What's Hot What's Not -- Skiers Say Anything Goes, But `In' Style Depends On Age, Skill

Everybody's seen it. The Skier Strut.

Shades on, skis on the shoulder, ambling confidently toward the slopes for a day of ripping it up.

Likewise, everyone's seen the Skier Shamble.

Goggles on the sleeve, frumpy hat with tassel, skis carried as if they are a watermelon (front) or a stack of books (side), clumping across the icy parking lot and flirting with the first fall of the day.

Cool.

Not.

Skiers questioned at Snoqualmie and Crystal Mountain this month have definite opinions of what's in and what's out.

People under 4 feet tall who would have trouble spelling fluorescent say neon is in; full-grown people who need fluorescent light to read say neon is out.

Clearly, age, skill and experience color their responses.

Gig Harbor's Rick Manning, 39, skied at Crystal Monday with his wife and four children, their outfits reflecting every color in the rainbow.

"You gotta have fluorescent colors," he said, "but you gotta be able to ski fluorescent."

Most skiers agree: If you choose to wear hot gear and colorful outfits that make you highly visible, be sure you're a good enough skier that you won't be embarrassed by the extra attention. Especially if you ski beneath chair lifts.

Trinda Stephensen, 12, from Bremerton, said her first tip is simple.

"Don't crash, and don't clash."

Adrian Fleenor, 20, a Marine stationed at Bangor, said the key is to "ski for yourself."

His buddy, Edwin Asetre, also 20, agreed. "If you care what other people say about you, you have a problem."

Judging by various attitudes, most skiers consider themselves individuals. On the slopes anything goes.

When it comes to hats and head wear, skiers say earmuffs, cowboy hats and hats with small tassels are out. Otherwise, anything works.

Wear a bandana, pirate style. Slip on a Mambosox, a tall, soft tubelike hat that looks like a gator. Go hatless but never off the shades. Baseball caps (preferably touting other ski areas, ski gear or sports teams) can be worn forward, with a clip to attach it to the collar, or backward so it won't blow off. When not used, goggles must be turned around, with the lenses at the back of the head, or allowed to hang loosely, backward, on the nape of the neck.

Said one teenager who supports wearing underwear for a hat: "Always try to look as funny as you can. Get the ugliest clothes possible, and make sure they don't match."

His response differs from most skiers, including his father, who advises against excess and "conspicuous consumption during a recession."

Some national trends, such as skiing with a portable phone, never reached Washington and already are passe. Animal fur on coats and boots has never been `in' here.

Puget Sound skiers generally are pretty savvy. They are up on trends, such as wearing ski clothes with natural and earth tones and using longer skis for better control.

And they have some sound suggestions for enjoying the skiing experience. Here are some tips:

-- "Wear a cool hat or have cool skis so when you're standing in the lift line or riding the chair there's something to talk about."

-- Don't ask advice or directions from anyone skiing on boards shorter than their height.

-- "Smoking on the chair and throwing your (cigarette) butt down is uncool."

-- Don't ski in the parking lot.

-- Don't wear jeans.

-- Calling out "single" in a lift line is cool.

-- Snowboarding is in, especially for the graying generation.

-- Don't collect a season's worth of ski tickets on wickets. Remove old ones before each ski visit.

-- Don't wear pink zinc oxide.

-- Don't threaten the eyesight of other skiers by slinging your skis over your shoulder and then slipping your pole straps on the ends of your skis.

-- Spend the day on the slopes, not the lodge. Carry a lunch in your backpack and eat it on the chair.

-- "Always act like you know what you're doing."

. COOL SOUNDS. .

Part of being a skier is sounding like a skier. Here is a pronunciation guide to some common ski gear:. . -- SKIS. Kastle - Kest-lee. Dynastar - Deen-a-star . Blizzard - Bliz-AHRD. Volkl - Volk-L. Kneissl - Kn-I-sul . . -- BOOTS. Dynafit - Deena-fit. Koflach - Ko-flak. Alpina - Al-peena. Heierling - Hire-ling. . -- SKIWEAR. Nevica - Nehv-i-ka. Couloir - cool-wahr. Descente - Day-sawnt. Roffe - Rof-fee. Demetre - Dem-e-tree.