Safety Week Helmet Head Contest

Check out some of the masterful helmet heads we had at Okemo today, and vote for your favorite in the right hand column of this page. By the way, here's Jeff, our mastermind behind this competition and the definite gold standard of helmet heads:


Finalists:

Linda


Robert


Steven


Juan



Catherine


Warren


Dave


Jennifer


Tyler


Michael

Dress for [Outdoor] Success

The upcoming Martin Luther King weekend promises to be one of the best in several years. The snow is amazing but it will be crisp and exhilarating out on the mountain. To get the most out of your precious time at Okemo, start by knowing how to dress appropriately for the winter activity you are about to pursue. Most outdoor enthusiasts will tell you for maximum comfort, always wear warm, loose-fitting clothing and dress in layers. This way you can always adjust as temperatures change, base to summit, outdoors to indoors. When you are inside, you will want to shed a layer or two. I love to wear cotton in the warm summer months but in the winter, cotton can be your worst enemy. Cotton absorbs perspiration, but does not wick it away, therefore you end up damp which quickly turns to cold. I far prefer some of the new synthetic fabrics that really keep me comfortable. Many new fabrics on the market are specially made for cold weather. An outfitter or a good ski or snowboard shop can steer you in the right direction. Woolen sweaters, non-cotton turtlenecks, a warm hat and insulated gloves or mittens are essentials, along with waterproof outer garments, both top and bottom. Don't forget the long underwear! Nowadays, the heavy thermal cotton we grew up with have been replaced by thin, base layer fleece, microfiber or polyester blend.

Sunscreen is a must except on snowy days. Keep lip balm in a pocket and apply often. Pick up a pair of goggles at your local ski shop; these protect against precipitation, sun and wind. Fleece garments, especially the new windblocker kind, are great for skiers.

GOOD ADVICE:
Don't wear blue jeans, khakis, or even Carhardtts. They provide no warmth and get wet easily. In fact, try not to wear any cotton at all. (Think: Cotton is Rotten.) Cotton holds moisture from perspiration and snow. Once it gets wet, cotton’s insulating properties disappear when you’re out in the elements. Also remember that you loose 90% of your body heat through your head; so buy a warm hat and wear it. A fleece neck gaiter, wrap, or bandana is a great little investment in warmth and comfort.

Your Base Layer
The main job of the base layer is to remove or wick moisture away from your skin to the outside of the fabric, where it can evaporate to keep you dry in any weather. Today’s top base layers provide critical next-to-skin moisture transfer for highly active performance sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, cycling, running, skating, climbing or kayaking. Modern higher-tech fabrics are also less bulky for easier layering. Gone are the days of cotton thermal underwear that gets wet and eventually make you cold. When you are looking for comfortable base-layering options, be sure to look for light-weight, breathable fabrics that provide mobility, and fast-wicking comfort. For active, aerobic exercise, Conditioning Web™ support technology or CW-X® insulated support garments feature Auto-Sensor®, a new nanotechnology fabric with thermal, moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating and anti-bacterial properties. Four-way stretch CoolMax is often used to provide motion control and increase the transfer of moisture away from the skin. You’ll want your base layer to be silky smooth against the skin, with flat seams that are frictionless under your outer layers.

Your Mid Layer
This is the multipurpose layer that may be worn under or as an outer layer on calm, clear, dry days. The mid layer’s job description is to provide insulation, and to absorb moisture away from the wicking base layer, and transfer it to the outer layer where it can evaporate. Mid layers are ideal for stop-and-go activities like skiing and snowboarding. Wear alone or as a cold-weather under layer.

Your Outer Layer
The outer layer’s major function in life is to protect your core from the external elements. You should look for fabrics and apparel that are engineered to keep your body dry and comfortable through any range of activity. It’s also important to keep in mind that weather can change quickly when you are out in the elements, so look for outer layer garments made from materials that can handle a wide range of conditions. Look for waterproof yet breathable with core venting, storm flaps, reinforced stitching, and sealed seams.

So, where do I get this stuff?
Any ski or snowboard shop at Okemo or in Ludlow, or at suburban stores like Eastern Mountain Sports, outdoor outfitters, major sporting goods retailers, or online gear giants like LLBean and REI. For off-price and sale items, overstocks or discontinued lines, Sierra Trading Post is a good bet. High-tech garments like these can be a bit pricey, but the value comes back in craftsmanship and durability. I have a few Patagonia Capilene® t-shirts that originally were about $25 each. I’ve have three of these for over 10 years now… they still look and perform about as good as new. A point of interest for the planet-conscious; Patagonia retail stores will accept old, tired Capilene garments for recycling through their Common Threads Recycling Program. Check out Patagonia.com/recycle.

Now that you’ve learned a little bit about being more comfortable in the elements, enjoy your new high-tech fabrics. I’ll see you outside.

Here’s a few items to look for:
Base Layers
Here are some higher-tech fabrics to look for: Eastern Mountain Sports’ Techwick® or Bergelene®. Patagonia’s Capilene®, Mountain Hardwear’s HyperDry™, ThermaDry™ or eXtend Featherweight™ or Under Armour.

Mid Layers
Products made with Polartec®
Patagonia’s Synchilla®
Eastern Mountain Sports’ Supermicro™ fleece
Ibex Climawool®
DuPont™ ComforMax™

Outer Layers
Obermeyer: Stormshield HP™ with Toray Entrant GII®, treated with DuroGuard™ water-repellant fabric protector; Patagonia: Deluge DWR®, Mountain Hardwear’s Conduit™ and Marmot’s Precip Plus® or products made with GoreTex®.

Trail Pick of the Day

I don't normally login for the sake of a trail pick, but the Tomahawk Family Cross on Lower Tomahawk today was SO MUCH FUN! If you're on the hill this coming weekend, be sure to give it a go - it's a total hoot and can be fun for the whole family!

Enjoy!

What people are saying...

Good ol' Mother Nature has thrown us a few curve balls the last few days, but that doesn't stop Okemo from delivering the best conditions possible. In fact, here's what a few recent guests reported:

****
We went out today with low expectations. Monday was soft and wonderful, but there was not much left a the top of the mountain. We skipped Tuesday and Wednesday. But we decided to give the mountain a try today since it had finally gone below that beautiful 32 degree mark again.

Wow! The groomers found some snow somewhere to push onto the top of the Northstar. Chief was a dream. Even the top that is often blown off was carvable. The lower parts were pure pleasure. Give our thanks to the grooming team. I don’t know how they did it, but today was great. ~David from CT


*****
One of the reasons Okemo is my favorite mountain is your outstanding snow making and grooming operation. Despite knowing you're great in that department, I was impressed that the mountain was as skiable as it was on Wed. -- a day when I heard that Stratton had actually closed. On Thursday I rated some trails especially Chief and World Cup as close to excellent. ~Dave from NY


*****
What can I say, your grooming team rocks. They pulled off nothing short of a miracle. Keep up the good work! ~Chrissie from PA

Good Times!

What a blast! The Yukon Kornelius concert was so much fun and even offered an end-of show surprise guest who rocked the house.

The concert was just the adrenalin jolt we needed to get us through this warm spell. The weekend is shaping up to be a good one. Check out the snow report. Cheers!

Jason Biggs - Ay-OK...E-M-O!

It seems as if every time I turn around, I'm being paid to do something I never thought I'd be doing. Whether riding ridiculous amounts of powder earlier this season, participating in multiple film and photo-shoots with an athlete the caliber of one Ross Powers, or filming bona-fide movie star Jason Biggs (of American Pie fame), the perks of this job just keep getting better!

Yesterday I was able to play cameraman for Jason and his girlfriend Jenny Mollen as Jason did an impromptu interview with several unsuspecting skiers sunning themselves around the firepit at Jackson Gore. My words won't be able to do justice to how funny Jason was, but fortunately you can check out the video below to see for yourself!

I'd like to personally say Thank You to Jason - When I bought my first camcorder for $300, I never imagined I'd one day have an opportunity to film a true professional. The experience was something I'll never forget.

Chris



P.S. If the video doesn't work, you can still check it out by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEm86KCQE-o

Game on!

For years, I've worked in the sports industry. I bounced around after my 7 year stint in the NFL to minor league baseball to the Major Indoor Soccer League finishing with a spell in the AHL (American Hockey League). Out of 14 years, only two teams I worked for went all the way. Yeah, there were years with winning records, but not the big prize - a championship. There is no Bowl game or World Series in the resort business, but I have to tell ya - I feel that we here at Okemo are a winning organization pointed in the right direction. The vibe I am sensing is that of a Championship caliber team. We may be knee deep into a January thaw, but the team is looking ahead with anticipation of winter's return.
It's game on here at Okemo!
GravityHound