When you look for your next set of snow goggles; what do you consider: style, do they match my outfit, price, when am I going to wear them (all of the time or just in the low light), do they fit my helmet?
However, perhaps the biggest oversight is the use of goggles as a vital piece of protection! We protect our head (well we certainly advise you to do so), and some go that extra step and wear body protection. But I imagine few of us choose a set of snow goggles on the basis of eye protection.
Eye Protection
Since working at Tallington Lakes Pro Shop my understanding and approach to eyewear has dramatically changed. During my first years skiing I had very standard snow goggles, no massive brand name, I just brought cheap with the mindset I only use them once a year. And truthfully I brought my first set of Oakley Crowbar goggles on style, with little thought for anything else, via the internet and I was lucky they fit me and my helmet well.
So after different goggle brand training, I purchased my second set of Oakley Splice goggles in store after trying numerous ones on with my helmet. I found they fit better than other brands, the peripheral vision was far superior, and the level of protect Oakley offer made them an obvious choice.
That being said I would like to point out that all goggles we sell online and in store are CE approved, and perfectly suitable for all your wintery needs. Oakley, like in their sunglasses, has taken that testing/certification one step further and as they put it: “this level of testing is absolutely unnecessary”. The standard test to CE approve a lens, whether it be goggles or sunglasses, is to resist the impact of ball bearing dropped on it. Oakley didn’t feel this was enough and with the leading cause of eye damage to the London Eye Hospital being sunglasses shattering into people eyes, as the result of car airbags, they looked to improve this. The answer, Plutonite, developed by Oakley not only to be optically pure but also much more durable than other lenses. Oakley lens test – fire a metal spike at their lenses and the lens must not crack, but absorb and resist the impact. What is considered unnecessary by others is mandatory to Oakley. You can read about Oakley’s eyewear impact test here.
This technology has been around for some time; so in store we do highlight the pros of using goggles as a piece of protection. So what has prompted this article?
I was lucky enough to be in the French Alps recently, when as many of you will know the powder conditions where amazing, however avalanche risks where high, so the powder was to be skied in the safety of the trees. Great for snow pack confidence, however, with trees come roots, fallen branches and uncertainty under the seeming flat smooth snow. After a great run through the trees I popped out into a little clearing and put a few turns in, and up to this point my poles where disappearing half way into the powder. However my next pole plant found something a few centimetres of snow: perhaps a branch or a rock. Needless to say my pole didn’t disappear as far as expected and I ended up head butting the top of the pole grip. Yes I felt the impact but I finished my run, and it wasn’t until the chairlift back to the top that I noticed the rather deep scratch running across the lens of my goggles.
It wasn’t until the chairlift back to the top that I noticed the rather deep scratch running across the lens of my goggles.
It’s hard to say what might have happened if I was wearing sunglasses or a low specification pair of goggles. Certainly in the case of sunglasses I would have been looking at a broken nose and some fetching black eyes. In the case of a less durable lens, the lens could have cracked possibly causing eye damage.
All I can say definitively is that CE approved (or better) snow goggles, which ever brand you choose, should be a serious consideration and not a last minute ‘fashion’ pick up.
So take the time to come in store with your helmet and try on some snow goggles; or give us a call. Make sure they fit and are comfortable, including wearing your helmet. Make sure the lens tint is right for the conditions you except to ski in; so that when you walk out onto the slopes you have the peace of mind that whatever happens your eyes are well protected!
When you think of the brand DC, snowboards may not be the first item that jumps out to you. DC are more well known for, where their roots lie, the skateboarding industry. So what are the DC Focus and Mega snowboards like?
DC History
Damon Way and professional rally driver Ken Block, with the vision of creating a leading actions sport shoe and clothing brand started the company in 1994. In 2004, Quicksilver acquired the brand for just $87 million and since then it has gone from strength to strength. They sponsor some of the biggest names in the various industries including Travis Pastrana, Robbie Maddison, Torstein Horgmo and Travis Rice and in 2012 they released their first women’s range of products.
DC have been in the snowboard market for some time and have some quality products out their for all abilities. When our staff decided to go on their ski testing road trip, DC was at the top of the list of products to put through the paces. Thankfully, the guys at DC sent us the Mega and the Focus Snowboards.
DC Focus Snowboard
The DC Focus is a perfect soft and forgiving board and is ideal for any first timer snowboarder or if you’re looking for something to help you in the park. When we tested the board we found it quite responsive on edge however when the heat was turned up it did slightly chatter; something that is quite normal with softer boards. If you are the type of rider that is looking to increase your ability in the park then this board could also be a hit. It boasts a true twin shape that helps for riding regular and switch, an extruded base that will take impacts from rails and boxes and a poppy Astro core that will definitely get you riding to a higher level. Overall, an excellent value snowboard for money priced at only £224.99.
The DC Focus is a perfect soft and forgiving board and is ideal for any first timer snowboarder or if you’re looking for something to help you in the park.
DC Mega Snowboard
The DC Mega was new for 2016 and is something else that stems from their roots of skateboarding. The first thing we noticed, before we had even ridden it, was the board comes with a pack of stencils and a blank top sheet allowing you to customize the board to your very own liking. When we took the board for a test, we were very surprised to say the least. The board had awesome response thanks to its ‘lock and load’ camber. This basically means the board is cambered between your bindings and has sweet spots on the nose and tail; altogether it helps with stability. DC has also added their radius to flat design to this board that helps with flotation and lift in the powder. All round, this board proved a hit but having a wooden top sheet may prove a negative if, like on our test, it continues to soak up water in the wetter conditions!
All round, this board proved a hit but having a wooden top sheet may prove a negative if, like on our test, it continues to soak up water in the wetter conditions!
Competition
We are giving you the chance to win the DC Focus 157cm Snowboard, we reviewed. Yes it might have been used, and have a few scratches, but its in excellent condition and will be fully serviced.
All you have to do is ‘like’ or ‘follow’ us and share this article on either Facebook, Twitter or Google+, making sure you tag our username or #TallingtonLakes, and if we see it will enter you into the prize draw. Will pick one lucky winner on the 29th Feb 2016*.
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
There’s no doubt Oakley produce some of the most technologically advanced sports eyewear in the world! Experts at Oakley have discovered unique links that allow our brain and eyes to process light, leading to the development of the Prizm lens. The result? A tailored lens specific to the way your eyes work!
15 years of research, development and testing has led to the introduction of the new, much anticipated Prizm lens! During this period Oakley has found our eyes are extremely sensitive to detail in certain colours; blue and orange light to be specific.
In the past have you struggled to pick the perfect route though the white gold? Prizm technology helps tackle these problems through filtering ambient full-spectrum light entering the lens, fine tuning the specific colours to give; enhanced detail for perfect route selection.
This lens will be sure to enhance not only your experience but vision on the mountain. Prizm lenses have been proved to reduce eye fatigue giving you endless hours of fun on the slope. After 15 years of heart ache Oakley have emerged the other side with a product that will change the way we ‘view’ snow sports in future.
The Black Iridium snow lens has a 5-10% visible light transmission rating great in medium to bright light (very sunny conditions). To reduce glare features an Iridium coating.
Prizm Jade Iridium
The Jade Iridium snow lens has a 11-20% visible light transmission rating great in low to medium light (sunny to overcast conditions). To reduce glare features an Iridium coating.
Prizm Torch Iridium
New for 2015 the Torch Iridium snow lens has a 11-20% visible light transmission rating great in low to medium light (sunny to overcast conditions). To reduce glare features an Iridium coating.
Prizm Sapphire Iridium
The new release for 2015 the Sapphire Iridium snow lens has a 11-20% visible light transmission rating great in low to medium light (sunny to overcast conditions). To reduce glare features an Iridium coating.
Prizm Rose
The Rose snow lens has a 21%+ visible light transmission rating perfect for flat to medium light (sunny to snowy conditions).
Black Iridium, Sapphire Iridium, Jade Iridium, Torch Iridium and Rose Prizm lenses.
Standard Lenses
Years of technological advancements has led Oakley to develop a wide range of standard (non-Prizm) lenses suitable for any condition the mountain may throw at you. The table below provides key information on each individual lens to help tailor your equipment to cover all bases.
Lens Tint
Description
Visible Light Transmission
Protection Index
Suitable Conditions
%
Clear
Very low light. Neutral transmission for truer colour perception
90
0
Night time
High Intensity Yellow
High contrast lens for extremely low light conditions. Features an Iridium coating to further enhance contrast
81
0
Flat to very low light
High Intensity Permission
Filters blue light to boost contrast and increase depth perception in a wide variety of conditions. Features an Iridium coating to further enhance contrast
63
1
Flat to low light
Permission
Filters blue light to boost contrast and increase depth perception in a wide variety of conditions
62
1
Flat to low light
Pink Iridium
Enhances depth perception and increases visual acuity in a wide variety of conditions
57
1
Flat to medium light
VR50
Filters blue light with a subtle tint to enhance visual acuity and improve depth perception
50
1
Flat to low light
VR50 Emerald Iridium
Utilizes a contrast-enhancing VR50A lens tint with a unique Iridium coating to further tune contrast and reduce glare
30
2
Low to Medium light
G30
Rose base with subtle Iridium coating to improve contrast and depth perception in a wide variety of conditions
30
2
Low to Medium light
Blue Iridium
Utilizes a contrast-enhancing VR28 lens tint with an Iridium coating to further tune contrast and reduce glare
30
2
Low to Medium light
VR28
Filters blue light to increase contrast and improve depth perception in a wide variety of conditions
28
2
Medium to bright light
High Amber Polarized
High contrast lens that cuts blinding glare while enhancing visual acuity. Features an Iridium coating to balance light transmission and further tune contrast
25
2
Medium to bright light
Gold Iridium
Excellent all-purpose contrast-enhancing lens for sunny conditions. Features an Iridium coating to reduce glare
20
2
Medium to bright light
Black Iridium
Excellent all-purpose high contrast lens for sunny conditions. Features an Iridium coating to reduce glare
18
3
Medium to bright light
Fire Iridium
Improves visual acuity. Features an Iridium coating to further tune contrast and reduce glare
16
3
Medium to bright light
VR28 Black Iridium
Filters blue light to increase contrast and improve depth perception in a wide variety of conditions
14
2
Medium to bright light
VR28 Polarized
Cuts blinding glare while filtering blue light to increase contrast and improve depth perception in a wide variety of conditions
14
3
Medium to bright light
The protection index varies from 0-3 giving your eyes varying levels of protection against the sun, 0 being no protection and 3 being the highest perfect for those bluebird days.
VLT (Visible Light Transmission)
Many ask the question what is Visible Light Transmission and how can it help. The colour of your lens helps to filter and intensify colours in your vision whilst this colour and coating also effects how much light reaches your eye also known as Visible Light Transmission.
Lighter lens tints have a higher VLT as more light is able to pass through reaching your eye. Yellow, gold, green and rose coloured lenses have a higher VLT perfect for those snowy, overcast days.
Darker lens tints have a lower VLT as more light is bounced back preventing it reaching your eye. Brown, grey and copper coloured lenses have a lower VLT perfect for those bright bluebird days.
So you’ve treated your skis or snowboard to its yearly service, however, you may wish to give them a basic service while you are on your trip. Maintaining your skis or snowboard bases and edges is vital to getting the best out of your gear, so have a read of this guide if you want to keep them in tip-top condition!
(We do not accept any responsibility for any damaged caused whilst following this guide. You should be comfortable in completing the work before starting)
Rub On Wax
If you don’t have access to a waxing iron or the time to use ‘melt on wax’ then a rub on wax is the next best thing, with Dakine doing their own High Octane Rub on Wax! So your gear has had the full works but many melt on waxes only last 3-5 days so to maintain this improved performance all holiday why not use a rub on wax either apply it in your hotel or better yet on the mountain for a workshop with a view.
Dakine Rub-on-Wax for skis and snowboards.
Generally many rub on waxes are suitable for all temperatures and the process is simple, just rub into the base then buff it out with either a nylon brush or the attached cork on the Dakine applicator. This immediately improves/maintains performance for around one day where the process would then need repeating. All in all this option is simple and so easy anyone no matter your experience can do!
Melt On Wax
Despite modern advances in ski and snowboard base design these still dry and wear out over time and in turn reduce performance! It’s key to wax your gear on a regular basis before, during and after your trip if you really want, with hot (melt on) waxes being the best as it allows the wax to penetrate deeply into the base structure for added durability.
These melt on waxes or ‘glide’ waxes help increase the speed you can ride through creating a thin layer of water between the snow and base with different waxes suited to varying temperatures throughout the winter season and generally last between 3-5 days of normal riding.
All temp Waxes (Suitable for a mix of warm and cold conditions)
To apply this type of wax you will need to get a specific wax iron, plastic scrapper, base cleaner and nylon brush (don’t use your household iron as the holes will become clogged with wax) after treating yourself to this equipment you’re then ready to follow these steps:
1. Firstly retract your binding brakes and position the ski or snowboard in a clamp or 2 high back chairs.
2. Prepare your base for waxing using a base cleaning compound which removes all the old wax and dirt.
3. Rub the wax by hand onto the base like your colouring the base with a crayon (adds another layer of protection against the heat of the iron)
4. Melt the wax on a low temperature (120-140oC) in zig zag movement across the entire length of the ski or snowboard.
5. Then you run the iron over the wax melting it and spreading evenly over the base (ensure you don’t stay in one place as it can damage the base though becoming too hot move 1-2 inches per second)
6. Allow the wax to cool at room temperature for a few hours, overnight if possible.
7. You’re now ready to remove the excess wax, so grab your plastic scraper and use the sharp edge to scrap the wax working from the tip to the tail of the ski or snowboard. (also remove any wax from the edges)
8. You need to make sure you have removed enough wax and to test this scrape the base with your fingernail and if little or no wax comes off your ready for the next step.
9. Then starting with a stiff nylon brush work from tip to tail with medium strokes until you have a shinny glossy look to the base.
10. Finally use a soft nylon brush working from tip to tail to finish the waxing process.
This might sound like a long process but once you have done it a few times it will become second nature and you will get a great sense of achievement of waxing your own gear and over time will save you money!
Edge Tuning
You may have heard of edge tuning amongst your snow sport friends, it’s basically the adjustment of the metal edges that run around your board or ski and has a big impact on how your equipment performs. Up in the mountains the conditions can change day by day so the option of fine tuning your skis or snowboard to suit the conditions appeals to a lot of riders with the following guide giving a basic understanding of the process.
Dakine Edge Tuning Tool for skis and snowboards.
There are two types of edge a base and a side, with the side edge being the one normally adjusted as the base generally stays at 1o as any lower and you will constantly catch an edge when riding. The following side edge degrees show the advantages and disadvantages of varying degrees:
1o (Gives a 90o edge profile and is the strongest combination possible great for a neutral feel for a range of riders but isn’t great on hard pack snow and ice)
2o (Gives an 89o edge profile and will require slightly more tuning over 1o yet is much better on hard packed piste’s giving improved edge grip when carving yet beginners may find this option hard as it requires more lean to engage the edges)
3o (Gives an 88o edge profile which is generally found on high performance Piste skis with this combination offering excellent edge hold on packed snow and ice requiring the user to be much more aggressive to engage the edges)
So once you’ve determined which edge angle is best for you use a high quality edge tuning tool such as the Dakine Mini Edge Tuner. To get the perfect fine tuned edge follow the steps below:
1. Firstly retract your binding brakes and position the ski or snowboard in a clamp or 2 high back chairs.
2. Pull the file towards you working from tip to tail (short overlapping strokes)
3. For beginners you can use a black pen on the edges so you know where you have edged as the metal will go from black to shinny metal.
4. Then polish with a diamond stone blue (coarse) then red (fine) then finish with green (extra fine)
Now you have completed a full wax and edge tune your sure to have a fun filled high performance time on the slopes. For any more details on servicing we offer give the Pro Shop Team a call on 01778 347000 where the experienced staff with be more than happy to help.
So you might be thinking to yourself what is freeriding? It’s basically skiing or snowboarding on natural, un-groomed runs which have no set course or specific set of rules. Many riders it is called off-piste or backcountry depending where about’s in the world you’re from!
The thought of riding this challenging terrain is what appeals to so many people, combining numerous skill areas such as freestyle and piste riding into one all mountain style giving you the freedom to take on any terrain you encounter. With any snow sports there are associated risks but these are amplified significantly when freeriding but on the other hand you get to experience untouched areas of the mountain challenging your skills with such varied terrain.
Back in the 1940’s freeriding was in its infancy and wasn’t until the 1970’s where gear had improved to such a level that freeriding attracted audiences on a global level. Closely following the French were the Americans where a group of young enthusiastic riders took on the steep terrain of the Rockies and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges.
This influx of new riders really set the scene for the first ever freeride contest, the ‘World Extreme Ski Championships’ WESC held in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, Alaska! Not forgetting the snowboarders the ‘World Extreme Snowboard Championships’ was established in 1992 which soon transformed into the widely recognised King Of The Hill competition still running today.
For many years these two disciplines remained completely separate before a crazy business man by the name Nicholas Hale Woods launched the Verbier Extreme in 1996 with 2004 marking the year when ten of the world’s top freeride skiers were invited to take part, revolutionising the sport as we know it!
Today this pioneering man Nicholas Hale Woods plays a crucial part in the organising and running of one of the world’s most extreme snow sport competitions the Freeride World Tour! Featuring five stops in five countries riders battle against each other in search of worldwide recognition. Below we delve a little deeper into the five 2016 resorts!
Located in the northern valleys of Andorra the Arcalis is a smaller slice of the much larger Vallnord skiing area. This resort features stunning views and multiple tree lined runs and is categorised into the most alpine resort in the Vallnord skiing area due to being north facing and its numerous steep slopes.
Handpicked from other resorts the Arcalis is home to some of the best off Piste skiing in Andorra holding on to its powder much longer due to receiving less sun. Here are some key facts about the resort:
30km Pistes with 27 runs
442 Hectares of skiable area
One terrain park
Longest run 8km
33% Beginner + 22% Intermediate + 37% Advanced + 7% Expert
Summit 2625m / 1940m Base
6th February 2016 (Chamonix Mont Blanc, France)
Located on the border of France, Switzerland and Italy this well known resort is at the base of the highest summit in the Alps, Mont Blanc featuring some amazing alpine skiing. Many people believe that Chamonix was the birthplace of alpine skiing with its claim to fame being the resort to host the first winter Olympics back in 1924.
It’s perfect mix of runs appeals to a wide range of riders and also features the world renowned 20km (12mile) Valley Blanche which is an extremely high off Piste run that circles the entire resort, a challenge for any aspiring expert skier. Here are some key facts about the resort:
119km Pistes with 106 runs
308 Hectares of skiable area
One Terrain Park
Longest run 20km
14% Beginner + 34% Intermediate + 38% Advanced + 14% Expert
Summit 3275m / 1042m Base
6th March 2016 (Fieberbrunn Kitzbuheleralpen, Austria)
Part of the much larger Triol skiing area the Fieberbrunn is a large resort in its own right with many of its runs tailored towards the intermediate rider yet still features runs for the more advanced rider.
Alot of the terrain here is extremely enjoyable with perfectly groomed runs with the option to head into the wide open powder fields to test your skills. Fieberbrunn is seen as a hidden gem within the Alps and one to visit during your riding career, below are a few key facts about the resort:
35km Pistes with 26 runs
34 Hectares of skiable area
One Half pipe
35km Cross Country
13km Blue + 22km Red + 3km Black
Summit 2020m / 830m Base
17th March 2016 (Haines, Alaska)
Haines, Alaska features some of the world’s best heli skiing terrain with over 5000ft of vertical drop and scenic powder runs that will keep you wanting more testing your skills to the very edge.
The mountain ranges surrounding Haines have a dry snowpack with some of the most stable weather systems found anywhere in Alaska. The sleepy community and picturesque landscapes makes this a centre for wilderness adventures in Alaska.
World’s largest non polar ice cap
5000ft of vertical drop
Situated at one of Alaska’s great fjords
Verbier is in the centre of one of one of the largest ski areas in Europe, the four valleys! The exciting terrain combined with scenic views and abundance of snow makes this resort a sure fire bet for late or early season riding.
Two recently open lifts has made accessing the four valleys area even easier and with the right conditions is host to a trail of 15km descending over 2500m making it one of the biggest and best vertical runs in the world. Below are a few key facts about the resort:
177km Pistes with 37 runs
162 Hectares of skiable area
36% Intermediate + 37% Advanced + 27% Expert
Summit 3330m / 1500m Base
Event Feeding Into Products
This world renowned event has become so successful numerous snow sport companies are incorporating the name into some of their products for example Teko Freeride World Tour sock and Dakine Freeride World Tour Backpack both available at the Tallington Lakes Pro Shop both in store and online.
With severe cold spells striking the ski resorts this season, have you found that your jacket is no longer up to scratch? This week we have seen a rise in post-skiing purchases with bargain buys falling short once outside the relatively mild UK. It appears that quality branded snow jackets are fighting back.
Are you looking to the latest technology jackets to help beat the cold next time round? Found that the -10 temperatures and fierce winds cut through your jacket and despite your numerous layers you ended up leaving the slopes early?
If your jacket has failed you this season, keep these three key features in mind and buy one that will stand the test of time.
Does it have a 10,000mm/10,000g waterproof to breathability rating?
Does it have critically or fully taped seams?
What added insulatory features does it have? Powder skirt? Wrist guards?
They say “a picture paints a thousand words”. Well this photograph tells you two things. One it’s sensible to wear a snow helmet when you are skiing or snowboarding; and two always regularly check your helmet for damage! I shall explain.
Always check your helmet for damage!
Last season a customer had a fall whilst skiing in France. Nothing horrendous, just a few tumbles, and although they had an achey knee thought nothing more and carried on with their holiday.
As the photograph shows it was a good job they were wearing a helmet. The impact at the back of the helmet, which caused the large crack, most certainly prevented serious, if not life-threatening, injuries from the fall.
However, with such damage sustained by the helmet; another fall could have been catastrophic! If you have a fall, however minor and whether you think you have hit your head or not, always check your helmet for damage.
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