You might be a Gaper if

[Marc]

But it's true. Cotton bandana, cotton jeans, often frozen solid. This was life in the 70's and early 80's. Also, lots of people skied with wine skins, made from goatskin, which made your wine taste like a baseball glove. Of course, it was Ripple or something like that, so nobody really cared. Strangers on the gondola pulled out reefer and offered to share. Lots of people agreed. Lots of skiers were absolutely wrecked. And some people wore cowboy hats, which tended to blow off on the chairlift, resulting in an avalance of little b-stard college kids (like me) trying to run it over or spear it with a pole. Other people with little short skis tried to do "ballet", getting their legs stuck with two skis facing in opposite directions. hey, they looked good doing it, though, because they always used the slope most visible from the deck where everyone was drinking. Drinking? The drinking age was 18, so most college kids had been up all night partying the night before, so everyone fell all over themselves. Safety straps (what are they?) would fail, resulting in the dreaded runaway. It was a common sight to see someone winding their way down on one ski, or carrying one ski and doing a "walk of shame" down to the base lodge. (Talk about a Gaper) So yes, we wore cotton. Cotton and wool were the only things out there. There was no fleece or real synthetics, or Hot Chillys, or anything. Goose down jackets were available, but were very expensive, so most of us didn't have them. We wore CB jackets, or Bogner,if we were feeling fashionable, or whatever our general winter coat was. People skied in surplus army jackets, bomber jackets, or "snorkel coats". People actually still skied on wood skis, and when they broke, it was quite a sight. That was it, your ski was in 2 pieces. Or somebody would yard-sale, and cut themselves all up with a "windmill", which happened when your ski released then spun around on your safety strap and hit you in the head, or in the ass, and the edge cut you. Frankly, looking back, I think the cotton was the least of our worries! That's it from the Geezer Division...I'll shut up now.

Ok.... my point was more that, since we have better affordable materials today, there's no reason to use cotton anything anymore.

 

[CapeSkier]

Right. And I don't. But back then, we did the best we could with what was available, and it was a hell of a lot of fun. And frankly, I don't remember people having arguments over who crashed into whom, or the like. Have we lost something valuable along the way? Like comradeship or civility among skiers? But I guess that's a topic for a whole other thread.

 

[Greg]

I don't spend a lot of money on base layers. In fact, some may laugh but a great place for synthetic clothing is Old Navy! :blink: :lol: Cheap stuff and often times you can find synthetic fabrics. I have a heavy fleece shirt and heavy fleece drawstring pants that I got from Old Navy. Sure, the fabric is balling up and looks crappy cuz they're lint magnets, but they were cheap and make great midweight layers. I also recently found a nice synthetic wicking long-sleeve shirt at Target. I think it's a Champion. Bottom line is there are inexpensive non-cotton options out there...

 

[CapeSkier]

I just got a fleece pullover at Old Navy for $10. There's a good thread idea. Getting clothing and gear on the cheap. I found some golf wind pants on sale too, and they turned into an excellent wind layer for skiing. I think I paid $20 for those. Fleece is fleece, and cheap is cheap!

 

[Greg]

I just got a fleece pullover at Old Navy for $10. There's a good thread idea. Getting clothing and gear on the cheap. I found some golf wind pants on sale too, and they turned into an excellent wind layer for skiing. I think I paid $20 for those. Fleece is fleece, and cheap is cheap!

Enjoy:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/11924-unique-clothing-gear-options-cheap.html

 

[Brettski]

Yes Cotton bandanas...only cotton I'll have on though...

But remember I said 2...and it has to be very cold to put them to use...

Layering keeps the one next to the nose and moth from freezing up...and besides you are contantly breathing on them...and they are usually only on for the chair ride up anyway

what do you use to cover your face on an frgid day and the wind is howling?

 

[Greg]

what do you use to cover your face on an frgid day and the wind is howling?

The frozen breath and snot on my mustache and beard...

 

[Marc]

Yes Cotton bandanas...only cotton I'll have on though...

But remember I said 2...and it has to be very cold to put them to use...

Layering keeps the one next to the nose and moth from freezing up...and besides you are contantly breathing on them...and they are usually only on for the chair ride up anyway

what do you use to cover your face on an frgid day and the wind is howling?

I have one of those ubiquitous $20 Seirus face masks, neoprene around the mouth/nose, fleese around the ears and back of the neck:

 

[hammer]

I have one of those ubiquitous $20 Seirus face masks, neoprene around the mouth/nose, fleese around the ears and back of the neck:

I sure hope you wash it after the end of the day...

 

[Marc]

I sure hope you wash it after the end of the day...

Nah, just let it dry out. Unless I've tried to spit out a big loogie forgetting that the mask is on. That always sucks.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Nah, just let it dry out. Unless I've tried to spit out a big loogie forgetting that the mask is on. That always sucks.

Thanks....I didn't want any lunch anyways. :wink:

 

[Greg]

I have one of those ubiquitous $20 Seirus face masks, neoprene around the mouth/nose, fleese around the ears and back of the neck:

Don't wear that if it's warmer than say 20 degrees, or you will fall right into this gaper category. I have one of those too, but don't wear it often. The breath moisture build-up kinda skeeves me out.

 

[Grassi21]

Don't wear that if it's warmer than say 20 degrees, or you will fall right into this gaper category. I have one of those too, but don't wear it often. The breath moisture build-up kinda skeeves me out.

I don't remember the temps from that Friday at Hunter but that thing came in handy. Especially when dealing with those guns on Belt.

 

[Marc]

Yeah, as much as I like loading a lift and talking to a complete stranger like I'm wasted because my mouth and chin are numb, I do pull out the mask whenever I'm cold. If you wear it tight fitting around the mouth, the holes in the neoprene blend material work fine for dissapating moisture. I've never had a problem, at any rate.

 

[Greg]

I don't remember the temps from that Friday at Hunter but that thing came in handy. Especially when dealing with those guns on Belt.

Probably teens, with wind, and snowmaking. I would say it was warranted so I think you were exempt from gaperdom that day. I'm talking more about those that wear it when it's 25 degrees, calm and sunny. I prefer to not wear mine unless it's biting cold, as in single digits and below.

I had a gaper moment that day at Hunter though struggling with iced up goggles. JimG. simply suggested to lay a bare palm on the goggles for a few seconds and voilà! The melted ice is then easily swept away. Made for a chilly hand between runs each lift ride, but no more visibility problems! Never heard that one before. See? We all gape from time to time... :lol:

 

[JimG.]

I have one of those too, but don't wear it often. The breath moisture build-up kinda skeeves me out.

Not to mention that the "male pedophile in a leather hood" look skeeves everyone else out.

 

[shwilly]

Don't wear that if it's warmer than say 20 degrees, or you will fall right into this gaper category.

I request a Green Mountain Freezer exception to this rule. There are days when temps are normal but that lift ride is still brutal. Still, if I have to choose I guess I'd rather be a gaper than get frostbite.

the "male pedophile in a leather hood" look skeeves everyone else out.

Bring out the Gimp!

 

[Deviations]

If you SCRAPE your way down the local mogul run just to prove that you can ski it, you're a gaper (ruggers where I come from).

 

[Skibum_dan]

I too admit to using the neoprene face mask on cold days. a tad gaper-ish...maybe. But it seems to me that one mark of gaper-ism is that gapers don't have the whole function/form thing figured out. I wear the mask even though In know it is kind of gaper-ish because I don't like a numb face. It has a function....jester hats or the fake dreadlock hats are a different story.

 

[Marc]

I too admit to using the neoprene face mask on cold days. a tad gaper-ish...maybe. But it seems to me that one mark of gaper-ism is that gapers don't have the whole function/form thing figured out. I wear the mask even though In know it is kind of gaper-ish because I don't like a numb face. It has a function....jester hats or the fake dreadlock hats are a different story.

Yeah... still trying to figure out the face mask - gaper connection?


There's nothing not practical about the face mask. Are gloves gaper too?