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Snow Sports Topics
Columns by Ron Schwartz, Certified Ski Instructor, avid skier:
+ How I dress for snow sports _______________________________________________________________
Over the years, I have developed the following clothing protocol.
First layer: light silk, not polypropylene, not any other kind of synthetic. I like silk.
Second layer: polypropylene underwear or one of the newer synthetics designed for cold weather in a weight appropriate for the outside ambient temperature. I suggest you google or check wikipedia for ECWS Extended Cold Weather Clothing System designed by the US military to get the 4-1-1 on base layers.
Third layer (upper body): your favorite shirt/fleece (as long as it is not 100% cotton).
Forth layer (third layer, lower body): high tech outerwear of any name brand, the best being Gore-tex lined (or similar) Preferably you have side zipper/vents on the powder pants and armpit zippers/vents on the parka.
The thing about Alpine conditions in California is the very wide thermal range of the ambient temperature as night turns into day. This range demands layering. Normally what I do when I expect to encounter a wide temperature differential is to wear two sets of sheer silk thermal underwear and one set of medium polypro. Then as temperature go up with the rising sun on a bluebird day, I can remove one silk layers and go “one silky” and one polypro, or no polypro and “two silkies”. Because the layers I manipulate are usually silk, should I remove a layer, it balls up into a feather weight little ball which is easy to carry. In any event, I primarily manipulate the silk / polypro combos to adjust for temperature changes.
The thing about silk is that in addition to its thermal properties which work perfectly in a winter environment, it has a sort of a dry lubricating function between the skin and other clothing that eliminates bunching. It creates sort of a “naked feeling” under the clothing that for me really does translate in better riding/skiing skills because it is easier to sense slight kinesthetic changes, such sensations not “masked over” by the tactile sensation of clingy base layers.
I have no interest in Sierra Trading Post, but damn, that is the place to get ski clothing and if you shop them carefully, you can get the silk stuff at more than ½ off typical retail.
That’s how I do it ! See you on the slopes! ~ Ron
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The Easy Way: Tire chains Installation Instructions
Every season I see the same people struggling with chains. Since most vehicles
are now at least front-wheel drive, it's easy!!!! Install your own tire chains with this easy guide or let the pros do it and pay $30.00!
Applies to ladder style chains (cable or link).
The following is not the instructions provided by chain manufacturers,
but I know from years of experience that the following is the best
method for front wheel drive or when using the front wheel as the
chained wheels on all-wheel or 4 - wheel drive.
Park car on level ground.
Turn steering wheel to full left lock
Drapes chains OVER the left front tire such that the ends of the
chains, at the back of the tire, just touch the pavement. If you have
chains with adjustable straps, you want the NON-STRAP end, to be
touching the pavement at the back of the tire.
Get in the car and prepare to go in reverse. Grasp the steering to
prevent the steering wheel from self-straightening as you back up.
Back up a very small amount (1/4th to 1/3rd of a revolution of car
tires.) Since you are holding the steering wheel steady, the vehicle
should describe a shallow "c" shape as you go back. DON'T LET THE
FRONT WHEELS SELF-STRAIGHTEN!
Shift into park.
Get out and you will notice that because the tire on the driver side
is "winged out". It is easy to reach to the inside of the tire to
grasp the ends of the chains and affix the connection device. YOU
MUST AFFIX the inside first. Then affix the outside connection
device. Do the driver's side first so as to get a sense of how far
the vehicle must move to affect a ¼th to 1/3rd tire rotation. You can
see this when doing the left side, but not the right (passenger) side.
Turn the steering wheel to full right lock and repeat the entire
procedure for the right front tire.
After both chains are installed, drive the vehicle back and forth in a
straight line a few feet and then re-tighten them to get the cable
chains to encircle the tire more tightly.
If you hear the chains slap against the inside of the wheel wells
after they have been tightly adjusted as you drive, use rubber bungee
cords or rubber chain tighteners, etc. to increase the tightness of
the fit. ~ Ron
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Please donate your old ski and snowboard clothing & gear to a good cause:
My name is Ron Schwartz, on Dec. 5th I
presented TGR's Ski Film "Re:Session" in Stockton as fundraiser to provide a ski / snowboard
experience for less fortunate inner-city youths and I'm following up with a request for used ski and snowboard clothing and gear donations.
If you have used yet still functional winter clothing, parkas, fleeces, thermal underwear, gloves,
old snowboards, skis that you no longer need, please consider donating them. Your donation would benefit the Edison
High School Alpine Winter Sports Club serving less fortunate inner-city youths.
If it's equipment donations, it has to be late model enough(for example, please no old straight skis or old ski bindings)
so kids can learn how to easily ski and snowboard.
Please mail your donations to Ron Schwartz P.O. Box 4771 Stocklton, CA 95204-4771
I can also pick up donations in the Bay Area from time-to-time; please contact me to make arrangements.
Our first ski trip will be to Bear Valley where the resort has a special
first-timers program in mid-late January 2010.
The first trip includes rentals, but after that, the club will attempt to
provide the necessary equipment with your kind donations.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Ron Schwartz, 510.867.6825 or by email ronaldnathanschwartz2001@yahoo.com
Thank you!
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