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How do you ski longer, day after day after day?

Snowskins - revolutionary new training and recovery innerwear for all skiers.

By Craig Duckmanton

When you are spending hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on your ski holiday either here or overseas, you want to be able to ski day in and day out and avoid tired and sore legs. There is an answer and it's as simple as wearing the correct clothes UNDER your normal ski or snow board attire.

SnowSkins tops and bottoms (pictured) are part of the SKINS range of compression garments - a range of technical garments that are owned, designed and developed here in Australia. They have taken medical and sports science principles and built them into a range of garments with engineered compression to produce tangible benefits for professional and recreational sports people.

The specific benefits for skiing and snow boarding are that SnowSkins enhance circulation, oxygen intake with the tops and aid lactic acid removal. 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 - in a similar way to inertia seatbelts, SnowSkins work harder when the muscles are working harder.

How Snowskins Work

Tested for over 3 seasons in Australia, Colorado and Austria, SnowSkins have proved successful in assisting the skier to reduce lactate build-up and generate more power and stamina. International and professional skiers including world cup and Olympic competitors are now using SnowSkins, with amazing results.

SnowSkins are designed to reduce the affects of altitude when carrying out alpine activities. 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)

After the day's skiing, it is also recommended to keep wearing SnowSkins to assist with circulation and recovery and assist the reduction of lactates after activity has ceased.

SnowSkins aid venous circulation, particularly when wearing ski boots that restrict the movement of the calf muscles. Testing has shown the wearer can ski harder, longer and continue day after day without muscle burn or tiredness. SnowSkins keep working long after you have stopped.

They are for all levels of skiers, boarders and winter enthusiasts.

This season sees the introduction of SnowSkins - tops. These are long sleeved compression tops designed to assist muscle alignment and circulation. The compression design also works to support the diaphragm and aids breathing and therefore the level at which you are able to physically work at in the altitude.

Its important to note that SnowSkins are NOT thermals - they do not provide warmth as such, but do work to thermo-regulate the body, maintaining an even temperature under hard working conditions. They assist in removing moisture away from the skin helping you to feel comfortable and dry all day long.

Lactic acid & Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

There are two processes which 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.

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.

This type of soreness subsides after a minute or two of rest, and you can usually continue exercising without any residual effects. Lactic acid is removed from the blood and muscles and returned to normal usually within one or two hours. Active recovery usually accelerates the clearance process.

The other kind of soreness is called delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS for short. Microscopic tearing of muscle fibres appears to be the culprit that causes DOMS, although scientists aren't exactly sure why your muscles have this delayed reaction. The amount of tearing depends on how hard and how long you've exercised and what type of exercise you did. The soreness is generally at its worst within the first two days after an extra effort workout and subsides within a few days.

How do SnowSkins Assist in Recovery?

SnowSkins help remove lactic acid build-up by aiding circulation. They assist DOMS recovery by increasing the supply of oxygenated blood to the muscles.

Skins have recently conducted research into the effect of Skins compression garments on blood lactate levels in the sport of Soccer, Road & Track Cycling, Rowing and most recently Skiing. For further technical information on these studies go to www.skins.com.au and email us, or freecall 1300 852 100.