Get the Most out of Your Skiing Holiday

By Kym Elphinstone

We all want to get the most action possible out of our skiing holiday. Unfortunately, this is often hindered by sore muscles or joints after the first day on the slopes making it difficult to get right back out there to enjoy more of winter’s greatest offering.

Thankfully, a solution is on hand with the improved range of SnowSkins™ performance sportswear tops and tights (pictured).  Designed to be worn under your regular ski or snowboard gear, SnowSkins™ are body moulded compression garments tested and proven to help you ski harder and longer, day after day.

SnowSkins™ are part of the Skins™ range of technical sports compression garments that are owned, designed and developed here in Australia. Skins™ have taken medical and sports science principles and built them into a range of garments with engineered compression to produce real benefits for both professional and recreational sports people.

Ski harder, ski longer…

The benefits that SnowSkins™ offer make them ideally suited for all winter sports enthusiasts wanting to get more out of their skiing holiday – whether you’re a beginner or an expert, skier or boarder.

Designed to reduce the affects of altitude when carrying out alpine activities, the mild compression effect of SnowSkins™ increases performance through enhanced circulation, greater muscle support and improved body temperature control.

SnowSkins™ Tops also help you to ski harder and for longer by assisting with oxygen intake. The compression design of the product supports the diaphragm to aid breathing and therefore enhance the level at which you are able to physically work at altitude.

All skiers will have experienced that burning sensation in their legs after a long run. Wearing SnowSkins™ while you ski will help eliminate that burn, reduce muscle fatigue and minimise muscle injury.

They’ll also keep your muscles warm and remove perspiration away from your skin keeping you dry and comfortable. This is because SnowSkins™ regulate your temperature without overheating – they breathe, wick perspiration and are sanitised. (“Wicking perspiration” means that no matter how hard you ski, you actually stay dry and comfortable with no wet sweaty feeling).

SnowSkins™ also aid venous circulation, particularly when wearing ski boots that restrict the movement of the calf muscles.

…and recover faster

SnowSkins™ keep working long after you’ve stopped, helping aid your recovery from a hard day on the slopes.

They work against two different processes that can cause exercise-related muscle soreness: one that occurs during or immediately after exercise, and the other which occurs several hours or even days after a harder-than-usual workout.

Firstly, SnowSkins™ help remove lactic acid build-up by aiding circulation.

Muscle soreness during and immediately after exercise is caused by build-up of a chemical called lactic acid, a natural by-product of your body's energy-producing mechanisms. When you push yourself to your limit, lactic acid floods your muscles, causing pain, soreness, and discomfort – it’s your body's way of telling you to stop now.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is the other culprit for which SnowSkins™ helps aid recovery. DOMS is caused by microscopic tearing of muscle fibres after exercise. The soreness is generally at its worst within the first two days after an extra effort workout.

SnowSkins™ help combat DOMS by increasing the supply of oxygenated blood to the muscles.

And here’s a tip: to help you recover faster when you get back from a hard day on the slopes, put on SnowSkins™ for a few hours or even sleep in them. SnowSkins™ will keep on working while you rest and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to hit the slopes the next day.

So what’s the secret?

The key lies in the unique trade-marked BioAcceleration Technology™ that is built into the material of all Skins™ products.

More than five years under development in Australia, BioAcceleration Technology™ applies different amounts of compression to the body which stimulates the flow of blood to critical exercising muscle groups.  This in turn increases muscle bioactivity and enhances replenishment of vital oxygen, helping muscles to perform more effectively, especially at altitude.

The unique fabric blend of Dupont Lycra and Meryl Microfibre also works to assist muscle alignment (or proprioception), therefore reducing muscle fatigue, ligament damage and micro tears which can lead to soreness and strain.

Endorsed by a who’s who of sports icons and scientists

The benefits of SnowSkins™ and BioAcceleration Technology™ have been independently tested and endorsed by Australian and international sports physicians and scientists.

SnowSkins™ are also worn by a growing list of devotees right across the globe and have been tested for over four seasons in Australia, Colorado and Austria.

International and professional skiers including world cup and Olympic competitors are now using SnowSkins™, with amazing results. In fact, Australian Paralympic gold medalist, Michael Milton recently broke the world downhill skiing record while wearing SnowSkins™. Michael is a great advocate of the benefits SnowSkins™ offer in training, competition and recovery alike.

SnowSkins™ for everyone

The benefits that SnowSkins™ provide have now been tailored further, with a range designed specifically for men and women.

While the tights are unisex, SnowSkins™ now offer different long-sleeved compression tops for men (in black) and women (in arctic white).

SnowSkins™ Tops have been redesigned this season with a unique cut that provides muscle wrapping technology and mesh panels under the arms and at the back of the neckline for added breathability.

All SnowSkins™ garments also have a SPF rating of 50, keeping you safe from harmful UV rays on the mountain.

Where do I find SnowSkins™?

Eager to get out on the slopes for a longer, harder session that you’ll recover faster from? Then you’ll be wanting to check out www.skins.com.au quick smart for a full list of retailers across Australia stocking SnowSkins™.

So now there’s no excuse not to get straight back out on the slopes and make the most of your holiday!