Beginners tip bible - share yours - Page 7

Me as a beginner I`m learning the hard way after buying cheap stuff on Marshall`s (gloves, socks...)

 

It`s hard to accept but ski is not a few bucks type of sport, you will have to invest some money. Don`t wait you to get in trouble before investing in some good/right gear. Don`t wait your hands to be freezing in a windy day to go buy good quality gloves, don`t wait your foot to start hurting before investing in good boots bought in a respectable ski shop. 

 

helmet, good boots, good quality gloves... you will end up spending the money on all that, if you don`t do it the first time you will be end up spending more money since you will have cheap gear that you won`t use anymore...

 

helmets: there are many brands that make good quality helmets, you can find them on sale on sierra outlets or even overstock (bought mine and my wife`s smith helmet at overstock)

 

gloves: hestra makes good quality gloves, they cost more but are good quality and will keep your hands warm. people will say that $20 gloves from costco will be enough and I believe it will for some people, but that`s not true for most of the people, if you have cold hands you need to invest on good quality gloves.

 

boots: go try them on at your local ski shops, there are good people working on the shops, they are skiers and will know how to help you finding a good fit for you, there isn`t much difference between brands nordica, head, lange, tecnica, solomom they all make good quality boots. you will end up making your call based on fit and comfort.

 

I also have something I use as a rule when I`m buying stuff... the most expensive doesn`t really mean the best, but also don`t go all the way down to the cheapest gear you can find on walmart or marshall`s. Columbia, North Face, and others have good quality pants/jackets for a good price. You don`t need to buy high end arcteryx or mammut... there are good gear out there for good price

 

my examples are:

 

1 - cheap gloves on marshall`s... freezing hands on a windy day. ended up buying hestra gloves and now there are two pairs of $20 gloves in the closet.

2 - lease package included with my classes, so I was taking the skis/boots/poles to the mountain every weekend. After all the mess inside my car, and scratches all over it I bought ski racks... spent the same amount of money, but now have scratches in my car...

3 - last season turbine pants for my wife... a little snug but good enough... ended up having to buy another ski pants since the first one wouldn`t fit the way it should over the boots

 

Hey. I am started to ski only this year, But i can't stop now.

I like freestyle skiing. You can watch video:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8q7R-y_BqU

Wow, can't believe I just read the whole thread. Lots of good advice. I didn't see the following:

SUN & WIND: Bring (and wear) sunscreen and lip balm, and put it on exposed skin. The sun is surprisingly powerful off the snow, especially at high altitudes like in Colorado.

MITTENS: If your fingers are cold, try mittens instead of gloves. Mine are easy on, easy off and keep my fingers warm all day.

BOARDING LIFTS: When getting on a lift, most newer lifts slow down (the chairs detach from the cables at the loading and unloading stations). On older lifts (which usually are on the beginner slopes!), the chairs are fixed to the cables and can come around quickly and nail you in the back of the leg. If you are nervous, or are with small children, ask the liftie to slow down the lift while you get on. There's no shame in that, and it's much better than the embarrassment and danger of falling while getting on.

BATHROOM BREAKS: Bathroom floors are wet and slippery. Be really careful walking in ski boots!

TREES: Never ski in the trees alone. While it's fun and beautiful, many bad things can happen, including some that you would not have thought of. When skiing near trees, only ski as fast as you are comfortable hitting a tree (until you're more advanced). Focus on the white, not the green and brown.

SKI AREA BOUNDARIES: Don't go on closed trails or outside of the patrolled boundaries, no matter how nice the snow might look.

This sounds incredibly stupid, but I missed a week and a half of skiing because of a boot-donning injury this year. I reached out awkwardly and felt a tiny twinge in my lower back when I was straining to tighten a buckle. It was such a nice day that I ignored the minor pain and skied all day. Mistake. Took a long, frustrating rest before I was ready to go back. Lessons: Watch your posture and body position when you`re doing anything. Backs are trouble-prone mechanisms. And pay attention to pain. It`s trying to tell you something.

 

For getting on the lift, take pole straps off, if on, hold both poles in one hand (in the middle), then have a free hand to grab onto the chair as you sit.  Should be looking at the chair so it doesn't surprise you.

 

For lifts with conveyor loading, put poles in front of the auto-gate.  Can hold poles in one hand and use the rail to push off to slide down onto the moving mat.  Stand even with the others riding together.

 

Talk to as many skiers as possible.  Read info available on forums.  Read info on web.  Try  out recommendations where possible (demo skis).  Try not to buy too much before becoming a more knowledgable consumer (especially boots).  Make full use of ski forums to try to get questions answered.  More help is available than you may realize.

If you decide to buy boots, get a pair with rubber on the soles and possibly a walk setting.

Invest in good gloves (mittens if you're used to them) and make sure they fit correctly.

Figure out how your bindings work; practice using them.

 

Take some lessons; listen to what your instructor says, not so much to anyone else.

Repetition is your friend (eg, practice). Don't look for new challenges too soon. 

Bring your wallet. 

 

With recent advances in this category (boots with a walk mode that can rip downhill almost as good as race boots) I suspect this will become the new norm for ski boots over the next several years.

 

 

Excellent advice in connection with skiing.

I would also add an additional reason to get a helmet.

 

Don't just get a helmet for potential falls, get a helmet because you can't predict what others will do, not just on the slopes.

 

On what ended up being my last trip out this season I was getting on a lift and one of my co-riders started to lower the bar before I was on the lift and clocked me in the back of the head with the lift bar. Gave me an instant headache, a dizzy feeling, and a mild concussion. If I had been wearing a helmet, I would have hardly noticed it.

 

You can bet your bottom dollar I will not be hitting the slopes without a helmet ever again.

That is the first time I've ever heard of that happening!!!  

Happens to me several times a season, almost always when I'm not teaching.  And, yes, I wear a helmet!
 

I have been hit in the head when it was on its way down, & in the chin on the way up.

 

Beginner (ok, all levels) TIP:  Give a warning.  We usually say barrup & bardown before moving the bar.

 

Thanks,

JF

Ditto, wouldn't think of moving the bar without saying something.

When you are tired, stop for the day.

Checkout Southwest Airline's 'bags fly free' terms, and save a lot on airfare.

 

Dress like this only on retro days for the High Fives charity event.

 

 

 Get facebook deals from your favourite hill  

My son got dinged on the head right in the lodge last winter. A girl was tossing her strapped-together boots over her shoulder and cranked him right on the helmet. Without the skid lid, he would have been off to the hospital for stitches at least, and probably a concussion.

Safety aside, a helmet is a nice warm hat that stays on, stays in place and anchors your goggles in position. A comfort and a convenience.

#200 coming right up ...

If you are a parent who is a beginner or cautious intermediate, plan on putting your kids in all day ski school to begin with.  Then get yourself into group lessons, or private if the budget will allow.  Try to save a little energy for doing at least one run with your kid(s) before calling it a day.

 

If renting on the mountain the first morning, take care of your kids and get them to ski school.  Then go back to get your own stuff.  By then the line will probably be shorter and you can focus on your own needs better.  Better yet, rent the equipment before the first day of skiing.  For little ones, test the fit with the liner OUT of the boot first.

More on sun & wind:

 

wear at least sunglasses if you don't have goggles, or get goggles right away. (I wasn't willing to spend money on goggles when I was slowly negotiating the bunny hill. Lots of sun+sparkling snow=eyes popping out after a day of skiing)
 

The feeling you so eloquently described here is the reason I ski.  Well put.

From another thread related to ski instruction from the perspective of a skier looking for the best experience.  Thought it should be here too.

If you decide to buy boots, get a pair with rubber on the soles and possibly a walk setting.
 

Skittles are a powerful motivator for kids.  And they do not melt in your pocket like m+ms.

Starburst suck.  Impossible to open with cold fingers and what do you do with the wrappers??

Hershey's kisses are good.  They just are.... AND they give little bellies a quick shot of energy when needed.  And you can carefully adjust the "dosage."  Just don't pass them out at breakfast or you will have a crankster by 10 am.

 

If you often ski at night like I do, tape a flashing battery powered glow stick to your / your kids poles.  You can be seen (safety) and spot your kids easily. 

 

Two words.  Hand Warmers.

 

NEOPRENE sleves for old knees.  Neoprene wrap for lower back.  Keeps e-thing warm and loose.  Slimming too.

 

Throw an ace bandage in your pocket.  You never know when this can shore up a tweak and save the day.

 

Wrap several feet of duct tape around your pole beneath the handle.  This comes in handy all the time!

 

Fabricate a "handle" for your point and shoot camera with a piece of hockey stick or dowel.  Drill a hole.  Thread in a .25" screw in with glue..  Cut off the head with a dremel.  Twist on a wingnut upside down.  Thread into camera tripod hole.  Now you can securely hold your cam in a gloved hand and aim like a pistol.

 

+1 on be careful putting on your boots. Don't hurt yourself gearing up.  On a related topic....

 

When walking to the lodge, several things:  #1.  DO NOT put your boots on in the car / lot.  You look like a gaper and walking in ski boots sux on multiple levels including ruining your expensive boot soles.  Besides it is cold and slippery out there.  One false move and your once toasty ski sock is soaked with slush.  PS.  Nobody is going to steal your shoes.  Gross.  #2 Wear your helmet in the lot.   How many of us have wiped out and smashed the back of our head in the parking lot?  On the upraised rear tailgate?   Ditto for standing in the ticket line behind some dweeb who cracks you in the head with his skis. Leaves more space in the bag too.  Coincidentally, a helmet displaces about the same volume as a six pack.  Hmmmm.   #3.  Skis over shoulder.  Arm draped over skis.  Dangle one pole from your ski hand.  Use the OTHER pole as a hiking staff.  DO NOT carry skis like you are carrying a load of firewood.  You other gear is in a BACK PACK - not your highschool hockey bag.  Leaves hands free for snatching oblivious children out of the way of s-boxes with bad tires operated by stoned snowboarders.  Dig out the old internal frame pack from your college days.  Bottomless and, if you pull out the stays, you can cram the semi empty pack into a $1 locker. 

 

Lay out everyone's stuff the night before.   Long underwear.  Socks. street shoes.  Ski coats and pants.  Hats (or Helmets).  Gloves.  Preload e-thing cold proof into car EXCEPT BOOTS.  Shower the night before. (or not - whatever)  Remind princess this aint "Pageant Moms".  Get your @$$ in the car.

 

Finally....GET THERE EARLY for the first chair.  If you have to throw a bucket of water on your teen, DO IT (Also effective: steal blankets, play loud classical music, bang pots and pans, put the blender in their room and turn it on, etc etc.) .  Otherwise:  Your parking spot sux,  Your "spot" in the lodge sux.  The perfect powder and corduroy is gone (sux).  Ticket line sux,  and the coffee is old and stale.  DO NOT expect to roll in at 10am and have a relaxing time leading up to the first (crowded cruddy mashed potato) run.  Following your .5 mile hike / shuttle rider from lot #5.

 

I disagree based on the current boot market.  Rubber soles for sure, but most boots with a walk setting are targeting advanced to expert skiers and are likely too stiff for most beginners (unless they weigh a fair amount).  I suspect this will change in the coming years, however. 

 

Maybe this is true back east, but it's definitely not true out west.  In fact, more often it's the other way around.

 

 

 

 

This year I'm thinking to grab a Timberland Radler Trail Mid Camp Boot for those walks when I can't park close to the snow, then I will just carry them on my backpack during the day. I really hate walking with ski boots!

I was giving the 'ole "eye roll" () to the rubber soled boots with walk setting suggestion for newbies.  Kinda overkill.  Cat Trax however are a good idea.

 

I admit I am an eastern guy.  I have only been out west once.  It was awesome but I can drive to about 10 very very nice mountains in <3 hrs.  About 20 in 5 hrs.  Hard to justify the trip.  :)

 

So - help me out...

What is the appeal of putting on boots in the car out west?  Are the lodge facilities not comfortable or too crowded? 

 

I much prefer wearing my pac books to the lodge and limiting the parking lot crud/grind on my carefully alligned and canted boots.   Ditto on the walk back to the car in the pm.  Let's face it, removing one's boots after a ski day is one of life's sublime pleasures. 

 

Hmm think I will post this in general as well and see what the story is. :)

 

Not dealing with a locker, I guess.  Not necessarily a big deal or a major point of appeal, but to suggest you look like a gaper walking from the parking lot in your boots simply does not apply out west, at least at the 20+ resorts I've been to in California and Colorado.