The Skiing Department Blog

What are ski poles for and why do we need them?

Often a question asked by beginners as they are handed an item of equipment which on the face of it seems unnecessary.

Certainly some beginners are taught without poles at first, especially children as learning to ski without relying on the support of a pole can be beneficial in the long run. But ski poles are an essential tool that enable us to balance, support and time our turns on the slope. In modern day downhill skiing we use two poles, one in each hand. >> Continue reading

One of the most important items of equipment to purchase before going skiing is a good set of skiing goggles.

It does not matter what level of skiing you are at, from first time beginner to professional racer, a set of goggles is essential for many reasons. There are a wide variety of models available that have a range of prices, to suit all budgets. Typically, you can spend between £30 to £120 (€35 to €150) on a set of goggles.

The differences in pricing mostly reflect the goggles lenses and the added benefits more expensive lenses would offer.

Why do we need to wear ski goggles?
There are two main reasons why we wear ski goggles: The first is protection from the wind and the cold on our eyes when we are travelling >> Continue reading

The debate regarding the question over ski helmets and skiing has been going on for many years. Recently, the news headlines have brought this subject to the public’s attention with the sad death of the actress Natasha Richardson.

There is debate and conflicting opinions regarding the effectiveness of helmets when skiing. Would Natasha Richardson still be alive if she was wearing a helmet? I cannot answer that question, but clearly a helmet can protect certain head collisions from causing more injury than if a helmet was not being worn.

The vast majority of skiers do not wear helmets and certainly throughout the history of skiing this has been the case. Downhill skiers have worn helmets for many years, although racers in other disciplines, such as slalom, giant slalom and freestyle have only >> Continue reading

For most people learning to ski is fun, exhilarating and exciting. But it can sometimes also be intimidating. This is often because you are unfamiliar with both the equipment and the environment.

In my last Blog post I discussed why it is advantageous to learn to ski before you take off on your first winter sports holiday in the mountains. This will familiarise you with the equipment side of the sport.

The essential clothing items include a fully waterproof and windproof jacket and pants, which should be made from a ‘breathable’ material to insure minimal sweat build up on the inside, warm under layers like ‘thermal’ tops and bottoms, and a fleece jumper with a collar to cover the >> Continue reading | 1 Comment