Archive for Tips and Tricks

| May 10, 2011
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Washing and Restoring Gore-Tex Jackets and Pants

Waterproof, one of the first things your think about when you are looking

at a new ski/snowboard jacket. Anyone who owns a Gore-Tex branded

jacket or pant knows what a difference a good waterproof breathable fabric can be, especially if you are li

ke us and live and play in the Pacific Northwest. But over time, run after run and wash after wash your Gore-Tex items can appear like they just are not the same. Here is a little understanding on why they appear to be less waterproof and how to replenish and restore them so they are just like new! This also applies to the many other waterproof fabrics out there like eVent or Entrant.

But it was so waterproof when I got it? There are two main factors that contribute to your Gore-Tex not feeling like its old waterproof self over time. The first is the waterproof coating. Like many other waterproof fabrics Gore-Tex contains a DWR coating (durable water repellent) which is the first layer of defense and causes the water to bead up on your sleeve. Exposure to the elements and multiple trips through the wash can cause the DWR to breakdown allowing your jacket to soak up some of the water where it previously just wicked it away. The second factor is dirt. As dirt gets into the “pours” of the Gore-Tex fabric it allows water to seep in making your jacket or pants less waterproof and less breathable.

So how do I make it like new again? In order to replenish or restore your Gore-Tex or similar waterproof fabric just follow these steps
1. Wash – Wash your jacket or pants by its self using a Gore-Tex safe detergent. We like Grangers or Nix-Wax Tech washes. Avoid fabric softeners.
2. Restore Waterproofing – After it has been washed and is dirt and contaminate free, spray it down using a Gore-Tex waterproofing spray. It works best if you spray it down right after you pull your jacket out of the washer while it is still wet. We like the Nikwax TX.Direct Spray-On. We don’t recommend using a wash-in waterproofing on your Gore-Tex or similar fabrics as it may decrease the breathability of the jacket or pant.
3. Dry – After you have sprayed it down toss it in the dryer (no dryer sheet!) on warm and tumble dry. The heat helps activate the DWR.

Stains?- Gore recommends using a pre-wash like Shout or Spray N’ Wash to help get stains out. Make sure to rinse well.

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| March 23, 2011
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Demo Day tips: How to test drive skis

Getting a chance to demo new skis can be your best opportunity to make sure you get on the ski that’s right for you. Like test driving a car, knowing what to look for and a little preparation can go a long way. Here are a few of our tips to help you

get the most out of your next demo day. If your in Washington, be sure to swing by our Spring Fling Demo at Crystal Mountain this Saturday 3/26/2011

  1. Do a little homework- Before you go, prepare for the questions that you will be inevitably asked. It will help you narrow down those first few picks of the day. Questions to think about are; What type of terrain do you usually ski? Are you frequently at a mountain that gets a lot of new snow or do you stick to the hard pack and groomers most of the time? Do you like making short quick turns or opt for the longer gs style turns? How aggressive of a skier are you? Are you looking for one ski that can do it all or do you

    already have other skis in your “quiver”?

  2. Which Skis to Try – There are a ton of options so getting started can be the toughest part. Buyers guides are a great place to get started, and most ski shops have them, often even for free. If you truly have no idea, start with your brand of choice and go from there. Be sure not to test to many skis as they will quickly blend together. “Keep your test drive down to 5 skis if you can”, says Sturtevant’s hardgoods manager Zach Vollmer. It will give you enough selection yet still be able to keep them straight.
  3. Test drive the same track – Once you are on the ski pay attention to how it handles. When you start your turn does it turn quick or is it a more slow mellow turn? There is no right answer its all about what you like! Is it lively or does it require a lot of work to ski it? Does the ski feel stable at the speed you usually ski? Pick a run where you can ski a little bit of everything. Ski some bumps, ice, groomed, and fresh snow (if you can find it). Then take that same run on all the skis. If you ski different terrain each time it will be difficult to compare one ski to another.
  4. Feedback! – This is the most important step in the selection process. After you take a run or two (or day if you’re demoing from a shop) come back in and tell a sales rep what you think. Tell them what felt good and what don’t you like. Be sure to include other skied you have tried and what you thought you like about them. Even if you thought you had a specific list of skis you wanted this can help you discover that might fit you even better.
  5. Branch out – There are a lot of great skis being built out there today so throw past pre conceived notions to the wind. Don’t be afraid to try brands and technologies you haven’t skied. Also don’t be afraid to try a ski a little wider than you thought. Wider

    skis get more and more versatile every year.

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| February 9, 2011
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Washington Mountain Forecasts and La Nina Poetry

When this wacky warm weather first started plaguing our touted La Nina winter the Northwest Avalanche Center didn’t know how to break the bad news that sustained rain was on its way so they broke it in a poem. This morning a new much more pleasantly

received poem arrived.

"Nina oh Nina, it's on its way back, for us to recover the snow that we lack.
As with most wishes, it comes with some pain, as dangers rise but not from rain.
Two days ahead of dry slow warming, should provide weak layers for future storming.
The upper ridge leaves Friday for points to the east, time to go from famine to feast.
A deep upper low settles in offshore, to bring strong storms to knock at our door.
The weekend promises significant action, as weak surface snow is stressed by compaction.
Though substantial snow is what we need, don't be swayed by new powder greed.
Check out the snow as stresses rise, & don't let slides be a surprise."

For some people weather forecasts dictate nothing more than if they should be carrying an umbrella or not while walking out to their car or on their lunch break. But for the outdoor enthusiasts it dictates nearly everything you do. Tack

on working in the outdoors industry and suddenly your hobbies, pay check and sanity are directly attached to the weather. Which means if you also live in the Pacific Northwest its going to be a roller coaster. Since you are likely to be checking your forecasts regardless you might as well be checking some worth their salt. Here are a few tips on approaching winter weather and mountain forecasts for the Pacific Northwest.

With the Pacific Ocean, Olympic Mountains, Puget Sound and Cascades all bundled up together the Seattle area is one of the tricker places to predict weather in the world. This means you are better off staying away from large automated regional forecasts like Weather.com for the west side of the mountains. They tend to over predict cold weather and precipitation – which for the skier/snowboarder is a let down waiting to happen. Also stay away from 10-15 day out forecasts, during the winter they are pretty much worthless.

- Northwest Avalanche Center (nwac.us)- This is not only a great resource for avalanche reports but give some of the best mountain forecasts out there. Also their “Telemetry” section will give you hourly snow depths at all your favorite Washington resorts and some backcountry locations.

- NOAA (noaa.gov) – NOAA forecasts are available for each of the Washington ski resort regions. This is where you get your winter advisories and warning from. They have simple and easy to read forecasts Make sure to see what elevation the forecasts are for though because it might not be for the base area like you would think.

-KING 5 and KOMO 4 News (komonews.com, king5.com)- Both have pretty good Northwest forecasts and easy to read online. If you have a smartphone both also have great news apps with weather sections.

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