Thrillseekers – Speed

If you’ve been skiing already, chances are good that you’ve already found your reasons for enjoying it. Some of you are thrillseekers, enjoying the sensation of air passing by your face at incredible speeds and the sheer focus that adventure inspires. Others enjoy simply getting into the great outdoors, the feel of fresh air in their lungs at the top of a ski hill. The point is, many of us have different personalities, and the way we ski reflects that.

What kind of skiing personality do you have? Do you enjoy the sounds of nature, or are you more of a “tuned-in” type of person that has to be connected to your iPod at all times? Here are some reasons you might choose one or the other.

Wiring Up

Reasons to do it: If you’re addicted to your iPod, you might feel a little trepidacious about bring the wire with you on a skiing trip. But there’s nothing to feel guilty about – you’re not necessarily depriving yourself of any specific experience. In fact, if you’re wiring yourself up, there’s a good chance you like to make your own experiences, setting the soundtrack to your life. It can help the downtime pass by and can really heighten the overall skiing experience.

Reasons not to do it: Many people say “why wire up when you have plenty of sounds to thrill you?” To them, an iPod doesn’t enhance the experience, but dumbs it down into a sort of MTV-like existence in which you’re not fully outdoors because your ears are still hooked to the tube. Again, this might be a personality issue for many, or simply a difference in tastes.

Going “Naked”

Reasons to do it: No, not because the cold air feels good on your skin – not that kind of naked. Instead, going “naked” would mean simply abandoning the wire and enjoying the sights and sounds of skiing – and there are plenty of those to enjoy. Wiring up means you can’t hear the swoosh of your skis cutting through the snow beneath you, and some people really think those sounds should be savored.

Reasons not to do it: Sure, that’s fun for many, especially if they’re not big listeners of music. But if you’ve usually got a beat in your head, it’s simply not as fun to be outside by yourself or with friends without a little something extra to get your heart pumping.

Ask yourself what kind of person you are – but the truth is, you probably don’t need to take my advice. If you’re already a “wired up” kind of person, the chances are good that you’ve already put together your own ski hill play list.

Photo Credits: Uqbar is back

Originally posted 2009-05-12 05:17:00.

Ski Snowboarder

Might not be the most fashionable, but it is the most sensible.

There’s a reason many people love to echo a popular sentiment, “safety first.” It’s because safety should come first! Even if you don’t think that you’ll run into any trouble, you should feel better on the ski hills knowing that you’re well-protected and that you’ve done what you can to minimize risk. You won’t always be able to avoid every risk, but keeping your safety in mind will be crucial in avoiding serious injury and even death. Here are some reasons you should always wear a skiing helmet on the slopes.

Your brain is important. There’s a reason human beings have such thick skulls – they’re protecting our brains! Keeping your head protected is crucial – that’s why football players wear helmets, cyclists wear helmets, and even baseball players sometimes wear helmets. Wearing a helmet can prevent serious or even mortal injuries that otherwise might have been avoided or lessened in degree. It’s not rocket science: strap up a helmet and protect your head. It could save your life.

Wearing helmets is growing more popular. The trend for wearing a ski helmet is pointing upward, so it’s time to hop on the bandwagon. The group that least often wears a ski helmet is males of age 18-24, so lose the rebellious streak and strap that helmet on. It reveals more confidence and foresight if you wear a helmet because of your better judgment, not because of some pressure to look good.

Start and keep the habit. It’s much easier to wear a ski helmet if you’ve worn one every time you’ve been out skiing. Why? Because once you’ve introduced wearing the helmet as a habit, you don’t have to think about it as much before you strap on, and wearing it will feel natural. You should feel uncomfortable without a helmet on, so much so that you’re instantly reminded to put that helmet on and prevent injury. Start wearing the helmet every single time you ski, and you’ll start getting used to the idea.

The more risks you take, the more important it will be to minimize the potential for injury. We can’t always remain perfectly safe, but that’s no reason to avoid safety altogether. Instead, take precautions so that you minimize your risk. After all, these precautions – including wearing a helmet – can save your life.

Photo Credits: karen_d

Originally posted 2009-08-09 03:51:09.

Ski Snowboarder

What are the characteristics of good skiing required to meet or exceed the PSIA level II standard?

Diva Ski Tips

What ski type is for you?

One of the most common responses to the question “what type of ski do you have?” is simple. People might look at you a little dumb-founded, wait a bit, and then say “there’s more than one type?”

Skiing can be a multi-faceted sport, filled with different styles, terrains, and strategies, so it’s fitting that the skis themselves are just as versatile. The answer is yes – there are plenty of different types of skis, and if you want to find the best in comfort and performance, you should try to see which one works best for you. This article will explain of the few different types and who they fit the best.

Ski type #1: the Alpine ski.

Also known as the “traditional” ski, as the Alpine ski was one of the first types of skis to be developed, the Alpine ski started out as little more than two boards that could be attached to the feet. Through the years, the Alpine ski has evolved to better grip snow and terrain (including adding an upward tilt to the front) – one might consider this type of ski to be suitable for a beginner who doesn’t want a lot of frills attached to their ski.

Ski type #2: The twin-tip ski.

A variation of the Alpine ski, the twin-tip ski is built with an Alpine-style upturned tip on both front and back, instead of only the front as in the traditional Alpine ski. The reason for the twin tips are to allow a greater range of landing and mobility for skiers who are interested in tackling more ambitious “tricks” like a half-pipe, which was introduced to winter sports in part because of the increased popularity of snowboarding.

Ski type #: Cross-country skis.

If you’re not feeling adventurous enough for the twin-tip or even the Alpine ski, you could try to tackle cross-country skiing with a good pair of cross-country skis. Cross-country skis are lighter and more narrow, built to be more parallel for ease of movement as you trek across icy terrain. Often, the boots for cross-country skis only attach at the toe, meaning these skis are definitely not built for downhill skiing in the slightest.

Part of choosing a type of ski that fits your personality is answering this question: what is your personality anyway? Are you looking for a new hobby like skiing but don’t want to push yourself too far? Try the Alpine ski. Are you adventurous and love the feeling of flying through the air? Go for a twin-tip. Do you want to avoid the thrills altogether and simply want some good exercise this winter? Try the cross-country skis.

Photo Credits: Indiewench

Originally posted 2009-07-14 05:47:04.

Ski Snowboarder

Have you ever been cruising your way down a mountain just enjoying the ride, the…
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