GOGLE CARE
LOOKING AFTER YOUR GOGGLES
Written on 21 April 2013 by Susan Dun
Ski goggles can be expensive and like any eyewear they can be easily damaged if they’re not looked after properly. Here are some tips to help you protect your investment.
If you pay attention to these you will not only ski better in poor conditions you will look forward to going out when the weather is less than ideal and other people are struggling.
TOP TIP
XXXX
XXXXXX
Goggle Care
Inside of the lens
Be very careful how you treat the inside of the lens as it’s very easy to damage.
Rubbing the inside of the lens can scratch the lens material and rub off the anti-fog coating which will make the goggles more likely to mist up and harder to clear.
Snow inside your goggles
If you get snow inside your goggles when you fall, don’t rub if out as the snow crystals will scratch the lens.
Shake the loose snow off and put the goggles back on, what’s left will evaporate quickly as you start to ski again.
Or if you’re near a restaurant, dry your goggles under a hand dryer.
Misting up
When you’re wearing your goggles, keep them on your face. If you take them off and put them on the top of your head or round your neck, warm moist air escaping from your body will fill up the goggle lens and they’ll mist up quickly when you put them back on.
Restaurants
In a restaurant, don’t put your goggles in your pocket as again they’ll fill up with warm moist air. Keep them away from your body.
Cleaning
If your goggles get very dirty, don’t scrub them – swish the whole goggle in mild soapy water, rinse in clean water then leave them to drip dry.
Stopping & misting up
While you’re standing around or when you stop after an energetic run, your goggles may well start to mist up. This is because the chamber is filling up with warm, moist air which then condenses against the cold lens (just like a mirror in a steamy bathroom).
As soon as you start to move again, the ventilation features in your goggles should kick in and clear the fog.
Lesson Timings
Most ski schools give you the option of mornings, afternoons or whole days. For younger children, a morning or afternoon will probably be enough. Half days only also mean you get a chance to ski as a family.
Full week courses are normally 5 or 6 days or half days, starting on Sunday or Monday. If you want an additional day or half-day at the beginning or end of the week, many schools offer “bolt-on” group lessons at a reasonable price.
Especially in busy weeks, the main access lifts can get very busy at “ski school start time” which can mean a lot of lesson time is wasted standing in queues. Some ski schools start a bit earlier or later than normal to avoid this and make the most of the lesson time.
Morning lessons tend to be the most popular and get booked up fastest. We’re not quite sure why so many parents prefer morning lessons (unless it’s so they can get rid of the kids and get up on the mountain early themselves). It’s warmer in the afternoon, especially early in the season; you don’t have the mad rush of getting everyone up and out before 9; and afternoon lessons are usually quite a bit cheaper too.
If you’re looking to save a bit of money on tuition, out advice would be go for a good ski school and small group size, but take the afternoon option rather than going for a morning group elsewhere.
Look after your goggles
And lastly, when you’re not using your goggles make sure you keep them somewhere safe – don’t just throw them in a pocket or the bottom of a backpack, store them in the bag or case provided.
TOP TIP
XXXX
XXXXXX
Ski School Extras
While the quality of instruction should always be the most important consideration in choosing ski school for your children, some ski schools offer “extras” which can make it all easier for you or more fun for your children.
One of the most popular is the supervised lunch option. If your children are in ski school all day it means you don’t have to break up your day to meet them at lunchtime. The cost is usually on top of the lessons though, and it can work out quite expensive.
Often a 3 or 4 hour session will involve a stop on the mountain for a drink or snack. This stops your child getting too tired or too cold, make sure they have a small amount of money in their pocket each day.
Most skis schools provide a bib or jacket with their logo on it so if your child gets lost on the mountain people know who to contact. Some insist your child wears a helmet, those that don’t strongly recommend it and some provide them free of charge.
Usually there’s a test at the end of the week which lets you know your child’s level for next time and gives them a great sense of achievement. They’ll probably get a certificate, medal or badge which they can proudly display at home.
Some ski schools also give a photo of the group or even a dvd of the week’s activities which makes a great souvenir.
Older Children and Teens
Older Children and Teens
If your children started skiing relatively young, by the time they are 12 or 13 they’re likely to be bored of traditional “ski school” and looking for something a bit more exciting to do.
Many ski schools offer specific teen sections or clubs which are geared as much around having plenty of fun around the mountain with others of a similar ability and age as learning to ski. New challenges can include off-piste, snowpark, moguls, snowboarding, snowblades and sometimes even telemarking.
A great alternative to having a grumpy teenager who’s “too cool for school” on your hands all week!
Private Lessons
Private Lessons
A private instructor has a lot of advantages, and needn’t be stupidly expensive. Private lessons can be arranged through most skis schools though if you want a particular instructor in a busy week you may need to book a very long time in advance.
Most independent instructors who don’t work through a particular ski school also specialise in private lessons, and some specialise in children. You should find a list of independent instructors on the tourist office website for the resort you’re going to, or again a personal recommendation usually can’t be faulted.
The more personal the instruction, the more your child will learn quickly – with a private instructor you choose the group size. They may learn as much or more in two or three half days with a private instructor as they would in a whole week in a group with 14 other children.
Usually a private instructor is charged by the hour and not by the number of children so if you have two or three kids or are on holiday with another family with children it can work out pretty much the same as group lessons with a decent ski school.
Private instructors are more flexible – they may the children from your accommodation, times can be changed a bit to suit you, they might meet up with you at lunchtime, some are even happy for the parents to ski along with the lesson to see how your child is doing.
If your child is determined to ski and is too young for ski school, a private instructor might be your only option.
Most will take children of different abilities as long as the gap’s not massive, so your children can all ski together or with their friends rather than being split up into different groups.
Continuity helps massively with learning. If you book a private instructor you can specify who you want, which isn’t usually the case with groups – some families use the same instructor for their children for many years.
ANY COMMENTS?
Let us know what you think -
ARTICLE GROUPS
POPULAR ARTICLES
ARTICLE PARTNERS
© Copyright