Ski Season Outlook 2021. Let's Talk About Masks.

By Jacob Huseby 

Ski Season 2021 is going to happen, and it's going to be different than what we are used to. US Ski and snowboard have canceled all national events, and countless citizen races have gone virtual. Despite this, the season poses an opportunity for unprecedented growth for the sport of cross-country skiing. 

If the recent bike boom and national bicycle shortage are any indication, people are wanting to get outside while remaining safe, and socially distant. Further, the bikes that had the hardest time staying in stock were the entry level to intermediate level bikes, leaving only the high-tech eye candy in the now sparce showrooms. We are already seeing signs of interest from new skiers to get outside in a clear uptick in posts asking about buying gear online. Between the uptick in new skiers, and the absence of national events, your local loop may see more traffic than you're used to this season. With that in mind, here is my take on options for wearing a mask while skiing. 

https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018

To be clear: A cloth mask will not completely protect you from getting the virus, however it will severely reduce your capacity to spread the virus. Therefore for the masks to work, everyone needs to be responsible and wear a mask if they don't want to accidentally spread the virus to others, and yes you can spread the virus even if you are not presenting symptoms. The masks listed here are reusable cloth masks, to save as many disposable masks for healthcare professionals. 

Mask 1. Homemade triple layer mask

Style: 2/5: Fit: 3/5 Safety: 4/5

This mask is great for going to the grocery store, but is perhaps too thick to be comfortable at ski practice.