Ladies Ski Pants

Padding for first time Skiing and Snowboarding?

Hi All, Its my first time skiing and snowboarding. I am going to camel back mountain in Poconos. I have found a lot of helping information on yahoo answers about apparel in general, but I could not find information on padding... Could you suggest [maybe provide links] on what kind of padding I can buy. I am mainly concerned about my lower back and want to guard it. If you could suggest something I can readily find [beacuse I am at 5 PM EST] it would be great. The only thing I have found is "Under Armour Agile Slider Short Mens" and "Champro Slotted Football Pants" I am unable to find if either of these protect lower back. Also do you think they would hinder my maneuverability. Thanks in advance!!! =] What I failed to mention is that, I have some undiagnosed back problems. Have fallen on ice pretty much every winter for the past 5 years =/ Tough luck, I know. Still no padding then?

Public Comments

1. The current thinking about pads and back support in general and skiing in specifics is that is does more damage than good. The physical therapist I work with, want us to gain core body strength, abdominal and back muscles before we go use a back support. Falls are part of skiing and boarding, most skiers do not wear padding unless they are doing the extreme skiing. As to your falling on ice, sorry about that. I suggest you sharpen your edges, take a series of lessons from a qualified professional instructor and practice, practice, practice. Buy a season pass and use it. That is a great incentive to get out and ski more. Typical break even is 12 days of skiing over a day ticket. Have fun, good luck. .
2. There are a few things you could use that mountain bike riders use in downhill biking competitions. It is external stuff and fairly rigid. I can't think of the names of any companies that make it. Theoretically you could wear it over your base layers and under your ski pants and jacket. My guess is it's pretty expensive. There are also arm, shin, and wrist guards available for use while slalom skiing, but nothing for the back that I can think of. I have a herniated C4/C5 disc, various knots and pulls in my lower back, a torn left ACL, and knee problems up the wazoo. I never wear any padding, except a helmet. I almost always ski with a neoprene brace on my left knee and sometimes use a wrap-around support for my lower back. What I think you should do is have your back looked at by a physician. Something like lower back strain or a benign cyst isn't too serious and a skiing fall most likely won't do any serious damage. Something like a herniated disc or hairline fracture to the vertabrae that already exists could be made significantly worse or lead to serious spinal injury as a result of a skiing accident. You could always get a backpack or fanny pack and stuff it full of rolls of Charmin (packed in plastic bags) like that kid did in the old toilet paper commercial years ago. I have buddies on the Camelback ski patrol, I'm sure I'll hear about you if you have an accident. Good Luck!
3. i would get some socks with some shin padding if ur skiing cus it might hurt the first time w/ the boots wear a helmet if its your first time its pretty much impossible to get hurt unless you get hit by a chairlift or something- that always sucks