Are you physically conditioned to ski? Because it’s that time of year again. The peaks are snow-capped. The slopes show a hint of white. It’s time to prepare our bodies for the winter ski season. Skiing is a different beast from summer sports. There are few summer sports that can compare to the physical act of skiing. Therefore, to ski your best this winter, you will want to practice these basics of sports conditioning. If you get lots of physical exercise on a regular basis, and you have no injuries, then you can start your ski conditioning as few as 4-6 weeks before hitting the slopes. Optimally, ski conditioning should start as early as 8 weeks before the season begins.
When getting in shape to ski, you should begin by toning your legs. Your cardio, or aerobic, exercise should be your main means of leg-toning. Choose cardio exercises that simulate skiing, whenever possible. For cardio, cross-country ski machines and slide-boards are two good choices. Taking aerobics classes are also helpful. Classes make you move in different directions, focus on the legs, and work on a cross-training basis. But since skiing can be very anaerobic, using brief bursts of power (”hitting the slopes”) followed by reduced intensity and rest (chairlift), you should try to practice anaerobic work-outs, too. Include powerful bursts of intensity throughout your cardio work-outs.
While cardio should be your main focus, you can also tone your legs for skiing with strength training. Lunges and squats, for example, are the two best exercises for toning legs, for any sport or just to create a hot ****! Lunges are probably the single-best exercise for creating skiers’ legs. Unless you have a knee injury, you can usually hold heavier dumbbells. Make sure you keep your torso upright, and keep your feet very wide apart from each other. Form is crucial! Flexibility training should include loosening legs, hips, and torso. Yoga may be helpful, as it also improves your balance and breathing. If you stretch on your own, without yoga, you’ll want to include rotation. Loosen the torso and hips, and make them ready to turn.
To get in shape faster, you can add some natural therapies to your daily program. Get a sports massage. Eat healthier, including lots of lean proteins and vegetables. Use a sauna, especially the Far Infrared Saunas. And ice sore muscles. To tone up to ski, you’ll want to include the three main types of exercise: cardio (aerobic and anaerobic), strength training, and flexibility. Emphasize the legs, and loosen the hips and torso, but work the whole body. There are also extra options to maximize getting in shape. As you prepare for each pre-ski work-out, imagine yourself swooshing through fresh Aspen powder!
By: Nina Schnipper
About the Author:
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 5th, 2010. 
Although nowadays cross country or nordic skiing is viewed as the little sister of alpine skiing, it
should be the other way around. Alpine skiing wasn’t invented until the 1930s, whereas cross country
skiing has been around for 4000 years, originating as a way for hunters to get around in
the Scandinavian mid winter.
Based on a natural walking motion, it’s very easy to pick up. Novices that have “defected” from the
alpine slopes are often amazed that they can master the basic techniques on their first day,
compared with the days of painful sidestepping endured on the nursery slopes to learn to ski
downhill.
As you don’t need a ski lift to start, it’s much easier to get off the beaten track. Skiers often
comment on the wonderful stillness of the forest in winter, where the only noise breaking the
silence is the gentle swoosh of their skis. In Scandinavia, ptarmigan and Arctic foxes are often
spotted on the trail; in Canada, moose sightings are common. It’s also much kinder on the
environment, cross country trails are normally hiking or biking tracks in the summer whereas the
mountains are “scarred” with defunct chair lifts once the snow melts on the Alpine slopes.
And unlike downhill skiing, this is a sport that can last you a lifetime without taking a lifetime to learn.
A low impact aerobic exercise, there’s no jarring of joints so grandchildren and grandparents can take
to the trails together.
How you do it
Moving forwards
There are two basic techniques – classic and skating. Classic is when you “push and glide” in pre-prepared tramlines carved into the snow. By placing your weight on one leg to push, you then glide forward on the ski that has no weight on it. By alternating this step you move forward easily in the tramlines that keep the tips of your skis straight, so it’s ideal for beginners. The skating technique is favoured by more athletic, lycra clad types. It’s based on the same push and glide idea, but here
how to do it you ski out of the tramlines and your ski tips are pushed out in opposite directions as you ski, like the opposite of a snow plough.
Going Uphill
Yes, you do ski uphill – but it’s not as difficult as it sounds! To do this you can either side step
digging your ski edges in to stop you falling backwards, or make a V with your skis digging
your edges in and walk up this way. Remember there’s bound to be a nice glide downwards at
the top.
Heeelp! I can’t stop!
It’s great when you’re swooshing down the tramlines with no pushing needed, but
sometimes you’ll want to ease off on the speed. To do this, either bend down and sit on your
skis, reducing your centre of gravity naturally slows you. Or take one ski out of the tramline
and use it as a brake. It’s also possible to come out of the tramlines all together and do a full
snowplough as you would in alpine skiing.
What you’ll need
Skis
Cross country skis are light and long – normally as tall as the skier using them – helping you move forwards easily. But you also need some friction to stop you sliding backwards. Favoured by beginners, waxless skis have a herringbone mesh to give you some grip. Aficionados prefer skis that need
coating with wax to give you some grip. By using different wax for the temperature, a waxed ski improves your glide as it creates just enough friction without slowing you down like a waxless ski can do in some snow conditions. But they’re more fiddly!
Boots and bindings
Cross-country ski boots are like a trainer that allows your foot and ankle the full movement necessary to push you at the toe. Under the toe of the boot there’s a clip that slots into a groove on the ski.
Poles
Ski poles come up to your shoulders, giving you the extra “push” needed to keep you gliding along.
Clothes
Unlike downhill skiing, no costly clothes are required. First timers can get by in a pair of jogging trousers with a pair of waterproof trousers over the top, a thermal vest, a fleece and a light waterproof over jacket. You’ll also need a warm hat and a pair of sunglasses.
Want to give it a try?
If this has whetted your appetite for a touch of nordic skiing, your next port of call should be a specialist in cross country skiing holidays such as Headwater Holidays. We’ve years of experience and can help you to choose the best location for your holiday. So wrap up warm, strap on your skis, and give it a go!
By: Catherine Crone
About the Author:
The Old School House, Chester Road, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1LE, United Kingdominfo@headwater.com
http://www.headwater.com
+44 1606 720033
Read more on Nordic? No Problem! A Guide To Cross Country Skiing…
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 5th, 2010.
Water skiing began in 1922 when eighteen-year-old Ralph Samuelson of Minnesota declared that if you could ski on snow you could ski on water. He first tested this theory on Lake Pepin in Lake City, Minnesota, towed by his brother Ben. The two brothers spent several days experimenting before July 2, 1922 when Ralph discovered that leaning back with the ski tips in the air lead to successful waterskiing. The first skis the brothers used were made form barrel staves, then they progressed to snow skis before Ralph fashioned the first pair of water dedicated skis from some lumbar he purchased and shaped. These skis were bound to the feet with leather straps and a long window sash was used as a tow rope.
Ralph continued to experiment with and perfect his waterskiing technique and equipment and on July 8, 1925 during a Lake Pepin exhibition he performed the first ever water ski jump using a 4′ x 16′ greased ramp. Ralph Samuelson never patented any of his waterskiing equipment; that was first done by Fred Waller in 1925 who patented his Dolphin Akwa-Skees and in 1940 Jack Andresen invented the first trick ski, a shorter finless version of the standard ski.
As a result of Ralph Samuelson’s work and the development of equipment, waterskiing soon became an exhibition sport in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. The first competition was staged in 1939 when the American Water ski Association was formed and held the National Water Ski Championships at Jones Beach on Long Island, New York. Since then recreational water skiing has grown massively in popularity with recent surveys showing over 11 million water skiers in the US alone. This is despite the high costs of the equipment, boat, tow vehicle, fuel and fees associated with the sport which tends to make it a pastime for wealthier families.
As the sport progressed more competitions were held and events were split into three disciplines, slalom, trick and jump. Competitive water skiers compete against their own gender and within their own age group, some competitive water skiers are in their 80s so its never to late to take part!
Slalom Skiing
Originally the slalom course was just a row of buoys in a straight line which the skier had to ski in and out of, but the course has been modified over the years. Today the slalom course is a series of buoys set in a straight path 8 feet apart and a series of 6 pre arranged buoys which make the entrance and exit gates. The boat travels down the middle of the buoys at a specified speed and the skier zig-zags behind the boat to get around the buoys. The boat driver needs to be skilled too; it is a challenge to keep a straight path while keeping in a
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 5th, 2010.
Skiing is loads of fun, but when you’re just starting out it can seem a bit daunting. It seems like everyone suggests a whole stack of things you need to take with you, so that in the end you either get confused or spend a whole lot of money on things you really don’t need. Sometimes it seems easier and cheaper to just forget about skiing, to save yourself the hassle! But relax – I’ve listed some of the basic essentials you need for skiing, so that you can have a clear idea of what you really need, and don’t waste your money on other stuff.
- Waterproof is essential! Check out your wardrobe and take anything that’s waterproof. Skiing can be cold and wet, and the last thing you need is to get soaked. It’s even better if you have waterproof mittens or gloves, particularly if you can wear your water resistance jacket or parka over the top of them. Keeping warm and dry on the slopes helps you enjoy yourself.
- Cotton is a bad idea. Choose wool based or synthetic materials, as they help to keep moisture away from your skin. This will also help you stay warm and dry throughout the day.
- Take along some energy bars. Once you get out on the slopes, it can be a long time between snacks, and skiing is generally quite hard work. So stuff some energy bars into your pockets, and you’ll be able to give yourself an energy fix when you need help to keep going.
- ID and some cash. Okay, nobody wants to think about the possibility of something going wrong, but it’s better to be prepared. Have some identification on you, and a little bit of cash just in case.
- Fluid! When it’s freezing cold and wet, you might think that you don’t need to worry about being hydrated. But in fact the air on a snowfield is generally quite dry, and you will be working hard. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
Obviously this list of basics doesn’t include your actual skiing equipment, but it’s pretty easy to work out what you need there and either buy or hire it. But although you can probably ignore the things on this list and still go skiing, the bottom line is that by being a little better prepared, you’ll have a much better time skiing.
By: Tim Gorman
About the Author:
Read more on Enjoy Your Skiing Trip More By Following These Essential Ski Tips…
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 5th, 2010.
Many people believe that Alaska has some of the best skiing anywhere in the world. The Alyeska Resort is located in Girdwood, Alaska, approximately 50 miles from the city of Anchorage. With a top elevation of 2751 feet and a vertical drop of 2501 feet, the ski area enjoys an average of 631 inches of snow every year.
Although Alaska boasts some of the best skiing in the world, you won’t find the slopes particularly crowded and there are no long lift lines. There are nine lifts, including six chair lifts and two surface lifts and one cable car line. There are 68 trails. Mount Alyeska is a fairly challenging mountain, and has a much higher percentage of advanced and expert runs, compared to most other mountain resorts in North America. It has a small section for the novice, but the rest of the mountain is almost entirely for the intermediate and the advanced skiers.
For international visitors, here are a few phrases that will help you. For “line” read “queue”, for “surface lift” think “drag lift”. Maybe you are used to skiing down a “piste” or a “run” but in Alaska you ski a “trail”! That wasn’t so hard, was it?
For a completely different experience, night time skiing is allowed, which makes your ski experience far more adventurous. You will see snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers and of course, the famous Northern Lights.
The season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid-November and runs through mid-April. This area of Alaska boasts the longest daytime areas in the United States, with approximately sixteen hours of daylight each day during April. During December, however, there are only about seven hours of daylight – which will be broadly in line with European resorts.
The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to stay! Here you will enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly entertainment is available as well. There are other nightlife spots in the area as well, that are not associated with the Hotel.
If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities that can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska Resort include flight seeing, heli-skiing, ocean cruising tours, dog sledding, ice climbing, back country skiing, mountaineering, and polar bear viewing.
The Alyeska Resort offers a top winter vacation. Brave the elements and then return to the Hotel for some pampering. There are activities for the whole family to enjoy and there are many sights and attractions to be enjoyed as well. This really is a first class winter family ski vacation!
By: Richard Barker
About the Author:
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 5th, 2010.
Get yourself in shape for this coming skiing season by doing these few simple exercises twice a week;
Dumb Bell Squats.
Works Glutes and quads.
Good for Strength and stamina in your upper legs to stay in a crouching position on the slope.
1 Stand with a pair of dumb-bells in your hands, your arms at your sides, and your feet shoulder-width apart. Using dumb-bells instead of a bar may require a stronger grip but they’ll help keep you balanced.
2 Keeping your back straight and eyes forward, slowly squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Straighten your knees to rise back up to the start position. Perform 3 sets of 20 repetitions.
Pivoting Calf Raises.
Works Calves
Good for Building up your ankles, helping to keep them injury-free.
1 Stand with the ball of your right foot on the edge of a step. Tuck your left foot behind your right knee, so all your weight is on your right foot. Bend your ankle to drop your heel, making sure it doesn’t touch the ground.
2 Raise yourself up pushing on the ball of your foot. Holding your right foot in the same place, pivot your heel 30 degrees left, perform an up-down move, then repeat to the right. This is one rep. Do 4 sets of 15 reps on each leg.
Pull-ups
Works Back, biceps and shoulders
Good for Upper-body strength, meaning you can absorb the impact when you fall.
1 Grab the pull-up bar with an overhand grip that’s shoulder-width apart. Hang with your elbows extended.
2 Pull up until your chin crosses the bar. Pause then slowly return down, without swaying. Do 3 sets of 8 reps.
Prone skydiver.
Works Lower back and core.
Good for Giving you a strong and flexible back that will help you in the turns and twists.
1 Lie on your stomach with your hands behind your head, fingers interlaced.
Make sure your feet are on the floor and stay there throughout the move.
2 Slowly raise your chest as high as you find comfortable. Hold this position for 15 seconds, then lower your chest and head. Perform 3 sets
Dips
Works Chest and triceps
Good for Upper-body strength, which will transfer into improved balance on the slopes.
1 Grab the parallel bars of a dip station and lift yourself up so that your weight is resting on your hands, and your arms are straight but not locked. Bend knees and cross your ankles behind you. Keep elbows close to your sides
2 Slowly lower yourself for a count of 4 until your upper arms are parallel to the floor. Lean forward to target your chest. Press yourself back up, keeping your elbows unlocked at the top of the move.
Do 3 sets of 18 reps.
Figure Of Four Double Crunch
Works Abs and obliques
Good for Improving balance and building strength so you can keep pulling yourself up off the ice.
1 Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands lightly behind your ears. Rest your right ankle on your left knee and raise your left foot a couple of inches off the floor. This is the starting position.
2 Slowly curl your head and torso forward while bringing your left knee towards you. Pause, lower yourself and repeat for a set. Switch positions so your left ankle is on your right knee and repeat the move for another set. Perform 3 sets of 20.
Hopefully these exercises should keep you injury free this ski-ing [http://www.nike-trainers.com] season and help you improve your technique.
By: Harwood E Woodpecker
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Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 4th, 2010.
The Parallel Turn (or Christie as it used to be known) is the final turn that most beginners learn in ski schools. Although not used a great deal by people who have discovered the Bog Standard Plough Parallel and stuck to it, it is nevertheless excellent grounding for more advanced technique. Its simple difference to the aforementioned turn is that there is no initiating stem*. The skis are parallel all the time and are unweighted by a slow down and up slow motion.
*It is possible to turn your skis while straight running with a rotation of first one thigh and then almost immediately afterwards the other thigh. For example, you want to turn left so you rotate the right thigh in the direction you want to go, ie: anti clockwise, and then the left thigh in the same way. To turn right, you would rotate the left thigh to the right (clockwise) and then the right thigh. In theory this is an initiated plough (or stem), but it looks and feels like a parallel turn as there is the barest minimum of a stem.
Let’s now get back to three preliminary exercises for an unweighted parallel turn. The first is the parallel traverse with the skis alternating between flat running with the skier standing upright, and slight angulation of the knees into the slope to put the skis on their edges. This is quite difficult for a beginner, but gives him the feel of the snow sliding under the skis as he goes both sideways and forwards with the flat running, and a basic feel of edging when he angulates. If the edging is too difficult it can be overlooked at this stage.
The second exercise is the christie stop, which involves a slow straight run down the fall line. The skier angulates directly over the skis as he goes down to put the pole in, and comes up around the pole. The pole plant, which is important, goes in between the front of his boot and the tip of the ski, thereby encouraging him to get his weight forward at the start of the turn. As he turns across the fall line the skis brake by side slipping on the snow. Plenty of weight is kept on the lower ski. This should also be practised on the other traverse.
The last exercise is alternate pole plants while stationary. The pole plant is crucial; it makes the skier go down and come up in order to unweight the skis. Some teachers also try to make their pupils jump the backs of the skis off the ground as they come up. It is quite energetic and hopefully does not last for longer than an initial exercise.
The parallel turn can now be tried on the move, going down to plant the pole, up and round it, and then down to plant the other pole to prepare for the next turn. A few turns should be linked together to provide a basic rhythm. The major fault is not weighting the lower ski enough at the end of the turn, as most pupils tend to lean too much towards the pole plant and somehow stay there. This should be discouraged!
There is also a tendency for the upper body to remain square over the skis. I don’t consider this worth correcting until a skier begins to turn his upper body into the slope. It is worth encouraging a skier to keep his uphill ski a few centimetres in front of his downhill ski on a traverse as this does discourage the upper body from turning inwards.
This rounds off the early learning process. Hopefully it has reminded you what it was like at the start, and given you some idea of what you are doing now. By analyzing the basic movements learnt by a beginner, you will be well briefed for what follows in other articles.
By: Simon Dewhurst
About the Author:
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 4th, 2010.
Hit the Slopes with the HARD CORE!
Are crunches a good exercise for the core and how important is the core for skiing and snowboarding?
Before we discuss exercises for the core, we must first dive into what areas make up the “core.” Your core is not just made of up the “abs.” Your core runs from your neck down to your hips and/or from the hips up to the neck. It is also important to realize that your core is three dimensional. Meaning we have a front, back and two sides. Therefore, and effective core program should challenge all three dimensions.
In addition, your core is the center of the body. It attaches the upper body to the lower body and also the lower body to the upper body. This is vital since information during movement is traveling through the center of the body and is being sent to the extremities. A faulty core will limit how well someone can move, whether it is in the game of life or on the snowy slopes.
That being said, how does your core help you while you are on the slopes? You need core strength, core stabilization and core endurance to help you successfully manage the slope’s varied terrain and numerous conditions. If your core fails you on the slopes, you will not be able to create an effective carve, the bumps will throw you around like a rag doll and your buddies will be waiting for you at the bottom every time. You can never over-prepare your core or your body for the demands of skiing or riding.
To start, the side core will be the first area of involvement. It is also important to note that even though this is a movement for the side core, every other part of the core (front and back) will be active since they all intimately work with one another.
The Side Plank
o Line yourself up in a side plank
o Feet are double stacked
o IMPORTANT – the elbow should be directly under the shoulder when at the top of the plank
o Slowly lower the hips towards the ground
o Raise hips back up as high as you can
o Perform 10 repetitions AND 2 sets on each side
o Up and down phase should be slow and controlled
Get on a single leg and feed the machine!
Single leg exercises offer the “biggest bang for the buck.” By training on a single leg, you entire leg is activated as well as your core. Additionally, the balance requirements provide your nervous system with sensory rich stimulation that it needs to improve the communication between the extremities and your brain.
Many know the benefits and train on a single leg. If you have never done exercises on a single leg, then what are you waiting for? The benefits are countless as the exercises will transfer into any activity that you do (running, jumping, throwing, etc.). So get on a single leg and watch your snow performance improve.
Single Leg Hop:
o You are jumping straight up and down
o Your landing should be soft and absorbent (landing in a half-squat)
o Hold the landing on the first 10 hops for 2 seconds
o The last 10 hops are done at a faster pace without holding
o Do 20 total hops in a row on each leg
o Do 2 sets of 20 reps
o You can use this exercise prior to any workout as an activation drill
As with any jumps or hops, the softer and quieter the landing–the better! A full-footed ground contact is the goal with the landing. Do not just land onto the toes or the ball of the foot. Depending on where you do this exercise will determine your balance demands. The Single Leg Hop can be done in the gym or outdoors. If you are hopping on a mat, carpet, grass, snow or dirt…each offer a slightly different proprioceptive demand that will provide the nourishment that your body needs and wants. So feed the machine and reap the rewards on the mountain!
Ferrari’s Engine + Camry’s Brakes = BIG Problem!
Deceleration is a component of human movement that is often neglected in training. Think of it as absorbing force or “putting on the brakes.” How well an individual decelerates will determine how well that same individual can accelerate or produce force.
Excluding all the cardiovascular benefits that come from hiking, as an exercise…hiking is very unique in the way that the movement system is stimulated. During the climb, acceleration or force production is primarily emphasized. Conversely, the hike down will tax your body’s ability to decelerate. Deceleration is also one of the big factors that contribute to the “quad cook” while you are on the slopes (winter or summer).
How does improved deceleration help your skiing or riding?
While we are in the dynamic movement of skiing or riding, our body is in a constant state of reducing and producing force. The component of deceleration is what keeps us in control and in contact with the snow. If our ability to decelerate was really poor, we would collapse to the ground at every bump and turn.
On the other hand, if we were to be stiff or rigid, then any bump would throw us into the air and thus; make us lose control. When we decelerate properly, we are able to absorb and control all the imperfections of the terrain, whether they are intended (moguls) or not. Deceleration is what will translate into that smooth and effective technique that everyone desires to achieve in their snowsport of choice.
Hiking Homework for Deceleration:
o Find a steep downhill (hiking trail or ski slope)
o Carry a backpack to increase the demand
o Keep track of how often you stop and rest (progress to minimal rest)
To use hiking as a training tool for deceleration, you obviously need to get to some elevation. Since deceleration involves going downhill, you may have to go uphill first. Although, some of you may have access to an area in which you go downhill first. Either way, you will get in your deceleration training. The difference will be whether you do it before or after an uphill climb. We suggest you try both if you have the option since there will be a noticeable difference 
By: Alex Chemerov
About the Author:
Read more on Discover 3 New Ways To Exercise For Downhill Skiing…
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 4th, 2010.
If you are planning a skiing vacation or maybe you are already at the resort and are preparing for a day of skiing then there is a lot to think about. This is especially so if you are new to winter sports. You need to get your skis, boots and poles. You need to organize your lift pass and then you need to hook up with your ski class. Without these things your day would be unsuccessful, however there are a few other things that people often overlook that can also impact on your day. Here is a checklist of 7 things you may need on the ski slopes.
First thing to take is a trail map. No doubt you have looked at the trail maps that are dotted throughout the resort or even at your pocket version but it is essential that you take it with you when you are skiing. Despite your studies you will need to refer to it at least a few times on the first day. Maybe less as the week goes by but it is always handy to have especially if you take a turn that you are not used to.
Lip balm and sunscreen. The lips are very sensitive to the sun and wind. They are one of the few parts of your body that will be exposed to the elements. Make sure they are protected as chapped lips can spoil your vacation. Take a small tube of sunscreen and top up every few hours or so. This is mainly around the face and ears but this depends on the weather and what you are wearing. If it a pleasant day you may decide to ski in a shirt and will need to protect the shoulders and arms.
Something to clean your goggles or sunglasses. Sunglasses often come with a bag that doubles as a cleaner so this is fairly easy to cater for unless you have lost the bag a long time ago like me. If you don’t have the bag then any cloth, like a chamois, will do the trick. Obviously you need to be able to see where you are skiing so clear vision is essential. I’d suggest goggles or glasses are essential too as the glare from the snow is too much even on an overcast day. Goggles are best but sunglasses are more comfortable in my opinion (depending on the type of skiing you are doing).
Carry some water and a snack. There are many cafes and rest stops dotted around the slopes and you won’t have to look far to get a drink at the bottom of the slope but a bottle of water is handy if you need a break during a run. It also means you don’t have to stop skiing for too long. As for a snack, I like a chocolate bar and skiing is my excuse to indulge my chocoholic tendencies. Other people may take an energy bar or even a sandwich.
A cell phone is a good device to have on you if you have an accident or need to keep in touch with friends. You need to find out where to meet up for lunch at the very least ! Take your wallet with some form of id and a credit card or small amount of money. You don’t want a heavy wallet weighing you down.
By: Adrian Whittle
About the Author:
Read more on Snow Skiing Checklist – 7 Things You Should Carry On the Ski Slopes…
Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 4th, 2010.
On your next winter ski vacation, you don’t need to leave the kids behind. Nowadays, children can not only take part in many winter sports, but you may find they even excel at them. Here are some tips for making your next ski trip fun for you and for your kids.
Health Considerations
Before you set off on your trip, consider the fact that some children, generally very young children, 6 and under, should not generally be exposed to intense cold or high altitudes. Children with ear problems may be miserable at a high altitude, leaving everyone in the family with a cloud over their trip. Some children with hyperactivity disorders may also not be right for a winter ski trip. A child who is hyper may not take too well to being stuck in a lodge or hotel room for long periods of time when a winter storm hits.
Choosing The Right Apparel
In order for kids to enjoy skiing safely, you must not overlook the importance of the right apparel. Since children are much smaller than adults, they will be more sensitive to the cold. Don’t forget that they are closer to the ground, so every part of their body needs to be shielded properly from the cold. Some parents may try to put their own apparel on the child, but this is a mistake. It’s extremely important for the child to have their own set of ski apparel. This is for safety first and comfort secondly. If you try and fit on a sweater or coat that has longer sleeves than their arms, this can be a safety issue with the child not being able to steer properly or the sleeve may get caught easily on other gear. These days, there are special stores dedicated to children’s winter apparel and ski gear. You owe it to yourself and your children to visit one and get the right gear for each child.
Choosing The Right Gear
Once you have the right ski apparel for your child, you need to choose the actual ski gear. This includes the skis, boots, poles, gloves, goggles and other accessories. Each element should fit your child appropriately, not be too loose or tight and be comfortable. Before each ski trip, you’ll want to check the fit of each element again, to see if the child has grown out of it, some items may need to be repurchased or refitted.
Safety First
Safety should, of course, be the #1 consideration for all parents. Children should also have extra safety gear when skiing. These include a helmet and extra pads including knee and elbow pads. Some other safety devices are also available to make skiing safer and more fun for both the parent and child, these include a fawn cushion, which is a cushion that attaches to the rear end of your child to cushion what may be many falls and a ski trainer harness which allows a parent to pull the child behind them on the slopes.
Armed with these tips, you should be able to make more informed decisions about the apparel, ski gear and safety gear. Most of all, however long your ski trip will be, don’t forget that the point of the trip is to have fun as a family.
By: Charley Lawrence
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Filed under Recreation And Sports by on Sep 3rd, 2010.