Latest posts for the topic "Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)"

Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 20:13:07 GMT

Hi all, been skiing a couple of seasons now and have noticed when skiing in whiteouts i tend to feel a bit sick, only really just realised this is the case after a few holidays.
I use goggles persimmon lenses, usual kit etc, but wondering if its some kind of motion sickness, one other thing its usually worse if i am the lead skier in the group (i.e. first down the slope)
any one else experienced this??
thanks :D

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 20:24:44 GMT

I think it's really common as a problem. Your brain is relying on visual cues for processing of where you are. The snow is white, the sky is the same colour, and you look forward and the space all around you just looks the same as the rest. So, which way is up?...dizzy!
I know how I deal with it, and my solution may not work for you. I close my eyes briefly and concentrate of what I'm feeling through my feet. It's enough to convince me that I'm right way up.

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 20:40:24 GMT

Clear lenses help me. Even the lenses that are supposed to increase contrast, do nothing for me. I find any coloured lens makes it worse. Finding tree lined runs, that give you some orientation in your peripheral vision may help.

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 21:15:54 GMT

Trencher has given the best clue. Ski right beside the trees. You get slope steepness definition, from the base of the trees, although that isn't absolute, only a guide. Also, there is a light interaction between the trees and the snow surface, which can give a little definition.
I would not ski above the tree line in total white out, (unless I had been caught out, of course!)

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 21:27:39 GMT

Trees!
I agree, i felt awful in an andorran whiteout...in fact it forced me off the mountain.
I won't book a ski holiday to a resort with tree lined runs for this reason.

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 10:08:54 GMT

It's motion sickness - your brain doesn't like the conflict between the messages your ears are sending about your movement and what your eye is seeing - which is relatively little in a white out.

Skiing in the trees helps as you have still objects for your eyes to fix on and aid your balance.

It's essentially sea sickness - you could try one of the over the counter tablets (but they tend to make you drowsy). Getting used to trusting your ears for balance can help - sports such as badminton help by taking your eyes away from the horison so your balance is largely determined by your middle ear. Some find swimming crawl useful for the same reason. Specific exercises such as Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises help some deal with motion sickness (although they were designed for rehabbing those with inner ear balance problems). As such they may be beneficial to skiing in a white out.

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 15:13:32 GMT

Skiing in whiteout conditions is horrible and potentially dangerous, so all of the above regarding staying in the trees is good advice. Failing that, if you are caught out (as I have been a number of times!) you can try to keep sight of the piste poles and essentially ski from one to another. In many resorts the poles on the skiers right (looking downhill) will have 20cm of a different colour at the top of the pole. Those on skiers left will not have this so it can be a good way of keeping yourself on track! The fact that you should be able to look at something when you're skiing rather than just white should help with the sickness too!

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 12:46:08 GMT

Many thanks for the replies everyone, very helpful :D

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Sat, 8 Jan 2011 19:58:04 GMT

Take Stugeron with you. Tablets. It's the travel pill I use for kids - NOT DROWSY making and works wonders for whiteout travel sickness. Buy them from any chemist before you go. Fab

Re:Skiing whiteouts (feeling sick)

Sun, 9 Jan 2011 15:42:37 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:Trencher has given the best clue. Ski right beside the trees.

What Trencher said was ski in clear lenses.
You also seem to have overlooked the fact that a lot of people ski in resorts where they are above the trees. 3 valleys for example, which I believe is one of the most popular destinations for UK based skiers.