Motley: Equipment, Creams, Perfumes

Equipment, Creams, Perfumes

From Courmayeur to Copper Mountain to Chamonix, the world’s pre-eminent pistes are never short of well-equipped posers whose drug of choice is white powder. But all the gear in the world counts for nothing if you can’t carve or parallel turn with a modicum of conviction. Certain purchases, however, are worth lavishing the maximum funds upon, whatever your level of ability on the slopes. This is not for the sake of showing off but for the sake of staying sentient. Chief of these is a helmet. A bit like cycling culture in the city, some winter-sports enthusiasts succumb to the dumbly masculine urge to reject the helmet-wearing as a sign of weakness. That’s an affectation you’ll live (if you’re lucky) to regret after a fall - so man up, and wear one.

For more adventurous powder-hounds, whether via ski or snowboard, any offpiste expeditions should also be equipped with GPS-equipped satnav – ideally something that can enable rescue in case of avalanche. You’re also pretty dim if you set off without a fully replenished water-bottle (although you can always enjoy a snow-granita in an emergency). Less vital, but fun for tracking your day’s progress once returned to the shelter of your chalet, is a ski-watch that can log your route and altitude and also act as a GPS. When choosing your skis or your board, it’s a subjective decision that’s all about personal choice and brand affiliation. It’s not worth stressing about. Because once you’ve taken that first run of the day (helmet on, of course), all you’ll care about is the adrenalin.