Anna Shepard, Eco Worrier

Having not been on the slopes for a few years, it was inevitable that at some point I would fall over. But when the collision took place, next to the button lift at the indoor ski slope in Milton Keynes, my main concern was for the person whose skis lay tangled with mine. That I would emerge unscathed was obvious, but my victim had felt the full force of an unyielding armoured outfit and took a little longer to stagger to his feet.

Today, I’m a bulkier, tougher version of myself. Clad in action pants, a back protector and a protective vest, I’m a superhero on skis. Feel my arms and instead of the normal flab there is something firmer and less natural.

It’s called Nitrex and it is the magic ingredient used to make Forcefield skiing body armour, which is designed to prevent injury on the slopes.

Forcefield started life as a company that made shock absorbers for shoes, but quickly realised that it could use the same technology for extreme sports clothing. Six years ago the company launched a range mainly for motorcyclists, but before long it acquired a winter sports following. In 2005 it launched its first official ski and snowboard ranges, which are now worn by the UK ski and snowboard team.

These days it’s not just professionals who are choosing to pad themselves out with protective clothing, but also everyone from cautious elderly skiers to families. Early next year the company launches its first junior range for young children — the perfect option for anxious parents reluctant to let their little darlings loose on the slopes.

In the past year, sales of protective skiwear have soared by almost 25 per cent, according to Forcefield’s sales and marketing director Matthew Dawson. The winter sports section of the business now represents more than a third of overall sales. The clothing — which looks part scuba-diving suit, part S&M rubber armour — sells in most winter sports shops, including nationwide chains such as Snow+Rock and Ellis Brigham.

Nitrex is a form of soft rubber that absorbs the shock of the impact so that your body doesn’t have to. “Because the material is soft, unlike most body armour that is made from hard plastic, it is flexible and comfortable, while it also outperforms hard body armour in independent tests,” says Dawson. “The ultimate aim is to protect your body and reduce injury, but it also needs to be practical. It’s no good if you can’t actually ski in it.”

This was my first concern when I was handed the pile of gear. I’m not a stylish skier at the best of times, but trussed up like an amateur boxer, would I manage my parallel turns? Then there was image to worry about. As I collect my skis, I can’t help feeling a bit of a wally; someone who takes her skiing outfit a little too seriously.

Surprisingly, I don’t receive any funny looks and when I pass a mirror, I look quite normal. Although I’m wearing action pants, padded all around the buttocks and down the sides of the leg (£84.99) as well as a vest that protects my elbows and shoulders, in the process giving me bulging biceps (£139.99), and a back protector (£109), once I’ve got my ski jacket and salopettes on top, the gear is hardly noticeable. Yes, I look a bit stockier than normal, but I’m never one for looking svelte on the slopes. I’m usually far too busy padding myself out with layers to combat the cold.

Satisfied that I’m not committing heinous fashion sins, my next concern is trying to ski. I’m impressed by how quickly I forget about my sturdy underclothing. I’m both warm and comfy — two priorities when skiing. Dawson explains that as you warm up, so too does the rubber and it moulds to your body. It’s also light and breathable, so I don’t feel that I’m heaving extra weight around the slopes. As I hurtle past a snowboarder, I wonder if I’m skiing a little more dangerously, safe in the knowledge that I’m protected.

When I mention this, Dawson shakes his head. “That’s like saying you drive more dangerously when you wear a seat belt,” he says. Obviously if I ski off a precipice, body armour might not save me, but Dawson is confident that it would reduce the risk of serious injury. “All our clothing is CE-tested, which means that it undergoes strict tests to check that it does reduce the incidence and severity of injuries,” he says. “50 joules of energy is impacted into each garment to see how much it absorbs. The energy transmitted into a body is then measured. One of our back protectors has the lowest reading on the market.”

Confident that the clothing has spared him injury, Pat Sharples, one of the leading names on the British ski scene who is currently coaching the Olympic freestyle skiing team, is a body armour fan. “When you ski off-piste, you can’t see the rocks under the snow and if you come down and land on one on your back or hip, it’s game over,” he says. Sharples believes that our attitude towards skiing is becoming more safety- aware. “Helmets are popular now, not just for kids. I think people are realising how vulnerable you are when you’re skiing or snowboarding,” he says. Partly this is because we’re more ambitious about where we ski. “Skiing off-piste is so popular; everyone is encouraged to live the dream and embrace adventure. It’s fine to push yourself, but you have to take safety seriously and have the right equipment.”

Cruising down the single slope at Milton Keynes, I’m not convinced I’m living the dream. While there’s no question the gear would be invaluable for professionals such as Sharples, I’m not sure it’s worth it for cautious on-piste skiers like me.

My main problem is that it adds to a sense of exclusivity that hangs around winter sports. There’s a curious trend in Britain to turn something simple, such as walking, running or skiing, into a high-end pursuit that demands gadgets, gear and the latest high-performance clothing. Gone are the days when you could pack your anorak and whiz down the slopes in a pair of waterproof trousers, although I can’t help feeling it would make a refreshing change.

So would I invest in body armour? Probably not, although I’d consider it for my children. Given the considerable cost of a skiing holiday, I’m more likely to be hunting down eBay bargains and borrowing ill-fitting jackets from friends. Should disaster strike, I might regret it, but any skiers I collide with will have had a lucky escape.  (This article first appeared in The Times, visit here to see full version)