Attracting the attention of potential sponsors or fightingyour way to the top of the skiing world’s most prestigious podiums is proven to be very hard on your knees. A recent survey suggests that nearly all professional skiers have experienced a variety of knee problems. But young tendons and menisci need not be subject to the aggressions of contract negotiations or just getting some flow. In a quest to help the next generation fulfill their realistic dreams with a minimum of knee damage, I’ve taken the time to review a few of the current options. Simply match your convincing ability and circumstances to the bevy of selections below. You’ll be prepared to face down everyone from local reps to marketing bigwigs at Target with full confidence that your knees will be safe to injure at the next photo shoot.
The Traveler
Perfectly sized for the jet-setting amateur hoping to capture enough small podiums to get noticed; these knee pads offer enough protection for occasional encounters with industry folk. Their small size means they fit that non-existent space in your carry on, and since they’re low profile, they’re undetectable when worn under jeans. The All-Mtn
A step up from The Traveler, these bonafide ACL guardians promise multisurface ruggedness. When you run into a team manager or marketing director in a concrete parking garage or the grungy dirt alley behind a bar,the reinforced plastic skid guards and adjustable straps ensure happy kneecaps and a steady stream of free gear.The Desperate Situation
Perhaps you’re not the best skier at your local hill. Maybe you and podium are strangers. The contract was almost finished, and then you pissed off the wrong people. But you shouldn’t worry, because netminders have already designed the impenetrable protection you need to make it, or make it right. While a bit hard to fit in a ski bag, nothing sends the message that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to blow up.The Exquisite Solution
While not everyone has the family fortune to spend the summer at Windells in hopes of impressing their idols, those that do should take the opportunity to show their class. Originally designed for polo, the full-grain leather and scent of rarified social air will practically require contest judges and executives to know that you’re comfortable doing the whitest things imaginable. Heads up: be sure to get them shined on your way from theairport.The Redneck
After winning the contest by a fluke, these things from roofing were all you had in the back of the truck. While certainly the least aesthetic of all the options presented here, nothing shows work ethic like paint stains or shinglemarks. Be warned: some industry insiders aren’t into the flannel and Carhartt look, so a set of The Travelers make for handy backup when things get metrosexual.
***Author's Note: No kneepads were actually tested during this gear review, though circumstantial evidence suggests going pro is impossible without their use.***
The Traveler
***Author's Note: No kneepads were actually tested during this gear review, though circumstantial evidence suggests going pro is impossible without their use.***
