Skiing – Its appeal to amateurs and enthusiasts alike January 12, 2009

With winter getting into full swing the mountain tops around Europe and North America will be turning whiter and whiter in preparation for the forthcoming skiing season. Skiing is a hugely popular sport as well as hobby for many people across the world, especially in central areas of Europe such as Switzerland and Austria. Skiing is such an attractive sporting prospect to many people because of the diversity that it can provide all in one sport.

You can have simple long distance skiing which will could be compared to a long distance running race or you can have the exciting slaloms which take place down steep mountain sides at incredibly high speeds but require high amounts of skill and technical ability. This type of skiing discipline is extremely exciting to punters as it is made up of countless sharp twists and turns and you can witness some dramatic falls. In addition to this you will find that the Super-G and downhill events are extremely popular too because they are solely based upon high speed and who doesn’t love speed!

Why would you want to ski? Not only is skiing an exciting sport to observe it is also an excellent hobby to take up. Skiing is now hugely fashionable and many top designers are now producing collections of ski wear. It really doesn’t matter whether you are the next great talent or just fancy the challenge, skiing is a just great sport to enjoy. First of all, the health benefits are excellent. High amounts of strength are required in skiing in order to balance out the wide variety of forces that act upon you.

This would work your core muscles excellently. The sport of skiing also improves one’s suppleness as your body is required to lean and change body shape in order to complete the turns. Perhaps the most important health aspect involved with is the cardiovascular workout it provides, you will soon feel your heart pumping as you descend the slope!

However, it would be silly to forget the fun involved and the adrenaline rush that it provides! There are more skiing options now than ever before and you don’t always have to travel abroad to go skiing. Scotland has quite a good skiing industry and you have many options there, especially during a good winter and I think this year may be one of them. Alternatively, you have the countries that surround the Alps, such as France, Switzerland and Austria. These countries always have reliable snow totals. Even further afield you have many ski resorts in America and Canada but it is a long way to go to ski!

Perhaps the most convenient options are the artificial slopes, there are now a few centres dotted around the UK and can provide the skiing experience without the expensive trip and the perishing cold! These are good ways or getting some good experience before hitting the real slopes.

Keeping warm in the credit crunch November 24, 2008

As we head into winter, the thought of plunging temperatures must be striking fear into the hearts of many a shivering citizen (well, when I say we, I mean you, I’m basking in Spain and unlikely to see snow, or ice on the inside of the window). With utility bills rising faster than inflation in Zimbabwe, it seems that many people will be wondering if they can afford to turn on the heating this winter. Fear not, there are ways that you can keep warm without taking out a second mortgage to pay your gas bill.

The best way is to think smart. Suppose you have to spend a lot of time at home, because you’re retired, or not working. Well, there’s no need to sit around shivering, especially if you have the right Damart thermal clothing. If you live in a city or large town, try enjoying some of the cultural sites. Visit museums and galleries; after all, you are paying for them in your council tax, and take advantage of their central heating. You could even volunteer as a guide, and stay warm all day.

An even more useful tool is your local library. Make maximum use of this wonderful resource (and its warmth). No-one will think it odd if you spend all day, every day, there – unless it´s closed, in which case it will be unheated, and you´ll be arrested for breaking and entering. I can´t promise the police cells will be heated, so you may want to avoid that option. Anyway, the library is a perfect way to save on your own heating bills, and it has enough material to give you good reason to stay there for hours. They have newspapers, internet, even books (if you look hard enough among the DVDs). I am writing this on my laptop in the local library, and even though it is warm and sunny here (sorry to rub that in … okay, I´m smug, not sorry), I am still saving on lighting and electricity.

Supposing your libraries don´t have the generous opening hours that we do in Spain, which are open until 9 pm? What do you do on a weekend, for example? Simple – go shopping. Visit your local mall, and check out the Damart winter clothing range to keep you warm while walking back and forth to the library. Shops are guaranteed to be overheated. Or why not visit a friend, who can afford heating? In fact, you could while away the winter spending a week here, a week there, and before you know it, spring will arrive … You might have to invent some creative excuses for wanting to stay with friends in your own town, but it´s better than staring at a four-figure electricity bill, and wondering if you can pawn your children …

Winter cooking November 7, 2008

Keeping warm in winter might seem like a bit of a challenge, but it can be done. The obvious answer is to turn the central heating up to maximum, but this is both expensive and wasteful (just think of the bills and turn the thermostat down). This doesn´t mean that you have to freeze. It should go without saying that it is important to wear suitable Damart clothing; put on a sweater, and you may not need the fire on. When it´s really cold, wear a Damart thermal top under your sweater and don’t forget the fur-lined slippers (so what if they make you look like your grandma, it´s better than frostbite).

One often overlooked way of warming yourself up is by eating the right foods. The Scots know a thing or two about surviving the winter chill, when they start the day off with porridge. Oats retain heat well, and can also be added to stews to thicken them. Eating flapjack doesn´t count, unless you eat it warm, which is a good excuse for baking and not waiting for the flapjack to cool down.

Forget salads and sandwiches for lunch, and think seasonal. Stock up on root vegetables, and make lots of hearty soup (freeze some for a quick and easy lunch). You could even try baking some fresh bread (use a mix to save time) to accompany your soup. That will keep you warm all afternoon, and satisfy your appetite. Toasted sandwiches, warm quiche, or pasta with tomato sauce are other alternative hot lunches.

Many classic English dishes are designed for the cold weather. You won´t feel the cold after a good serving of Toad in the Hole (sausages in batter, for any confused foreign readers). Hearty and filling, it’s a perfect winter dish. Think also of Shepherd’s Pie (mashed potato topping a thick minced meat sauce – vegetarians can use soya mince). And can you imagine cooking a classic Sunday roast dinner on a hot summer’s day? Roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding will keep the chill out.

Talking of puddings, winter is the perfect excuse to pass on the yoghurts and enjoy some good filling desserts. What could be nicer than apple pie or a fruit crumble (peaches or rhubarb are alternatives to apples), straight from the oven, with some hot custard? For custard haters, cream is also divine poured over a hot dessert. Or get out the recipe books and bake some cakes to eat fresh from the oven. This is no time to be thinking about diets. Bon appétit!

Thermals for the whole Family October 4, 2008

At one time no-one apart from Grannies would be seen dead wearing thermal garments. Even though thermal material keeps you warm and comfortable, the beige coloured long johns and basic utilitarian vests were scorned by the young and fashionable. They would rather shiver and freeze than wear such old-fashionable and ugly clothing.

However, Damart thermals have become fashionable and people of all ages are recognising the many benefits of this material which their elders already appreciated. Thermal materials are so versatile – providing optimum heat and comfort; when conditions change the material allows the skin to breathe by reducing perspiration. It is the ideal wear for everyone from young children, athletes, winter sports enthusiasts, and the elderly.

Modern designers have created a large number of fashionable ranges, from pretty pastel coloured under slips, short sleeved tops in modern, snazzy colours, such as fuchsia, heather and teal. Modern men’s sweatshirts, jackets and tops have been designed and manufactured using thermal materials. Children’s clothing hasn’t been left out either, with many smaller items of underwear and outerwear specially designed for the young.

Prices are affordable too; T shirts can be purchased from as little as £8, while a man’s sweater costs around £30. Thermal clothing is much more readily available these days – there is no need to order from a mail order catalogue and wait for the item to arrive. Many High Street stores carry large ranges and goods can also be ordered online.

The material is easily laundered and cared for, and lasts through many seasons. Due to the credit crunch and environmental reasons, we are all being encouraged to turn down the heating thermostat by several degrees. If all the family are wearing Damart thermal clothing, the difference in temperature would hardly be noticeable.

At one time young fashionistas invested in sexy silks and satins, but the discerning have discovered the more subtle delights of thermal fashion. It’s a wise investment for all

Local brand loyalty September 30, 2008

When it comes to outdoor clothing, I really don’t think it should matter whether it was manufactured in the UK or the US. Some people may think that outdoor clothing that is made in the UK is more suitable for UK climates, rather than clothes that are made abroad, but this is far from accurate.

 

Many top brands started off in the United States, but now they have a huge base in the United Kingdom and I doubt that many people would even realise which brands originated from which country. Some companies may start off small in one country, then expand and move their businesses to another country, so a brand that was once a UK brand, could now be thought of as a US brand name.

 

Regardless of where clothing is manufactured, if it is being marketed and sold in a particular country then it will be suitable for wear in that country. All aspects of clothing are considered when deciding which country to market them in, such as sizing, pricing and what sort of styles sell well in a certain country, as styles to tend to vary slightly of certain items in the UK and the US.

 

Some people are more patriotic and would prefer to only wear UK brands in the UK, in order to help support our industries and our economy, rather than helping out another country, but on the whole, I really don’t think that people mind whether they wear UK or US clothing and certainly do not judge other people for wearing American brands in the UK. American brands are widely advertised and are big business all around the world, not just in the US or UK, so it is acceptable for people all around the world to wear US brands if they want to.

 

When you see a brand you like, it is all about the style and the fashion statement, not about the country in which it was manufactured. So, if Haglofs is your favourite brand then buy their clothing, regardless of whatever anyone else says. Which country that a brand of clothing originates from is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when making a purchase and it is unlikely to change the minds of the majority of consumers.