By: Cortney Nichols
Most of us spend months waiting for the first snow or first cold snap when the ski areas can make snow. Spending a day on the mountain skiing and riding can be one of the best experiences or one of the most miserable. These 5 tips will help you stay toasty all day and make for a much more fun and comfortable day.
1. Boost that metabolism: Body temperature and metabolism have a direct relationship. As one increases so does the other. As you warm up (say sweating in hot yoga) your metabolism increases. One the other hand as your metabolism increases your body temperature increases. A simple way to do this is to eat small meals throughout the day. Snowboarding and skiing can both be great workouts and also help keep that metabolism going and keep you warm.
2. Stay Dry: This may seem like a more obvious way to stay warm but sometimes it can be hard to stay dry when you are playing in the snow all day. My favorite ways for staying dry are to wear bib overalls (keep snow from getting down your pants), bring extra socks, and wear outerwear that repels water and snow (I stay away from fleece unless it is an inner layer).
3. Make sure your boots fit: There are many more reasons to make sure you have proper fitting boots but if they are too small your feet will get very cold very fast (or numb). If they are too big it will be harder for your body heat to keep the inside of the boots warm (unless you wear extra socks like I do).
4. Drink hot beverages: This is easily the most fun way to stay warm while spending the day on the mountain. Take occasional breaks and enjoy hot chocolate, hot tea, or a hot toddy! If you plan to snack during the day make sure it is something warm (soup is the best for this). Filling your belly with hot drinks or hot soup is the fastest and most effective way to warm up on a super cold day.
5. Wear layers and plan your activities: If you plan on spending the whole day out in the snow be sure to wear layers of lighter clothing topped with warmer clothing. As your body warms up from the activity you can shed the heavier layers and avoid overheating and sweating. Once you start sweating while out in the cold you will be in trouble and you definitely want to avoid this as much as you can. Use common sense with what you are wearing and pay attention to what your body is telling you.
And of course… wear a hat! Hopefully these tips will make for a more pleasant day of skiing and riding and allow you to spend more time on the mountain and less time in the lodge. What are your favorite ways for staying warm?