Ski Equipment Guide
During those rare UK winters where there is enough snow to cover the ground, and we need to walk to the local shop to panic buy pasties in case we get snowed in for weeks, we'll pop on a thick woollen jumper, those gloves with a hole in the thumb, and a pair of wellies. But planning for a season at a ski resort is a bit more complicated than that. You are going to need to spend a bit on money on kit. And if you are vain enough to want to compete with the stylish Italian and French folk, you are going to need deep pockets.
Let's start with the essentials
In this guide we will assume you are going to buy everything you could possibly need to be safe, warm and fashionable on the slopes. In reality, you will almost certainly be able to buy or hire equipment such as skis and snowboards, ski and snowboard boots, in resort. But where's the fun in that. Trying to check in your ski equipment at the airport and hoping the airline don't accidentally send it to Bogota instead of Bergamo is all part of the experience.
High Street or Online
Some of the larger specialist winter sports clothing companies have shops on the high street, but even the biggest retailers cannot afford to pay the overheads of a bricks and mortar shop in every town. Thankfully, the internet gives sports equipment retailers both large and small the ability to offer their goods in a place we can all visit. They aren't limited by space, and so the range of equipment on offer is huge.
Skis, boots and a helmet
This is the gear that will set you aside from the people who are just wandering around the resort, pretending to be a skier or snowboarder.
Whether you are a planker or a two planker, there are a few different types of skis and snowboards, so your first job is to find out whether you plan to do freestyle, freeride, alpine, big mountain, or racing. After that just shop around for the best price and board or ski design.
Your boots and bindings affect your control over your ski or board so it needs to be comfy and it needs to fit well. Checking this online isn't going to be easy. You need to try some on to get an idea of what fits your foot, and you'll also be able to get great advice from the salesperson about what type of boots will suit your style of skiing or boarding.
Helmets are cool. They aren't compulsory in ski resorts, and no doubt you are too good to ski into a fir tree or misjudge a 180 grind. But just in case you do, a helmet could save you from spending half your trip in a long episode of casualty where nobody speaks English. Helmets are not expensive, and are worth every penny. As are goggles, which will protect your eyes from the sun and glare, plus anything else heading for your eyeball as you carve down the piste.
All things warm and comfortable
Once you have the absolute essentials, you are shopping for every day winter clothes. Ski Jackets, pants, gloves and hats will all be on your shopping list. You don't always need to go to a specialist ski shop for some of these, but it is worth having a look as some come with extra built in hip and back protection, which could save you some discomfort if you pop tart. Now we aren't here to dress you, but take it from us, if you aren't looking like a Canadian lumberjack on the slopes in 2011/2012, you've wasted your cash. It's all about the check.