Nobody rents ski gear any more. Grania Willis reports on how to kit yourself out for the slopes, and still have money left for the après-ski
It's that time of year again - crisp, cold days, vivid blue skies, sunshine and snow. 'Tis the season for skiing, snow boarding and cross-country. So, whether you're a piste-basher or a powder hound, what's on offer in the gear shops for 2006? And what are the bare necessities that the new kid on the block needs to cut a dash?
Probably the most talked-about piece of equipment is Burton's new Audex Cargo jacket, designed for boarders and, quite literally, wired for sound. The Audex has a pliable control panel on the left sleeve that works not only your iPod, but your mobile as well. The jacket, unique to Burton, was brought out last year in conjunction with Apple. This year's version still has the iPod connection, but also boasts bluetooth wireless technology for your phone. Stow the music and the mobile in your pocket and keep in touch with the tunes and with your friends while hitting the halfpipe.
The Audex isn't cheap at €550, but boys who want toys will definitely be screaming for this. Great Outdoors in Dublin has four of the jackets, according to director Gerry Collins, although none has sold at time of going to press. After all, if you're going to execute a massive face plant, at least look cool while you're doing it.
But if you don't know your stomp pad from your slalom, if the term "freeride" conjures up images totally unrelated to snow, what kind of gear should you be looking for in the shops before you make your debut on the piste?
The essentials that beginners will need are pretty obvious, but worth spelling out. Waterproof, insulated pants (particularly necessary for boarders), good gloves, eye-wear, thermals and a hat are vital. A jacket, preferably insulated and waterproof, is also a must, but beginners who are unsure whether they're going to make winter sports a regular part of their annual holiday usually have a jacket that will be warm enough until they decide to invest in the real thing.
Hiring gear used to be the most practical solution for the newbies, although Dublin's Outdoor Adventure Store in Liffey Street Upper, Dublin 1 has stopped hiring ski gear this season. "It was a diminishing market for us," general manager Dermot McMullan says. "Five years ago we were hiring out 1,000 suits; last year we hired out just 12. The gear is now so inexpensive to buy, you can actually own the jacket for an extra €20."
Great Outdoors on Chatham Street, Dublin 2 charges €49 a week to hire a Helly Hansen jacket and pants and, for just €1 more, The Ski Shop at Equestrian World of Maynooth, will kit you out in salopettes and a jacket for 11 days.
If you want to buy, the range is mind-boggling, with prices going from basic to astronomical. At the lower end of the market, the Trespass jacket retails for €79.99 in the Outdoor Adventure Store and offers virtually all the features boasted by the top of the range jackets, without the big price tag. Matching trousers will set you back €59.99.
The White Rock range is a new collection of completely reversible gear that is, according to Equestrian World's David Geoghegan, "absolutely walking out of the shop" at €135 for jackets and €115 for salopettes.
The only thing missing in the less expensive gear is breathability. Skiing and boarding are serious adrenaline sports and the more adventurous you are, the more sweat you'll be pumping. But beginners, who won't be working so hard, can probably get away with less breathable, but bulkier gear.
The North Face has some really stylish jackets in the mid-range price bracket between €200 and €300 at Great Outdoors, while Peak Performance and Degré 7 are among the more expensive, at €400-€450, and boast stretch Goretex and loads of insulation without the bulk. If you want to avoid the Michelin-man look, you'll have to pay more.
The neck gaiter, a super-lightweight scarf that really does fend off the chills on the chair lift, is a big seller, and the trade also reports a massive resurgence in snow boot sales.
Gloves have changed dramatically over the past few years. The Burton Toaster mitt has a pocket on the back for slotting in handwarmers, which cost €2 a pair. Austrian manufacturers Zannier make a glove with built-in heating elements, and you can buy heated insoles for your boots too. Being cold on the slopes really does seem to be a thing of the past.
But what's out there that will really set you apart from the masses? Head for the Great Outdoors in Dublin or Cork and buy yourself some indestructible wine glasses made out of lexon, the material used on the space shuttle windscreen. A removable stem means that you can land on the glasses in a fall, or even jump on them, and they'll still be in one piece when you pour out the vin chaud at the end of a run. Now that's style.