First, let’s define downhill skiing. Downhill skiing, or Alpine skiing, is exactly what it sounds like, typically with longer skis than you might see in other types of skiing. Alpine skiing can be done as an amateur hobby, but also raised to the level of athletic performance and showmanship. If you’ve ever seen downhill skiing on TV in which skiers race around flags and follow a specific track, you know the level to which downhill skiing can be pursued.

Defining “non-downhill” skiing is a more complicated undertaking, so let’s stick with the concept of cross-country skiing. Many of us might be aware of cross-country skiing from activities in high school-grade physical education, in which we might have tried it out for a few weeks. Some of us enjoy this type of exercise, pursuing the edges of our own mental persistence and athletic endurance, and others long for the thrill of skiing downhill.

What you prefer says a lot about the type of exercise you might prefer. If you have always been a track sprinter or a wide receiver in football, pursuing the type of thrilling athletic activity that may not last long, downhill skiing is probably for you. The beauty of downhill skiing is that you can increase the difficulty levels as much as you like, tackling new challenges with different hills – but always make sure not to push yourself too hard.

If, however, you have always been a cyclist or a runner, someone who enjoys the serenity of exercise and the simplicity of getting out into nature, you might enjoy cross-country skiing as your winter endurance sport of choice.

But what if you don’t see yourself in either? What if you can appreciate both types of sports? Then the answer is simple to your “to ski or not to ski” question: you can have both.

You don’t have to pursue downhill skiing with the training regiment of a Winter Olympian just because you’re involved with the hobby. You can split up your winter time between high-intensity sports and low-intensity sports, just as someone during the summer who might include a running regimen with different bouts of high-intensity athletics like kickboxing.

Originally posted 2008-12-17 04:55:06.

So what kind of products should beginners look for? In addition to the most popular items – the boots and skis – you’ll want to get a grasp on the kind of accessories that only experienced skiers know you’ll need for a comfortable, fun time. So while even beginners are aware of the equipment they’ll need to start sliding down those slopes, here are two more suggestions you might not have thought of:

• The ski rack – Duh, right? Well, many people don’t think of it, and once they’ve acquired everything they need to start out their skiing career on a high note, they have no graceful way of bringing their ski equipment with them. Ski racks will attach to your cars, usually on your rear bumper, where skis can easily be inserted, and you’ll be able to pack without doing any difficult moving or jostling just to get some very long objects to fit in the back of your car. If you’re bringing friends with you, a ski rack is a must-have piece of equipment.

  A ski rack also makes an interesting gift idea for someone who otherwise has every piece of ski equipment they’ll need: if you know they’re still stuffing their skis in the backseat, you know they’re prime for a ski rack. Giving a gift someone can actually use is a great idea.

• The DryGuy forced air dryer – If you’ve already got the wool socks, the long underwear, and the long wrist gloves, then you’ve got a good “under-layer” going for yourself, and you should be ready to keep warm. But what about the stuff that has to, you know, actually touch the snow?

  DryGuy produces a dryer that can be used for your ski boots to make them acceptable for packing again, or even just blast them with some dry air to make them more comfortable for the next time you put them on. Imagine having a portable dryer with you not only to take the moisture out of your ski equipment, but to warm them up with a nice clean blast of air: that’s an accessory many don’t think of.

These are great products, but whatever you do, don’t wait until you have everything purchased before getting to those slopes: you’ll never have everything possible, and you’ll never be totally prepared for every hardship coming your way. But with a little planning and snooping around, you can find some great accessories that will make your skiing trips more enjoyable and more practical. Be sure to check these items out as you look for the best products to enhance your skiing trips with.

Originally posted 2008-11-17 04:55:55.

That simple question doesn’t address all of the differences between skiing and hiking, but this article will attempt to address them. If you’re looking for a new, active hobby that takes you out of the house or apartment, you’ll want to consult some of these questions yourself:

• What bothers you more: swatting mosquitos or snow in your socks? – This is an appropriate question, because no matter how many precautions you take, there will probably a point in which getting out to hike or ski won’t be totally comfortable. That’s part of the experience, it’s part of the challenge, and it’s part of what makes the difference between the outdoors and the indoors so vital. So which would bother you more? Which challenges are you willing to put up with in the pursuit of your hobby?
• What excites you more: reaching the summit and catching the view, or blazing your way back down the hill? – Hiking and skiing both have a certain “thrill” factor in common, but they get there two different ways. Skiers accomplish it with raw speed, agility, and a healthy relationship with the snow underneath them. Hikers accomplish it by surmounting the obstacle of gravity and hopefully getting to a place where they can enjoy an unforgettable view – a view that they earned. Are you a thrillseeking adventurer, or a reflective outdoorsman?
• What kind of equipment can you see yourself acquiring? – Many people put on their first set of ski boots and wonder how they could ever pursue a hobby that requires such goofy attire. Others put on a backpack and wonder how they could ever pursue a hobby that requires such boring luggage. Either way you’ll probably be looking at using either poles or sticks. If you can’t see yourself in either one of these particular getups, it might be a clue that your personality doesn’t mesh with one of these hobbies.
• Which logistics can you handle: the ski-lifts or the walking? – With each particular activity, different logistics are associated: ski-lifts with skiing, and hiking with, well, hiking. What do you see yourself enjoying more – the view from a ski-lift or a brisk walk through the woods?

Keep in mind that these questions are not the end-all for deciding which hobby is best for you. In reality, you’ll want to find a hobby based on your own inclinations, and you’ll probably do yourself a favor by listening to your own instincts. If something in this article clicked for you – for example, if you found a particular question hitting home – than you have your first clue on what could be a great pursuit.

Originally posted 2008-11-13 04:55:24.

So how do you find ski buddies? It’s not always easy, especially if you’re new to skiing, because of two reasons: one, it’s not always easy meeting new people and two, it’s nearly impossible to “force” a friend into enjoying a hobby that you enjoy. Two human beings have different wiring, and unless you’re able to find someone who is already sharing your passions, you might have to find some new buddies for skiing.

Here are a breakdown of these two fundamental ways to ski with friends, and how to go about them.

1. Skiing with “old” friends –

Old friends simply refers to friends you knew before you started skiing. This is a difficult thing to do if your friends aren’t interested in skiing. Keep in mind that you won’t usually be able to convince anyone logically to “enjoy” something that you enjoy. It just won’t happen. People have other wants, other needs, and they see themselves as having totally different identities.

For this reason, you don’t want to force your friends to ski – at all. All it will do is make them resent you for trying to force your personal identity on them, and they might just get frustrated with the whole thing. It’s best not to drown your friends in new skiing stories, but instead be the same person you always were, only with a different hobby. By all means, invite your friends, but lead yourself before you try to help anyone else. Go skiing alone before forcing friends to ski.

2. Finding new ski friends – This might actually happen naturally, depending on your level of commitment so skiing. People who drive headfirst into new endeavors and stick with it find themselves developing a healthy obsession, and this healthy obsession often leads you to find like-minded people. It’s easy to say why: you enjoy doing the same things, and your similar personalities probably both lead you to skiing for the same reason. It’s easy to find someone to relate to when you’re both doing something in common.

   The challenge with new ski friends isn’t having them as friends, but balancing your “old” gang with your “new.” So what? Forget balance, and simply enjoy yourself; it’s not your job to perform a juggling act, and if you remain laid back and relaxed, friends will appreciate the fact that you have a life.

Originally posted 2008-12-04 04:55:05.

Without using a brace similar to the ones mentioned it can be a disaster attempting to ski. It can be downright painful and awkward but it can also be extremely dangerous and often will cause a greater degree of damage to the already injured knee. Be confident in using a knee brace but also use good judgment when selecting one. These were designed with those that can not stay away from the slopes in mind. Look at the brace like you would a pair of shoes in terms of a comfortable fit. If the brace is uncomfortable or bulky, it will not suit your needs at all. It could also cause even greater injury. Contrary to what you may have heard in the past, knee braces are not standard or one size fits all. These braces are specifically designed for specific knee injures for people that will be skiing.

Often the braces will be ranked from mild to severe knee injuries and obviously the greater the injury the more support the knee is going to require. Sometimes the knee will respond nicely with just a knee sleeve. If the injury is greater than you might have to consider wearing a more serious knee brace such as ones that protect the knee while it is in motion. The final choice of knee braces should include one that fits snug but know now that if you start looking for custom braces these is in the higher price range. These are usually only necessary with very severe injuries. Knee braces will actually help to heal your injury too and there will be no reason to miss out on some skiing as long as you are willing to invest a bit of cash and the time that it takes to find one.

An important factor to also consider is when to finally break down and get that knee brace. The best advice there is to get one at the very first sign of trouble. Don’t wait until the problem is out of control. The knees and the back are the two biggest spots for injury with a skier. Support the knees as well as the back. Don’t ignore that sudden pain or discomfort or play it off as something simple because before you know it this problem can become very serious. While some knee injuries won’t take you off of the slopes they do have to be addressed. If you can remember this then you will likely have many good years of skiing ahead of you.

Originally posted 2008-10-29 04:55:53.

Snowboard Bindings

Your snowboard bindings.

What are snowboard bindings?

They’re the part of the snowboard that encase your foot, allowing you to attach your boots and remain fastened to the board itself. Once you’ve purchased a board that suits your skills (finding the right length, style, and even design), the second part of the board you have to handle will always be the bindings.

There is more than one type of snowboard binding – make sure you peruse this list before you decide what’s best for you:

-Step-in Bindings:

Step-in Bindings are pretty self-explanatory, allowing you to “step in” to your bindings with maximum convenience. This is typically better for the beginner who isn’t necessarily looking for peak performance. Beginners or novices are usually looking for convenience over performance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a step-in binding won’t work for more advanced boarders, either. Make sure you shop around to find the step-in bindings that most closely meet your convenience and performance needs.

-Strap-on Bindings:

Strap-on Bindings look like shoes with Velcro laces – a back plate guides your boot in while two straps cover the base of your foot as well as the toes. These are typically used with “soft boots,” so make sure that you have the correct and optimal boots before you decide to opt for a strap-on binding. This type of binding will typically give you greater control over your board, making you more agile, but will take an extra moment to “lace up.”

-Plate and Lever Bindings:

These bindings, associated with hard boots, will give you the most direct control over your snowboard. With more control can come less comfort, particularly if you’re a novice snowboarder who doesn’t need that degree of control for your boarding attempts. But if you’re serious about snowboarding, these might be the right bindings for you, as they cut out on lost energy between your feet and the board, making the board more like an extension of your body than something you simply “ride on.”

This brief guide to the different types of snowboard bindings should help you get an idea of the different options available to you. If you’ve already got a snowboard bind that works well for you and gives you an adequate amount of control and safety, there’s no need to make any changes. But if you’re looking for an upgrade, you might want to explore one of these snowboard binding options.

Photo Credits: Ted Percival

Free Fall

Any active sport like snowboarding or skiing carries a certain amount of risk. After all, if you’re going to expose yourself to new challenges and fun adventures, there has to be even a slight amount of danger if the element of adventure is going to mean anything. Most of the time, this danger is minimal, but you should still be aware of some basic safety precautions that could help you prevent injuries while snowboarding.

In this article we’ll take a look at some of those injuries that snowboarders commonly come across and we’ll learn how to do our beset to prevent them.

First, understand the high risk of wrist injuries.

Yes, snowboarding is generally a leg-driven sport, but it really incorporates different aspects of the entire body. When you fall, what are you going to use to break that fall? In all likelihood, you’ll put your hands out to cushion yourself. That puts a lot of pressure on the wrists, and this is where a lot of accidents happen.

Spraining or fracturing your wrist can mean a lot of time away from the ski hill, so you’ll want to make sure and take proper precaution in order to avoid injuring them. One way to help prevent these injuries is to actually practice how you fall. Learn how to take the impact on your body with the parts that better absorb impact, including your elbows and even your butt. Also, wearing a helmet will help you to skip the “head-protection” instinct in order to protect the other parts of your body. Don’t ignore your head even if you have a helmet on, but be prepared for injuries of all types.

Second, know your equipment.

You won’t only find equipment to protect your wrists, but you’ll find knee guards, ankle guards, and helmets that will help you absorb a greater amount of impact without injury. You’ll especially want to wear these pads if you’re a novice, but that’s no reason to shun them once you feel you’ve developed to a competent level. There’s always a risk for injury, and there’s no point in looking good if you can’t feel good and avoid those tough snowboarding injuries.

Remember that injuries are part of any active sport, and to some extent you should expect some sort of pain to happen. That’s not a reason to avoid these activities; rather, it is something to keep in mind so that you can take the proper precautions and live an adventurous, active life without as many bumps and bruises. Just keep injury prevention as a daily habit for yourself, and you can continue to enjoy the slopes.

Photo Credits: t a k k

Originally posted 2009-04-14 05:30:29.

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.

Skiers that are just starting out can often be taken by surprise when they discover how different the snow can be and how it can change daily. A novice skier might ski one day and get a good feel for the snow and believing that he has this skiing thing down pat only to discover the next day that all that has changed. What could have been lovely powder yesterday can be crud today? Advanced skiers usually find this pretty fun because it offers a sense of adventure, never knowing what the terrain will be like and after all it is part of the fun, but it can be frustrating for the novice. The thing with this is that you have to practice and once you get all types of snow down pat, it won’t matter at all. The factor that dictates what type of snow conditions that you will be faced with depends on what type of weather has come through and how many people have been skiing on the terrain.

When the weather is very cold the snow generally stays dry and dry snow provides the powder that many skiers love. The problem is that the more people that ski on that snow the more dense it will become and as the snow becomes older and more worn it then begins to develop icy patches while the snow melts and then refreezes. Because it can vary so much it is really important to know what lies ahead.

Powder snow is now snow; it’s fluffy and hasn’t been skied on yet. Most skiers are in search of this type of snow but there is a problem, it doesn’t stick around long. Avid skiers have been known to do crazy things and drive insane distances to be the first to ski the powdery slopes. The technique for skiing on powder snow is very unique and the beginner might fall often but even the falls are fun. The secret to skiing on powder is to distribute your weight evenly and because powdery snow is very delicate each step will likely cause the snow to sink in. Most avid skiers know to place more weight towards the rear of the skis while skiing on powder.

Then there is crud which is basically used snow or snow that has been skied on. The more skiing that is conducted in an area the more the snow will become packed leading to a temporary melt and a refreeze. This can be especially challenging for even the best skier. Although skiers do like crud they usually know that it calls for a more aggressive skiing style compared to skiing on powder. Crud can also develop from the sun melting the snow. It’s actually skiing on ice which is why it is so challenging.

Photo Credit: wmacphail

Originally posted 2008-11-03 04:55:38.

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.