The Ski Centre in Sandyford is calling on all ski enthusiasts to take part in their annual skiathon in aid of the Lauralynn foundation. This event will run for 24 hours with 50 skiers rotating on and off the slopes from Friday at 6pm right through to Saturday at 6pm.

This is a challenge that will push your mental and physical strength to the limit while testing your skills on the slopes! However you’ll be in good hands! Last year saw the Ski Centre break a Guinness World Record with the team skiing over 300km on a continuous run over a 24-hour period.

And if you’re worried about your fitness and skill level, the Ski Centre is offering participants the opportunity to brush up on their technique and conditioning with four lessons for the reduced price of €100 prior to the event (this includes entry to the skiathon). Not only will you be as fit as a fiddle you will also look like a pro should you decide to hit the slopes next winter!

The Ski Centre is Ireland’s only indoor skiing operation. It offers continuous skiing/riding on a rolling conveyor-belt-style apparatus. All of the instructors hold qualifications from world recognised licensing bodies.

For further details about the centre and the skiathon, contact the Ski Centre, tel. (01) 2930588; web: www.skicentre.ie

Les Gets Question. What is the name of the famous museum in the village of Les Gets?
A. Mechanical Robot Museum
B. Mechanical Train Museum
C. Mechanical Music Museum
Les Menuires Question. What altitude is Les Menuires situated?
A. 2550 meters
B. 1850 meters
C. 1550 meters
Send the answers to francemountainscompetition@greatoutdoors.ie

**Flights and Transfers not included in the prizes.
Prizes are valid for the winter 2010/2011 season only.
Booking dates are subject to availability.
Terms & Conditions apply.

Outsider was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of all these products when they were unveiled at a glitzy event (complete with ice skaters and a skier doing somersaults on a trampoline!) in New York’s über-chic Meatpacking District. But this event wasn’t all style and no substance. As members of the outdoor press we got to try the new gear – in a sub-zero freezer.

And the results – toasty warmth without feeling stifled. The Circuit Breaker Softshell jacket provided warmth across the torso and while let’s just say that after wearing the Bugaglove Max Electric gloves our fingers are now expecting the royal treatment on our next skiing holiday.

The technology works with rechargeable lithium polymer battery packs and a specially tailored heating system throughout the apparel with the idea being to keep the core temperature steady.

So, just how long will batteries power the apparel? According to Woody Blackford, Columbia’s VP for Global Innovation, you can expect 4-6 hours for the footwear, 2-4 hours for the gloves, and 3-5 hours for the jackets. However as you can turn the heat on and off the heat with the touch of a button and adjust the temperature level – so you can make the most of battery life or save your heat for when it’s coldest – on your last ski run of the day say or when you’re sitting on a cold exposed chairlift. And if you’re a really cold soul, you can carry spare batteries. The batteries can be recharged 500+ times.

At the end of the day they can be recharged via any USB cord. Oh, and yes, if you don’t need the power for staying warm, you can also use the battery pack to charge your phone or iPod when you’re out on the hill – which is pretty cool.

As for weight, sure the gloves are a little on the bulky side but for those whose days skiing are cut short due to numb fingers, they’ll no doubt be willing to make the sacrifice. And remember, these are the first generation of these products and over time they will no doubt become more streamlined just as battery life is expected to improve.

“This is the equivalent of the first well marketed cell phone. When it came out in 1983, it weighed more than a brick, lasted 30 minutes and took 10 hours to recharge, yet it was cutting edge. Fortunately this doesn’t weigh anything like a brick but in 10 or 20 years from now, this will be a common way to keep warm and the technology around power will have become so efficient that it will be really light,” states Blackford.

And now for the price. Boots will cost between €299 and €399, gloves will retail at €399 and alpine jackets will range from €699-€999. Which is not cheap but the real question is, what price are you willing to pay for extra hours in the cold in extreme conditions?

And if you can’t afford that. Columbia is also to revolutionise other important areas of its range. The distinctive dotted silver foil lining that appeared this winter in its general Omni-Heat range and reflects heat back to the body will now be seen in base layers which come in funky striped colours or more sedate plain ones. Costing €45-€65, these could be just the ticket for Irish conditions.

According to Blackford, adding the Omni-Heat lining “amplifies the normal effects of base layer…people heat up quickly to a comfortable body temperature and then stay in that zone. We tested this technology in environmental chambers against a lot of the key competition and the response was that this managed my moisture better and this kept me in my comfort zone better.”

The company also announced a new and proprietary waterproof-breathable membrane – OutDry – for jackets, boots and gloves which they believe is far superior to Gore-Tex. And they didn’t mince their words! Mick McCormick EVP Global Sales & Marketing vowed that Columbia would “take down Gore-Tex and other dinosaurs in the industry that stopped trying a long time ago” and that Columbia planned to become “the most innovative company in the outdoors”. Watch this space.

And if you choose the men’s Burton Ion boot (€320), you’ll get a lot more comfort and performance as well.

Heat moulding in conjunction with the new Ion’s upper wrap Asym Cuff optimises fit and comfort while the ultra-light Mesh Skin reduces weight and increases durability.

The new EST midsole also aims to lower your centre of gravity for a closer connection with your board. And Burton has even shrunk the boot’s footprint by one full size, eliminating overhang for those with big feet.

Available from the Great Outdoors, Dublin 2 and Onboard, Dublin 2

Coming with an integrated heating element, you simply hook up your insoles via a wire to the compatible battery pack (normal AA Power pack – €69.90, rechargeable battery model – €149) which clips onto your ski boot. If it gets nippy simply switch on for toasty tootsies. With three heat levels, on the lowest setting you’ll get about six hours of warmth and on the highest about two hours of serious heat.

And that’s not the only source of comfort. These insoles combine 25 years of research in medical and sporting podiatry and have a moulded 3D shape for pressure distribution and support, a polyamide heel cup for stability, a breathable top and EVA foam cushioning.

Available from 53 Degrees North, Blanchardstown and Carrickmines; the Great Outdoors, Dublin 2 and Climate, Belfast.

Available from Exposure, Castlebar.