The Place to Start

• Last updated 5/9/13 by Laurel Hill Crazie

What is Epicski and Why Join? 1. EpicSki is a community of dedicated skiers. We are here simply to share our mutual passion for sliding down mountains all over the world and all that entails. Our many forums reflect the spectrum of topics of interest to dedicated skiers, including gear, resorts, instruction, travel, family, adventure, nutrition, fitness and health, and more!    2. Just about every place you can ski has some local Bears. Start a thread or PM them to let know of your plans and ask for advance information. Many resorts have ambassadors on... read more

• Last updated 11/5/12 by nolo

  FAQ's for Skiers How do I pick the right size skis? Standing up, the skis should reach between your chin and your nose. When in doubt, go shorter. If you are a beginner, neck-height is a good start. With rentals, if you want to go shorter or longer, you can easily do that. As a beginner, you’ll often find yourself wanting to go shorter, not longer. What is meant by layering? Layering of clothing. Many beginners make a mistake in wearing the biggest, puffiest, warmest jacket they can find. They often end up too hot. Putting on a number of layers enables you... read more

• Last updated 10/25/12 by nolo

There's no doubt that safe skiing starts with Your Responsibility Code, but that's just the minimum standard if you want to manage risk and prolong your health and well-being as a skier. With that in mind, the EpicSki community has identified these additional Best Practices that have kept them safe from bodily harm over many ski seasons.                                                Part I. All-around Best Practices  1. Get in shape Focus on core strength and flexibility If you want to stretch before skiing, either warm up first or stick with... read more

• Last updated 10/3/12 by nolo

by Tyler Wenzel   The fact that we call the sport “skiing” may mislead novice skiers into thinking the ski is the most important piece of gear we use. Yet any ski pro will tell you that their ski boots are without a doubt the most important piece of ski equipment they own. In fact, it's not unheard of for World Cup athletes who switch marketing partners to keep their old boots and do some creative artwork to make them look like they’re from the new company rather than changing to a new boot.   Here's why. Let's say you have a high-end, finely tuned car that... read more

• Last updated 9/7/12 by nolo

  What skis should I buy? EpicSki is a great place to ask this question because we have plenty of experts and peers ready to help you make the right decision. If you come to them with the answers to the following Five Key Questions, your chances of getting a spot-on recommendation (and maybe even scoring a great deal) are increased exponentially.   Where in the world are you skiing?  What kinds of terrain do you prefer (groomed runs, moguls, race course, park'n'pipe, trees, steeps, backcountry/sidecountry) How many days a year do you... read more

• Last updated 1/14/13 by nolo

How To Do a Really Cheap Ski Trip  by Jim Kenney     Table of Contents Introduction General Tips Transportation Lodging Food Lifts Conclusion Random Notes and Links   Introduction OK, really cheap ski tripping is sleeping in the car, changing clothes at the gas station rest room, and sneaking onto the slopes. The subject of this magnum opus is one notch above that level of fiscal constraint. Grizzled globe trekkers may chuckle at the self evident information I offer, but perhaps less experienced ski travelers can glean... read more

• Last updated 9/7/12 by nolo

Keep Your Feet Warm by Dan Egan     So you have cold feet and it keeps you in the lodge and off the lift, here are a few tips for keeping the digits toasty this winter.   Always dry your boots at night and for me that means take the bladders out and dry the shell and the bladders separately. Keep the boots warm on the way to the mountain and make your way quickly into the base lodge with them when you unload. Never wear your ski socks to the mountain.  Especially if you have a drive longer than 10 minutes. Put on a fresh pair of socks in the... read more

• Last updated 11/5/12 by nolo

This resource is for people just starting out or thinking about taking up skiing, and is compiled by members of the EpicSki Community. Welcome to skiing, the best sport ever!   Table of Contents Equipment Clothing Lessons At the Resort/Ski Area     Equipment   Skis The length of your skis should be somewhere between your chin and the tip of your nose. Rent before you buy anything.   Boots your most important piece of equipment fitting should be done by a reliable boot fitter Don't tuck anything into your... read more

• Last updated 12/6/12 by nolo

Starting length size: up to 100lb = 140cm; 101-115lb = 145cm; 116-130lb = 150cm; 131-150lb = 155cm; 151-175lb = 160cm; 176-200lb = 165cm; 201 and up = 170cm. Add 0cm if you are a beginner; 5cm intermediate; 10cm advanced/expert. Add 0cm if you ski mostly groomed or hard snow; 5cm off-piste or soft snow. Add 2cm if you ski slalom race, freestyle, or park tricks; 10cm all-mountain, GS race, freeride, or powder. The result after step #4 is a good starting length. Try a couple of pairs with different lengths. Ski them on the terrain(s) and the skiing... read more

• Last updated 9/14/12 by nolo

A recent thread asks the question, "What's the ONE thing you plan to focus on in your skiing this season?" There were lots of great answers, of course, but one response in particular, by SkiRacer55, gets down to the nitty-gritty for all of us (aging) skiers.  "Doing all my dry land so I can give myself the best chance of staying in one piece. There's always something to be working on in your skiing, but you can only do it if you're upright. In the last two years, in the Masters racing community I inhabit, we've had three deaths, several totally blown knees, and a bunch... read more