Snow Skills

There’s cold weather, winter weather, and then there’s BRUTAL weather. Brutal is my best word to explain extreme weather when the winds are high and the temperature is below zero farenheit. These temperatures will set the snow up for what could be an excellent day of skiing and riding, but only if you can stand up to the elements. When the weather gets brutal, it’s going to take more than just a helmet or hat to combat the elements. When the going gets tough on the slopes, a balaclava made of windblock fleece will keep the tough going.

Manzella, Performance Cycle and Outdoor Research all offer Windstopper Fleece Balaclavas which are excellent to improve your warmth in extreme conditions while maintaining freedom of movement. They are nearly identical in design with contouring to match your head and an extended flap to cover the neck. They also have a mesh covered mouth area that is a great feature for trying to communicate in extreme weather; this is a big help for teaching in those conditions. The mesh is likely to let most of your exhale moisture escape which is a huge advantage over a neckup or hood. A neckup or hood encourages the exhale moisture to stay against your face where it’s uncomfortable and tends to get driven up into your goggles where it will freeze inside the lens. You can expect to pay between $30 and $40 for a windblock fleece balaclava at Amazon.com and it’ll be worth every penny.