You may think fun comes first when you head out on a snowboarding adventure, but safety must always trump fun. If you do not protect yourself from the dangers out on the slopes, the fun can end in an instant. There are serious injuries at ski resorts and terrain parks every year, and there are some [...]
Snowboard and Ski Gear

There are a lot of times a person may not be at all proud of their vehicle. This is due to a number of different reasons and the most important of these is the fact that they do not have the best in custom rims for their ride. This is an aspect that can make or break a car on the way that it looks.

Many times a person will make a search for alloy wheels and as a result will make their purchase based on one of the more popular packages that are able to be bought. This will allow a person the chance to get a decent package that will increase the look of the vehicle.

When it involves getting both the wheels and the tires, this makes the deal much sweeter. This can many times lead a person to have a result that will make a car look ten times better than it already does. No matter the type of vehicle that you have, you are able to get outcomes that will make the vehicle shine with pride.

When it involves the purchase decision, you need to make it a point that you take a few things into account. This checklist will allow a person to get the best deal for their money. One of the top things that hangs a person up is that of not getting the correct size.

Once you have the correct size, you are able to choose the design for your wheels. This should be a unique look that separates you from the rest of the pack. This can be done by buying from any of the many companies that are on the market today. Often times, this leads to a design that you will like and looks good as well.

The overall look of the vehicle is the most important thing that should be addressed; there is a lot of effort that is able to be made in the way of getting a vehicle that looks good and grabs the attention of a person who is driving by. This can even take that old car that you thought had seen better days and give it a new life.

When you are in the middle of getting one of these packages, you need to make sure that you take the time to look online as well as at any of the stores that you are able to get from these stores. These stores often times one of the best places to get the best results that you are able to obtain from these efforts.

When it comes down to buying custom rims, there are several places online as well as physical stores that will be able to give you the outcomes that you are looking for. This is one of the more important aspects that should be looked at when it comes to getting outcomes that a person is able to be happy with when dealing with cheap wheel and tire packages. One such company that offers the wheel and tire packages is kmc rims.

Here we will discuss the dominating characteristics of a well known provider of automobile accessories, Lexani rims. The substance and quality of products like these are exceedingly important in a world where there far over six hundred million automobiles and the number continues to grow. There is obviously a need for products that can withstand harsh use yet still retain an attractive factor.

Wheels are, technically speaking, any round object that possess the capability of rotating on an axle, inducing movement or contributing to the completion of a task and at the same time, hauling a load that exerts weight upon it. With this knowledge, it is obvious why this device, attached to a car, can significantly influence either good or bad vehicle performance.Having a tire & wheel packages even further benefits your car.

These products are made from alloys and are commonly referred to as luxury items. An alloy is the combination of two metals that have been melded together. Their chemical properties are enhanced as a result of this process and thus the device itself is made doubly stronger and automatically catapulted into a higher level of quality. Alloys are stronger than normal metals, more difficult to break and more resistant to galvanic corrosion or rust.

There are countless different models and styles to choose from. First is the LX-2, made of flashy chrome metal in the shape of a multi-edged star. It glimmers and adds an extra punch of pizzazz to the vehicle. The LSS-55 is a black and silver five-spoke beauty, emanating elegance from the vehicle that it is attached to. DIAL, another flashy product, is completely chrome with inky streaks of color, making it resemble a spinning stained glass window. There are plenty of models to mull over. All will significantly improve the cosmetic appearance of your vehicle.

On the other side of the spectrum, when internal improvements have already been pointed out, the external tweaks to a vehicle through Lexani products are also worth mentioning. Customers have the ability to create any custom device that they wish, in any color imaginable from bright green to dark red. The more modest black and whites are also available.

There exists many different models and styles to choose from when it comes to cosmetic factoring. The Firestar looks like an icy representation of a star while the LX-12 is white and black with spindly, refined spokes. DIAL is overlain with chrome and streaked with inky colors while the LSS-55 is black and silver with five spokes like a star. Although the LX-2 is flashy and chrome, it is unique in that it’s in the shape of a multi-edged star.

There is a branded magazine that can be subscribed to for the more devoted type. They also provide grilles for vehicles in flashy shades of silver, black and chrome. The rims are the outer circular design attached to the metal on which the inside of its tire is mounted and in turn, mounted on the automobile. It is also an important part of lending a hand to the actual full, encompassing design.

Ski one weekend golf the next!

For many it seems like the winter fun has just begun and it is suddenly over, especially for skiers. The good news is that just because winter is over it doesn’t mean that you have to hang up the skis. A lot of ski resorts have extended hours through April offering longer hours and deep discounts on accommodations and lift passes. Actually, spring is a great time for skiers. The slopes have less people on them then in the peak season and the texture of the snow is almost like sugar which is very appealing to most skiers. Most ski resorts also have their cafes open so that skiers can not only enjoy a bite to eat but can also get a little sun and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Because it is not so cold in the spring and the atmosphere is more relaxed it is common to find festivals or carnivals that celebrate the end of the winter season. Often there are live bands playing and other festive events. It is even possible to catch sunburn while on the slopes so make sure you come prepared with sunscreen. You’ll also need some good sunglasses that will protect your eyes. Goggles are not that popular when the weather gets warmer because they can get hot and cause sweating.

Of course the warmer weather also allows the skier to wear fewer clothes so without all that bulk; the skier can really maneuver himself around the trails. Maybe this would be the time also to break in some new skiing gear. This is when all of the ski equipment is on sale and offers the deepest discounts ever. Buy some new gear and head to a resort such as Whistle as it remains open until June because of its higher altitude.

When you are looking for spring ski resorts just narrow down your search to the places that have northern exposure, that are at a higher altitude, and have glaciers or heavy snow packs as these are the places that will likely stay open and running until June. Ironically, many of these resorts have their best snowfalls measures in March and April. If you are a die hard skier then you can ski one weekend and golf the next. For many, nothing beats spring skiing.

So as you can see there is no reason whatsoever to pack away the ski gear before its time. There are a few great reasons to hold off and enjoy some spring skiing because it is warmer, there is often more snowfall, and you will get the best prices of the season. This is done purposely to attract more skiers during this time. Once you start looking around you will be surprised just how long you can ski for. There are only a few months out of the year that it is impossible to ski, July through October, the rest is fair game if you know where to look. Just because the calendar says that winter is over doesn’t mean that you have to stop skiing!

Photo Credits: dvs

Originally posted 2009-03-17 05:17:47.

Ski Snowboarder

If you are a new instructor we’ve got everything you need to know in one easy to access place. If you aren’t finding what you need, let us know and we’ll write a post for you.

Did we miss your favorite tip? Put it in the comments. 

A noob’s guide to ski teaching
A noob’s guide to clinics and training
A Noob’s Guide to Networking
Should I join PSIA?
The Divas’ Guide to teaching CLC: Etiquette of ‘Do’s and ‘Don’t’s in the Corral

Diva Ski Tips

I’m a few weeks into cross season and playing in the mud means that playing in the snow isn’t too far away. I’m signed up for a five day event in early December to kick start my season. Going to a PSIA event takes a lot of time and money, so how you do make sure you get the most of it when you can’t control the weather? In my experience it’s all about picking the right group and instructor. I reached out folks at my mountain and will offer my own in this post.

Why are you there?
“What your goals are for the week. are you looking to generally expand your knowledge and improve your skills? are you looking for skill-specific or exam-prep training? are you looking for a fun ski vacation with lots of socializing and a little bit of ski coaching on the side? once you identify what you hope to take away from your event, then you can begin to think about what kind of group you want to ski with“

Share your goals with others as you mill around and start collecting people then find a compatible clinician. Or you can find the clinician first then gather the group. If you are shy, see if a friend from your mountain can help. If I’m around, I’m always happy to use my network to place people in the right group.


Terrain and pace
The most common compliants I hear in the bar apre ski are around terrain and pace. Most good trainers will ask the group a lot of questions about terrain and pace as groups form. Ask around to find others who are looking for the same thing. Some folks will over or underestimate what they do, so be crafty and use your instructor observational power and assessment skills.

A trainer is no different from the rest of us, they only want to take the group on terrain that is appropriate for the group. I find that bumps are a great way to divide groups of skiers. If you want to ski harder terrain, look for a group that likes bumps. If you want to be on blue groomers, the group will be less than enthusiastic about skiing bumps.

Pace is the other great divide. Some want to go all day, top to bottom and others will need breaks for coaching or to save energy. If you can’t abide much talking, you may want to try hanging with a group that goes top to bottom and hang on for as long as you can. If you are at an event out West, be mindful that us East coasters don’t do as much vert in the same strech as West coast instructors (This advice from my technical director saved me my first time out West).
As for me, I want to ski everything that is open (except for maybe something like Courbet’s) but I don’t learn if I’m ripping. So I look for a group that goes all day but takes time for coaching and drills.

Finding an instructor with the right style
“Ask another clinician if they where in your situation who would they select, and why. Then once you have a short list of 2 or 3 clinicians probe deeper into their styles of teaching to see if it is a fit, and also make sure they fit your objective.”

“Go to the bar the night before the event and hob nob with the clinicians/examiners. while there, ask around to see who is working your event and what their focus might be. pick the examiner and group that best align with your personal goals for the event. “

I like both of these ideas, but if you can’t get to the clinician in person you can always collect intel from your fellow instructors.  Dig to learn what they teach, how they manage the group and their teaching style. As instructors, we teach best to people who share our learning style so keep that in mind as you weigh the information you’ve collected. Diva’s are a great source of info.

Find your own way
When I was getting ready for a teaching exam I signed up for the event but didn’t think the division’s program was going to work for me. So I sent a couple of emails to my connections and arranged to follow one of the best instructors in the country around and get the inside scoop on how she does things.

Diva Ski Tips

Skiers, like hikers, enjoy their outdoor sports on varied levels. Hiking trails come in a range of difficulties, not unlike skiing trails. When you hike in the mountains regularly, your body may be better prepared for the lower air pressure that slows some skiers. You can probably find great guides on how and where to hike at your favorite bookstore or library.


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

LifeTips Skiing Tip of the Day

If you’re just taking up skiing, or if you’ve just dabbled it a few times in the past, you’re probably still aware of some of the equipment involved. Ski boots, ski poles, and skis themselves: who knows how to actually go out and buy the right ones?

Well, to be honest, many people learn as they go. And this doesn’t have to be the way to do it. instead, you can find that becoming a “skier” isn’t even about the equipment – it’s about the energy and tenacity you treat your hobby with, and that includes finding equipment that you can wear, not equipment that wears you.

First, you’ll want to start off by considering a fundamental question: buying your own equipment, or renting it. Many people dabble in skiing only often enough that rental is the only viable option. But if you’ve read this far, chances are that this isn’t a good description of you. You want to buy. If so, give yourself a fairly generous budget, if possible, and read on.

Next, think about the way you’ll end up looking head-to-toe. While the first thing you might imagine could be the skis, have you thought about som basic winter gear like long underwear, dry wool socks, and a cap that protects your ears from the cold? If you’re ready for this, then you’re ready to get to the ski equipment itself.

Now, you’re ready for the nitty gritty. Skis and ski boots. Naturally, you’ll want to do some research online. If your first question is, “do they even use the same sizes as shoes?” then you’ll definitely want to read about ski boots online first before you make a purchase. Check out testimonials, product reviews, and other online sources before making a purchase, as well.

If you’re really hankering for some more help, you’ll probably want to make a few phone calls or even ask for some advice in person, such as at a pro shop at a ski resort or an athletics store. Generally you’ll want to go to a place that specializes in skiing for the greater level of detail and more-appropriate recommendations they can offer.

Many times, ski boots will be matched to some particular skis, so that’s something that you’ll want to keep in mind, especially if you’ve never bought any skis before. If you’ve found a good pair of skis and boots that go together, this is a great way to make an informed but great one-time purchase that will get you on the slopes even faster.

You’ll find that once you make your first ski equipment purchase and get your feet wet (proverbially, of course), that many of the other steps will fall in line. Of course you’ll want to find some glasses or goggles for eye protection, some pads if you anticipate doing a lot of falling, and some skiing poles that fit your build well.

Originally posted 2008-11-19 04:55:19.

Ski Snowboarder