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Things To Carry When Skiing

December 19th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

As you become more experienced at skiing or snowboarding, you will develop a good idea what extra items you may need on the slopes. Your decisions may be based on the length of time you are planning to spend, the level of experience you have, the amount of storage room you have or maybe the type of runs you are planning to do. Here are some items you might think about taking on your next skiing day.

A trail map is a useful item to have, especially if you are new to the resort. The trail map not only tells you what run you are on but it will tell you the level of difficulty of the run. It can also help if you lose your bearings at any point in time. A trail map also has information on places where you can get food and drinks, times for the last ski lift of the day and other information that is handy to have. As you spend more days on the slopes you will need the trail map less but it is always handy to have packed away.

Sunscreen and zinc cream. Despite it being cold and even overcast in some parts of the mountain, you will be surprised how much sunlight gets through. If you don’t put sunscreen and zinc cream around the face and lips you could have a bad case of sunburn. This can spoil your vacation and have consequences in the future. Always keep these items available and apply to the face, ears, lips and back of the neck during the day.

Mobile or cell phone. Many snow jackets have a pocket for a cell phone so there is no excuse for leaving it behind. Check out that you have coverage on the first day. Obviously a phone is a useful item should you need to contact friends that you are meeting or keep in touch with your children. It can also be useful if there is an emergency or accident.

Other things that are good to have are a small snack. Maybe a chocolate bar or energy bar. A bottle of water is good to have even if there are plenty of facilities around you. A good time to have a swig and a piece of chocolate is in the gondola up to the ski run. You may also want a cloth or something to clean goggle or sunglasses. In terms of a wallet or purse all you need is a bit or money, a credit card and some form of identification (drivers license). Get rid of all the shrapnel and various cards that make it bulky and heavy.

You will develop a feel for what you need as your vacation progresses. As you become more familiar with the trails you may dispense with the map. You may only be doing a few runs so not need any snack or water.

Do You Need A Snowboard Instructor or A Snowboard Class

November 26th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are new to snowboarding then the best thing to do is to get some form of instruction. There are a lot of techniques to snowboarding and it can take years to perfect your snowboarding skills. Thus it makes sense to learn from someone that has this experience rather than figuring it out yourself. This will ensure that you progress faster and cut down on the frustration. There are a few questions you should consider before getting any lessons. This article will cover whether you need a snowboard instructor or if a class is a better option.

Snow board instruction can either be one on one or in a class. Each has advantages and disadvantages. If you go for a one on one tuition, you will be learning from a snowboard instructor. It is often a good idea to ensure that you are compatible with each other. For instance, would you prefer an instructor of the same gender ? What about a similar age ? If you are middle aged would you want to be taught by a youngster. Many people might not think this is a concern but you will be dealing personally with this person and possibly having lunch together so a degree of compatibility will be useful.

In terms of classes, you will be with a group of people. This may also cause potential problems. Do you want to be in with a group of kids if you are middle aged or vice versa. Generally with classes there is a grading process to asses your skill level and then you are split into groups. You may suggest to move to a group of a similar standard if you feel like it might be better for you.

How You Learn

How you learn can make a big difference in which person you choose for a snowboard instructor. Do you learn by listening or are you more of a watch and learn or learn by doing kind of person? Let the snowboarding school or resort know whether you prefer a more structured instructional class or whether you would like something more interactive and expressive. Plus, some people learn more effectively when placed in challenging situations rather than a more nurturing one.

Decide what type of environment you need in terms of instruction and always ask for a snowboard instructor who is fully certified and qualified to handle anything thrown at them. Fully certified instructors understand the various learning styles of students and work hard to match the tone you set.

Set Your Goals

One on one instruction is the fast track to getting proficient at snowboarding however it may not be as much fun as a class. In a class you can learn by watching other people and have a break while other class mates are doing their thing. You may also make friends with people in the class too. Thus you should have an idea of what level you want to be at at the end of your one or two week vacation.

Finding Good Discount Ski Equipment

November 23rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are going on a ski vacation, you need to be sure to take the right gear. If you have booked a ski package the chances are that all the hard goods – the skis, boots, bindings and poles will be taken care of by the representative of the ski vacation company. This makes it really easy if you are new to ski vacations and skiing in general. All you have to worry about is what’s called the soft goods – the ski jacket, ski pants, gloves, fleece, scarf and goggles. Hard goods are generally quite expensive so it pays to get a bit of experience before you think about buying this type of gear. You may not even like skiing or may find that you ski so rarely that it doesn’t make sense to spend big money on these items. Renting this gear initially is your best bet. After you have become a ski addict and can’t wait for the ski season to start each year, then you can think about buying some hard goods. However things like ski jackets are not as expensive as skis and you will get more use out of them than skis because they are not exclusively made for skiing. This article will give you some ideas on finding hard and soft goods and finding good discount ski equipment.

First of all, there are good discounts to be found towards the end of the season. That’s around February/March/April (In the northern Hemisphere) and September/October (In the Southern Hemisphere). If you are looking for things like skis, snowboards, boots and bindings then this is a good time to shop. The ski shops are basically getting rid of stuff they couldn’t sell during the season so it may not be the latest gear but it’s going to be pretty new.

Things like jackets, pants and gloves are also likely to be cheaper in the off season. And of course things like this are more fashion conscious. They may not be the latest color or style but that really doesn’t matter in the whole scheme of things. All you want is something that will keep you dry, warm and allow air to circulate.

You can also look online. There are plenty of online ski and snowboard shops that have everything you need from skis to bobble hats. Many of the online stores offer discounts on many goods but they often charge a postage fee and you can’t try the item on before you buy. This has to be factored in before you buy anything online. Check their return policy or know what you want before you buy (go to a store and physically try the item on and then order through the cheaper online store). You can also find used good on places like Ebay or used goods in the online stores.

Some places have swap meets where people are getting rid of gear that is surplus to requirements. They are often willing to sell these items for a fraction of the original cost. These meets happen at ski resorts or even ski clubs in your local town or city.

List of Major Snowboard Brands Based On Type

November 21st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are hundreds of snowboard brands on the market at the moment. And the trend for new brands will only increase as the sport becomes more popular and starts to be seen as the winter cousin of skateboarding. Most brands have a wide range of boards just as they have a wide array of gear and equipment. Some snowboard brands only produce gear like jackets and pants or protective gear like helmets, goggles and padding. Other companies specialize in beginner boards or a particular style of boarding. The style dictates the shape and length of the board. This article will give a list of the major snowboard brands and some things to consider before you buy snowboard equipment.

Most people have an opinion on the type of equipment they like. The same goes for snowboards and it may not always be a logical rationale that they use to make the decision. A beginner will go for a general purpose board that can allow them to free ride mainly but also allow them to try tricks and jumps in the freestyle way. After this they will probably be attracted to the design on the board. Sure the design is nice but it is not the be all and end all of deciding which board to get.

Hire Before Buying

Without doubt the best way to get a feel for the different brands of snowboard is to rent out a few different brands before you buy anything. Buying a snowboard can be quite expensive so it makes a lot of sense to first be sure that it is the right sport for you an that the brand of board suites you. This goes for all the other equipment too. You can pretty much rent most things and when this applies to boards you can check out a few different brands before closing in on your favorite make.

Some Snowboard Brands

If you are seeking an all-rounder snowboard, the mountain snowboards like Rome Anthem, Flow Team and Burton are great favorites with many snowboarders both inexperienced to professional.

Gnu’s Rider’s Choice is among the snowboard brands best and if you are a twin tip snowboard kind of person, check out Ride Society’s boards or even Forum Grudge, CAPiTA and Sapient Lotus.

Others major brands include Elan, Nidecker. Rossignol and Salomon, more commonly associated with skiing, also produce good snowboards. There is a distinction between men’s, women’s and children’s boards. This is primarily to do with size and design.

For the top snowboard brands, expect to pay several hundred dollars for an innovative, styling ride. If you prefer to save a bit of money then wait until the pre-season or end of season sales. The prices will be considerably cheaper. Online sites are good for getting cheaper deals but you really need to know what you are buying. Ideally test out the board by renting before you buy it online. For beginners who are seeking introductory or inexpensive snowboard brands, the pricing is more like one hundred fifty to three hundred dollars for a board.

Skiing Freestyle – Can You Do Moguls And Aerials ?

November 16th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Of the various forms of skiing freestyle is the latest craze. It is not really a sport for the average person but more of a spectator sport. It is a staple at such sporting events as the extreme sports X-Games but is also a recognized event at the Winter Olympics. As it’s name suggests, it is evolving as a form of skiing and as a sport. Different events are being created all the time and showcased at premium events. Although there is great skill involved in each event, it seems to be more geared towards audience participation than downhill skiing or even slalom skiing. The most common skiing freestyle are Mogul runs and aerials. This article will cover how these events work and some of the recent history of freestyle skiing.

Mogul Event

Moguls were the first skiing freestyle event to become an Olympic medal event. In mogul skiing, skiers must ski down a slope where they turn around large bumps, or moguls. There are also two jumps in the run, which they must perform a jump or trick off of. The course itself is short and steep – usually about 30 degrees and about 700-900 feet long.

Mogul skiers are judged on form, turns, and jumps, and those scores are combined with their time to get an overall score. In this type of freestyle skiing, it’s not enough to get down the mountain quickly; they have to do it with style. Mogul skiing first became an Olympic sport during the 1992 games in Albertville, where Edgar Grospiron from France won the gold medal for the men, and Donna Weinbrecht from the United States took home gold for the women.

Aerial Event

Aerials are the event that most people think of when they think of freestyle skiing. In aerials, the skier goes down and off a jump which then launches them about 40-50 feet in the air. In the air, they perform multiple twists and flips (much like a competitive diver would) then land on their skis on the hill below. The skier is then judged on three areas – takeoff, jump form, and landing.

This score is than factored in with the degree of difficulty of the jump for the final score. Currently, the top aerial skiers are performing jumps with a triple back flip with four or five twists. Aerial freestyle skiing first became an Olympic sport during the 1994 games in Lillehammer, where Andreas Schönbächler from Switzerland won the gold medal for the men, and Lina Cheryazova from Uzbekistan won the gold for the women.

New Freestyle Skiing Events

Skiing freestyle was possibly a reaction to the development of snowboarding events. Skiing was seen as more traditional and stuck in it’s ways by comparison to snowboarding so freestyle skiing was the antidote to that idea. To this extent it still takes some inspiration from snowboarding and new events seem to derive from popular snowboard events and activities. These include halfpipe, big air, slopestyle and skiercross. They are basically tricks and jumps done in a halfpipe using skis. It is a lot harder to perform these types of tricks on skis by comparison to a snowboard so a new type of ski has been developed. They are designed for taking off and landing tricks both forwards and backwards. These skiing freestyle events are popular at the X-Games, and will soon be a part of the Winter Olympics too.

The Fun Of Alpine Skiing

November 14th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are a keen fan of winter sports you can’t wait for the first snows to fall in your favorite resort. Although there are many fun winter sports to try, alpine skiing is probably the one that most people start off with. Alpine skiing is another name for downhill skiing and along with snowboarding is the most popular winter participation sport. Everything in a ski resort is set up for alpine skiing or snowboarding, from the ski lifts to the number of groomed runs. Alpine skiing can also suit all levels of experience from complete beginner to advanced skier. This article will cover aspects of alpine skiing and some things to look out for.

Alpine skiing can be as tame or intense as you want. Some runs can be gentle and are small hills others are steep mountain runs which are only for advanced skiers. Most people new to alpine skiing will choose the beginner’s slopes just to get comfortable with sliding down the hill and learning how to stop. The beginners slopes are normally situated at the bottom of the mountain close to all the facilities. They allow the beginner to perfect snowplow turns, get their initial balance on skis and learn how to stop. More experienced skiers will take the ski lift or chair to the top of the mountain where they can select a run that is suitable to their level of experience. All alpine skiers agree that the sensation of skiing down a hill or mountain is quite a rush and they enjoy the adrenaline pumping through them when they do.

The Evolution of Alpine Skiing

Before the advent of the ski lift, you either had to hike up the mountain with your skis or you stuck with cross country skiing, the forerunner of the alpine version. Alpine skiing is a rather popular pastime in ski resorts and other areas with available snow covered hills and mountains. The mix of the people, topography of the land and even the texture of the snow all contribute to the overall alpine experience.

Learning To Alpine Ski

Practice definitely makes perfect when it comes to skiing downhill just as with any other type of sport. The skiing itself is simple but you must have some skiing ability in order to manipulate your skis so that you can direct yourself where you want to go as well as ski at a speed you are comfortable with. Many beginner skiers wrestle with this problem and learning these skills well enough to tackle more challenges slopes is quite a test of your abilities.

The best way to learn fast is to go for ski classes for the first week. These classes will take you through the basics of skiing. You will learn simple things like putting the skis on, storing the skis, basic safety precautions, skiing etiquette. You will also learn simple turns and controlling your speed using the snowplow method. You will learn how to stop. Eventually by the end of the week you will be thinking about parallel turns and will start to look more competent.

This is the beginning of your education. You may be more confident to go up the mountain and try some ski trails or blue runs. The more you do the more things will start to click until you can try more challenging runs. You can try moguls or terrain skiing through trees and rocks.

However you may find that having a ski class every year is a good idea. It will help you refresh your skills if you haven’t skied since last season and it is a good way to make friends and skiing buddies. If you are more advanced the ski instructor also takes you around the mountain so you get a ski guide that can show you round the mountain too.

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