PA J IV Derby

I'm taking a short break from unloading my car - trying to recuperate from an intense weekend of ski racing.

This past weekend was the PA State J4-J5 Derby at Ski Round Top and I was the lucky parent to accompany my son to the event.

We spent all day Thursday making sure that all the loads of gear were packed into the car. Helmet, check; shin guards, check; padded gloves, check; straight poles, bent poles, check, check; speed suit, check; skis and boots, check; On and on...thank goodness I have a good list or I'm sure we would have left without some important, necessary-can't race-without-it thing. Some how we were able to find it all, collect it all and get it all in the car.

We left at 6:00 AM Friday morning to make it to the training session that started at noon. The drive there was horrible as Western PA was in the midst of receiving another Snowlapalooza-like storm and we made it to Ski Round Top just at the stroke of noon - I bought him his ticket and threw him out on the slopes with the coaches while I got him registered for the weekend.

I hiked the hill rather than ski for the few short hours they were on the hill and was able to watch as the visiting coaches from Green Mountain Valley School, a race-specific academy in Vermont, looked on. My son looked nervous practicing in front of coaches from his father's alma mater but the snow was good and he seemed to relax the more he skied.

That night at the hotel I felt like a Sherpa as we lugged all the gear into the room, tuned skis in the stair well, went to the racer meeting and did homework at the small desk in the room. It wasn't all work, the mom's talked while the team swam in the pool before dinner and the kids played and had a good time before it was time to call it a night.

In the morning all the gear we'd hauled into the hotel had to be hauled back to the car - off to the mountain where all of that same gear had to be hauled into the lodge...get tickets, get race bib, get out on the hill. Then there is the race itself. As 'support staff' I want to be available to my racer without hovering - Heaven knows I don't want to be like the dreaded stage moms!

After the post-race debriefing it was time to haul all the stuff back to the car, back to the hotel, into the room, tune the skis, ready the gear for the next day and take a bit of a break before the festivities of the evening began.

I was thrilled to have the chance to meet some of the other Pennsylvania racers and their families. It was exciting to have a former US Ski Team coach speak about ski racing and how a racer moves up in the race scene - he even made is seem like an attainable goal. Fun as it all was though, I was acutely aware of the need to get my racer back to the hotel for the next day of racing.

Checking out of the hotel the next morning was easy since I was already used to loading and unloading the car several times a day. We headed to the mountain and went through the now familiar routine again - then I waited along the side of the race course with my cowbell app ready on my iphone.

We worked our way through the well choreographed day then ate pizza with the other racers as we waited for the final results, trophies and the announcement of the PA team that would move on to regionals. We already knew that my son would not be part of the regional team but wanted to cheer the other kids on and see things through to the end - it allows for an easier transition back to the 'real' world. When all of the awards were given out, all of the cheering was done, we hauled all of our gear back to the car one final time and drove the 4 1/2 hours home...ready to face the 6th grade, work and other aspects of home life once again.

Ski racing is not an easy sport. It is intense and challenging on the physical, mental and emotional level for all parties involved. I have to admit - playing the role of Sherpa/Mom has been a lot more rewarding after all of the Go Mom commercials during the Olympics. I'm not saying my kid will ever be Olympic-bound but when I see those snowflake-covered eyelashes and the big smile at the bottom of the hill I know he appreciates all it has taken to get him to where he is and for me it is worth every ounce of effort.


I'll see the rest of you Sherpa/Mom's on the slopes!

Kjerstin Klein
Snow Deva

Keeping Warm Skiing and Snowboarding

We had a great holiday week at Seven Springs. It was amazing winter weather...most people wouldn't describe it as good winter weather...but amazing just the same. It was cold, snowy and blowy - the likes we haven't seen in years. Not over the holiday break anyway.

Somehow, since it has been so long since we have had a long period of such blustery weather, people seemed to have forgotten how to dress for it. I can't tell you how many frozen people came stumbling into the shop hoping to find some piece of magic to keep them warm. No offence but it isn't magic...just physics.

The human body is an amazing furnace and will produce more than enough heat to keep the average person comfortable - the trick is to save that heat and keep it close to your body. Heat is drawn away from your body by low temperatures (most people get that one), wind (we all recognize windchill) and moisture (not everyone gets that one so we'll talk about that later). The trick to keeping cozy is to stop those elements from robbing your body of the heat it has produced.

Layering is the biggest trick for combating low temperatures. The key is to layer effectively. I can not tell you how many of the people who came in from the slopes this week complaining of the cold had layered with cotton...their layers consisted of a cotton T-shirt, often a short sleeved t-shirt at that, and a bulky hoody under their jacket and honestly believed that they would be warm in sub-freezing temperatures.

Three fatal errors here. 1) Cotton has no thermal capacity - We wear cotton in the summer to dissipate heat. 2)Cotton holds moisture that will rob your body of heat and 3) Bulky garments cause constriction that reduce blood flow and pockets of air that are too big to warm effectively.

So if you are one of the hoody-clad, cotton-wearing masses you may be trying to defend yourself right now..."I was never cold before," "I always wear my sweatshirts to class and I'm fine"...I've heard it all before. This is physics, I'm sure you 'felt' cozy but that is different than being 'warm'.

The fact of the matter is that cotton simply does not have the fiber structure or material content to retain heat. It doesn't, there is no thermal quality to cotton - end of story. Cotton does, however, retain moisture, and a lot of it. Not only does cotton absorb moisture it is exposed to - it holds on to it. The bulkier the cotton garment is the more moisture it will hold - think of how long it takes for your hoody to dry in the dryer versus a thin pair of boxer shorts. If you are layering with cotton all of the sweat is absorbed by that cotton and held there near your body, robbing your body of precious heat. You will be at least 30% colder when you are wet - think of how cold you are when you get out of the shower-you dry off and you are warmer. In this shower example the temperature of the room didn't change, you didn't change what you were wearing...just wet, then dry, cold, then warm. If this example is lost on you try it next time you shower.

Some people have tried to argue with me that they don't really sweat, or that they only sweat when they are over heated...um, hate to break it to you, we all sweat and we sweat a lot. The average person sweats anywhere from .5 to 1.7 liters an hour depending on activity level. Skiing and snowboarding rank quite high on the activity charts so to help you with the visual try this exercise for yourself - take that cotton hoody you think is so warm, take one of those typical bottles of 'Natural Spring Water' you have sitting at your desk and dump it on your sweatshirt - then put it on and tell me how warm you are...cozy, right? The next problem is that it doesn't dry very fast - and each hour you have to dump another bottle of water on it. Not dry, not warm, not cozy.

Now the fact that most hoodies don't fit comfortably under your typical ski or snowboard jacket seems like it might be a giveaway for some people...none-the-less I see people do it all the time. Hoody hoods stick out and collect snow or even better, are crammed into the jacket making the wearer look like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. Rolled up sleeves often stick out past the jacket cuffs and the hoody hem and extra fabric bunches all out under the bottom of the jacket...It is quiet the fashion statement-but beyond that it has created pockets of dead air that the body simply cannot warm up. The idea behind layering is to create small pockets of air that are easy for the body to warm up creating a buffer zone of warm air that protects you from the cold elements. Each of these layers holds heat long enough for you to produce more - it helps you keep ahead of the power curve. Sure heat is lost to the elements but it is done at such a rate that you can produce enough to replace what is lost so as to keep you warm. Large, open pockets of air can't do this.

In addition, those bulky garments will constrict in other areas often reducing blood flow causing certain areas of your body to be cold. One of the best examples of this is the big open sleeve of a hoody crammed into the sleeve of a ski or snowboard jacket. Typically the hoody will bunch up at the upper part of the sleeve, particularly on the inside of the arm, closest to the body. This just happens to be the place where the major artery to your lower arm happens to be and any pressure on that artery will reduce the blood flow to the hands enough to freeze those little fingers to the bone faster than you can say "Does this run take me back to the lodge?"

So now that I have let the cat out of the bag, yes, the ultimate warmth of your fingers, and your toes for that matter, is directly related to what you wear on your body. I'm not talking about just the artery deal - I'm talking about the whole layering-and-keeping-your-body-warm deal. Keep in mind that in a survival situation your body thinks of your fingers and toes as expendable. Your body doesn't realize that you have chosen to go out in sub-freezing temperatures and expose yourself to the adrenaline rush of skiing and snowboarding to have a little fun - it thinks this is serious business and unless your core body is warm it will not, I repeat, will not allow one ounce of extra warmth to head to the fingers or the toes. Blood flow will be restricted to the rest of the body and saved for the head and the core of the body until such time that it feels there is heat to be spared. So while good gloves are important, your body layers are even more so.

So please, no cotton layers, no jeans, no sweat pants, no hoodies, no gym socks-you'll freeze and then I'll feel bad because I'm the one who is supposed to make sure you are warm so you can have fun.

Keep warm so I can see ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Kicking Off the Season: Day 2 of the Pre Season Sale

It is Day 2 of our annual Labor Day Pre Season Ski and Snowboard sale. For me it is like Homecoming - I see so many of my favorite people in one weekend and it really gets me excited for the upcoming season.

One of the best parts this year is that our Monroeville sale is in the new Monroeville Convention Center. It is a great facility and moving in was really easy because of how it is set up. I have to admit I was a bit worried about people finding us in the new location but given how busy we were yesterday I guess there was no problem.

I love unpacking the merchandise - it is kind of like unwrapping holiday decorations "Oh, I love this jacket!" or "This is one of my favorite sweatshirts".

Loading the skis and snowboards into the Convention Center I thought of how great each one of them performed when we were out testing them.

I am always amazed at what we are able to find to bring to the sale and the great prices we put on the merchandise. The snowsport industry is one of the last great places for true craftsmanship and quality so when something is on sale like this it is truly a great deal - not a mark down of previously overpriced merchandise.

Even though it is Day 2 and we were really busy yesterday there is still great merchandise left.

We have racks of great t-shirts and hoodies.



Pants and jackets from some great snowboard lines,



even great fashion merchandise.



Accessories are one of the best reasons to hit the sale - hats, thermals, socks and gloves are at their lowest prices of the season. Even if you don't ski or snowboard - in Pittsburgh EVERYONE needs warm gear.

So whether it is for yourself or gifts for this Holiday Season or just to say Hi, we still have two days left today and tomorrow, Sunday and Monday 10am to 5pm.

The Monster Weekend Comes To a Close

What an amazing weekend - It is Tuesday already and I'm barely recovered! So much happened during the Monster Homecoming Invitational at Seven Springs that it could probably fill several blog entries. I'll try not to get off on a tangent, however, and give you the real news worthy stuff.

Practice on Friday was a bit of a challenge. Warm weather coming in created a strong headwind but the girls were able to get a good feeling for the course. Thanks to the design of the course and its excellent maintenance by the park crew the landings were kept smooth and safe. Unfortunately Kaya Turski separated her shoulder but that didn't keep her from the the comp. Not only did she tear it up with corked 720s, switch 900s, and large switch-to-switch straight airs called zero spins she walked away with the Homecoming crown for the skiers. Grete Eliassen took second and the Monster hostess with the mostest Kristi Leskinen found herself a spot on the podium with a corked 720 mute grab.

Chanelle Sladics took the snowboard crown with her strong performance on the rails backed up by her outstanding cab 360 and cab 540. My fav, sweetie Silvia Mittermuller, took 2nd on the snowboard side followed by Maribeth Swetkoff.

While the tricks were big they are tougher to pull than usual. The girls were fighting soft, wet snow that reduced their speed forcing them to fight for every inch of air. Willi's sent up a box of Swix rub on wax that the girls used before each run which seemed to help but the warm March air continued to be a factor throughout the weekend.

The girls celebrated the event Saturday night in Seven Springs' night club, the Matterhorn and seemed to enjoy cutting loose. Sunday morning found them hosting local kids who had stuck around after the event to ride with them. The soggy conditions did not dampen the kids enthusiasm as they worked on their skills at the different park areas of Seven Springs.

The coaching the kids were given seemed to pay off because there was some amazing stuff being thrown down at the Amateur Rail Jam Sunday afternoon. Over 65 kids showed up to show off in front of the girls who cheered them on and tossed out some great prizes for everything from the best crash to the biggest air.

"I think the ride-with-a-pro and the Amateur Rail Jam was a great part of the weekend," said Greg Klein from Willi's Ski and Board Shop. "It really gave the locals a chance to connect with the girls and I think it was fun for the girls to see that there is some real talent coming out of Seven Springs"

There is no doubt that this event was a huge success and will continue to grow in the years to come. Thanks and a big shout out to Kristi and all of the sponsors who made this great event happen - Seven Springs, Monster Energy Drink, Rome Snowboards, Oakley, Willi's Ski and Board Shop and media partner Freeskier Magazine.

A Monster Event

This is going to be a MONSTER event - I mean that figuratively and literally! The Kristi Leskinen Homecoming Invitational is an amazing all-girl slopestyle event sponsored by Monster Energy Drink. The girls that are coming to compete in Saturdays main event starting at 12:00 pm, are some of the biggest names in skiing and snowboarding today.

It is going to be an incredible 3 days with fireworks, big media coverage and girls tearing up the slopes. Girls and boys ages 10-16 can spend time with the pros on Sunday at the Ride-With-A-Pro event from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm - registration is from 8:00 am to 9:30 am at the Yurt and space is limited so get there early. This is a free event but the Women's Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of healthy, active lifestyles for women, will be on hand accepting donations.

After these girls show you what they know you may want to compete in the Amateur Rail Jam from 1:00 - 2:00 on Sunday and stick around for the Pro Rail Jam at 2:30.

To kick this entire weekend of fun off Kristi will be in the Willi's Castle Shanon store signing autographs from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Willi's has coupons for a $20 lift ticket at Seven Springs so you can bring the whole family to ski, snowboard and be part of a MONSTER event!

Hope to see you there and...See ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Rockin' and Rollin' At Seven Springs

It has been an amazing 10 days at Seven Springs! There has been so much going on I couldn't get to it all!

Last Saturday WPRC held the Snow Capitol GS and when I got up to get my racers to the hill it was -18 degrees! President Ken Fedorek was contacted by many of the parents to find out if the race would still be held - his answer? "Well, it is a winter sport."

It turned out to be an incredible race with racers coming from Ohio, Maryland and all over Pennsylvania.

The weather only warmed up a little by mid week when Willi's hosted the annual Head Women's Day. Lisa Densmore signed autographs as the ladies gathered to head out for a day on the hill.

Starting with a wine and cheese party the night before and closing with coctails Apres Ski the event was focused on the lifestyle of skiing as much as skiing itself. The ladies were treated to lessons with the Seven Springs instructors and worked in groups with Lisa throughout the day. As cold as it was everyone had a blast.

By Friday night the temperature was back down below zero but that didn't stop all of the weekend events. WPRC Alpine Team hosted a two day PA Cup slalom race on Saturday and Sunday while the Freestyle Team tore it up with a two day, UPMC sponsored Mogul Challenge.

Sandwiched in between was the kick off of the Red Bull Buttercup - a new contest series on the East Coast. The lights were on and the tricks were hot.

This next weekend WPRC will hold the CTR GS so hold on to your hat - there's is more to come!

See ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

WPRC Begins The 2008-09 Race Season

I just dropped the kids off for the afternoon session of this seasons first day of training with the Western Pennsylvania Race Club. WPRC makes its home at Seven Springs and it couldn't be a more beautiful day here.




There has been quite a bit of natural snow so far this year and the skiing has been great. Seven Springs is obviously dedicated to making sure this is one of the best seasons we've had for a while because they have been adding to their base by blowing man-made snow whenever conditions allow. As I look out on the slopes right now there are a few guns still running but they have turned a number of them off for the comfort of their customers.

The snow guns didn't seem to bother the racers though. They all seemed to just jump right in at this morning's session. Even my little Anna, who loves to sleep, was up at 6:30 ready to go. This is her first year with the team and without even a hint of shagrin she informed me that she was tired of skiing with me and zipped off to make new friends on the team. Dylan is a veteran with the team but was equally excited for the race season to begin and as a parent I can't say enough about the program. WPRC is a great organization where the kids can learn about competing in a supportive, non-threatening environment. They run both a USSA sanctioned Alpine and Freestyle Team and the kids are even allowed to compete and train in both. It is an entirely parent run, volunteer organization where the kids as well as parents can make lifelong friends, are offered superior training and can gain invaluable lessons for life.

The first race of the season is over the holiday break and with the season starting so early I'm sure the level of competition will be great to watch. I wish all the racers the best of luck for the first race and the entire season!

See ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Fitting Children For Accessories

In fashion wear accessories are the final decorative pieces but in winter wear they are the final performance pieces. They add warmth and can help to cover up any fit issues that may have come up in the previous categories. Accessories are hats, headbands, scarves, neck gaiters, glove liners, goggles and sunglasses.

Lets talk first about hats, headbands and scarves – first let me say they have no place on the hill for a child. Hats, love ‘em. Wouldn’t go out without one – for kids, however, they should be saved for the walk from the car to the lodge, headbands too. Kids should be in helmets on the hill. Safety is the first and best reason for kids to wear them. As my 6 year old went sailing into the trees today and came out with only a small brush burn under her goggles I thanked the helmet no less than 100 times. I really don’t think I need to go on and on about helmets for kids on the hill. You either get it or you don’t – if you don’t, e-mail me and I’ll provide you with some of the statistics on what a head injury could mean to your child’s future. But hey, it isn’t that skiing is so dangerous. Not any worse than just being a kid! It is just that on the hill you can do something about it. Anyway if the safety part of it isn’t enough for you keep in mind that helmets are far warmer than hats. But for when you are done on the hill, playing outside or just walking around town a hat is a good idea – luckily it is also in fashion!

For a kid it is easy to get a poorly fitting hat and frankly it doesn’t matter. If the kid likes it and is willing to wear it – it is fine. If you want one that fits though, that is easy too. Keep in mind that kid’s heads don’t grow that much, by the time they are 10 they are in an adult size hat. For little kids they will want a toddler sized hat for the depth of the hat and how big around it is, that way it won’t come down over their eyes. As they get bigger a hat that is too small will not cover their ears but can also be too tight around the head. This is not only uncomfortable but it can lead to headaches over time.

Headbands are basically the same. Too big and it will slip down or be too wide for them and too small may lead to headaches and simply won’t cover their ears. Keep in mind headbands are not a great idea for kids because over 20% of your body heat is lost through your head and while a headband will keep their ears comfortable it will not keep their body heat up.

Scarves are another thing to keep off the mountain. Sure they look cute but they can be bulky and dangerous. Scarves can get caught in chair lifts and rope tows with ugly results. Plus most scarves are not made out of performance fabrics so they get wet and do little protect the neck and face or to retain heat in the jacket like a neck gaiter will.

I think neck gaiters are the greatest invention. They take up the space around the collar of the jacket trapping warm air next to the body and not allowing it to escape. They also protect the neck and chin from the hardware of the jacket and the environment. They should only be purchased in performance fabrics that keep warm and dry because moisture from breathing can build up and if it is not dissipated can do just as much harm as being exposed to the elements. They do come in two sizes but the smaller kids sizes are really only for very little kids. They are narrower so they will stay closer to the neck and short so as to not bulk up under the collar of the jacket when it is zipped up all the way. The larger adult sized neck gaiters can be used for any child as long as it lays fairly close to the neck and dose not bulk up under the chin.

Glove liners should fit the child’s hand snuggly with not a lot of extra material at the end of the fingers. Some liners have nice little pockets to hold chemical heat packs and I highly suggest them. They will keep the heat pack away from being directly on the child’s skin and in a place where they won’t come out easily if the child has a Yard Sale fall where everything but their boots come off!

Goggles should always be fit with the helmet. The strap should fit easily around the entire helmet and the frame should fit directly onto the face inside the rim of the helmet. The foam of the goggle should press gently on the child’s face leaving no gaps around the edges. Gaps will let air in and may make the child’s eyes tear up making it hard to see and tears may freeze up inside the goggle or on the child’s face.

It is my feeling that children should wear goggles rather than sunglasses but either way they should have some sort of eye protection. My biggest issue with children’s sunglasses is that rarely are parents willing to shell out the money for a decent lens. Poor lenses rarely have adequate protection from UV A, B and C rays, lack impact resistance and cause so much distortion that the kids end up with eye strain. Having been a sunglass buyer for years this is an area near and dear to my heart so I should probably allow myself a full rant on the subject another time but if you are going to put sunglasses on your kids on the hill make sure they fit properly. Sunglasses should be narrow enough for their face, cover the eye entirely and fit snuggly at the temples but not tight. I would also suggest some sort of a strap to keep them on – again for the potential Yard Sale but also so when they go into the lodge they can just slip them down around their neck and not have to worry about them – especially if you are one of the rare parents who will shell out for a good pair.

Accessories play and important roll and should not be over looked. Both on and off the slopes accessories keep the snow from getting in and heat from getting out. As a rule of thumb always check to make sure that they fit properly with the rest of their gear and they should fit close but not tight.

Hope that helps! See ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Hands On: Fitting Children fro Gloves or Mittens

Gloves and mittens play a crucial role in the warmth and comfort of a child on the hill. It is important to remember that children lack the physical awareness to feel cold in the same way adults do. This makes it more likely that they will try to take gloves and mittens off if they feel restricted or uncomfortable. The first rule of fitting then is to insure that it is comfortable for the child to improve the chances that they will stay on for the entire day.

Determining whether to buy a glove or mitten is the first issue. Younger children lack the dexterity to do much with their fingers anyway so they typically don’t mind wearing a mitten. Mittens are warmer and easier to fit and are therefore the best choice if the child is willing to wear them. The older they get the more likely they will push for gloves over mittens but it is my suggestion to keep them in mittens as long as possible.

Style choices for both glove and mittens vary widely. They all work effectively and the choice should really be left up to the personal preference of the child. Gloves and Mittens can come with long or short gauntlets. Longer gauntlets are often thought of as a snowboarding style but they will work for skiing just as well. Short gauntlets are offered in 2 different styles. The first is your typical style where the cuff of the glove or mitten comes to the base of sleeve and often has a snug inner cuff that can fit under the sleeve making a tight junction insuring that no warm air escapes from the jacket or mitten and that no snow gets up into the sleeve. The second is referred to as an under glove or mitten. The entire cuff of the glove or mitten is designed to go under the entire cuff of the sleeve. This is also considered a snowboarding style but again, equally effective for skiing.

Regardless of style the fit issues are the same. To check for the proper fit of a glove or mitten start at the fingers and work your way to the wrist. When fitting a mitten you only have to be concerned that the longest finger has enough room to straighten out and that there is not too much fabric left over around the rest of the fingers. For a glove, however, each of the child’s fingers should fit into each of the fingers of the glove. If there is more than a pinch of fabric at the tips of the child’s fingers then the glove is too big. This can be tricky because the ratio of finger length is different on every child. Gloves are made based on a standard ratio of finger length and this may leave you with a well fit index finger but lots of floppy material left above the pinky finger. This extra material not only makes the glove challenging to negotiate but it also makes it hard to keep sensitive fingers warm as there is too much air space to ever warm up effectively. If this is a problem for your child have them try on several styles and brands as they all vary a bit.

Once you have a glove or mitten that seems to fit the length of the fingers check to make sure that the glove sits comfortably in the webbing between the fingers by placing your index finger between each of the child’s gloved fingers including the thumb and just between the thumb and index finger when fitting a mitten. Have them open their hands wide spreading their fingers. When properly fit the material will not push against your finger as they open their hands while a glove or mitten that is too small will force your finger out of the gap between their fingers. In a glove or mitten that is too small this ‘bridging’ is caused by there being too little fabric to move with the child. This restriction in movement can cause the hand to fatigue through the day causing cold, numb hands.

When you are confident that you have a glove or mitten that fits the finger length and fits well at the base of the fingers move to the back of the hand. To test the volume of the glove or mitten, pinch the fabric at the back of the hand. You should be able to pinch a bit each layer of the glove or mitten but not be able to pull it far from the hand. A glove or mitten that is too big in volume will not keep the hand warm because there is too much air to warm up effectively.

Most gloves and mittens have a bit of a break at their base as it transitions into the cuff. This break should hit right at the wrist as it helps to increase the mobility of the wrist. The cuff of the glove or mitten should not be too tight nor too loose around the child’s wrist. A cuff that is too tight will restrict the flow of warm blood to the fingers and a cuff that is too big will allow warm air to escape from around the child’s hand. Some gloves and mittens have a strap to cinch around the wrist for this reason – just make sure it isn’t cinched too tightly.

Hand wear is incredibly important to a successful day on the slopes because children don’t need to have cold hands to have a warm heart!

See ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Mostly Toasty

Layering for winter sports is an art. Part of being good at it is making sure the pieces all fit well on their own and as a unit. We have already addressed how the base layer should fit so now we can move on to the thermal layer. The thermal layer includes sweaters, fleece, fleece pants and vests. A child’s thermal layer may actually include more than one piece but for this discussion we will considered it as one layer.

Fleece tops and sweaters should fit essentially the same. They should have enough loft to take up some of the space within the jacket. Small spaces are easier to heat up so a sweater or fleece can help to break down any gaps within the jacket into several smaller spaces to be easily warmed. The neck of a sweater or fleece should be comfortable. Regardless of whether it is a turtleneck, scoop neck or v-neck comfort will be the key aspect of the fit and this will vary from child to child. Sleeve length is important since some sweaters and fleeces are bulky at the wrist. It is imperative that the cuff of the layering piece does not interfere with the fit of the jacket cuff. The shoulder seem of the sleeve should hit at the point of the child’s shoulder and there should be enough room under the armpit to pinch a bit of fabric. This is incredibly important because there is a major artery running down the inner part of the arm and if it is even slightly tight there it will impinge the flow of blood to the fingers and cause the child to be extremely cold. How the garments fit around this shoulder and underarm area is the most significant aspect of perceived comfort for a child. If they feel too bulky or constrained in this area they will feel uncomfortable and restricted in their movements. How the fleece or sweater fits around the torso is mostly personal preference. The cut of each piece will vary with style and it is ok to choose the style the child likes best but make sure the waistband fits well with the pants and the jacket. The layering pieces can either help or hurt the fit of the other pieces so it is important to check how they work together.

A vest is a great addition to layering pieces. It helps to keep the torso warm without adding bulk to that very sensitive arm/shoulder area. Vests should fit loosely around the arm area and the torso even with the other layers underneath. The waistband of a vest should not interfere with the fit of the pant or the jacket.

Fleece pants are like sweaters for your legs. The ‘tights’ style is the least bulky but if the child insists on the sweat-pant cut make sure that the length does not interfere with the fit of the boot or the cuff of the pant. In either case it is important that the waistband does not add so much bulk around the waist to cause discomfort under the outerwear pant. Pants should be snug without being tight. Any extra bulk in the rise may hinder the fit of the outerwear pant in the rise causing the waist to fit too low around the hips. If the pant is to be tucked into the boot it should have a thin, flat seem and should be worn over the sock for added shin protection.

When your child is getting ready before heading to the hill take a few extra minutes to help them adjust their layering pieces so they aren’t twisted up and so that the base layer pieces are in their proper places. Most fit problems for children come from the displacement of apparel pieces because of the friction that builds up as they get dressed. Properly fit and properly placed layering pieces will help to keep a child both warm and comfortable for a day on the slopes

The snow should be flying soon so...I'll see ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

The Icing On The Cake: Fitting Winter Accessories For Children

No discussion on fitting winter wear is complete if it doesn’t touch on accessories. To simplify things I am considering accessories to be everything except outerwear – jackets, pants and suits. These are the pieces you layer with, add style with and ultimately moderate your body temperature with. Accessories are the final solution to all fit and warmth issues and should not be considered an after thought. A child can easily adjust their own body temperature by simply taking off their hat, adjusting their neck gaiter or removing their gloves for a while but will only work to keep the child warm and comfortable if they fit properly.

It is important to keep in mind that what matters most is how things fit together, not individually. Typically this is not a issue if you are putting a new outfit together and can choose from a wide range of sizes – it is more of a challenge when you are looking through your gear from year to year to see what still works and what your child has grown out of. Try items on together and judge how they work as a unit before making your final decision. Over the next few entries I will be sharing with you how to check each item on the Check List For The Slopes to make sure that your child is both comfortable and warm for a day on the hill.

We can start with the inner most layer called the base layer. The base layer includes socks and thermal underwear. It technically could include glove liners and helmet liners but I’ll save that for when we discuss the extras since these layers are not used in all conditions. Check to see that thermal underwear fits properly on its own first but keep in mind that other items will go over it. It should lay comfortably next to the skin without gapping or bunching nor should it feel tight or constrict the child’s range of motion. The sleeves should reach at least to the lower part of the forearm but not be so long as to hinder the fit of the sleeve or glove cuff. For thermal underwear bottoms the fit of the rise is most critical thing to consider, as a day on the slopes with a wedgie is no fun what-so-ever. The waistband should be able to stretch to fit 1-2 fingers and is definitely too small if it leaves deep marks in the skin around the belly. The length of the pant leg is also important because if it is too long it may interfere with the upper cuff of the boot but if it is too short it is not as big of an issue because a properly fitting sock should cover the area effectively. The pant cuff should come at least below the belly of the calf but no lower than the anklebone. How it fits with the sock and the boot will be the ultimate deciding factor on length.

The fit of the sock is critical because it affects the fit of the boot. The fit of the boot is critical because it affects the boots performance, warmth and comfort. While performance may not be as big of an issue for some children warmth and comfort most certainly are. Quality winter sports socks are shaped for a form fit that pads and protects while it enhances the fit of the boot so it is vital that it is neither too big nor too small which will cause miss alignment of the various darts and pads of the sock. These sport specific socks are manufactured with a flat seem, padded toe box for extra warmth around the toe area and for padded protection in an area that tends to take a great deal of abuse. The toe of the sock should fit up against the child’s toes without a lot of extra fabric. Extra fabric will bunch up and may cause blisters or bruising in the forefoot. The constructed heel should fit right at the child’s heel. If you can’t quite pull the sock up high enough for the heel to sit in the pocket it is too small. If, on the other hand, the heel pocket is up around the Achilles’ tendon the sock is too big. The sock should be long enough to come past the upper cuff of the boot and all skin below the knee should be covered either by the sock or the thermal underwear. The sock should not come above the knee. This is sometimes a challenge for pre teen boys because their feet often grow to adult proportions before the length of their leg catches up but take the time to find a properly fitting sock so they are comfortable through out the season.

Next we’ll talk about how to evaluate the fit of the thermal layers that go over the base layer. Until then I’ll see ya on the slopes!

Kjerstin

Fitting Children For Winter Sports Pants

Fitting children for ski and snowboard pants is not nearly as difficult as fitting them for a jacket but is equally important to get a good fit. Layering properly is one of the corner stones of winter comfort. This is particularly true when it comes to layering under ski and snowboard pants. It isn’t even worth having a discussion about ski and snowboard pants without discussing the layers that should go under them. It is important to keep in mind that children are particularly susceptible to the discomfort of bulky layers. It is also important to remember that children do not develop the ability to sense cold properly until they are physically mature. This safety mechanism can cause problems for parents who hear their children say “I’m not cold!” when they really mean to say “Excuse me mother, the clothing you have chosen for me feels bulky and awkward and restricts my movement making me feel hindered and uncomfortable.” The key is to choose layers that provide warmth without bulk. It is important to have quality thermal underwear (no, cotton waffle weave underwear dose NOT count) and the option of a fleece pant to layer under an insulated pant. Shell pants should be reserved for teenagers and adults as even in the spring children can get quite cold even if you are overheated. Plus it is easier to decrease layers for the torso to maintain body temperature than it is to increase layers under a shell pant when it is cold.

To properly fit insulated winter pants it is not necessary to have the other layers on but do not try them on with street wear pants. Street wear pants will fit entirely differently under a ski or snowboard pant then any thermal layers will. It is better to try the insulated pants on with regular underwear, if the pant fits properly there will be plenty of room for thermal underwear and a typical fleece pant.

With the pant on there should be 1 to 2 fingers space around the waist regardless of the style of pant. Some styles have Velcro or snap side size adjusters. This feature is worth its weight in gold as it will help to accommodate a variety of layering options. The pant should fall loosely around the buttocks and thighs without being baggy and there should be room in the rise to pinch about and inch of fabric. The length of the pant is critical as if it is too short you will not get much time out of it but if it is too long it will be damaged possibly beyond repair. The cuff should hit just below the anklebone without hitting the ground. If the pant is a bib or suspender pant make sure that the straps can be adjusted for maximum comfort in the rise and the appropriate length in the leg. Many children’s pants come with grow cuffs which, when released will give as much as 1 – 2 inches more length but you don’t want to buy a pant knowing you have to release the cuff right away. Some pant styles can be easily taken up to be let down later but this should be done by a tailor experienced with skiwear as working with performance fabrics presents unique challenges.

There have been so many advances in fabrics and insulation that gone are the days when your little one has to be round as a snowball to be warm. Invest in a quality pant with a good fit, reduce bulk by layering with thermal underwear and/or a fleece pant depending on the weather and your child will have enough freedom of movement to generate the heat they need to stay warm on the hill.

See ya out there!

Kjerstin

Fitting Children: Snow Sport Sizes Are Different

This installment of Fitting Children may seem a bit off topic but in the process of sorting out my thoughts about fitting children for ski and snowboard wear I realized that it might be important to have a conversation about sizing and the snow sport industry. One of the most important things you need to know is that ski and snowboard wear works off of an old standard size grid. You don't really need a history lesson in garment sizing so I won't go into too much detail. So, sticking to the basics… because there has been so much size inflation in the ready-to-wear market (stuff you buy at the mall) you may find that you run a size, maybe two sizes larger in ski or snowboard wear. This is not because they run small; it is because they work off of a different grid. The dimensions used to calculate a size 6 in ski and snowboard wear are not the same as the dimensions used to calculate a size 6 in ready-to-wear. These dimension vary the most in women's wear but wide variations can be found in men's and children's wear as well. Kids could care less. To them a size is just a number and they love the idea that they are growing and getting bigger is a good thing.

The other difference between snow sports wear and ready-to-wear is there is very little size disparity. Meaning a 12, is a 12, is a 12. When I shop in the mall I sometimes have to try on 3 or 4 of the same size to find just the right fit. The reason for this is that the factory cuts many pieces of fabric at the same time. Layers and layers of fabric are stacked up together and cut with a big machine all at once. While this may be faster and time efficiency saves money it makes for a wide variation in sizes. As the machine pushes down on the pile of fabric the fabric stretches at a different rate depending on where it is in the pile. Ski and snowboard wear doesn't have this problem because the production rate is so much smaller – they simply don't have to cut as many so they don't stack as many. Even if production was high enough to warrant large stacks the high performance fabrics used in the snow sport industry must be treated differently and therefore cannot be stacked and cut in bulk like ready-to-wear goods.

So how can you tell what size your child will take? As a rule of thumb when you are starting your garment search start with sizes that are one number higher than the child's age. So your average 11 year old will typically fit in a size 12. In my next entry I will discuss what sizes are available for children in the snow sport industry and what to do about those in-between kids.

See ya there or on the slopes!

Kjerstin

As I help people prepare for the coming season the number one question I get is how to fit children. Even if the child is there to try the merchandise on it is often hard for the untrained eye to determine if gear fits well enough to meet the performance needs while still being big enough to get fit for two seasons. Two seasons may seem an optimistic dream but is often quite doable if the child is fit properly and doesn’t go through an abnormal growth spurt.

Over the next few entries I will try to walk you through the basic concepts of fit as well as the specific concerns that need to be addressed when fitting a child. Hopefully it will answer all of your questions but if not feel free to post questions in the comments area and I will address them as soon as possible.

See ya on the slopes!

Kjersitn