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Shop and Ski

Gifts for alpine daredevils and those who just want to look like one

by Theresa Regli

There's one thing that anyone who's shopping for an alpine-sports enthusiast should know ahead of time: this stuff is expensive. Along with golf, skiing and snowboarding are costly sports as far as equipment and clothing goes. For a good set of essentials that won't wear out after a couple of seasons -- skis, board, boots, jacket, pants, and gloves -- it's not unusual to shell out close to $1000.

This is especially true in Boston, where ski bargains (especially on equipment) are generally hard to find. So shop around, because prices can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on where you go and when you happen to be there. Look for sales and get there early when there is one.

Another thing you should know is that price negotiation is alive and well in the ski-gear industry. If you're buying $350 skis, a $30 pair of poles, and a $260 pair of boots, talk to the store's manager or owner and see if you can get all three items for $600. I've done this many, many times over the years and have saved tons of money in the process. (I've even used my bargaining power on the sly: one time I was shopping for a new pair of boots for myself and a pair of skis for someone else, and I managed to strike a deal on the combination even though the skis weren't actually for me.) A note: this generally works at smaller, nonchain ski shops, not the biggies. Most true ski bargains are found on the lost mountain roads of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

For the widest selection of clothing and boots, competitors Ski Market (860 Comm Ave, 617-731-6100) and Bob Smith's Wilderness House (1048 Comm Ave, 617-277-5858) are your best bets. Most items in this article can be found at one or both shops.

When outfitting a skier or snowboarder, start from the inside and work your way out. Good thermal underwear is a must-have. Start with warm socks: Wyoming Wear Fleece Feet ($14.95) are fuzzy and soft but not too thick, so your beloved's feet won't sweat and get gross inside the ski boot. Hot Chillys thermal underwear ($40 to $50) per piece has become more and more popular, and there's a reason -- this stuff keeps you warm. It's made of a fleece-Lycra blend, and the bottoms are guaranteed not to wrinkle inside your pants (so, they claim, you won't have to stop midslope to fix that annoying wedgie).

In general, when you're buying thermal underwear, look for products made with something called Lycra Power. Usually found in shorts-style compression underwear, Lycra Power reduces muscle fatigue by repressing some muscle vibrations. In a recent study by the Penn State Center for Sports Medicine, athletes who wore the compression shorts improved performance by an average of 12 percent. Call 888-WEAR-2WIN for more information.

For the next layer of clothing, look no further than a Dale of Norway sweater ($150 to $200). These 100-percent wool sweaters, which have been the official sweaters of the Norwegian ski team since 1956, are becoming a fashion statement on US slopes. Colorful and extra-warm, they feature classic Scandinavian designs of everything from snowflakes to evergreen trees. Some are pullovers (both high-neck and V-neck), while others are jacket-style with front closures. You can also look for FILA sweaters (around $100) and Mountain Hard Wear jackets (around $130). These, along with the Dale of Norway sweaters, are classic winter gifts not only because they're great to ski in, but also because they're versatile, attractive, and can be worn out to an après-ski dinner.

The things that really have to stand up to the snow and cold, though, are jackets and pants. The hottest alpine clothing manufacturer (and also generally the most expensive) is the North Face, which makes fabulous, durable, versatile skiwear. The many varieties of North Face jackets cost anywhere from $300 to $450 (remember: shop around) and come in various colors, including red, black, blue, yellow, purple, and green.

The Arctic Patrol Parka was designed for something a bit more intense than skiing or snowboarding: rescues in extreme cold weather. So as you can probably imagine, it's abrasion-resistant and extra-durable. It also comes with a hood and numerous pockets, including one specifically designed to hold a one-liter bottle. The Mountain Patrol Parka has similar features, but it also includes innovative underarm zips for ventilation. These vents can provide welcome relief after a long, sweat-inducing mogul run. The Kitchatna Jacket, one of The North Face's most popular, is less heavy-duty but great for skiing or riding. It's made of breathable waterproof Gore-Tex and comes with a hood and multiple ventilation features. For the spring skiing season, the Polar Sun Jacket is a good choice; it's made of fleece and stands up to wind particularly well.

Another superb manufacturer is Killy, whose jackets are priced about the same as the North Face's. Nordica jackets are also high-quality but less expensive ($175 to $250). For a style-over-substance look that will still keep you warm, try the Obermeyer velvet-collared jackets ($300 to $350). Matching Obermeyer ski pants are $120 to $150.

Speaking of ski pants, I'm pleased to see that side-zip pants (which have a zipper from waist to foot on each leg) are becoming more popular. These were originally common among racers, who needed to remove their baggy snow pants before heading down a race course in a downhill suit. Unlike most ski pants, these are easy to get out of without removing your boots first. This makes them very convenient if you get hot while hanging out in the ski lodge during lunch. A great pair of side-zip ski pants made by Slalom Sports retails for about $160.

Some people refuse to wear one-piece ski outfits for fear of looking like snow bunnies, but these suits can be tremendously warm, and they're sometimes less expensive than purchasing a jacket and pants separately. The key is to buy an outfit that's basic and not too cute. Fortunately, this has become easier as styles have tamed down in recent years. A Nordica one-piece ski outfit retails for about $270. But if you're really worried about getting cold, there's the North Face Himalayan suit, which will set you back at least $500. As North Face puts it, "This was designed for the unrelenting cold of 8000-meter peaks. Cold spots do not exist on this suit." Four-time Everest scaler Pete Athans wears this outfit when he climbs, so rest assured that the recipient of this suit will be warm anywhere.

The classic stocking-stuffer for a skier or snowboarder is a good pair of goggles, which retail for $30 to $100. Smith, Bollé, and Carrera all make excellent goggles. Look for a pair with vents, which help reduce lens fogging.

As for equipment, take heart: there's no shortage of new stuff to choose from this year. Why not give your favorite skier a set of trendy all-terrain skis, which combine the best technologies in skiing and snowboarding? These "fat" skis have more surface area than traditional skis, which allows for more "flotation" and turning ease on the snow. In addition to the increased surface area, all-terrain skis generally have a super-sidecut curve that makes turning much easier. On these skis, you can cruise through powder, sail along packed snow, and float through crud and slush.

Popular all-terrain skis include the Völkl Snow Ranger, the K2 Xplorer, the Rossignol Cut 11.5, the Volant Powerkarve, the Atomic Beta Cruise 9.22, and the Salomon X-Mountain. Each model retails for anywhere from $450 to $660. (What's that mantra again? Shop around.)

For snowboarders, the hottest equipment is made by Burton, K2, Arbor, and Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz snowboards have an interesting feature: a raised center, which suspends the edge. This focuses more energy on the board's edges, which reduces sliding and board chatter, making carving a lot easier.

If you're shopping for a beginner skier or a snowboarder who you think might like to try a different sort of alpine experience, a pair of skiboards may be the perfect gift. Skiboards are about 50 percent wider than conventional skis and vary in length from 75 to 90 cms. Skiboarding, which some have compared to in-line skating on snow, offers all the two-leg freedom of skiing on something the length of a snowboard. Advocates say it's an easy sport to learn and a great way to have fun in half-pipes.

The original skiboard company is Line Skiboards, which has its entire catalogue online at http://www.line-skiboards.com/. Canon Industries, another one of the older skiboard manufacturers, sells skiboards by mail (call 800-989-3542). The mass-marketed skiboards are the Dynastar Twin and the Solomon Snowblade. Skiboards cost between $249 and $319, and the price includes the adjustable aluminum bindings.

Lastly, perhaps the best gift you can give a skier or snowboarder is a weekend on the slopes. These days, every ski resort under the sun offers weekend or week-long ski-and-stay packages. These choose-what-you-want trips can cover everything from the hotel room to a week-long lift ticket. Some even offer the option of meals and hour-long massages after the lifts close. These packages can run anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars per day, depending on what's included and what time of year you decide to go. Find out which mountain is your skier or snowboarder's favorite, and then call the resort for information. If you're smart, you'll buy a two-person package and convince your friend to take you along. You may improve so much that next year, people will buy some of these cool gifts for you.