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

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

We always view skiing as a “winter” sport, but we also forget that there’s no such thing as a “Spring” or “Fall” Olympics. There aren’t any events for running in the residual mud after a particularly snowy winter, and there aren’t any gold medals doled out for the fastest lawn-raker. But what if you really do want to take a winter sport like skiing and extend it into the spring? Are there ways to do it, and are there things you should know before giving it a try?

Sure there are, and here, you’ve found them. Here are some quick tips for skiing in the spring and making it as enjoyable as skiing all winter long:

-Water, water, water. As always, stay hydrated –

This is true during the winter, but when you’re wearing winter clothing on a Spring day that might see temperatures rise beyond what you’ve been used to over the past few months, then suddenly your need to keep cool and hydrated increases even more. Even though it feels like the air is cold, that doesn’t mean your body is cool enough to not need water – it always needs water, so keep an eye on your hydration, and make sure you prepare beforehand by getting plenty of water in you before even strapping on the skis.

-Have goggles/sunglasses handy. -

During the Spring, the sun is out longer, and many times, it breaks through the clouds on a more frequent basis. This means that you’re going to want to have goggles and sunglasses handy – just in case the sun decides to make its first appearance in what seems like months. Since this isn’t always the case (protecting your eyes from light) during the winter, you might have to give yourself a reminder.

-Keep an eye on the weather forecast.-

Knowing the weather forecast will help you dress appropriately, and it will also help you decide what days are still quite winter-like to make the most ideal days for skiing. The closer an eye you keep on the weather, the better prepared you will be for the outdoors.

-Sunscreen. -

I know: sunscreen to a ski hill? What’s next, a warm wool cap to the beach? Well, you’d be surprised: the less you wear during the warmer spring months, and the more frequent the sun appears, the more you realize that you haven’t been getting much sunlight at all through the winter. You don’t necessarily want to go from 0 to 60 right away in terms of your sunlight, so a couple of applications of sunscreen on the exposed parts of your skin is enough to at least be prepared for all of the Vitamin D that’s headed your way.

Photo Credits: dvs

Originally posted 2009-03-10 05:37:25.

Ski Snowboarder

North America is host to some of the highest quality ski resorts in the world. Most of the best skiing is located in the western United States in the Rocky Mountain chain. Below is a list of five of the best America has to offer.

• Aspen Mountain – Aspen, Colorado is arguably the most well known of all ski resorts in North America, made famous by vacationing celebrities as much as for its incredible ski runs. Considering that the town was a mere afterthought to the mining industry, it has made its mark on the world of snowsports. It is the smallest of the mountains on this list with only 673 acres and 76 runs.
• Heavenly – Sitting high above Lake Tahoe, this mountain offers many snow sports and as a bonus, allows a skier to shush down the run in California or Nevada since the mountain straddles the state line. Heavenly recently added a gondola to speed skiers to the top. The highest lift reaches 10,040 feet and the mountain offers almost one hundred runs.
• Stowe – The only East Coast resort to make this list is Stowe, Vermont which offers almost fifty trails with many for advanced skiers. Novice skiers feel welcome there also. At the base of this mountain is a quaint New England town with inns and places to eat. The highest peak is 4395 feet and it has almost five hundred acres of skiable area.
• Jackson Hole – This resort is a favorite for skiers and snowboarders alike. The terrain here is steep but novices will be as comfortable here as those with experience. Jackson Hole offers more than 4100 vertical feet of skiing and with fifty percent of its runs graded expert, it tops this list for challenging runs. Yellowstone National Park is nearby for more sightseeing opportunities.
• Vail – With more than 300 bluebird days every year, the conditions at Vail are perfect almost all season long. The mountain at Vail is seven miles long and 1500 acres of it are groomed daily. Lines at the lifts are minimal due to the large network of high speed quads and lifts.

When you are skiing in any of the above places, it doesn’t matter if you cheap skis or expensive ones – your experience will be fantastic.

Originally posted 2010-06-12 14:54:40.

Ski Snowboarder

Skiing in the Rockies.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in our local skiing that we forget the amount of diversity that’s available in ski hills across the United States – and even in the world. But when it comes to our national skiing, there are just a few regions that bear special mentioning because of the popularity of skiing along with the favorable skiing climates. If you’ve been a “New England” skier all your life, it’s time to find out what else is out there! Here are three distinct skiing regions that you might want to think about as the winter months roll around:

1. New England. Vermont is considered one of the top skiing areas in the world, and states like New Hampshire and Maine are always considered great getaways from the hustle-and-bustle along the rest of the eastern seaboard. With cool temperatures in close proximity to Canadian air, New England is a place many skiers find frequently. You can’t exactly ski along states like South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, but you can on the other end of the east coast.

2. The Midwest. Most people don’t view the Midwest as skiing country, but cold-weather states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are built for winter sports. Maybe other events like snowmobiling and icefishing are a little more popular, but there are plenty of opportunities to find good winter skiing in the Midwest. The Midwest is also home to some large population centers, so you don’t have to stray too far from large airports to go on a great skiing trip.

3. The Rockies. If you think about skiing in the U.S., you have to think about places like Aspen, Colorado. The Rockies’ high elevation means cooler temperatures, which usually means plenty of snow. You’ll find plenty of skiing and snowboarding events in the Rockies, including states like Utah and Colorado.

Is there a perfect region for you? For the most casual of skiers, the “local” region is good enough! But if you’re a true skiing fanatic and want to plan a great skiing vacation in the months ahead, you might want to take a look at these regions and consider some different locations you could travel to. Consider this article a brief starting point to what could be some great skiing adventures for you, friends, and family to enjoy.

Photo Credits: Jim Crocker

Originally posted 2009-10-16 03:49:00.

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

Safety first.

Skiing is a great way to spend a vacation or a weekend, but is it dangerous? The answer is possibly. Skiing can be dangerous just like many other activities including riding your bike, but like riding your bike skiing has a lot of non-enforced choices for you to make. This article will list some basic safety tips that you should consider before you go skiing.

Wear a Helmet

Wearing a helmet is not a requirement to ski, but it’s encouraged because many clubs and sport institutions think it’s in your best safety interest. While wearing a helmet isn’t mandated it’s very important to at least consider it. There are many ways for you to injure yourself while skiing, but by far the most dangerous things that can happen to you will happen if you’re not wearing a helmet.

Wear Proper Clothing

Don’t show up to ski in your shorts and sunglasses, it’s very important that you dress appropriately when you’re going to a ski resort. The first thing you should do is make sure you have layered clothing such as a shirt followed by a sweater; this is the most important thing you can remember to bring before heading to your ski resort. It’s very likely that you don’t own your own pair of skiing goggles, a skiing shirt, or boots. While it’s not a requirement to wear these items, they can be rented from most resorts and will offer you a much safer and rewarding experience while skiing. The goggles are especially important because they can keep the snow out of your eyes making it easier for you to see where you’re going.

Be Instructed

It’s not a good idea to just show up the slopes and immediately start trying to ride down the advanced slopes. You should first hire a ski instructor or enlist the aid of a good friend to teach you the basics so that you can learn to ride down the more advanced slopes while you’re there. There are both individual and group lessons to accommodate whatever learning style or preference you may have.

Follow the Rules

A basic tidbit of advice is to follow the rules of the resort or slope that you’re currently skiing at. These rules may include not going off trail and not pushing near the beginning of the slopes. No matter how ridiculous the rules may seem they’re there for a reason and you should respect them no matter what the conditions.

If you follow these basic safety tips you can be sure that your ski trip will be a safe one for you and your family.

Photo Credits: s_mestdagh

Originally posted 2009-10-02 03:44:13.

Ski Snowboarder

Water Skiing

When most people think about skiing, they probably think about hitting the slopes in Aspen or somewhere in the Alps, skis gliding quickly down snow-ridden hilltops. But that’s not the only type of skiing there is, and if you live near a lake, you already know this: there’s also water-skiing! Water skiing is such a different way to ski that it should be considered its own sport, but it’s a great summertime alternative for skiing that keeps you out and gliding.

If you haven’t been water skiing before, here are some quick tips for getting started.

First, you have to consider your “infrastructure.” What kind of equipment do you have for water skiing? Do you have access to water, and a way to tow yourself around? Water skiing is a very social sport, and you can’t exactly put on the skis and head out into the lake yourself, as you can with the slopes if you’re skiing in the snow.

You don’t have to buy everything you need, you just need to have access to the right equipment. If your friend has lake access and a boat, and another friend has the water skis, try to see if you can organize some water skiing excursions.

Second, start out slowly. You won’t have the hang of it right away, and while it may look easy to glide up on top of the water when that boat starts pulling, it can actually be quite the challenge. If you’ve never been skiing of any kind before, this challenge is further compounded. If you have been snow skiing, don’t have an overinflated ego before you get in the water – they can be two very different sports.

Have some patience as a beginner, as well, because it can be tempting to give something up after a failed session or two. You don’t have to be racing around the lake right away; just make sure that you work on the fundamentals and eventually they’ll come quite naturally to you.

Third, have fun. Even if you don’t get the hang of it right away, give it some practice and bring out a water tube that will allow you to get some fun out of the day. You don’t have to be perfect every time, so have some fun with it. The more you have fun with it, the more likely you are to come back to the lake – and that means you’ll improve as a water skier.

Photo Credits: evocateur

Originally posted 2009-11-10 03:13:50.

Ski Snowboarder

Skiing in Aspen

If you’ve never been skiing in your life – and this applies especially for those of you in a more tropical climate – you might ask yourself why there is such emphasis on skiing, especially with people who seem to have a lot of money. “A weekend in Aspen” doesn’t sound fun to you; instead, it sounds like a way to canoodle with friends, have an excuse to drink warm drinks by a fire, and get cozy with a loved one.

Actually, that doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

It’s not. Let’s take a look at what a typical “skiing weekend” might be like for you, and whether or not you’d enjoy it.

Friday:

Meet up with friends. Greet each other appropriately – especially if you haven’t seen each other for a while. Feel sentimental upon seeing old high school friends. And get to work: start going into the pro shop to rent some ski boots, skis, and ski poles. Make fun of your best friend for wearing a hat with a puff ball on the top of it.

In the afternoon, hit the slopes – maybe take a quick lesson from an instructor. You still feel like a rookie, but at least you have an idea of how to slow down your momentum. When you cut loose and really let gravity take you down the hill. Wipe out, get laughed at. Throw a snow ball.

Evening comes, and with the cold, short, winter days, you and your friends decide to call it a night at your cabin. Except you don’t call it a night; you get warmed up, play a board game, watch a DVD, and generally have fun. Fall asleep from exhaustion.

Saturday:

Repeat, except you start today at sun-up. Maybe you’re a little sore from the previous day, but you don’t let that stop you. The prospect of actually pulling off a nice ski run down a hill still thrills you. You and your earlybird friends head out.

By noon, you feel like you’ve already spent a whole day on the slopes, honing your skills, and you’re amazed at how fast you’ve improved. When your other friends join you, they see you pull of some tricks you haven’t before. Then it happens: you finally execute a successful skiing turn. The thrill gets to your ego, and you wipe out again, laughing at yourself.

Sunday:

Ski some more, and finally say goodbye to your friends, who by now you might be getting sick of, in a brother or sisterly way. You return all of your equipment and prepare yourself for another workweek, wondering where all the time has gone.

Photo Credits: Matt Ryall

Originally posted 2009-04-21 05:32:39.

Ski Snowboarder

Build endurance.

We’re familiar with the body-types of many top athletes: we know that swimmers tend to be tall, muscular, and lean like Michael Phelps, and that cyclists tend to be smaller, strong-legged people like Lance Armstrong. But when you see skiers on television, you don’t really see what their body looks like. So it’s understandable if you’re a little confused about the type of condition you’ll want to be in case you want to be a more frequent downhill skier. Here are five tips that should help you understand a skier’s body.

Tip #1: Be a flexible runner. By “flexible,” we don’t mean that you should be a runner who can put their elbow behind their head. Instead, be a runner who avoids the narrow-track, treadmill style of running so many people employ today. Go running on a hiking trail, or find terrain that twists, turns, and challenges you. This will help build up the right muscle groups that will contribute to your overall strength when twisting and turning down the ski slope.

Tip #2: Build endurance. Skiing can be a day-long activity, so you can’t expect to go from couch potato to downhill skiing machine overnight. You’ll want to build endurance. Endurance is built simply by pushing yourself to go farther and longer than you did before – eventually, your systems will adapt to the demand you place on them and your endurance will grow.

Tip #3: Keep your legs strong. Mountain biking is a great way to accomplish this, working your leg muscles while putting you through some tougher terrain, similar to tip #1. Since skiing can be an unpredictable way to travel from A to B, you’ll want your legs to be strong and capable of adapting to different bumps and changes along the way. You can also incorporate a number of different leg workouts to build up leg strength.

Tip #4: Build your core. The “core” can be a tricky part of the body to exercise, so you might like this suggestion: play tag. Remember running around, twisting your body, and making sudden shifts in direction as a kid at recess? Playing tag is a great way to get that core going again; you will probably feel sore the next day if it’s been a while. If you don’t have anyone to play tag with, simply simulate it by running around randomly as if you were. You’ll look a little nuts, but you’ll also get in shape!

Tip #5: Practice what you want to become, and ski! If you want your body to adapt into a skier’s condition, there’s only one true way of getting there: you’ll actually have to ski. The other workouts can help you cross-train, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the slopes.

Photo Credits: William A. Franklin

Originally posted 2010-02-02 03:40:48.

Ski Snowboarder