Reliving History on the Slopes: President’s Day Weekend

President's Day is a day many of us look back in history at the great accomplishments and contributions of those who came before us. What became quite evident over this past President's Day holiday weekend is that many skiers chose to expand on the tradition of looking back by raiding gear archives. The last 30 years of skiing history was on display. Skis and boots that have been lying unused and untouched for sometimes decades were pressed into service for this observation.

As a relative newcomer to the sport, the weekend past gave me a glimpse into the not-too-distant past where skis were straight, boots were oddly angled wedges, and bindings were today's equivalent of a paperclip.

Listen: I'm all for being frugal and for reducing waste. (Ok, in truth, I'm probably not just frugal, I can be downright cheap.) When I travel, I shop around for the best rates. But I won't rent a 25 yr. old car that's been sitting unused in a garage and lacks anti-lock brakes and air bags. I won't stay in a motel with a methamphetamine lab next door. That kind of regional flavor I can do without. The few bucks I might save are quickly paid in misery, discomfort, and risk.

I make very strategic calculations in conducting both personal cost benefit analyses and risk analyses. Putting a ski weekend or vacation at risk by tempting injury skiing on seriously outdated equipment doesn't win out for a variety of reasons. Since I lack disability insurance, the potential lost income has to be factored in, as do medical co-pays which often add up in a hurry. Time off from work for rehab and doctor's appointments also hurts the bottom line. The suffering and loss of opportunities for both normal and pleasurable activities are almost incalculable.

The goods news is that in my review of ski injury statistics, it's clear that skiing-related injuries are on a downward trend and much of that is attributable to the improvements in ski, boot, and binding design.

Dr. Mike Langran, a General Practitioner and Medical Officer for the CairnGorm Mountain Ski Patrol in Scotland has a website: http://www.ski-injury.com/ that is well worth visiting. One of the biggest surprises was this recommendation: "Whatever you do, don't borrow [equipment] off your friends. This increases your risk of injury by a massive 800%!"

One of the reasons I am a latecomer to the sport is that in my earlier attempts, I was not able to quickly pick it up. I found it frustrating and defeating. Fast forward the calendar 15 years to today's shaped skis and high performance boots and this time around I was able to relatively quickly attain a level of proficiency where I could really enjoy skiing. Shaped skis turn dramatically better. Today's boots provide a much higher level of support and warmth, and in my mind most importantly, bindings release when they should and don't when they shouldn't. Today's equipment offers vastly improved safety, performance, and comfort. That translates to more confidence and pleasure while on skis. And isn't that why you ski? To enjoy? Besides, skiing on current equipment, even high end equipment, doesn't require a huge drain on cash. Quality ski rentals abound at very reasonable rates. Look at it this way:

• A ski rental package: $35

• A knee injury: Priceless

If you really need to save the $35, consider packing your lunch and cutting back on a few après ski beverages.

The bottom line is this: Gear matters--for your safety as well as that of others. Style, not so much. Feel free to keep sporting the 1980's day glo colors. Being retro in your clothing is cutting edge. Skiing on retro equipment, however, is the equivalent to Herbert Hoover in presidential history. We just don't need to go there again.