Ski Gear

When you’re debating whether you should go skiing or not, it’s important to remember the harsh conditions that are often found at the slopes. You will definitely want to have multiple layers of clothing, and perhaps you will want to have a special kind of fabric for your clothing. What things should you absolutely remember to wear though? This article will list a few pieces of clothing that are absolutely essential when you go skiing.

Upper Body

One of the first areas that people focus on when preparing for their trip is their upper body clothing. It’s very easy to wear multiple layers here and you should do so to a point where you feel comfortable outside. While it’s ideal that you wear enough to feel comfortable, don’t put on too much weight because you keep adding more layers. Too much weight can cause you to lose balance and have a harder time turning. You should layer up with a shirt and a sweater followed by a ski jacket. If you don’t own a ski jacket most resorts will be happy to loan or sell you one.

Lower Body

The lower body is often overlooked compared to the upper body and miscellaneous items, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t important. Ski pants should be the outer layer when picking out clothes for the lower body just like the upper, but what should you wear under them? It’s recommended that you wear tight but breathable clothing such as tights or tighter fitting sweat pants. A problem with sweat pants is that they cause bunching under your ski pants, it’s crucial that you avoid this.

Miscellaneous Items

The last group of items you should consider when going on your ski trip is any miscellaneous items that you may wish to wear. Ski goggles are recommended to be your first purchase as they help to keep the snow out of your eyes. From there you can look for a random assortment of items such as insulated hats, gloves, and socks. Boots are also important but try not to get a pair so heavy that they will hinder your movement.

Remember that skiing being outside in prolonged cold isn’t healthy and that if you’re adequately dressed then you may become ill. Your ultimate goal is to keep the snow out and to keep the heat in. If you consider the items presented in this article then surely you will be much warmer when you hit the slopes.

Photo Credits: Joe Shlabotnik

Originally posted 2009-10-01 03:29:44.

Ski Snowboarder

This message is best written simply. Keep your skis tuned. You will ski better. Your skis will last longer. When you go into a turn, you want the cleanest edge and base under your feet. You don’t need rust, pits, and gouges hampering your descent. Ski season begins well before the first snow, with a trip to your shop for a tune.


For more Skiing tips, visit http://Skiing.lifetips.com

LifeTips Skiing Tip of the Day

Unfortunately many people that adore skiing are unable to join in the fun because they have suffered a knee injury in the past. However, today there are many very effective knee braces on the market today that are of special interest to the avid skier. These braces are designed to accommodate your particular injury level, they address both stability and protection and they can have you back on the slopes in no time.

Without using a brace similar to the ones mentioned it can be a disaster attempting to ski. It can be downright painful and awkward but it can also be extremely dangerous and often will cause a greater degree of damage to the already injured knee. Be confident in using a knee brace but also use good judgment when selecting one. These were designed with those that can not stay away from the slopes in mind. Look at the brace like you would a pair of shoes in terms of a comfortable fit. If the brace is uncomfortable or bulky, it will not suit your needs at all. It could also cause even greater injury. Contrary to what you may have heard in the past, knee braces are not standard or one size fits all. These braces are specifically designed for specific knee injures for people that will be skiing.

Often the braces will be ranked from mild to severe knee injuries and obviously the greater the injury the more support the knee is going to require. Sometimes the knee will respond nicely with just a knee sleeve. If the injury is greater than you might have to consider wearing a more serious knee brace such as ones that protect the knee while it is in motion. The final choice of knee braces should include one that fits snug but know now that if you start looking for custom braces these is in the higher price range. These are usually only necessary with very severe injuries. Knee braces will actually help to heal your injury too and there will be no reason to miss out on some skiing as long as you are willing to invest a bit of cash and the time that it takes to find one.

An important factor to also consider is when to finally break down and get that knee brace. The best advice there is to get one at the very first sign of trouble. Don’t wait until the problem is out of control. The knees and the back are the two biggest spots for injury with a skier. Support the knees as well as the back. Don’t ignore that sudden pain or discomfort or play it off as something simple because before you know it this problem can become very serious. While some knee injuries won’t take you off of the slopes they do have to be addressed. If you can remember this then you will likely have many good years of skiing ahead of you.

Originally posted 2008-10-29 04:55:53.

Ski Snowboarder

Usually we don’t post that much second hand content.

But once in a while you have to make exceptions. I did it last time with 2010 Nipwitz episodes. This time I’ll post two videos. Totally different but both also showing the “fun side” of skiing in a very nice way.

The Earlyups clip totally got me with the cosacs, daffies…and wait, did I see a twister-spread too?

Nipwitz on the other hand is all about very progressive, very high skill-level urban jibs. But still they seem to have that nice “tongue in cheek” mode on all the time. That is a really refreshing take on the ski movies in general…which often can be (I hate to say this) almost boring in their seriousness!

Nipwitz has a brand new site too, go check it out: http://www.nipwitz.com/

Homeboy Ski Blog

Many people get into skiing initially just to enjoy all of the cool gear involved, and who can deny it: if you’re a winter sports buff, skiing is one of the best sports you can find. The goggles, the poles, the huge boots, the skis themselves: heck, skiing can be a really cool sport. Which is why you might be looking for some companion gadgets and trinkets to go along with your skiing experience.

But skiing isn’t all about advertising what you’re able to buy at the pro shop. It’s about a fun experience that can hopefully remain and warm and dry as possible.

If you’re looking for great skiing products that can help the experience and the fun, this article’s for you. Here are the top three skiing items that you want, not need:

• Bomber hats – Bomber hats are great for sking because they not only do a swell job protecting your head and ears from the inevitable blasting of some cold air (or snow), but they also look pretty cool. And really, how often do you find yourself wearing something like a Bomber hat in day-to-day life? That’s part of what makes skiing fun, and it’s part of what makes the novelty of bomber hats give you an extra bounce in your turns.While bomber hats definitely function well, they aren’t necessary for you to have a great time skin; even though it is advisable that you wear some kind of solid protection against cold air and wind.
• DryGuy OverGloves – Also belonging to the category of “extremely practical yet not totally necessary,” OverGloves are billed as adding up to 50 degrees of warmth over your regular mittens or gloves. They can still grip the poles on your skis, and might even make for a better grip. These aren’t only for skiing, but for any time you’re in the Cold Outdoors for an extended time. Protect your fingers: you need them.This helps keep those valuable skiing fingers at an ideal temperature while you also keep them out of the way of snow. Simply put them over some of your existing gloves and grip your poles – you’re ready to enjoy skiing while remaining warm and dry.
• WigWam Master Socks – You need socks, but you don’t need these socks. But if you absolutely, positively, have to stay dry – you’ll definitely want these socks. WigWam Master Socks are ideal for winter sports, not just skiing – snowmobiling and sledding are some other options that come to mind. Many people wear regular athletic socks when they need something that offers more protection from a harsher “foot environment.” Regular white socks don’t always cut it. Yes, regular white socks will get the job done and they’ll help your feet stay warm while skiing down the slopes – but if you want an ideal skiing experience, you’ll want the best – even for your feet.

Originally posted 2008-11-11 04:55:18.

Ski Snowboarder

Many skiers dream of becoming a ski instructor and getting paid to do what they love and teach others to do it too. Getting into snow ski instruction is tough because of the demand but there are ways to advance yourself quicker if you really have your mind set on it. Here are a few things you can do to give yourself a leg up.

• Start at the bottom – The best way to get any job that is highly competitive is to get involved however you can. Many ski resorts and ski schools offer far more job opportunities than just snow ski instruction. Getting to know the people who work there by working in a different area at first can give you a personal edge when the time comes to go for the job you really want.
• Certifications – Depending on where you want to become a snow ski instructor, there are different certifications that you can work towards. These typically depend on the state so check where you live to see what is available for you.
• Camps and Clinics – Not every snow ski instruction career begins at a resort. There are many ski camps and smaller ski clinics that are always looking for competent instructors. Look around for jobs at these places and you can get the experience under your belt to get the edge over competition.

If your dream is to be in snow ski instruction, do whatever you can do get an advantage over the tons of other skiers who share your dream. These jobs don’t always just go to the best skiers, so while your skills are important, they can only get you so far.

For more Skiing tips, visit http://Skiing.lifetips.com

LifeTips Skiing Tip of the Day

Many skiers dream of becoming a ski instructor and getting paid to do what they love and teach others to do it too. Getting into snow ski instruction is tough because of the demand but there are ways to advance yourself quicker if you really have your mind set on it. Here are a few things you can do to give yourself a leg up.

• Start at the bottom – The best way to get any job that is highly competitive is to get involved however you can. Many ski resorts and ski schools offer far more job opportunities than just snow ski instruction. Getting to know the people who work there by working in a different area at first can give you a personal edge when the time comes to go for the job you really want.
• Certifications – Depending on where you want to become a snow ski instructor, there are different certifications that you can work towards. These typically depend on the state so check where you live to see what is available for you.
• Camps and Clinics – Not every snow ski instruction career begins at a resort. There are many ski camps and smaller ski clinics that are always looking for competent instructors. Look around for jobs at these places and you can get the experience under your belt to get the edge over competition.

If your dream is to be in snow ski instruction, do whatever you can do get an advantage over the tons of other skiers who share your dream. These jobs don’t always just go to the best skiers, so while your skills are important, they can only get you so far.

For more Skiing tips, visit http://Skiing.lifetips.com

LifeTips Skiing Tip of the Day

The opinions represented in this article do not necessarily represent those of the staff of CUIndependent.com nor any of its sponsors. I want to be the first to tell you that stripper poles are not only found in seedy men’s clubs. This once taboo and underground activity is taking center stage in the general public [...]
CU Independent

Åre is Scandinavian’s biggest ski resort. For many Swedes it is the holiday destination to go instead of the Alps. One can pretty much state Åre has everything a good resort should have: long season, variable terrain, well maintained slopes for both beginners and expert skiers, several different terrain parks, cozy village and busy, trendy nightlife. Even the vertical drop is not bad – 890m (over 2900 feet). And there is also pretty good off-piste skiing if you know where to look and if the weather happens to be favorable.

Åre also has deep-rooted ski culture. Annual World Cup tour race here is a tradition. One of the world’s best freeskiers, Henrik Windstedt, is born in the nearby small village, Ullådal. Åre is the home mountain for the likes of Sebastian Garhammer, Reine Barkered and Henrik Harlaut to name a few. The mountain and its skiing had also brought us major brands like Peak Performance clothing. In a way, we Finns could admit Åre has everything skiing-wise that Finland doesn’t have…(hate to say that but it is pretty much the truth)

Pics in the article: Petri Kurki and Antte Lauhamaa (Black Diamond sponsored telemark skier) – thank you guys!

Åre Ski Resort – general resort information

Åre village has a history of tourism and skiing since the 17th century. The first funicular up to the Åreskutan was built in 1910 and first FIS Worldcup race was held in 1969. The Åre village centre has an atmosphere you can compare e.g. to the classic Alp towns like St.Moritz. The village has some 60 restaurants, cafes and nightclubs, and there is no shortage of entertaining nightlife. There are also a wide selection of specalized shops ranging from skiing and outdoors to fancy design stores.

Åre is located in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. There are about 650 kilometers drive from Stockholm to Åre. Taking railway instead of driving is another comfy option. Nearby Östersund town has an airport and straight flights come from at least Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Manchester (read more here). Åre is far away from pretty much everywhere by central European standards but if you are e.g. visiting Sweden for a longer period, the drive isn’t that bad (Note: but if you have kids – prepare to reserve enough time…)

The resort itself is diveded into four different areas: Åre Björnen, Åre, Tegefjäll and Duved. There are about 120 different pistes and over 40 lifts, serving pretty much everything a skier or snowboarder can hope, excluding only very steep alpine style couloir descents. Åre village is the place to stay if you want to be close to all the services,restaurants, cafes, shops and people around. Another option is to rent a cabin/cottage somewhere nearby. Some of the cottages are located very close to the lifts/slopes – in the morning just click into the bindings and you are skiing. Having your own car (or rented car) is  a good option but not obligatory if you stay near the lifts.

Skiing in Åre

For a dedicated skier Åre ski resort offer a bit of everything. Only the most hard core steep skiers and seasoned powder hounds may disappoint. There are no huge continuous steeps. And the snow is usually hard and wind-blown. The term “Scandinavian concrete” is often used to describe the typical snowpack in Åre. On the other hand, many Åre based freeskiers state that the variable and cruddy snow is one of the key to their success. Anyway the fact is that low pressures coming from North Atlantic make the wind blow hard from western direction and due to the closeness of the ocean the weather varies a lot, meaning large temperature changes through the season.

If you like to carve well maintained slopes Åre is definately for you. In the high season thousands of skiers hit the same slopes though –  be prepared for some moguls and occasional bare / icy / rocky patches. Generally the further you go from the main lifts (just above Åre village) the less crowdy it gets.

For families with children I can highly recommend Åre Björnen on the east side of the area. Cabins and hotels are located basically on the slopes – it is a real “ski in, ski out”. There are tens of slopes and routes designed solely for kids, ranging from “magic carpet ride” for grommets to “mini terrain park” aimed at more skillful kids around 10 years of age. You also have shelters, fire places, child care rooms, restaurants with resting places (for eating your own picnic inside if the weather is bad), children play grounds etc. everywhere. It is not a huge overstatement to say that that the whole Björnen section is designed with families and kids in mind, really good work! Cross country skiing possibilities seemed very nice too and a trend seem to be skiing xc and pulling a kid’s sledge behind you…not bad for a work out and I guess kids enjoyed that too.

The resort has many different parks. The Bräckeparken in the main Åre area is the most famous. If you go to the black line be prepared for some serious airtime…or just to watch a line of very skilled kids hurling from the booters to all possible (spin) directions. Beat watching ski flicks on your sofa for sure! The red line is not bad either (and suits better for a middle aged office rat like me).

When the conditions are on, the off-piste skiing in Åre is not bad at all. There are very nice tree runs all over. For longer routes check out e.g. lines: backside of “Åreskutan” or “Östra Ravinen“, and be outfitted with normal avy gear and knowledge, or hire a guide, which is always recommended. If you happen to be on Facebook, check our Åre’s page and their update of March 24th. The pictures on this article show pretty ok conditions too, these shots are from exceptionally good 2005-2006 season when it snowed steadily through the whole winter.

Åre cold facts

-       Pistes 100 (54% beginners, Intermediate 36%, advanced 10%)

-       Lifts 47 (7 chair lifts, 34 surface lifts, 3 gondolas / cable cars)

-       Summit 1274 meters

-       Resort altitude 380 meters

-       Vertical drop 890 meters

-       Terrain parks: several, ranging from Bräckeparken’s black line (pro level) to Åre Björnen’s minipark for kids

-       Halpipe: yes

-       Cross country skiing: yes (56 km of trails)

-       Snowmaking: yes

-       Website: http://www.skistar.com/en/are/

Homeboy Ski Blog

There is much debate as to where the best place is to go downhill skiing. Americans often say that it doesn’t take crossing an ocean to find great downhill skiing, but my grandfather, who has toured the world searching for the best downhill skiing locations swears by the slopes in Austria.

The soft snow, beautiful scenery and wonderful people make Austria one of the top locations for downhill skiing. While you may have a language barrier, if your true goal is to enjoy some fantastic downhill skiing, you must check out Austria for an out of this world downhill skiing experience.

For more Skiing tips, visit http://Skiing.lifetips.com

LifeTips Skiing Tip of the Day