Skiing and Kilts

[ozone]

First, I know that this type of post has been written before.

Now, here's my problem: I have already vowed in front of several people that i would ski kilted down Higlands bowl (in the powder) from 12000 feet. So, now i have a kilt (thanks Colin and Celtic Craft Center for pestering the welsh tartan people to finally get moving) and the snow will soon start to fly in Aspen.

I have skied since I was three years old and I dont really fall these days. That being said, if my knees are frozen, I may well fall. So one idea I have was to wear thermal leggings to prevent this possibility. The other idea I had was to wait until spring...but then there will be no powder :-(

So, any ideas other ideas would be welcome. You all have 90 days before Aspen Higlands opens to tell me some good ideas......

[Dreadbelly]

Grow a great deal of leg hair.

[Prester John]

This may sound corny, but have you considered a pair of electric socks?

Hear me out. If your kilt is heavy wool (perhaps with some polyprop. shorts beneath for extra warmth) and your feet are plenty warm, I doubt, even in the powder and cold, that your knees will not receive alot of benefit.

Also, one other recommendation. Warm up your knee joints ahead of time with a heating pad for about 15 mins. That should keep you flexible and free!

In a worst case scenario, put on a pair of polyprop. long johns and go for it!

And for goodness sake, get a good pic or two!

[Dreadbelly]

Tiger Balm greatly enhances blood circulation and will help keep exposed skin from freezing up to quickly.

http://www.tigerbalm.com/02_whatis.htm

I use it to keep my fingers and such from getting to much winter chill and making my RA ache like a tooth. Increased blood flow does wonders. Blood provides warmth.

Please note, this stuff is not made from actual tigers.

[Rigged]

Great idea Dreadbelly! In fact, any petroleum product should protect the knees from direct exposure to the cold air, and help prevent frost nip, but only for a fairly short time. The added benefit of the menthol in Tiger Balm should help some.

Ozone, you might want to do a bit of experimenting with Tiger Balm or plain Vaseline before taking the long plunge.

Send photos!

[Dreadbelly]

Great idea Dreadbelly! In fact, any petroleum product should protect the knees from direct exposure to the cold air, and help prevent frost nip, but only for a fairly short time. The added benefit of the menthol in Tiger Balm should help some.

Ozone, you might want to do a bit of experimenting with Tiger Balm or plain Vaseline before taking the long plunge.

Send photos!

It's in my cold weather survival guide booklet for RA and Fibromyalgia suffererers, so credit where credit is due. It's not my idea. And it WORKS. Once it hits 45 degrees out, that seems to be my magic number, it makes my fingers feel like somebody is smashing them repeatedly with a hammer or keep getting smashed in a car door. It's a horrible violent thobbing feeling. Tiger Balm makes a world of difference in "keeping the cold out." Keeps my fingers from locking up and going so stiff that they become hooked claws that are completely useless to me.

I use it on my knees too.

[Canuck]

Here I thought I was crazy, shoveling snow in -30c in my kilt.....The tiger balm idea sounds good, but the rest of the legs and equipement are going to get a bit of forced cool air up there! So you gonna tiger balm all the lower appendages??!! hmmm look out ladies one hot kilted skier melting the powder, that will make interesting conversation in the chalet afterwards....Graham... another single malt if you please for our friend here....oh and since your pouring ....a round for the members here.....Oh by the way I'll be in Hawaii for a month when this event takes place....cheers all I promise to keep my knees warm I'll send a post card
Robert

[JBfromBS]

Great idea Dreadbelly! In fact, any petroleum product should protect the knees from direct exposure to the cold air, and help prevent frost nip, but only for a fairly short time. The added benefit of the menthol in Tiger Balm should help some.

I personally would be very leery about putting something like that on my legs while kilted, it seems like it could possibly stain or damage your kilt where it would come into contact. But I hope you get a good method figured out, and we definitely need some pics when you do! Good luck!

Joe

[Dreadbelly]

I personally would be very leery about putting something like that on my legs while kilted, it seems like it could possibly stain or damage your kilt where it would come into contact. But I hope you get a good method figured out, and we definitely need some pics when you do! Good luck!

Joe

It stains nothing.

[Riverkilt]

Ozone,

Lots of good ideas...don't know if it would hedge the bet, but my thought would be to wear some knee protectors like the skate boarders, or gardners, or construction workers, or infantry does.

Seems like when skiing that the bare knees would take a lot of chill from breaking the wind at that level. Knee protectors would take the hit of the wind and help keep the front of your knees warmer.

Or baseball catcher's shin protectors with their knee guards. Point is to protect from the wind chill.

Never mind what you look like...win the bet! ;)

Ron