Snow athletes blend clothing trends

Snowboarders are young and rebellious, and skiers are older and more traditional, and never the two shall meet, right? Except they are meeting. When it comes to fashion, skiers and snowboarders are finally meeting in the middle, with each adapting fashion details the other group had long claimed for its own, says Lisa Mercer, who owns a ski fitness business in Summit County and writes for ski-clothes.com.

The snowboard look has been loose, mismatched clothing in muted colors, while skiers have traditionally worn tighter, more tapered, coordinated clothing, says Bill Anton, co-owner of Mountain Sports in Arlington, Texas.

Now skiers have jettisoned the tight pants in favor of the loose pants with cargo pockets that snowboarders always favored. At the same time, snowboarders are saying bye-bye to brown, and daring to wear colors such as turquoise and bright green.

“Suddenly you’re seeing a return in color even among very serious skiers,” says Mercer says. “Now you’re seeing helmets with graphics, which used to be only for children.”

Of course, when it comes to ski clothing, function will always lead to fashion. Layering is the key to dressing for comfort on the slopes, says Anton, beginning with long underwear, then middle layers in polyester or wool, and finally a windproof shell or soft shell on top. For the crucial middle layers, skiers need to look for fabrics that breathe and wick moisture away from the body. For women, the new fluffy fabrics developed for middle layers are not only soft but practical; the high-loft fabrics compact tighter than older fabrics, making them perfect for packing.

Other details to look for in ski clothing are powder cuffs to keep snow from getting up pants legs; pit zippers, to help you cool off when you’re overheating; and taped seams to prevent water from getting inside your jacket, says Anton.

Neck gaiters are preferable to scarves, mittens are warmer than gloves but give you less control, and consider wearing a helmet for safety’s sake, Anton suggested.