Snow can be the best plaything on Earth. One can have a snow ball fight and make a snow man with it. One can spend a chilly Sunday afternoon sledding down it until it is nothing but muddy mush and the snow clothes need cleaning. One can use it for a home like the Eskimos and polar bears do. One can snow ski on it, either for recreational purposes or for a professional competition. Regardless of what one is skiing for, it is always fun, until someone misses getting off of the chair lift! Watch out for that skier, it is a sign that they are a beginner and will run into you, if you are in their way.

In order to ski, one needs the right equipment. No one should be skiing in shorts and a tank top, but it has been done (and not well). If you are a beginner, you will be falling a lot, and mostly on your rear. Strapping a pillow to it will not help because it will just throw your balance off. So, get some warm, cushioned snow bibs, or a snow outfit, a nice warm jacket, woolen socks, because the electric ones do not really work all that well especially when they get wet, gloves, hat, ski boots, and skis and hit the slopes, preferably the bunny hill.

The bunny hill is the hill where people learn to ski. There will be ski instructors there with classes made up of kids who are in 1st grade to grandparents who have never skied in their lives. This is the best place for a beginner to be because it is a gentle slope with minimal trees and a very slow ski speed. Here, the beginner will be taught to ski by using the “snow plow” technique. This is where the skier begins moving and has their feet in a V shape. When they want to go faster, they move their legs a little closer together. When they want to stop, they push the V out farther. This gets them ready for the next stage of skiing, the green hill.

The green hill is still for beginners, but also for novice skiers. Not too many instructors will take their classes here because skiers are working on getting the techniques of starting and stopping down, taking a chance on how fast they can go, and gaining confidence. There may be a few more trees to line the green hill or runs, but they are not in the way of the skier. They are more of a natural fence than anything else.

The blue runs are for advanced skiers. Novice skiers should not try these runs until they are skiing down the green runs without stopping, falling, or feeling afraid. The blue runs contain steeper slopes which allow the skier to “slice” down the mountain instead of using the “snow plow” technique. There may be moguls which are bumps in the snow that a skier can either ski over or ski around, but these can throw a skier off balance and into the snow, if they are not careful. The moguls here are usually visible, to give the skier time to decide what they want to do to get over the mogul.

The black diamond and double black diamond runs are the hardest runs. They contain moguls, a steep slope, sharp turns, and other obstacles that an expert skier would know how to negotiate. The thing to remember about skiing is to never leave the trail. It could kill you.

By: Ethan D Orman

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I’ve heard that skiers often bike in the off season to keep in ski shape. I have a trail in my backyard that goes about 6 miles to a bridge, where I turn around and come back. It’s probably about 5 days a week that I make this bike ride. Will doing this strengthen my legs for better skiing? I am already a fairly advanced skier, but hope to be ready for the Colorado trip this winter.

By: Sean

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At the end of a downhill skiing run, I hear cow bells sounding off, I guess I heard once before what they represented, but, I must have forgotten, so, I would like to be reminded once again, why are they sounded each time a skier finishes his downhill ski run?

By: marcyfiorica

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When you are first learning to ski and are focused so hard on what to do with your feet, your skiing poles make seem like a bother and an irritation. Of course, if you are going cross-country skiing, your poles play an important role in propelling you through the snow. But alpine and downhill skiers sometimes consider them unnecessary. The truth is, as you being to ski steeper terrain and to learn more advanced skiing techniques; your poles become more and more important.

Many people only consider skiing poles as an afterthought when they are making their equipment purchases. Usually, you’re so focused on finding boots that fit, skis of the right length, and bindings to go on the skis, that you only think of ski poles because the salesperson in the shop reminds you!

Skiing Poles have three parts. First, there’s the grip and strap at the top where you grasp the pole. Second, there the shaft is the metal tube that is the main component of the pole. Third and finally, there’s the basket near the bottom of the shaft that prevents the pole from sinking into the snow.

Skiing Pole Grips

The grip of the pole is the most important consideration when choosing a good ski pole. After all, this is the area you will handle the most. Normally, your grip will have indentations for the fingers and wider ends to provide additional hand support. The strap is simply an adjustable loop of leather or plastic that is attached to the top of the grip. Make sure the strap is loose enough to slip your hand through while you’re wearing gloves or mittens, but tight enough so that the bottom of the strap supports the bottom of your hand.

Note that wrist and thumb injuries are very common in skiing, and are often linked with a skier falling and not letting go of the pole! Also, if you’re skiing through dense trees, it is advisable to remove the pole straps from your wrists. If you snag a pole on a branch, it could pull your arm backwards and either dislocate or sprain your shoulder.

Skiing Pole Shafts

Second in importance is the shaft of the ski pole. If you are looking for something sturdy and cost-effective, choose an aluminum shaft. Aluminum is a little heavier than some current materials, but it makes for a good shaft. In fact, most rental poles you find at resorts are made of aluminum. Some of the newer materials used in shafts include graphite, graphite/carbon, and composite materials. These are much more lightweight than aluminum models, but they are more likely to break. They are also more expensive than aluminum poles.

One other factor to consider with ski pole shafts is the shape of the pole. There are curved poles for people who like to race downhill, there are models with build-in shock absorbers for mogul skiers who ski aggressively, and there are even poles with adjustable lengths available.

Skiing Pole Baskets

Finally, as for the pole basket, this is simply a disk a few inches above the tip of the ski that keeps the pole from sinking into the snow when you plant the pole in the snow. Baskets are typically made of some kind of durable plastic and come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your skiing needs. If you’re a downhill racer, choose a cone-shaped model to reduce your drag. If you’re a deep snow skier, choose a basket with a larger diameter.

The Final Word on Poles

Some of the more popular brands of ski poles are Rossignol ski poles, Swix ski poles, and Leki poles. So, as you go shopping for all your ski equipment, remember to give some thoughtful consideration to your ski poles. Pay attention to the feel of the grip in your hand, the construction of the pole shaft, and what type of basket you need for the type of snow you will normally encounter. As for the length of the pole, it’s simply a matter of your height. The best method is to turn the pole upside down, placing the grip on the floor and grab the shaft directly under the upside down basket. If your forearm is parallel to the floor, you’ve found the right length!

By: David Caban

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Remember those days of alpine skiing: you learned to snowplough and you practiced and finally perfected it. You were then instructed in the next lesson to forget about the snow plough. Now you are going to learn parallel. The skis were long and difficult to maneuver from turn to turn and your burning legs and your beads of sweat blurred the whole purpose for being on the slopes. Some of you gave up alpine skiing altogether and some switched to snowboarding, a sport that had a proven record for fast progression.

Thanks to the 1990’s and modern technology, alpine skiing has re-established itself as the user friendly snow sport. Ski manufacturers realized that by producing a more user friendly ski that was shorter and wider, alpine skiing could appeal to the masses. The alpine skis of today possess more shape, defined by side cuts. These deeper side cuts and shorter skis allow the beginning and intermediate skiers to maneuver the skis better and to carve turns more easily. For the more advanced skier, the skier has to modify their stance to allow the new shaped skis make the turns and do more of the work for them. The 1990’s skis marked a revolution in alpine skiing.

Depending on the type of alpine skiing that you will do greatly affects the type of ski and binding to buy. Keep in mind the following features when considering buying skis:

* Length of the ski,

* the weight tolerance,

* technology,

* the degree of flex in the ski

* and the side cuts or the shapes of the skis.

Ski bindings are your connection from your boot to the skis and should be purchased with the following aspects in mind: height, boot length and type, weight, and skiing skill level. Your alpine skiing will be greatly affected by this combination so be sure to buy it right.

Last but not least, be sure to wear and carry the essentials for alpine skiing. A hydration backpack and insulated thermal underwear is necessary for all skiers. See shopping for a backpack. Keep in mind the importance of food fuel and that your body needs to acclimate at high elevations. Play it safe with survival gear and join the revitalization of alpine skiing. The new shaped skis put the fun back into parallel skiing.

By: Lynn Altierineed

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I am 14 years old and I am a good skier. I have been skiing since I have been 4 and I ski about 50-60 times a year. I ski at a small mountain in NY and I am interested in getting sponsored. Any ideas or comapnys I should consider?

By: akaczor12

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I am an agressive skier, was planning on going out west but want to stay more east. I want some good skiing at a decent price, like everyone else! Any suggestions?

By: JSAL21

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Many people have different opinions about the relationship between skiing and snowboarding. Some ******** enthusiasts in these sports maintain that these two are distinct and different from each other. Nonetheless, skiing and snowboarding share the same platforms and manner of execution, namely snowy slopes and downward acceleration. This results to almost the same approach in the preparation and equipment perspectives of the two.

Whether you are a first timer or a veteran at skiing and snowboarding, you must learn how to prepare physically and mentally before subjecting yourself to the unforgettable adrenaline rush that these two sports offer. And that includes protecting yourself against possible injuries that can happen while you are speeding down the slope.

Besides training hard to improve performance level and overall skills, you must completely comply with the safety requirements to become a confident participant in these two sports. As over one hundred thousand people are unnecessarily injured in skiing and skateboarding every year, a serious effort to prepare against injury in these two sports is imperative.

In skiing and snowboarding, the key to an accident-free slide is in the preparation. Before you even take the wild ride down a snowy mountain cap, be sure to do all necessary preparations. The following tips could spell the difference between an enjoyable skiing or snowboarding vacation and a visit to the hospital.

Take skiing and snowboarding lessons. There is no such thing as a born skier or snowboarder. You need guidance from experts who have been into these sports for years so that you will improve your performance and safety in skiing and snowboarding.

With regard to your skiing or snowboarding outfit, wear clothing that is dependable against water and wind. Make sure that your apparel has enough protective features like wide collars that can be enfolded to cover your face against wind and zippers and strings that enable you to adjust your outfit easily and comfortably.

Acquire the proper equipment for skiing and for snowboarding. If you own the equipment, like skis and snowboards, have them custom-fitted to your preferences. If you are renting them, be sure to choose the ones that you will most likely be comfortable in. Having the right equipment will drastically improve your performance and lessen the chances of accidents.

Also, the temperature in the snowy caps rapidly changes. Sometimes the coldness in the slopes can be unbearable and you may find yourself losing much needed heat which could lead to other complication like loss of consciousness and tiredness. To prevent this wear head covering like helmet or headbands and gloves.

The snowy slopes in which you slide down your skis and snowboards have very low temperatures. Dress up in layers of clothing to keep the chill out. But also make sure that the fabric you are wearing on the inside is comfortable on your skin and absorbent of the sweat that is sure to come out of you because of the excitement skiing or snowboarding offers.

Do not forget to wear eye protection devices like goggles and sunglasses. Without eye protection, you are most likely to close your eyes due to cold winds as you speed down on your ski or snowboard. Sliding in closed eyes, you will certainly bump on anything and could even wake up in the infirmary the next day.

Get enough sleep the night before the big day. You need to be alert and sportive on the skiing or snowboarding slopes. A tired mind and body can cause accidents and injuries.

By: Ski Planner

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I’m looking for a pair of skis that i can use 2 do jumps, rails, etc, but still are decent for skiing normal slopes. Obviously they need duel tips, and preferably not to expensive. i’m an advanced skier, but i’m not very picky when it comes to skis. any help here would be appreciated.

By: Bill

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