| Downhill skiing is one of the most popular winter | | | | through your head. Most heat, as we know by now, |
| sports in the country. Every year, almost seven | | | | escapes through the head. A good ski hat will keep |
| million Americans hit the ski slopes. This dwarfs by a | | | | you warm, even in the coldest of temperatures. |
| factor of three other winter sports such as cross | | | | Some of the nicer hats will even have ear protection. |
| country skiing and ice hockey. Only the ever | | | | Sunscreen - Skiing is a fun sport and you can easily |
| increasing in popularity sport of snowboarding comes | | | | spend an entire day on the slopes and in the sun |
| close with a little over six million snowboarders in the | | | | without realizing it. Sunscreen serves the same |
| country. | | | | purpose on a ski slope as it does on a beach. On an |
| Skiing is a great all around exercise. It's excellent for | | | | especially bright and sunny day, you can get a |
| strengthening the upper leg muscles such as the thigh | | | | sunburn in as little as 20 minutes. A good sunscreen |
| as well as the lower calf. A season of skiing will | | | | will protect you from the sun's UV radiation and from |
| strengthen the shoulders and back and will help to | | | | sunburn. |
| trim your stomach. Skiing is also excellent aerobically. | | | | Gloves or mittens - to keep hands warm. If you |
| Experts estimate that an adult skiing with moderate | | | | want the best, you can pay well over $100 for a |
| effort, will burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories | | | | good pair of ski gloves. You'll want gloves that |
| an hour. | | | | breathe well, are flexible, with some water proofing, |
| But in addition to its exercise benefits, Alpine skiing is | | | | and that are warm. Mittens are generally warmer |
| also an exhilarating sport. Nothing quite compares to | | | | than gloves, but gloves are more stylish and will do |
| it. Olympic caliber skiers can top 80 miles per hour. | | | | fine in most cases. Pick whichever you are more |
| But for a novice, even skiing at 5 miles per hours is a | | | | comfortable with. |
| thrill. | | | | Jacket and pants - to keep warm and protect you |
| So what are the dressing basics for alpine skiing? | | | | from hypothermia. The main feature you want in a |
| There are six essentials that every beginner should | | | | ski jacket and pants is that they are water proof. |
| start with: | | | | This usually means that you want ones with a good |
| UV Rated Goggles or sunglasses - No, these are not | | | | polytetrafluoro-ethylene or PTFE membrane. PTFE is |
| just for style, although stylish sunglasses are always | | | | often laminated to nylon and polyester materials |
| cool. You need sunglasses or goggles with a good UV | | | | giving them excellent water protection but still |
| protection rating. UV light can do real damage to the | | | | allowing them to breathe. Of course, you will want |
| eyes ranging from simple sunblindness to major | | | | jackets and pants that are warm and stylish also. |
| cataract problems. The best UV rated sunglasses are | | | | These are the minimalist clothing basics that every |
| 100% UV protective and most are relatively | | | | skier should have in order to have the best |
| inexpensive. | | | | experience possible on the mountains. |
| Hat - You can lose up to 80% of your body heat | | | | |