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What To Pack for your Ski Holidays

November 11th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are new to ski holidays you may wonder what you need to pack for the trip.  Packing comes down to three things. Your ski gear, your ski clothing and clothing for non skiing activities. If you are new to ski holidays the chances are you don’t have your own ski gear. So this article will cover the kinds of things you need to keep warm during your stay and the other clothes you need when you are not skiing.

What Kind of Ski Clothing Do You Need

For ski holidays, you should keep your mind on layering of clothes when you pack your suitcases. A good tip is to pack in the order that you put on your ski attire so you will be less likely to forget anything. Begin with your primary base layer which would be your long underwear and follow it with your middle layers which usually consist of a long sleeve turtleneck or a sweater. Your insulating layer is what traps in your body heat and could include fleece button up shirts or jackets.

The final layer to pack for ski holidays is the outer ski pants and jacket which should be weather and water proof. Pack your suitcase based on the number of days you plan to be away. However, the golden rule is typically one base layer and one mid-layer for every two days you are gone because you can wash them if necessary.

Packing Ski Equipment

Although you may not be taking ski’s, boots and poles there are some other essential items that you need when skiing. You will need to pack at least three pairs of ski socks, some form of head protection, be it a helmet of hat. You will also need gloves, sunglasses or goggles and a scarf. You will also need sunscreen and lip protection (zinc cream or lip balm).

If you do plan to take ski equipment, like ski’s, poles and boots then you need to pack them well. If you are flying to the ski resort for instance you will need a proper ski bag for the ski’s and poles. The boots will have to fit in your luggage. If you are not an experienced skier then it is probably a lot less hassle to rent this equipment at the ski resort. This saves time and effort. If you have a package holiday then you can get a really good deal of ski equipment rental.

Packing your Non-Ski Clothing

You will not be spending all your time on the slopes so you want to take other clothes for non skiing activities. Pack warm and follow the same principle with ski clothing: pack clothing that can be worn in layers so you can remove as the temperature dictates. Good boots or water proof hiking boots are a must as they will keep your feet dry and warm when you walk around the resort. There may be other activities, like swimming pools or saunas to try, so take your swimming costumes and a towel.

You also need all the regular stuff, like toiletries and grooming items. At the very least you need a ski jacket and pants and some good boots. Head gear, gloves and eye protection are also essential. Much of this stuff can be bought at the resorts but it will be quite expensive and depending on what kind of budget you are one, this might not be an option.

Do You Need No Fog Snowboard Goggles ?

November 7th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Having the right equipment can make snowboarding far more enjoyable. For instance, if you don’t have any gloves then you’ll be hitting the apres ski bars sooner than you think. The same can be said about some form of eye protect. You can get away with sunglasses to begin with but goggles are the best form of eye protection in the long run. They have a number of advantages over sunglasses such as anti fogging or no fog snowboard goggles. They also form a seal against your face that will stop any snow from blurring the vision. This article will run down some of the benefits of snowboard goggles and some thing to look for when considering a pair.

Type Of Lens

You need to check that your snowboard goggles have single or double lenses, and even though the former are cheaper, they are not as good as the latter because they are not given to fogging up on you. Another thing that you need to bear in mind with regard to the snowboard goggles is different conditions in which you will be snowboarding, and looking to having venting as well as anti-fog features is recommended. Essentially, you can expect your goggles to not fog up on you when they have double lenses and also when you use venting and also when you use some amount of chemical lens conditioning. By having venting, air will be able to circulate towards the inside of your goggles which provides fresh air to the eyes and also does not fog up the lenses so easily.

It is usual to find that snowboard goggles have small holes at the top of the lens, or there may even are slots on the side of the frame which allow for venting, and if you use chemical treatment, it is effective because of a water repelling residue left on the lens that prevents or reduces fogging on both sides of the lens.

You can also choose different colored lenses for your snowboard goggles that can suit you under different lighting conditions, and if you select gold, you will find that it will filter out blue lights and it is also very good under a whole broad range of lighting conditions. If you select black iridium, you will get mirrored coating that is good in reducing glare and it also does not distort colors and it is ideally suited when snowboarding in bright light as well as on sunny days.

Another option open to you is using bronze which is also good at providing protection in bright light, while if you want a general purpose lens, you could choose silver or green which helps in contrasting diffused lights. Other options include rose colored that are most suitable when lighting conditions are low, and purple which is also good under low lighting conditions such as when the days are overcast, or when it is snowing. The reason for his is that it enables the goggles to bring light out of shadows as also contours in light that is best described as flat.

It is best to start off with general purpose, no fog snowboard goggles. They will offer protection on three levels. Protection against the glare from sun and snow, protection from the elements and clarity of vision to ensure you don’t crash into things. Snowboard goggles are a good investment that will ensure you snowboarding is safer and more enjoyable.

Helicopter Skiing – Extreme Sports to the Max

November 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

You’ve probably been fascinated by the footage on movies and TV of skiers or snowboarders flying down a sheer mountain of pristine snow without another person for miles around. Maybe you’ve thought about doing it yourself but wondered how it is done. Well, it’s done by jumping out of a helicopter and is known as helicopter skiing or heli skiing. If you have the skills to take on such a challenge then this form of extreme sport might be for you.

The Basics of Helicopter Skiing

If you stick to the ski lifts and chairs of a resort you are limited to where you can ski. To some extent you can go off piste but for the most part you will be on groomed runs and you will be conscious of other people around you.

For more advanced skiers the desire to get on fresh or powder snow is the ultimate thrill and test of their abilities. One way to get these types of conditions is to go helicopter skiing.

As it suggests, helicopter skiing is taking a helicopter to the top of a mountain and skiing down the freshly fallen, untouched snow. You have to be an advanced and confident skier or snowboarder as you will be going down un-groomed slopes. In many cases you will be picking the run as you go down so you need experience to understand the terrain. You should also be fit and athletic.

Booking Helicopter Skiing

Helicopter skiing is generally booked through a private company devoted to helicopter skiing packages. These companies have the rights to bring skiers to areas that are inaccessible to the general public. In the United States, most helicopter skiing packages are on the Rocky Mountains. Sun Valley helicopter skiing is also possible.

If you want to travel abroad to go skiing, you can book a package in the Alps in Europe. This can be booked in Swiss, French or Italian Resorts. There are more eastern European resorts opening up to the west as Europe becomes politically unified. This includes Bulgaria and Slovenia, however it may be harder to find helicopter skiing service there. Helicopter skiing is also popular in Canada, where you will find Whistler helicopter skiing. New Zealand also has a superb skiing infrastructure and helicopter skiing is available there too.

Most companies offer several day packages. These packages include not only your helicopter transportation from run to run (usually five to ten runs in one day), but lodging and meals for your trip as well. A number of companies also employ a photographer to record your skiing.

What Should I Know Before Booking?

In the US, you should check to see if the company is a member of the US Heli Ski Association. Booking with a member gives you the peace of mind that you are in good hands. For other countries, check that they are recognized by some national skiing body or have some certification.

You should also be an advanced skier and be physically fit. Helicopter skiing is far more technically challenging than skiing down a black run. However the US Heli Ski Association recommends that you should be a solid advanced skier who can make consistent linked turns down a groomed black run.

What Snowboard Equipment Is And Isn’t Essential ?

November 2nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

For people that are interested in winter sports, it is often very exciting getting all the gear that is needed. This is especially so of snowboarding. There is plenty of equipment and accessories that are needed with snowboarding from a safety point of view and also to look good and fashionable. I would suggest you concern yourself with the safety side of things to begin with. This is the essential snowboard equipment that you need. The rest is nice to have but not essential. You won’t get hurt if you have helmet on but you might if you only concentrate on a fashionable snow jacket.

Another thing to consider is renting your board to begin with. If you haven’t snowboarded before this makes a lot of sense. A snowboard and binding can cost anything from $300 - $1000 so you want to make sure that you like the sport before you pay this type of money. Renting might cost you $100 for a week and by this time you will know if snowboarding is for you. It will also give you the added experience to make an informed decision when you do come to buy your board. If you do decide to buy a board, set yourself a budget and stick to it. Many boards that have great or original designs will be more expensive than standard boards. They may look great but do you really need one. I would suggest the answer is no. If you are still quite new to snowboarding then you need a cheap or moderately priced, general purpose, all mountain, all terrain type board. You should get good use out of a board like this. As you get more experienced you may opt for a more specific board.

Helmet And Goggles

Another important piece of safety equipment is a helmet. Many snowboarders don’t bother with a helmet because it may feel uncomfortable or heavy. It really depends what you are going to be doing. If you plan to spend most of your time perfecting jumps in the half pipe then you should wear a helmet. You might also consider knee, arm and hand protectors too. If you are just interested in freeriding and staying within the piste then this type of equipment is not really essential. If you plan to go off piste or open terrain then you may encounter rocks and trees so a helmet is a good precaution. If you are not planning to wear a helmet then some form of head wear is advisable as most of the heat in our body’s leaves via the head.

Goggles and really good but you can get away with using sunglasses to begin with. The advantage of goggles over sunglasses is that they form a seal with your face. This stops snow getting in and blurring the vision. I would suggest you use one or the other as the glare from the snow can be tiring on the eyes. If you get any speed up then you need to protect your eyes from the wind and cold.

Other Equipment

Gloves are also essential. The extremities are the worst affected by the cold. You should get water proof gloves that cover over the wrist. Thing like mitten are not good as the will get wet and make you hands even colder.

Other snowboard equipment that you will require are items such as proper snowboarding shorts that must is padded which will provide protection to your hips and also tail bone, and you will also need hip and knee pads that are required to protect the lower parts of your body from accidental twisting while falling or when running into objects.

Great Tips for Family Skiing Holidays

November 1st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Ditch the beach and the amusement parks. If you want relaxation and thrills in equal measure for all then why not try a family skiing holiday. However you may be uncertain about going on a skiing holiday with the family, especially if you have young kids. Here is some tips and advice on getting the best out of family skiing holidays.

Selecting the Ski Resort

If any of your family are new to skiing be sure to select a resort that has plenty of beginner slopes. In most cases, it will be your children that will be new to the experience so you should check out that there are good child minding facilities. In the case of ski resorts, this will mean a good ski school. Your kids will spend most of their time in a ski school, even if they have a bit of experience or are quite proficient. The school will help them to learn to ski and run various activities and functions, like races and certificate presentations. They will also make new friends with the other children in the classes. You can meet up with your children for lunch and then go to your own classes or do whatever you feel like (a few more hot chocolates or maybe a sauna).

Check out the resorts and their facilities on the Internet. This can include the type of schools available, number of runs, whether there is a snowboard park and a host of other things. For example, some resorts will have open air hot pools or be popular for the apres ski atmosphere. Some have toboggan runs, skidoos, skating and other winter activities.

Selecting the Right Package

Many ski holidays, especially family packages are best value when you book a package type holiday. This is where a separate holiday company takes care of all the bookings. They arrange the hotel, the airport transport, ski or lift passes, lessons and any equipment you need to hire. In most cases it is better to hire equipment at the resort as it can be awkward carrying skis for the whole family. The rental of most of the equipment is quite cheap and will suit most beginners and intermediates to the sport.

Ski resorts are ideal for families as they cater for all age groups and have something for just about everyone. Your kids will be able to use up all that excess energy while you can be as active or relaxed as you want. Many resorts even have excellent shopping facilities and duty free prices which is another advantage.

Types of Snow Skiing

October 22nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Snow Skiing is a sport that the whole family can take part in. In fact it is a great way for the whole family to vacation together and for the kids to make new friends at the same time. There are two types of snow skiing that a person can do. These are downhill (or alpine) skiing and cross-country skiing. Both these varieties are a great way to get exercise, enjoy the fresh air and countryside and serve as a great vacation for all the family.

Downhill Snow Skiing

This is the most popular of the two because it is easier to get started and most snow resorts cater for this type of activity. Most people start with this type of snow skiing by getting some basic instructions. They can get advice from their friends or they can take some lessons. Taking lessons is probably the best bet as you will get qualified expertise and learn how to ski properly. Most resorts have ski schools and instructors that can give you group lessons or one-on-one tuition.

Some people have a natural ability for skiing and find they only need some basic lessons before they are ready to embark onto the slopes and will learn the rest as they go along. Some may prefer a full week of lessons to get confidence to go out alone. Once you get to that stage the fun really begins.

Most people will find intermediate, advanced, and specialized lessons helpful once they get to a certain level. As you get better and try harder runs or faster speeds, technique becomes more important. Moguls (snow bumps) are a point in case, there is a technique to negotiating moguls without losing your shape or control. This can be taught to you by following an instructor. Also, skiers may want additional lessons before trying activities like racing and advanced jumps.

Regardless of a person’s skiing abilities, that individual should be very cautious with his or her speed. Going too fast at a ski resort has the potential to end in a crash, accident or injury. Control is important and some people without experience can quickly lose control and crash into other people.

Cross-Country Snow Skiing

Cross-country skiing is more for advanced winter sports enthusiasts. The equipment is slightly different to downhill snow skiing in that the ski is narrow and the binding is loose at the back of the foot. This allows the cross country skier to walk easier. The sport is a great physical work out, especially when walking up slopes. It is also far more leisurely than downhill skiing. Cross-country skiing may be more difficult for children as they may tire quickly with this type of intensive work-out.

Cross-country skiing trails exist in most ski resorts. A cross country skier is not necessarily tied to a trail if they are an advanced skier and they know the mountain well. However it is important to be familiar with the area and notify people if you are planning to go off the trails. You should also be fairly advanced in cross country and skiing in general if you are going off the trails.

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