STRAIGHT TALK

What the Pros Wear (and Why)

Professional athletes, from extreme skiers to PGA golfers, put their sports eyewear to the ultimate test. In this special article, some of the world's top athletes serve up their professional opinion on the eyewear features they use the most—and more.

Glen Plake, extreme skiing pioneer Famous for his planking prowess and towering mohawk, Plake is a three-time World Hot Dog ski champion, a ski film star, and the host of RSN's “Reel Thrills.” He was also recently inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

SportsVision: What's your favorite frame right now and why?

GP: Julbo's Bivouac in white because I like the Zebra lens; photochromics are perfect for what I do. I used to swap out lenses for varying conditions, but those days are gone since the Zebra goes from Cat 2 to Cat 4 so quickly.

SV: Favorite off-mountain pastime?

GP:I am a massive fan of waterskiing and am on the cover of Waterski magazine this month. I am also constantly climbing and doing expeditions to the highest ranges in the world.

SV: What athlete has been a role model?

GP: Anybody who has dedicated their life to something they wanted to do, whether that's a racecar driver or an artist.

From top: Alexandra Cousteau wears Revo's Bearing, Glen Plake in Julbo's Bivouak, and Justin Rose in the adidas Retego model a376

Justin Rose, professional golfer
At 17, Rose catapulted to golfing fame when he pitched in at the last hole in the 1998 British Open and took Fourth Place as an amateur. Since that time, Rose has gone on to perform consistently as a professional, taking such noted PGA wins as the AT&T National and the Jack Nicklaus Memorial tournament.

SportsVision: What's your favorite frame right now and why?

JR: I wear the adidas Retego on tour—it's a model on which I had design input. In golf, sunglass fit is crucial. Rhythm and timing are everything, and even the slightest distraction to that can create catastrophic errors in performance. My sunglasses have temple grips that hold them exactly in place. Also, the lenses have just the right amount of curve so there isn't any light poking in when I'm addressing the ball.

SV: Which lenses work best for golf?

JR: I have adidas' LST Contrast Light lens, a brown lens that protects my eyes from UV but still lets enough light in to make accurate reads on the green. The brown coloring helps by exaggerating the contrast between the white ball, the green grass, and the blue sky.

SV: What athlete has been a role model?

JR: I really admire Nick Price for what he's achieved and because he has always given me great advice.

Alexandra Cousteau, explorer
Granddaughter of the legendary Jaques-Yves Cousteau and founder of the nonprofit Blue Legacy, Alexandra ventures round the globe to advocate the sustainable management of water resources for a healthy planet.

SportsVision: What's your favorite frame right now and why?

AC: I've always worn an aviator-styled frame and my Revo Transom aviators have a great fit plus a bronze-tinted polarized lens that's a go-to for many of the environments I work in. I need eyewear that protects my eyes from harsh conditions, whether I'm climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, shooting a documentary on sharks, or traveling down the Colorado River. I also have very sun-sensitive eyes on the water so I always have Revo's water lens with me.

SV: Favorite pastime off the water?

AC: I travel about seven months a year, so when I have down time I usually spend it with friends and family hiking, rowing, horseback riding, or skiing.

SV: What adventurer is your role model?

AC: My family has always been a great inspiration—I literally grew up on expedition from the time I was four months old.