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Hi, I'm Lisa Lambson, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 297 Skiing Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
The Importance of Flex when Buying Skis
Not all skis are made the same. This is not an attempt at poetry, this is a fact. Skis are made for very different styles of skiing and for very different types of skiers. Manufacturers of skis can make people skis that match exactly their tastes for exactly their favorite type of skiing.
One of the biggest factors in getting you the most comfortable skis for your skiing preferences is choosing the right flex. Flex is the factor that will affect a skiers float, turning, and overall stability.
Do you ski on fresh powder or hardpack?
Do you prefer cross country or downhill?
Bunny slopes or major moguls?
Stiffer skis will be better for speed on hardpack downhill type skiing while more flexible skis will be better for mobility on broken powder or bumpy rides. If you want to get the best skis for your skiing habits, check out the many manufacturers of skis and let them know what type of skiing you prefer. They will be able to match you with the best options.
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Skis.com Tip : Boot Heaters
If you were to type the words “ski boot heaters” into a search engine, your search results would yield an impressive multitude of pages. However, there are some boot heaters that are more suitable for folks who spend their entire day on the snow. These include ski instructors who need to wait for their students, as well as ski racers that may need to wait between runs. These periods of inactivity can result in cold, uncomfortable feet.
Anyone who typically spends between three and eight hours on the slopes should consider specially designed electronic ski boot warmers. These battery-powered heaters are actually built into your footbeds. The Thermic Supermax Powerpack is an excellent example of this type of heater. This brilliant device attaches to the back of your ski boot with either the Powerstrap Mounting Adapters or with Ski Boot Cuff Mounting Adapters.
If your ski boots have pre-wired thermic footbeds, all you need to do is plug in the Supermax Powerpak, and you will be ready to ski and stay warm. If your ski boots do not come with this type of footbed, you will need to buy the Thermicsole heated insoles. This will replace your factory-installed footbeds. To use your Supermax Powerpak, simply charge the batteries overnight. The device comes with a Smart Charger, which provides overcharge protection. Staying warm has never been easier.
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Parabolic Skis - A Beginner's Dream Come True
Technology has allowed many things in our society to shave down their learning curve. From computers to flight simulators, many things are far easier to master these days. Skiing has traditionally had a fairly steep learning curve. However, since parabolic skis came around, beginning skiers have had the ability to take advantage of technology to advance their education. With the advent of snowboarding, ski manufacturers took notice of the easier learning curve.
Sharing in the technology of the snowboard, parabolic skis were developed with a shape that makes a ski resemble a snowboard. With fatter ends and a narrower middle, a beginning skier can get a much better feel for the balance that is necessary to stay on their feet with parabolic skis. Skinnier, traditional skis were very hard to learn on for most. With parabolic skis, this training can be much easier.
If you have a beginning skier that is having trouble getting the hang of skinny, straight skis, check into getting a pair of parabolic skis. You may find that your beginner is advancing faster than you ever would have thought with straight skis.
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Skis.com Tip : Alpine Skis
In skiing lingo, alpine skis are synonymous with downhill skis, whereas Nordic skis are cross-country skis. Although there are a few types of cross-country skis, there are so many types of alpine skis that the novice ski-buyer might easily become confused. Since the first step in choosing an alpine ski is determining your ski ability, it benefits you to take a ski lesson with a certified ski instructor.
Once your instructor gives you an accurate assessment of your skills, you can judge which type of terrain you are most likely to ski. Additionally, it helps to consider the location where you will be doing most of your skiing. For example, a ski that does quite well in the New England ice might not work as well in western powder conditions, and vice versa. For this reason, it’s important to research various manufacturers’ catalogs to find out which alpine skis will work best.
You may find that the alpine ski of your dreams is out of your price range. Don’t despair! At the end of the season, great deals can be found on Skis.com.
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Choosing the Right Ski Gloves for You
Comfort on the slopes is essential to an enjoyable skiing excursion. Ski gloves are an important part of a skiers comfort level. When choosing ski gloves, take your comfort seriously by choosing the right glove for you. Here are a few things to be sure to get when you buy ski gloves.
A Good Fit – Holding your ski poles can get pretty difficult when you are tackling a tough course or rugged terrain. Ensure that you have a good fit from your ski gloves and that they allow you the best sensation of touch from your hands.
Warmth – Hands can get pretty chilly when racing down the slopes, so make sure that you keep your hands warm with your ski gloves. Different gloves have different methods of insulation so try many different types until you find the best match for you.
Second Skin – The ideal ski gloves will give a skier a sensation of having a second skin. This means that when you grip anything from your poles to a warm cup of coffee, you feel as if you have no gloves at all.
Because of advances in thermal insulation, you can find ski gloves that give you the warmth you need without being so bulky as to make actually using your hands difficult. Choosing the right ski gloves is important to any skier who wants optimal comfort on the slopes. Shop wisely for your ski gloves and you will get the most out of your lift time.
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Skis.com Tip : How to Choose Ski Socks
Much to the dismay of boot fitters, ski shop employees and ski instructors, most novice skiers will repeatedly choose the wrong type of ski socks. Of course, these poor choices are completely understandable. Buying ski socks is probably the most counter-intuitive part of buying ski clothes. To see if you are on the right track, answer this question: When selecting ski socks, do you choose the heaviest material possible, and include a sock liner? Isn't that the way to do it?
Not really. Many people think that since you are layering clothing for the rest of your body, you need to do the same for your feet. While this logic is correct, they are forgetting one simple point: Your ski boots are already lined with an insulating layer. If you choose a sock liner, and then add a heavy sock, you are creating two extra heavy layers of insulation, which will in turn cause your feet to sweat, in some case profusely. When your feet sweat, they get wet, and when they get wet, they get cold. The solution is to choose the lightest material of calf length ski socks that you can find. Keep in mind that while some people have cold feet due to circulatory issues, many cold feet problems are due to improper boot fit or improper technique. For example, if you clench your toes while skiing, you will be cutting off the circulation in your feet. Feet that lack circulation have a hard time staying warm. Check out the extensive selection of Smartwool, Fox River, and Hot Chillys socks at Skis.com.
One final thought: Size matters. Ski socks that bunch up will cause improper boot fit.
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Make the Move from Straight to Shaped Skis
When skiing first became a largely popular pastime for the public, skis were made in a mostly ‘one-size-fits-all' manner. Straight skis were used for everything from cross country to speed skiing. Today, many skiers are making the shift to shape skis. Shape skis now give skiers choices for the type of ride they would like based on their preferred terrain. Many manufacturers make shape skis for men, women, and kids.
The advantages of shape skis are easily felt by any rider who tries them out. The biggest change that most will notice is in the far easier ability to turn and steer yourself on these shape skis. Straight skis required heavy pressure from the rider to make sharp turns if you needed to avoid something in the way. With shape skis, riders can make that move far quicker and avoid the possible trouble up ahead.
If you want a friendlier ride on your next ski outing, look into trading in your straight skis for a pair of shaped skis. Talk with a ski manufacturer about your preferred skiing terrain and they will give you the best shapes for your taste. Use shape skis on your next trip and you will never go back to straight again.
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Skis.com Tip : Twin Tips Skis
Once upon a time, skiing only happened at ski areas. In those days, if you were a teenager that liked to play tricks in the park and pipe, you were probably a snowboarder. However, as the New School technique gains popularity, skiing is once again becoming cool. This has taken skiing out of the ski resorts. In urban areas, it’s not unusual to see kids in their twin tip skis sliding along any type of rail they can find. Yet tricks like these require a special type of ski: Twin Tips.
So how do you choose the right twin tips? If you spend most of your time in the park and pipe, you will want twin tip skis that have their bindings mounted slightly forward of center. However, if you still like to ski crude, groomers and the rest of the mountain, this forward mountain position might make the tails of your skis a bit “squirrelly.” For park skiing center mount bindings, and for all mountain skiing you mount them back of center.
Certain types of twin tips are also designed for skiers that like to spend time on the rest of the mountain. Some companies make hybrid skis known as “phat twins," which are twin tips designed for play in the powder. All ski brands offer a variety of twin tip skis, so you can stick with your favorite.
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Finding the Best Ski Tuning Tips
The dedicated skier is always looking for an edge. If you think of yourself as an avid skier, you can find great ski tuning tips all over the place. Here are a few resources that you may not have checked out yet. Take a look and maybe you will find some ski tuning tips you hadn't thought of yet.
Mags – There are more skiing magazines being published today than I can possibly list here. From the large publications to the small ones, you can always find great ski tuning tips from the best professionals and the keenest amateurs.
Online – In case you have spent all of your time on the slopes for the last decade or so, there is this great resource called the Internet. You can find ski tuning tips that maybe only one person on earth has ever thought of by checking out skiing message boards and websites.
Manufacturers – This is the most overlooked resource for ski tuning tips. It is also the most obvious. Each ski manufacturer will have their own tips and advice for tuning their skis.
After all, they made them. Check with your manufacturer to see what they suggest for your particular model of ski.
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Using Ski Poles Effectively when Going through Moguls
Learning the art of skiing moguls can be a daunting task. Unlike flat terrain, skiing through moguls requires very strategic pole position as you navigate through these bumps in the snow. Once this task is mastered, skiing through moguls becomes an exciting new way to experience the thrill of the mountain.
Remember that it is the position of your ski poles that can make all the difference! The first thing to remember is to maintain control of your ski poles at all times. Don't let them fly around or you will quickly lose control! Plant each pole as you turn your body into the mogul. This should be firm enough to allow you to turn your body around as you ski. Remember that while these instructions are meant to help, listen to your ski instructor to learn better position for your ski poles.
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Dampening
What is that piece of plastic fastened to that pair of skis the guy at the shop showed you last week? It is one of various measures ski makers take to reduce the amount of vibration in the tips and tails of their skis when in use. This leads to easier energy transference for the skier. And that leads to better skiing. Hurray!
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Essentials to Choosing Boot Bags
If protecting your skiing gear is important to you, don't neglect any of your gear. Without your ski boots, you won't be making it onto the slopes, so boot bags are important to keep your boots in good shape through your transport. Choosing between boot bags is mostly a matter of taste, however, there are important factors that you should take into account when buying any boot bags.
First, the materials are the key. Make sure that the boot bags that you are looking for have water resistant materials that are durable through any conditions. Most boot bags are made from poly-fibers that are extremely durable and far cheaper than their natural alternatives.
Also, be sure that you have enough space. Ski boots come in many shapes and sizes, so boot bags also come in many variations. If shopping locally for boot bags, bring your boots with you to ensure a good fit. Lastly, look for a comfortable shoulder strap. Hauling boots around can give your shoulder a test in durability itself. A comfortable shoulder strap could mean the difference between an aching shoulder and one that is ready for whatever the slopes can dish out.
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Keeping Ski Goggles from Fogging on the Slopes
While there are some products a skier can buy to help keep their goggles from fogging up, my family always swore by some simpler, less expensive methods. If fact, our methods worked better that the expensive store bought solutions, and kept our ski goggles clear all day long.
Our first family secret was to apply regular old toothpaste to both the inside and outside of our goggles. We would use just enough water to make the goggles clear, but for some reason, this simple trick helped keep our goggles from fogging up. Once we were on the slopes or second secret was to take the goggles off every now and then, fog them up with our breathe, and use a towel to wipe them off. These quick solutions may help your family's ski goggles from fogging up your day on the slopes!
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Rossignol
You have probably heard of Rossignol. The company made its first pair of wooden skis about a century ago and its brand of planks has been a household name to skiers for decades. Rossignol skis have an option for everybody, and integrated systems that can help you attack the slopes more proficiently. Parents, load the site with your sound muted. Some of the song lyrics seemed “unfit for primetime” at the time of this writing.)
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Versatility on the Slopes with Head Skis
When you are on the slopes, it is important to have skis ready to take on any ski condition. Head skis have been around for a long time, and they are made to handle the largest variety of terrain. Choosing Head skis means choosing from the largest variety of skis for your skiing tastes. Head skis are specially designed to provide a smooth skiing experience. Many find that the performance Head Skis provide on the slopes unbeatable.
Their construction is state of the art and they use only the best of materials in their production. No matter your tastes, Head skis can give you a good ride. When choosing a ski to take you from powder snow to the iciest of conditions, chose Head and you will have chosen wisely.
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Finding a Dealer of Armada Skis
There are many name brand skis on the market today and everyone has their favorite. Armada skis are a popular brand these days because of their great ride combined with awesome art that you just won't find on other ski manufacturer's products. If you want to find a place to buy Armada skis, it is easy to get just what you are looking for. Armada skis are available at retailers all around the globe.
Depending on where you live, you may be closer to one than you think. The first step you should take is to visit Armada's website. They have a ‘dealer locator' feature that can help you find the closest authorized Armada ski dealers to your area. This feature is great for those of us who aren't close enough to the slopes all year round. If Armada skis are your preferred bran, check out their website to find places to get their gear.
