Skiing and Covid-19 masks

[Ski220]

Thx. I hadn’t seen the buff filter tubes.

those are good

IMO the BUFF filter tubes are N.G. Having used one yesterday, I can say that the filter shifts around inside the pocket and bunches up into an even smaller piece. Totally ineffective as a mask. As a buff it's a buff, but at $27 plus shipping, if you want just a buff, get one for $14 on a discount site.

I also purchased a PRIMALWEAR Primal mask on "Toadman"'s recommendation.

Wore a Primal Wear mask for a week in JHMR. No issues with foggy goggles. Good moisture wicking properties. Comes with their nanotech filters for the COVID.

https://www.primalwear.com/collections/masks-maskas

These have a removable and reusable filter as well as a plastic insert that keeps the mask off your mouth. I did notice some condensation on the plastic piece however. So not perfect.

So all of the masks mentioned are actually mostly ineffective at protecting YOU from the virus. All these filters claim bacterial effectiveness, but Covid is a virus and much smaller a particle.

I am going to order one of these: https://us.cambridgemask.com/shop/ and disable the exhalation port. They claim to be able to filter out virus particle as well as larger particles.

[TBS]

tip I’ve learned - once your mask/tube/whatever is in place, put goggles down and don’t touch

Raising goggles up on helmet for any length of time makes lower goggle foam wet as respiration rises. They haven’t fogged when put back in place but it’s kinda uncomfortable until the foam temp equalizes with your face

[californiagrown]

IMO the BUFF filter tubes are N.G. Having used one yesterday, I can say that the filter shifts around inside the pocket and bunches up into an even smaller piece. Totally ineffective as a mask.

I put the buff up under my goggles at the car and try to not touch it during the day. I only have issues with the filter bunching during the second half of the day, or if i move the buff down to drink some water. The papery filters that come with the buff are the problem IMO. I ordered some cloth/pad like filters from amazon for cheap- the kind you put in the cloth masks your wife/mom/sister/uncle made for you early on in the pandemic. ill just cut them to size and give those a try this week. I think that will solve the crinkling/bunching problem.


I'm still training for/at alpental so around noon my legs start feeling it and im stopping 4 times every top-bottom lap to rest. Early afternoon ill start removing the buff for the ski down, and my-oh-my the extra oxygen i am able to suck in compared to wearing the waterlogged buff/filter over my mouth and nose makes a HUGE difference. Pretty crazy considering that i really didnt notice i couldnt breathe as well, until i actually uncovered my nose/mouth.

[californiagrown]

tip I’ve learned - once your mask/tube/whatever is in place, put goggles down and don’t touch

Raising goggles up on helmet for any length of time makes lower goggle foam wet as respiration rises. They haven’t fogged when put back in place but it’s kinda uncomfortable until the foam temp equalizes with your face

Yep. I am legit considering those goggle covers to wear for pow day morning lift lineups where youre standing in line for an hour or so just chilling and slowly fogging up your goggles whether wearing them, or putting them up on your helmet.

[MrPow]

Any mask recommendations for someone who wears eyeglasses under their goggles. Last weekend I used a tube over a balaclava but my glasses kept getting fogged up. Also I had trouble breathing (while skiing).

Suggestions?

[TBS]

Yep. I am legit considering those goggle covers to wear for pow day morning lift lineups where youre standing in line for an hour or so just chilling and slowly fogging up your goggles whether wearing them, or putting them up on your helmet.

At that point it’s all about dumping heat. Helmet vents open, jacket vents open
I’ve had no problem with fogging using OR mask under goggles - even standing in lineup @ 31* and the snow had only partially crystallized.

[The Suit]

Sizing is weird. I always thought I had a medium sized face. But I think my big nose throws it off.

Same problem. Maybe it's my nose. Maybe it's my chin. Maybe it's both. I can't really cover my chin & my nose with it. I figure I'm less likely to spread Covid from my chin, so I keep it over my nose.

[HHTELE]

I am going to put in a plug for the OR Ubertube. $32, it is a bit pricey, but an excellent piece of gear. It has the option to insert a filter that I suspect makes it more effective than the surgical masks I use at work. And without the filter, it meets the two layer standard that seems to be expected for public use.

And- not counting the filtration, it is an excellent neck gaiter. Stays in place when you want it, off the face when you want it, doesn't get overly soaked, and works with goggles.

Over the past two days I spent some time being a mask cop in a busy lift line. While I have heard of some folks getting negative feedback, I got none. For the most part, people seem appreciative that we can ski, and like being in a place they can feel safe.

[teledad]

Yep, tried most of the options (folded buff, double layer buff, balaclava, mask with ear loops, mask with round-the-head loops) but the lightweight Ubertube is the best I've found for skiing. The combination of the wire to hold it above the nose and the cord to pull it snug seems to be the ticket (I don't use the ear loops). The cord toggle is annoying under a helmet though so on cold days when I want something over my ears I wear a buff as well.

[jmills]

At that point it’s all about dumping heat. Helmet vents open, jacket vents open
I’ve had no problem with fogging using OR mask under goggles - even standing in lineup @ 31* and the snow had only partially crystallized.

Exactly.
I was fighting fogging goggles before covid and mostly had it figured out. This usually meant I had a cold face or wore a lighter mid-layer and was cold waiting for first chair until I got a few laps in.
I have the OR Adrenaline and bought the lightweight OR filtered gaiter which will be delivered Monday.
At this point the focus is still on a lighter base layer and picking the correct midlayer.

[Toadman]

tip I’ve learned - once your mask/tube/whatever is in place, put goggles down and don’t touch

Raising goggles up on helmet for any length of time makes lower goggle foam wet as respiration rises. They haven’t fogged when put back in place but it’s kinda uncomfortable until the foam temp equalizes with your face

Damn it, why didn't I see this before I discovered the same thing skiing yesterday! Didn't make the same mistake today. Bit of a runny nose? Tough, suck it up...Tried out my Athleta mask today. Worked like a charm. Although it got soaked within about 2 hours with the snow falling.

[Toadman]

Exactly.
I was fighting fogging goggles before covid and mostly had it figured out. This usually meant I had a cold face or wore a lighter mid-layer and was cold waiting for first chair until I got a few laps in.
I have the OR Adrenaline and bought the lightweight OR filtered gaiter which will be delivered Monday.
At this point the focus is still on a lighter base layer and picking the correct midlayer.

Pro tip - Warm your goggles before you put them on. Stick them on the front windshield vent of your vehicle. Warm the lens up. When you put it on to head to the lift, leave them down so the lens stays acclimatized. That should help reduce fogging issues.

[jmills]

Pro tip - Warm your goggles before you put them on. Stick them on the front windshield vent of your vehicle. Warm the lens up. When you put it on to head to the lift, leave them down so the lens stays acclimatized. That should help reduce fogging issues.

Heated boot bag so they are toasty. I’m a sweaty pig that is too warm on cold days.

[summit]

Solo guy in his late 20s early 30s (skis no poles) gets on the lift with wife and I. He immediately pulls down his mask and starts hacking up a lung. After his third coughing fit I look at him and say nicely, "a kind reminder to please pull up your mask." He gives me the death stare... I don't look away. "OK sure. Fine." He half pulls up his mask. Simple convo with the wife the rest of the ride.

As we get off he starts to ski off toward a green and yells: "EAT A DICK YOU MASK LOVING FUCK FACE!" Plenty of kids around but no employees. I should let it go... but it's obvious this guy is not very mobile so I decided I could play around.

I only needed a few skates to come up even to him in the flats. "Excuse me, were you talking to me?" I think he was surprised I moved so fast so he lowers his head, tries to ignore me. "EXCUSE ME, WERE YOU TALKING TO ME?" He lays in a carve to cut me off acting like he isn't looking at me... except we are even and there is a snowboarder sitting to the right. So I decided not to alter course and just... lift my pole ... and he bounces right off. Ha! A quick skate and I have space again. Now I'm trying not to laugh... "So, you weren't talking to me then? Were you talking to the kids? Watch your tongue and watch where you are going." Now he lowers his head and skates off.

Douche... 2021 yay!

[~mikey b]

I do not understand people at all...

[tetonrick]

At JH this season peeps pretty good about waering them and many new staff hired to tell those that think its a chin diaper

[tetonrick]

can i post skis now?

[old goat]

I do not understand people at all...

Yeah, what kind of a douche skis without poles?

[~mikey b]

this fabulous babe nurse I’m chasing skis with poles on one hand - no pole plants - just going a million miles an hour with poles in one hand - I chase

[kootenayskier]

I’ve been using the OR Ubertube on a daily basis, and it mostly works well enough, but I just skied a full day of resort powder skiing and riding chairlifts while it was constantly dumping hard at mild temperatures. I don’t ski with it covering my mouth (breathing is essential), so it usually rests on my chin until I pull it up onto the tip of my nose (the wire rim helps) as I enter the lift line. However in these conditions it quickly became a disfigured crunched up frozen neck gaiter, and the best I could do was slouch into it and try to fake it. The next few days look like more of the same.

[Nobody Famous]

Solo guy in his late 20s early 30s (skis no poles) gets on the lift with wife and I. He immediately pulls down his mask and starts hacking up a lung. After his third coughing fit I look at him and say nicely, "a kind reminder to please pull up your mask." He gives me the death stare... I don't look away. "OK sure. Fine." He half pulls up his mask. Simple convo with the wife the rest of the ride.

As we get off he starts to ski off toward a green and yells: "EAT A DICK YOU MASK LOVING FUCK FACE!" Plenty of kids around but no employees. I should let it go... but it's obvious this guy is not very mobile so I decided I could play around.

I only needed a few skates to come up even to him in the flats. "Excuse me, were you talking to me?" I think he was surprised I moved so fast so he lowers his head, tries to ignore me. "EXCUSE ME, WERE YOU TALKING TO ME?" He lays in a carve to cut me off acting like he isn't looking at me... except we are even and there is a snowboarder sitting to the right. So I decided not to alter course and just... lift my pole ... and he bounces right off. Ha! A quick skate and I have space again. Now I'm trying not to laugh... "So, you weren't talking to me then? Were you talking to the kids? Watch your tongue and watch where you are going." Now he lowers his head and skates off.

Douche... 2021 yay!

Lift rides up, for me the biggest fear is how a ski outing will work.

I can't help but think about when someone a few chairs ahead is smoking, and when wind conditions are right you smell the smoke. The exhaled cigarette smoke. I don't claim to know if cigarette smoke particles are same size as exhaled respiratory particles or if the two behave the same way in an outdoor environment but it does make you wonder.

I wish ski areas could apply the Costco approach. I've seen Costco have a multi-layer defense, first is the greeter/membership card checker, then another staffer 20 or 30 feet away who will stop people, and then a roving person who tells people mask needs to cover your nose or you have to leave the store. This last person is not quiet and is very blunt sounding. It's clear the staff have training on how to handle these roles.

[Ski220]

Solo guy in his late 20s early 30s (skis no poles) gets on the lift with wife and I.

Douche... 2021 yay!

Isn't rule #1, don't let strangers load onto the same chair you are loading ?

Other then that I think you did everything correctly.

[Name Redacted]

I've had multiple people ask to ride our double chair with me. I flat out say "NO". WTF? And I always get some kind of attitude back.

Honestly, I just don't really want to ride with people I don't know right now. Not so much a Covid thing even since I've recently had the virus. More of an anti-social thing for me. After months of distancing and quarantining, I'm really just not up for stupid small talk with a complete stranger yet.

[glademaster]

I won't even share a quad with someone. Haven't had any issues yet. When I've gotten to a merge point and another single makes eye contact, I've just been going with "you're welcome to grab the chair in front of me, but I'm not going to ride up with you."

Seems to be working well so far.

[Danno]

I've ridden up the 6 pack with a stranger on the other end.

And I have a pocket full of mask options in case the one I'm wearing gets too wet.