Gore Hero King Xin: Be Prepared Before You Go

    On the afternoon of April 27, 2014, at the Xinglong Dajiajia Shopping Mall on Shenyang Middle Street — the oldest and most bustling commercial pedestrian street in Shenyang — a public lecture, hosted by the Chinese Mountaineering Association and co-organized by the Liaoning Provincial Sports Federation and Gore-Tex, was held.

The 2014 first stop of the "National Outdoor Safety Education Program" public welfare lecture drew a large audience

    Ms. Zhang Jingwei, General Manager of Gore's Beijing branch and Marketing Director for China in the Textile Division, stated: "Gore-Tex

Ms. Zhang Jingwei (center), General Manager of Gore’s Beijing Branch and Marketing Director for the Textile Division in China, along with other guests, discussed the importance of outdoor safety.

The lecture focused on promoting outdoor safety and environmental awareness, introducing wilderness first aid basics, and recommending outdoor activity routes based on resources in the northeastern region. Wang Yunlong, head of the lecturer team for the "National Outdoor Safety Education Program" and leader of the training group under the Coaching Department of the China Mountaineering Association, first introduced to the audience the outdoor safety philosophy of "Safe Outdoor, Enjoy Nature" promoted by the China Mountaineering Association since 2013 through the "National Outdoor Safety Education Program." He also explained specific preventive measures against various risks in outdoor sports using recent outdoor safety incidents as examples. Sun Lingye, an instructor from the International Wilderness Medical Associates (WMAI) who has collaborated with Gore for many years, gave an easy-to-understand explanation of basic wilderness first aid knowledge.

Gore Hero—Wang Xin, Head of the Mountain Rescue Team at the Emergency Rescue Promotion Center of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Secretary-General of the Beijing Mountaineering Association, and also a contracted lecturer for Gore, proposed the concept that outdoor activities must begin only “when you are well prepared.” In his 15-minute speech, he shared and interacted with the audience on three aspects of preparation: mental, physical, and equipment skills.

“Not all the audience here are seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, so my goal in this speech is to share some basic and practical outdoor knowledge and safety concepts,” said Wang Xin. His speech had no script or presentation slides, and he communicated with the audience in a conversational tone as if talking with friends. After briefly explaining that besides adequate mental preparation—such as consulting professionals about destination precautions to avoid nervousness—participants should also undergo necessary health checks, abstain from smoking and alcohol, prevent overwork, and get their bodies ready. He added that it's also important to learn some basic outdoor skills, such as wilderness first aid methods. Wang Xin emphasized that most importantly, one must prepare the right outdoor gear.

“I divide outdoor gear preparation into two main categories: clothing and backpacks. When it comes to clothing, there is a technique to how outdoor apparel is worn. Layering is the most reasonable, safest, and most comfortable approach during outdoor activities. First, for insulation and warmth, outdoor clothing experts have found that two garments each 0.5 cm thick are actually warmer than a single garment 1 cm thick, because a greenhouse effect is created between layers of clothing. Second, it allows for easy putting on and taking off, enabling temperature regulation by adding or removing layers. Third, it helps each piece of clothing function effectively, ensuring the person remains in a moderately warm, cool, and dry environment while outdoors. Especially with Gore-Tex...”

Regarding the preparation of a "backpack" before outdoor activities, Wang Xin's detailed explanation helped everyone more directly and clearly understand the key points to consider in four main aspects: selection, packing, wearing, and protection."There are many types of outdoor backpacks. I recommend that before your trip, you choose the right backpack based on your route, gender, and height. Then follow the 'light on top, heavy at the bottom' principle for modular packing."”Wang Xin demonstrated the method of packing a bag through explanation and simulated demonstration, and also shared a lot of knowledge about protecting backpacks during travel and maintaining them after returning through Q&A interactions with the audience.

Wang Xin, captain of the Mountain Rescue Team, delivered a speech on the theme of "Be Prepared Before You Go," sharing outdoor safety concepts and practical knowledge and skills with the audience in an accessible manner.

    This lecture not only provided the audience with a rich experience of outdoor concepts and resource sharing, but also served as a safety reminder for outdoor enthusiasts.As the event progressed, more and more onlookers gathered around, not only filling up nearly 500 seats arranged in the activity area, but also crowding the corridors on all floors of the mall.The interactive segments of the event further enhanced audience engagement, and the atmosphere on site was very lively.

    Yizhiduihuwaianquangaoduguanzhudegeertesi (Gore-Tex)Collected flower petals