Ready to watch live football action despite the cold weather? Tulsa World advises that wearing the right layers of clothing will prevent you from freezing at the stadium.
If you’ve been watching the weather forecasts, you know a brutal cold front with wintry precipitation is headed to Oklahoma just in time for two big-time football games — the state 6A football championship game between Union and Jenks on Thursday night and Bedlam on Saturday.
Image Source: www.tulsaworld.com
What can you do to avoid becoming a human icicle if you decide to attend either game?
We sought surviving-cold-weather advice from Paul Smith, outdoors editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. What better expert to provide bundling-up tips than a native of the state that boasts “The Frozen Tundra” also known as the legendary Lambeau Field, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin.
Smith said the key to staying warm throughout the game is wearing the right kind of layers.
“If you are looking more like an Eskimo than normal, good,” he said. “The weather is cooking up some tough conditions dispense with your normal fashion statements.”
Start with the extremities. The Wisconsinite who for more than 30 years has braved winter weather to cheer on his state’s football teams and enjoy the sport of ice fishing said keeping hands and feet warm is crucial.
“Feet and hands, feet and hands,” Smith said. “If you don’t take care of your extremities, you’re not going to last four quarters in sub-zero temps.”
Wear mittens, not gloves. Mittens are warmest.
“I’m a fan of a technological assist: chemical handwarmers,” Smith said. “Buy a pair and put one in each mitten or glove at the opening kickoff. They’ll provide heat through the end of the game.”
On your feet, make sure to wear the warmest footwear you own. Insulated, waterproof boots are best, worn over heavy wool socks, Smith said.
Start your layers with long underwear tops and bottoms, covered by a wool sweater or heavy turtleneck. Then slip on an insulated jacket like those “puff” jackets that are increasingly popular, he said.
Top it all with a waterproof heavy parka, preferably with a hood. “Hooded jackets are king at keeping heat in. A wool or knit winter hat or balaclava (a warm hat that covers the head, neck and most of the face) is essential,” Smith said.
On the bottom, put the heaviest pants you’ve got over the long johns. You can find heavy, insulated bibs at your local hardware store that work great for cold football games, he said.
“Finally, jump around! Hearty cheering will help keep the blood flowing and buoy the team,” Smith said.
I’m Jason Goldblatt, a San Francisco based sports writer and certified football fanatic. Follow me on Tumblr for more awesome football discussions.
Jason Goldblatt 