration Exercise
The advantages that can be gained from vibration exercise has been known for many years, but what does it actually do? Our American cousins were the pioneers of vibration exercise during the space race. This period in history saw the US and USSR competing for dominance in space. As the periods of time in zero gravity got longer, so did the noticeable side effects on the human body. A loss of muscle tissue, balance and co-ordination. What was the answer? Conventional exercise equipment is useless in a zero gravity environment.
The introduction of vibration exercise by NASA saw an end to these side effects.
The Plank. The old favourite core exercise. A tough exercise even on the floor, but on the Power Plate it hits the core even more effectively. Core strength is vital for skiing.
Around 2005, some `bright spark` thought, this would work well in the fitness industry! So it started. Now we have everyone from actors, singers, professional sports people and average Joes. The principle is simple. The vibration will activate three times more muscle fibre than conventional exercise. When done properly, this is a deceivingly hard training concept. It can be used effectively by sports people to enhance performance.
Power Plate Exercises For Skiing
We spoke to Harvey at Universal Fitness Centre, Bourne, about using the Power Plate for skiers! He said:
“During December, January and February we see a massive increase in the use of the gym by people going on skiing holidays, and we have used the Power Plate to assist in their preparation. You will still need to address your cardiovascular needs, for skiing, but the Power Plate will strengthen the lower body and core ready for those downhill slopes. Here are two of the many exercises you can do!
Free Standing Squat. Although in this picture I am adopting a sort of skiing position, it is still a squat. Getting used to being in this position for skiers is not a bad thing, but it is essentially a squat. Working the quadriceps, hamstrings and core.
If you think this could be helpful to you, before going on your next skiing trip, why not book a free 50 minute Power Plate induction. Just call the Universal Fitness Centre, Bourne on 01778 422424 and quote TLPP16.
The British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) have a qualification structure for skiers who aspire to work, as a ski instructor, in the ski industry. The Alpine Level 1 course would be the first step to enter into this type of career, and is aimed at experienced skiers who feel they are at a level where they can start to teach beginners of the sport.
Before You Start The Course
Your skiing level is the most important thing to work on before starting the course. I would recommend talking to someone you know who has passed the BASI Level 1 course, and getting them to have a look at your skiing and tell you if you are at the required level. If you don’t know anyone, book a private lesson at any of the dry ski slopes or snow domes in the UK (and make sure your instructor has at least the BASI Level 1 qualification).
You don’t need to own your own skis yet as it’s possible to hire a pair (this was the case at Milton Keynes SnoZone – it would be best to check with the slope before arriving). However, I would highly recommend buying your own boots. There is a huge difference between a hired pair and your own – your own boots can be heat moulded to the shape of your foot, and custom-made foot beds can be added, to give excellent performance and comfort.
Day One
Our group (nine of us) met our instructor in the cafe next to the ski slope at 9 am. The skiing kicked off immediately with some rider improvement exercises, which covered body positioning over the skis, different types of turns (short rotational turns and longer carved turns), and how to use the feet to push on the skis and improve turning.
After lunch, we were briefly shown the Central Theme, which is the name given to the steps BASI instructors use to teach new skiers from beginner level, up to turning using parallel turns. There are seven steps, which were explained to us, told why they were useful to the student, and shown how to demonstrate them. We also practised the demonstrations ourselves, which in my opinion also helped my own skiing.
For the last hour we continued with more rider improvement exercises, in which we focused on torso positioning in short radius turns – in which the torso must be facing downhill while our legs turn beneath us; and larger carved turns – in which we looked again at pushing down with our feet while turning.
The skiing finished at around 4:30 pm, at which time we went into a small classroom to discuss the day’s activities. We were then set a task of planning a very short lesson (around 15 minutes) to teach the next day, and given some questions to answer at home regarding class safety.
Day Two
We met again at 9 am in the classroom, where we talked through the homework questions given to us the day before, which took no more than half an hour. Straight afterwards, we went onto the slope, and each of us gave a 15 minute practice lesson to the rest of the group – the one we had planned the day before. My lesson was looking at turn sizes and how they affect speed: smaller turns make skiing slower whilst larger turns make skiing quicker.
We had some rider improvement, similar to day one, which was related to our short radius turns. For myself, the main aspects I was trying to improve were my posture and my upper body position. After going through a few drills, we each had a run of short radius turns filmed by our instructor. After lunch we watched the videos of our short radius turns, and the instructor slowed them down to give us detailed and personalised feedback.
The Central Theme was briefly run through again, with a few new possible tactics shown to us which could be used in lessons.
The rest of the day on the slope was used to practice the larger carved turns. The main parts of our turns worked on were keeping the skis the same width apart throughout the turns, and managing pressure with our legs during the turns. Again, we had some large carved turns filmed by the instructor, and the day was finished with some video analysis.
Day Three
Day three was much the same as day two: rider improvement, including video analysis, took up most of the day; running through the Central Theme aspects was also a major part of the day.
Near the end of the day we went into the classroom to plan the lessons that we were to give during day four. These lessons form the teaching portion of the assessment for our Level 1 Ski Instructor exam.
Celebration! Jake passed BASI ski instructors course.
Day Four
This day was the teaching assessment day, in which we each “taught” our peers in a 20 to 30 minute session. We were given some time the day before to plan our lessons, which were to be any part of the Central Theme. I chose to teach snow-ploughing, which is the first step in learning speed control.
Most of us were quite nervous on this day as it’s quite daunting knowing you will be pretending to teach advanced skiers the basics. Even though I have been teaching snowboarding for a few months, I was still not looking forward to it. However everyone’s lesson went well enough to pass. When assessing the teaching sessions, the main criteria were that we understood the Central Theme; had an effective way in which we got the information across to the students; managed our students in a safe and efficient way; gave relevant feedback; and moved on to further exercises relevant to the feedback.
Day Five
The final day of the course! For myself this was the most important day, as it was the assessment for our skiing ability. At this point I was still ironing out some aspects of my short radius turns, however by the end of the day they were at the required level to pass – what a relief!
Other aspects of the the skiing ability we were assessed on were the longer radius, carved turns, and our demonstrations of beginner turns (for when teaching the Central Theme).
This day was the shortest of the week, and we finished at around 2 pm, once we had been given our results (all of us passed!). We went back into the classroom, where our instructor gave us a de-brief of the week. This included running through with us what we needed to do next for our BASI Level 1, possible future courses and training we could enrol on, and general information regarding life as a ski instructor.
After The Course
Once the course has been completed, there are a few other small things that are needed from BASI before you receive your Level 1 certificate:
35 hours of snowsport experience: this can include shadowing ski lessons, working in the ski hire area, or even on reception at a ski school.
First Aid Certificate: Must be a minimum of a 12 hour course
Working with Children module: an online course
Criminal Record Disclosure: available online
Oakley is arguably one of the most recognised sports gear and eyewear brands the world has ever seen with its history dating back to 1975. Defying all the sceptics Jim Jannard started his own company with $300 with one simple goal; make products that work better and look better than anything else. Based in his garage Jim developed a new style of motorcycle grip that increased grip with sweat, capturing the notice of many top riders.
With the company orders in decline it led Jim to create the O Frame goggle that was praised for its clarity and wide peripheral view being used in MX for the new 17 years. Drawing on his previous innovations Jim set himself the challenge of reinventing sport sunglasses creating the ‘eyeshades’, a revolution in eyewear design becoming a vital piece of equipment for world class competitors.
Decades of research and development has been focused on a single, unwavering goal; to provide snow athletes the highest level of protection and optimum visual clarity possible. This goal has allowed Oakley to find that perfect blend of art and science leading to 600 patents awarded worldwide. Today Oakley is seen as the go to brand for sophistication and performance within the sportswear industry!
Oakley Goggle Technology
HDO (High Definition Optics)
Ever wanted a truer picture of the world? Oakley’s HDO technology gives a lens virtually free of distortion and fine tuned with patented technologies that retain extremely high levels of clarity at any angle and any condition.
The American National Standards Institute put Oakley lenses through three rigorous tests:
Clarity (measures sharpness of images view through the lens)
Refractive power (measures how inferior lenses distort vision by magnifying images)
PRISM, not to be confused with Prizm, (measures how lenses bend light to make objects appear shifted from their true position)
These tests prove how inferior lenses can compromise your vision. Don’t compromise, stick with Oakley lenses!
Impact Protection
Oakley lenses don’t just meet, they exceed ANSI impact-resistance standards! These lenses have undergone high-speed and high-mass tests, giving the ability to be pushed to its limits with no risk of breaking.
Anti-Fog Technology
Plutonite lenses are an innovation in their own right, combined with Oakley’s unique F3 anti-fog coating allows the inner lens to absorb a minimum of 2ml of moisture to help preventing fogging during the most intense physical activities.
Lens Coatings
Iridium
A lot of people think the composition of the lens itself is iridium, but in fact it’s a standard lens with a special metal oxide coating that gives the lens a unique set of properties. This Iridium coating allows you to tailor your goggle to any condition you may face up in the mountain.
Oakley provides a large variety of lens compositions and colours allowing you to fine tune; glare, reflection, light absorption and light transmission. The ability to fine tune how much light reaches your eye makes this exclusive coating a favourite with riders around the world.
Polarised
Ever get that uncomfortable glare in bright sunlight? Oakley polarized lenses are made from an exclusive permeate Plutonite material coated around an integrated polariser. The unique combination of coatings helps to provide clear vision, minimises deformation and helps protect the filter from everyday wear and tear.
Additionally Plutonite performs extremely well as a barrier against harmful UVA, UVC and UVB rays as well as harmful blue light protecting your eyes even on the brightest of days.
Ever felt the urge to clean your lens with anything other than the cloth supplied? Resist the urge! Tissues, tops and sleeves are highly abrasive and if used will permanently scratch your lens. The supplied cloth is a special microfiber material that will clean but not scratch.
Your lens will no doubt get wet during its use but it is advised that you only clean your lens when dry. So even if you take a fall in the snow, allow your lens to dry first.
One last piece of advice you may not heard of is try to avoid wearing goggles on your head. Many goggles have anti fog and venting properties but the heat and moisture from the top of your head increases the chance of this still occurring.
Following these simple but important rules will ensure your Oakley goggles stay high performing and scratch free for years to come.
Vents
Due to the amount of moisture your face emits goggle ventilation is important in helping to reduce fogging. Although Oakley goggles feature an anti-fog coating more ventilation is always better when it comes to goggles. Be sure to check the compatibility with your helmet as the vents can sometimes be covered reducing the performance of your goggles.
Foam Layers
Getting a perfect seal around you face is important for reducing fogging and adding comfort. Oakley has designed their goggles with a triple layered polar fleece foam which ensures the cold and snow stay out whilst following the curvature of your face without giving uncomfortable pressure points.
Glasses Compatible
If you have prescription glasses finding the right goggle can be a challenge! Some Oakley goggles feature OTG (Over the Glasses) technology which means you can still wear your prescription glasses underneath without the expensive need for prescription goggles.
OTG goggles tend to be deeper than regular goggles and feature a channel to allow your goggles to fit perfectly with no movement or pressure points.
Helmet Compatible
It’s important to have a good fitting goggle and helmet for both aesthetics and performance. Known as the goggle gap this gap between the helmet and goggle is best avoided through a helmet compatible goggle as it can give you brain freeze.
Oakley produce goggles with varying levels of helmet compatibility with many of their designs featuring strap outriggers to give a better strap position when wearing a helmet.
You might think that ski and snowboard socks are very much the same, and while this can be true some of the time, when it comes to well known snow sport brands they then start to vary with different features, materials and construction. Below is a short guide on the different socks and how they are tailored to a specific sport.
When it comes to choosing that sock, whether skiing or snowboarding, the two following statements are important:
Look at the material and make sure you don’t choose one with cotton in. Although it’s great for a nice looking shirt it doesn’t have very high moisture wicking properties causing your feet to stay damp from sweat in turn getting cold.
Some say the thinner the sock the better but this is really down to personal choice, some agree with this statement and others don’t.
Sock Size
Choosing the correct size is paramount as a sock that’s too big can sag giving an uneven feeling in your boot whereas a sock too tight can cut the circulation to your feet causing them to become cold which nobody wants. To help determine the correct size go off your ski boots or have your feet professionally measured.
As a general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the weight (thickness) of your sock its probably best to go with either a medium or light weight sock as the thicker higher density socks combined with the insulation from your boot could create too much sweat and heat.
Materials
Wool – Merino wool in particular is a natural fibre which has excellent levels of warmth and moisture wicking properties keeping your feet warm and dry. Being a natural fibre means it doesn’t have high levels of elastic memory causing the sock to lose shape overtime yet doesn’t absorb odours which is great for a week’s holiday needing only a couple pairs of socks.
Synthetic – There are numerous synthetic materials the more common materials are polyester, nylon, acrylic and elastic. These materials retain their shape very well, have moisture wicking properties and give high levels of comfort.
The Perfect Blend – Many modern day ski and snowboard socks are a blend of natural and synthetic fibres combining the best characteristics from both worlds for the ultimate sock.
Ski Socks
Ski socks tend to be much taller (over the calf) in height so to accommodate the much higher profile of ski boots. Modern ski socks have additional padding in areas such as the shins due to the increased pressure from pushing on the boot tongue and in other areas it’s much thinner for a more performance orientated fit and helps prevent blistering around the heels.
These Salomon ski socks have additional padding in areas such as the shins due to the increased pressure from pushing on the ski boot tongue.
Snowboard Socks
Many snowboard socks have been specially designed to have forward lean built in which helps prevent the sock from bunching under foot giving a much more comfortable days riding. Unlike ski socks snowboard socks tend to have more uniformed cushioning rather than smaller specific areas due to going from toe to heel edge on a regular basis.
These ThrityTwo snowboard socks tend to have more uniformed cushioning.
If your still unsure as to what type of sock you need after reading this blog why not pop into store where our passionate and highly qualified staff can give you some advice.
Quite simply the hottest goggle on the market right now! This is truly a performance goggle from Oakley with its new innovative Switchlock Technology allowing you to adapt to any environment with quick, hassle free lens changing.
The Airbrake is the perfect package coming standard with two lens tints to cover any condition the mountain gods may throw at you with the added Plutonite lens material to give 100% protection against all UV. Oakley have designed the Airbrake goggle to fit medium to large faces incorporating triple layered foam with a flexible face plate and a rigid exoskeleton frame, giving added performance without compromising on comfort.
Oakley has engineered the Airbrake to provide even pressure across the face with or without a helmet through the integration of strap outriggers.
Key Features:
Switchlock Technology
Rigid exoskeleton frame
Flexible face plate
Triple layered foam
Helmet compatible O Matter outriggers
Dual vented lenses with F3 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Spherical lens shape
Includes two lens tints and case
Available with Prizm lens technology
Medium to large fit
The Airbrake is pictured above.
Flight Deck
Oakley has taken inspiration directly from the high speed world of fighter pilot helmet design giving you a goggle that not only looks great, but maximises your field of view to ensure you can see any obstacle and plot that perfect route through the snow.
The frameless design gives this goggle a wide range of helmet compatibility with the added comfort due to minimised frame mass. This really is the ‘top gun’ of snow goggles!
Key Features:
Rimless lens design
Lens sub-frame attachment
Frame/lens support for unrestricted airflow
Streamlined frame
Helmet compatible outriggers
Discreet frame notches giving compatibility for most prescription eyewear
Max dual pane lens with F3 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Medium to large fit
Oakley Flight Deck Snow Goggle.
Flight Deck XM
New for 2015 the Flight Deck XM is a total redesign of the old Splice. Oakley has taken inspiration directly from the high speed world of fighter pilot helmet design giving you a goggle that not only looks great, but maximises your field of view to ensure you can see any obstacle and plot that perfect route through the snow.
The unique design of the Flight Deck XM sitting closer to your face gives you back your peripheral vision normally lost with many goggle designs, allowing you to spot dangers and obstacles faster. Many goggles suit a larger face but Oakley realized this and has downsized the original Flight Deck to this new model now suitable for small to medium faces.
Key Features:
Rimless lens design
Lens sub frame attachment
Frame/lens support for unrestricted airflow
Helmet compatible O Matter outriggers
Discreet frame notches giving compatibility for most prescription eyewear
Dual vented lens with F3 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Small to medium fit
A Frame 2.0
Do you crave extra ventilation in your goggle? The Oakley A Frame 2.0 features 2 large surge ports that maintain lens ventilation helping to blast away any moisture along with a dual lens with F3 anti-fog coating produces one of Oakley’s most fog resistant goggles.
True A Frame followers will be pleased to know that the upgraded 2.0 version still features outriggers giving balanced strap pressure, triple layered fleece foam and ANSI Z87.1 impact rating. All combined provides a top pick goggle for male and female winter athletes alike.
Key Features:
Sleek and compact frame design
Dual surge port frames vents
Articulating helmet compatible O Matter
Flexible O Matter chassis
Triple layer polar fleece foam
Dual vented lens with F3 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Small to medium fit
Oakley A Frame 2.0 Snow Goggle.
Canopy
Experience the Oakley Canopy with its exceptional super-sized lens enhancing your peripheral vision with tunnel vision being a thing of the past. Oakley’s design engineers have created a low profile frame design whilst expanding lens volume giving a wide open view and excellent downward vision.
Do you find many goggles restrict your breathing? Don’t panic Oakley have you covered! Patented O-Flow arch design reduces nose bridge pressure allowing for easier breathing.
Key Features:
Large lens design
Patented O-Flow arch
Streamlined frame design
Full helmet compatibility
Discreet frame notches giving compatibility for most prescription eyewear
Dual vented lens with F3 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Small to medium fit
Oakley Canopy Snow Goggle.
Crowbar
The Crowbar is Oakley’s first ski goggle that features outrigger struts to perfectly balance and distribute frame pressure across the face for an even and more comfortable fit. The increased lens size with its specific curvature opens your peripheral and downward view combined with HDO maintains excellent clarity at any angle.
Key Features:
Streamlined frame design
Flexible O Matter chassis
Rigid O Matter strap outriggers
Triple layer fleece foam
Dual vented lenses F3 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Medium fit
Oakley Crowbar Snow Goggles.
O2 XL
What do you get if you mix super wide views and excellent value…the Oakley O2 XL goggle! This features a low profile frame helping to fit over prescription glasses and helmets comfortably. With the expansion of your peripheral vision the O2 XL expands the upwards and downwards vision to give a better all round view of the mountain.
Key Features:
Streamlined frame geometry
Flexible O Matter chassis
Moto style strap for helmet compatibility
Triple layer polar fleece foam
Discreet frame notches giving compatibility for most prescription eyewear
Dual vented lens with F2 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Medium to large fit
O2 XM
What do you get if you mix super wide views and excellent value…the Oakley O2 XM goggle! This features a low profile frame helping to fit over prescription glasses and helmets comfortably. With the expansion of your peripheral vision the O2 XM expands the upwards and downwards vision to give a better all round view of the mountain.
Key Features:
Streamlined frame geometry
Flexible O Matter chassis
Moto style strap for helmet compatibility
Triple layer polar fleece foam
Discreet frame notches giving compatibility for most prescription eyewear
Dual vented lens with F2 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Available with Prizm lens technology
Small to medium fit
Oakley O2 XM Snow Goggle.
O2 XS
Following on from the success of its predecessor the O Frame, the junior specific O2 XS gives you unrivalled performance at a very affordable price. The lightweight O Matter chassis maintains excellent flexibility even in the extreme cold, while the added triple layer polar fleece is moisture wicking keeping your face dry and warm.
Key Features:
Flexible O Matter chassis
Moto style strap for helmet compatibility
Triple layer polar fleece foam
Discreet frame notches giving compatibility for most prescription eyewear
Dual vented lens with F2 anti-fog coating
100% protection against UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm
Small fit
E Frame
This is Oakley’s entry level goggle featuring a dual lens construction giving you fog reduction whilst increasing the durability. Suitable for use as a unisex goggle the E Frame contains lens venting to further reduce moisture and an adjustable wide strap for extra comfort.
Key Features:
Flexible urethane frame
Wide adjustable elastic strap
Single layered face foam
Dual vented lens with F2 anti-fog coating
Lens venting
Suitable for juniors or women
Airwave
Have you ever wondered what speed you travelled down that last run? Or wondered how much air did I just get off that last insane kicker? The time has come! Oakley has introduced the most technological advanced goggle on the market.
The Airwave features a built in head up display will give you features such as GPS, Bluetooth and more sensors than your average space shuttle. This goggle provides you with all the need to know information whether your carving up with piste or riding some powder in the backcountry.
The head up display provides crisp, widescreen graphics using none other than prism technology to give the effect of a 14 inch monitor viewed at a distance of 5 feet. The Airwave is the only goggle you will need featuring Oakley’s Switchlock technology allowing lenses to be changed dependent on the light conditions.
Key Features:
Speed
Trip viewer
Jump analysis
Navigation
Buddy tracking
Music
Smartphone connectivity
Smart lock technology
Durable O Matter frame
Patented O Flow arch
Dual vented lens with F3 anti-fog coating
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