SKI TALK 

Tine, from right here in the ladies lounge, places 17th in World Cup Skier Cross and 2nd among U.S. women.

Christine Cordeau was one of the top two U.S. skiers in the World Cup Ski Cross event held at Deer Valley, UT this week (02/04/08). It was Tine's first World Cup event and she placed 17th just behind Langley McNeal, who also skis for the U.S. This was a remarkable accomplishment for Tine and we will all stay tuned for more great finishes as she gets her groove on in this dangerous, high speed sport that will debut in the 2010 Olympics at Whistler, Canada. Christine is a graduate of both SITS and SVMM. SEE TINE SKI

More women than men try skiing every year, yet men outnumber women on
the slopes two-to-one. Why?

          We can certainly enjoy skiing at least as much as our male counterparts, just remember that we are different, and have a few challenges to overcome. Jeannie Thoren, one of the pioneers of women specific ski gear sums it up as “women are not just little men”. Now is a great time to be a woman skier because of Jeannie and others like her, who have challenged equipment manufacturers to make gear specifically for our anatomy.

Facts about the Femme

• Women have a different center of gravity, with more weight distributed in the bottom half of the body(a bit more junk in the trunk).

• Women have wider calves and narrower heels.

• Even athletic, powerful women are not as strong as men of comparable size. 

This all makes it more difficult to get on the front of your skis, and if you are not on the front of your skis, you will not have fun! 

It’s not your imagination ladies; you really do get cold more easily than guys. Here’s why:

• Men have more muscle mass which generates heat.

• Women have a higher ratio of surface to volume, so we lose heat faster.

• Women have a higher vasoconstriction threshold temperature, which means that as external temperature falls, blood flow to the skin is restricted in order to divert blood to internal organs.  This is a mechanism Mother Nature gave us to protect unborn babies. 

In coming weeks we will delve into different women-specific ski equipment and also explore solutions that will help us overcome “Facts about the Femme” differences that hold us back from being every bit as good as those man-skiers  

How gear can help – basic differences between men and women’s equipment

 Women specific boots:

• Are lower volume, have narrower heel pockets, more adjustable cuffs, and softer forward flex.  Adding heel lifts and rear spoilers (plastic reinforcements in the back of the cuffs) can help you get and stay forward. Custom insoles are also a necessary investment.

• Are designed to sit at the proper place on the calves to allow for maximum comfort and flex, and to fit the foot without pinching and cutting off circulation.

• Have plush liners that are standard in modern good quality women’s boots and along with the proper fit add up to warm and cozy. 

Women specific skis:

• Are lighter and easier to flex.  

• The mounting point of the binding is farther forward than on men’s skis. 

• The waist of the ski is farther forward. 

• The sidecut of the ski is designed to work with the forward binding position. 

Find the right stuff 

Do your gear homework – read reviews, and go out and visit specialty ski shops.  A good ski shop can provide a wealth of information, just make sure to express your expectations and be honest about your abilities.  Seek out women who work in the shop and ask their opinions.

The cardinal rules of purchasing are:                                   

1)     Demo skis before you buy, being sure to try the different skis in exactly the same snow conditions so your comparisons are valid. There is a helpful guide to ski testing in the September 2006 issue of Ski Magazine. Your can get this back issue by calling Time4Media Customer Service at: 1 (800) 464-2819.                                                      

2)     Buy boots from a shop with a professional boot fitter who is willing to make infinite adjustments until you are happy. You should both agree that you will need to ski in your boots, then return to the shop for final adjustments at no additional charge to you. When you first ski in your boots, you may experience “hot spots”. These are the areas where you foot hurts inside the boot. Alleviate these spots immediately by returning to your boot fitter for an adjustment. This is very important because your foot may quickly respond to pain by growing bone spurs, etc. Never ski in pain, but don’t buy boots just because they are so-very-comfortable right out of the box. You need to spend time customizing the inside of your boots to the exact shape of your foot. Make the boot fit snug everywhere around your foot, except in the toe box. The front of your boot needs to have some room to flex your toes a bit. For the rest of your boot, be sure to achieve a snug fit without pressure points.  

3)     If you are an all-mountain skier or a once-in-while recreational skier, always buy boots that have a free-floating upper cuff. This mean the upper cuff is not attached to the lower cuff at the rear spine of the boot. This type of boot allows you to more effectively and more easily flex your ankle forward, a necessity if you want to be a better skier. 

4)     Late each summer the major ski publications come out with gear guides for the upcoming season. Use them to help you decide what equipment best suites your needs.