If you’re a skiing junky like me, there is a part of you that doesn’t like seeing the snow melt away and the ski resorts close up for the season. And while winter gets kick started in other parts of the world, it just isn’t monetarily feasible to jettison around the world to ski in those places, unless you’re a billionaire of course. It’s probably a safe assumption to also say that the majority of everyone else enjoys seeing the snow melt away and the mercury rise on the thermometer. But if you just can’t get enough skiing, the product below is a way that you can continue to train for skiing even when the summer heat hits.

There are companies that specialize in making equipment for the purpose of developing your skiing skills during the non-winter months. The sport, commonly known as Roller Skiing, is a great way to train for both downhill and cross country skiing. Specialized equipment (see image), allows for you to utilize your ski boots in a binding, mounted on an elongated base with wheels. This will provide you with the feeling of a ski and allow you to practice slalom skiing via a cone course set up on a hill, or other form of training that you desire.

Now before you start hunting down equipment that will allow you to train for skiing in the summer, I must caution you that inline skating, even with this specialized equipment, is still different from a mechanics standpoint than skiing. You will want to be careful of developing skating-specific movements that do not exist when on skis; otherwise you may hurt your skiing style. For example, you may weight your feet differently from turn-to-turn, you may begin using step movements, or even compromise your posture to an A-Frame posture, which is not the same as a skiing posture. Issues such as these can be handled with some patience and attention, but I want you to be aware that they do exist.

If you do not desire to hunt down this special equipment, you can still make great use of your regular inline skates, if you own a pair, for ski training purposes. Practice with cone courses that have tight turning radiuses, or simply do some conditioning style skating to improve strength and endurance.

If you are an avid skier you will find that this is a great way to keep your mind off of the days until the lifts start running in November. Remember that above all else, you should be having fun when you are skating. Make certain you wear your protective gear and stay within your abilities.

For additional information on Roller Skiing, please check out the links provided below, as well as the video from StreetSki.com.

http://www.streetski.com
http://www.qwickly.com/inline-skating-off-season-training-for-snow-sliders
http://www.iisa.org/resources/skate-to-ski.htm

In my neck of the woods the ski season has pretty much closed for the season. I’m sure that many of you are experiencing the same fate, while some of you may live in higher elevation or colder areas where the snow is still blanketing the mountain. Either way, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some tips for storing your skis for the warm season, so they will be in good shape for you next ski season.

The first step is to make sure that your skis are thoroughly dry. This is vitally important because putting them away wet will cause them to rust. Take a look at the edges of your skis and search for any rust or burs that may exist; use a Scotch Bright pad to remove any areas you find.

Step two is to evaluate each ski base. Using a bright light, you will want to look for any streaks or shiny patches that exist. You can also try running the back of your fingernail down the base, this is effective for finding the wax. This will help you find the areas of each base that have the most dirt and wax left after you’ve cleaned and dried your skis.

Next, remove the bulk of the old, hard wax with a paint scraper or putty knife. Follow that by scrubbing the remaining wax residue off with a wax remover or citrus solvent. I suggest that you apply a heavy coat of ski wax right after cleaning your ski bases, making sure to cover them completely; do not scrape them.

Remove any wax that may have gotten on the edges of your skis as the moisture trapped on the wax will cause the edges to rust. The wax you apply will stop your skis from drying out due to prolonged exposure to the air. For ultimate penetration and protection, apply hot ski wax to your skis. If you’re not comfortable doing this, find a local ski shop that can perform this service for you. You’ll have to pay for the waxing, but it will be much cheaper than replacing your skis if they rust.

Finally, do not store your skis in any place that experiences temperature extremes and moisture such as an attic, basement, outdoor shed, or garage. An ideal place would be in a closet in a living area of your home. Also, separate the skis, but do not lay them flat. Keep them on a wood or tiled floor, not a concrete floor. Follow these guidelines and you should have a set of skis that will be ready to rock when the snow falls next season.

By: Brad
Ski Guru - Skis.com

The Farmers Almanac is the longest running, and considered by many the most accurate, long range weather forecasting publication produced in North America. The Almanac was first published in 1818 in Morristown, New Jersey and provides a series of weather predictions that are often times made more than two years in advance. Each annual Farmers Almanac includes 16 months of weather forecasts and is broken down into 12 independent forecast zones. For convenience purposes, we will only summarize the regions that contain ski areas.

Zone 1 – Northeast: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine
Zone 13 – Rocky Mountain: Idaho, Western Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah
Zone 15 – Northwest: Oregon and Washington
Zone 16 – Pacific Southwest: California

Zone 1 – Northeast

The month of January will be a bit warmer than normal. The average temperature should hover around 23 degrees, which is 3 degrees above normal. Precipitation is forecasted at 3”.

The slightly above average temperature in the Northeast will lead to reduced snowfall for the region. The beginning of the month will see some snow through the 3^rd of the month, as well as between the 6^th and the 9^th. Towards the end of the month Farmer’s is predicting snow showers around the 25^th that will continue off and on through the end of the month.

February will also bring warmer than average temperatures to the region and precipitation 1” below average. For the most part the weather will be very mild with snowfall between the 6^th and 10^th. Mild rain showers are expected around the 13^th. The rest of February will see warm and sunny weather with some snowfall around the 27^th.

Unlike February, March is forecasted to be colder than average in the region. The average temperature is predicted to be 29.5 degrees, 3.5 degrees below average with above average precipitation (3.5”). The beginning of the month will see a solid snowstorm lasting until the 5^th or 6^th. The 7^th-12^th will see snow showers followed by sunny weather. The snow will switch to rain around the 18^th – 22^nd, with more rain towards the end of the month.

Zone 13 – Rocky Mountain Region

Winter in this region will be much colder than normal, with above average snowfall in the north, and moderate to reduced levels of precipitation in the south.

January will see lower than average temperatures as well as below average precipitation. Not the best combination for ski season, but snow is forecasted for the beginning of the year through the 5^th of January. Between the 8^th and the 13^th the Northern Rockies will see snow followed by rain and snow showers through the 24^th. The end of the month will see periods of rain with snow in the mountains and cold weather throughout the period.

February will be very cold for the intermountain region. The predicted average temperature of 28 degrees is 5 degrees below normal, and very little precipitation is expected. Snow is forecasted between the 4^th and 9^th with another round of snow coming towards the end of the month, 22^nd-28^th of February.

March will bring spring and much higher temperatures. Average high temperatures will be near 37 degrees, 5 degrees above average. The warm weather will also bring increased precipitation of 1.8”, .3” above normal. The snow forecast for March is as follows: 1^st-8^th, rain and snow showers, 12^th-18^th snowy periods with cold weather. The end of the month will bring periods of rain and snow to the region. Snow in the mountains and rain at the lower elevations, cooler weather will be present throughout.

Zone 15 – Pacific Northwest

The Northwest will experience an average winter with temperatures a half degree above normal. Precipitation will be above average in the north and below average in the south. Farmer’s is predicting heaviest snowfall in the middle of January.

January will bring above average temperatures to the Northwest, with 9” of rainfall (3” above average). Due to the overwhelming amount of rain in the Northwest, rain will fall steadily throughout the month. The 12-16^th will bring very heavy rain to the region, which will correlate to very intense snowfall. The Northwest normally records some of the largest snowfalls in America and this January will not disappoint.

February’s average temperature will be ½ degree below normal and, unfortunately, February is expected to receive only 2.5” inches of precipitation, 2.5” below average. The 1^st through 4^th of the month will see some small showers and cool weather followed by seasonal rain from the 5^th through the 10^th. The middle of February, the 10^th through 17^th will be sunny and cool. Towards the end of the month there will be off and on showers with intermittent sunny skies.

March’s weather will be very similar to February, 1 degree below average (46 degrees) with ½ the normal rainfall (2”). The 1^st through 5^th of the month will be cold and rainy and the 6^th through 12^th will have steady seasonal showers with average temperatures. The rest of the month will follow a similar weather pattern; after all it is the Northwest.

Zone 16 – Pacific Southwest

The Southwest has been subject to a drought over the past 5-10 year and this winter it appears will continue the trend. The winter average temperatures will be slightly below average with below average precipitation. The stormiest periods will be in mid-January, late February, and mid-March, hopefully these isolated storms will bring enough snow to Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain.

January weather will be moderate with only 2” of rain expected. From the 10^th through the 16^th a strong storm is expected to move over the area and snowfall should be expected in the Sierra Nevada’s. The rest of the month will host seasonal temperatures with scattered showers and sunshine.

February will also be slightly colder than normal month for the Pacific Southwest and once again precipitation will be lower than normal, only 1” is expected. The 8^th through the 16^th will see scattered showers then sunny and cool weather until the 21^st when a strong system is expected to bring thunderstorms to the area giving way to sunshine by the 27^th. The month will end with more seasonal showers.

March in the Pacific Southwest will also be colder than normal with average temperatures expected to be 2 degrees lower than the average of 57 degrees. Like the rest of winter, March will bring below average precipitation and sunny weather. It is expected to rain between the 3^rd and the 7^th, with some rain around the 14^th. The 23^rd to the 25^th will see some showers then sun, and the month will close with some light showers.

Hi Everyone! My name is Alisa, I am the Assistant to the Owner of Skis.com, and I am completely embarrassed to say that I have worked for this company now for 10 1/2 years and I have never skied. During my first two winters with this company I snowboarded (that is what all the hot guys were doing), and I wanted to be a super cool, hardcore snowboard chick. Well, that didn’t work out so well for me. To make a long story short, I hurt myself every time I went snowboarding, and the very last time I went out I hit my head, passed out, threw up, and got a stiff neck. After that, I swore I would NEVER snowboard again!Well, eight years have passed and I have made a commitment this year to return to the snow. All of my favorite people in my life are either skiers or snowboarders; my boyfriend, my boss, my little sister…and not to mention EVERYONE that I work with. Needless to say, I have been feeling the pressure to get back on the slopes. That is why I decided this time around to take a shot at skiing.The few weeks prior to my big first day were very exciting for me. I got to pick out my new ski jacket & pants, skis, boots, helmet, goggles, gloves, long underwear, and fleece layering pieces to keep me warm. I figured that I probably would not be the best first time skier but I was going to do what I could to look totally sweet trying. That’s me pictured above, whaddya think? Pretty snazzy eh?After getting all my stuff, I wondered to myself, who is going to teach me to ski? Everyone knows that your spouse is not the best person to teach you something new because it may ultimately end up in disagreement and yelling, whining, and equipment throwing. With that in mind, I decided that one of my personal friends, who also happened to be a ski instructor, would be the lucky guy to teach me.I couldn’t have picked a better first day, it wasn’t too cold, and there was a fresh coat of new snow on the ground. It appeared that everything was in my favor. I looked totally cool, there is new snow on the ground, I have my own personal instructor, but I was still nervous. “Don’t be nervous, just go out and have fun” my boyfriend said. Yeah, yeah, I know, but I couldn’t help it. I recalled how much snowboarding hurt, I know that I am not athletic; I know I am clumsy, and I am very uncoordinated.I met my instructor (Mark) at the hill around noon. We immediately went to the smallest bunny hill; yes, the one that all of the really little kids are on. I rode the “magic carpet” to the top and skied myself back down in a straight line and no, I didn’t fall. Next I got to go back up to the top and do what they call (for the little kids) “Pizza & Fries” a.k.a. Wedge & Straight. I totally mastered the pizza & fries on the baby bunny hill, prompting me to yell, “I’m a skier!” Ok, well maybe not quite yet.After graduating from the magic carpet, I then moved on to the towrope. I’ll be the first admit that the tow rope isn’t easy! Now, I was supposed to start doing wedge turns. Well, I was totally awesome at going right…but not so awesome at going left. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when you can turn one way but not the other. Every time I would go into my left turn, I would crash and burn…figuratively…I didn’t literally burn.I then got a second instructor, Andy. Wow! How lucky was I? Two instructors at once! Andy skied backwards in front of me coaching me into each turn, while Mark took pictures and coached from afar. “Stay forward, bend your knees, keep your hands in front, and don’t forget to breathe”, Mark yelled. How in the world did he know that I wasn’t breathing?By the end of the day, with the help of my two instructors, I had graduated to the chair lift, and finally made two runs in a row without falling! I made it all the way down the hill making my wedge turns and I was so excited!Looking back now, I can’t believe that I waited 8 years before getting back out on the snow! Skiing was nothing like my painful snowboarding experiences, I didn’t hurt myself at all. I didn’t get cold once because I was dressed properly with all my layering pieces.If you have been thinking about learning to ski or getting back into the sport there is no better time than now. I had so much fun on my first day, and I can’t wait to go back out again. Also, if you have a story similar to mine, a first-time skiing story you’d like to share, or any comments you would like to share, I would love to hear them. Just leave a comment by clicking on the link at the bottom of this posting.

By: Jessi

Ski Guru - Skis.com

Every true skier or snowboarder knows that feeling. You’re out on the hill for your first run and you begin to pick up speed. The wind rushes by your face as you lean into the first turn, creating a wave of fresh powder that cascades across the snow. Your heart beats faster as your adrenaline takes over and pushes you faster down the hill. You feel so free, so alive; this is as close to truly flying as you will ever get. What can possibly make this experience any better? The perfect playlist.

Personally, I like to listen to music no matter what I’m doing. I believe that life should be more like the movies, with theme music playing at all times. If there isn’t any appropriate background music, I will make some up and sing it out loud, doesn’t phase me any. But while skiing or snowboarding, for me, there is nothing better then having the perfect playlist to really pump me whether I’m dodging small children while bombing a groomed run, publicly embarrassing myself in the park doing face plants or eating powder in midst of what appears to be five million trees.

Everyone had their own personal taste when it comes to music and what they like to listen to while riding the slopes. Some people like something that will relax them and make the whole experience more enjoyable while others want something that will just make you want to punch someone in the face and then bomb the next run. So first things first, decide what kind of music really enhances your skiing or snowboarding experience. After you’ve picked your style, try and decide on a genre (or two or three) that fits your snow riding mood. This will help immensely when browsing through your music library if you’re anything like me and have thousands of songs and no time for shenanigans.

Then simply browse through your musical selection and pick out the songs that really get you going. What really helps me is once I’ve chosen a song, I put in on and close my eyes. Then I just picture myself gliding down the slopes and see how it would feel to have that song playing. I know this might sound kind of lame, but hey, I also enjoy the occasional Britney Spears song so I’ve got bigger issues to deal with. It might take a few test runs to get your playlist perfected, but don’t worry because playlists are possibly the easiest thing to fix in the skiing industry.

Now, I know that no one has the exact same musical taste and selection, especially when it comes to playlists. With this in mind, I would like to share with you some of my favorite songs from my library of playlists. I should also say that I have a very eclectic taste in music so hopefully there will be something on this list for just about everyone.

1. Thunderstruck by AC/DC
2. Ready to Die by Andrew W.K.
3. Berlin by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
4. Lit Up by Buckcherry
5. Hurricane by Cascada
6. Church of Hot Addiction by Cobra Starship
7. Money for Nothing by Dire Straits
8. China Groove by The Doobie Brothers
9. Captain Kelly’s Kitchen by The Dropkick Murphys
10. Anytime by Eve 6
11. My Goddess The Exies
12. What’s Golden by Jurassic 5
13. Outro by Obie Trice Feat Eminem D12
14. Homecoming by Kanye West
15. Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil’ Wayne
16. Positive Vibes by The Kottonmouth Kings
17. When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin
18. Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
19. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
20. Love Today by Mika
21. When Worlds Collide by Powerman 5000
22. Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen
23. Good Thing by Reel Big Fish
24. Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That by Robert Randolph and the Family Band
25. Release by Seeed
26. Closer to the Sun by Slightly Stoopid
27. Ride by The Vines
28. Baba O’Reily by The Who
29. G.B.A. by Xavier Rudd
30. Running Through My Head by Zebrahead

If you don’t know many of the songs on this list I encourage you to look them up and expand your musical knowledge base. If you do know most of these songs, touché to you. If you enjoy my choices and would like for me to give you a few more of my favorites feel free to shoot me a comment and I will get back to you with some. If you don’t like my choices, feel free to post your own list and prove me wrong. Go ahead, I don’t mind. Really.

By: Brad
Ski Guru - Skis.com

When considering your next ski destination you will probably evaluate the area’s terrain, the total cost, and the accessibility. These are all important things to consider when planning your next ski trip, but most of us commonly forget about the fourth important factor of any great ski trip; apres skiing and nightlife. Various resorts across the country all claim the best nightlife and party scene. In my mind there are only three truly impressive ski resorts whose base camp offers a nightlife that will leave you struggling to make first chair every morning, no matter how much it snowed the night before.

West Coast: The west coast has quite a few ski resorts that offer outstanding nightlife, but in my opinion Heavenly Resort on Lake Tahoe takes the cake. Not only does Heavenly offer up some of the best skiing on the West Coast, spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and 400+ inches or snow per year; the resort straddles the California-Nevada state line. Every ski resort has a decent bar scene; Heavenly has over 100 bars and 5 casinos. Imagine combining the best of Las Vegas with world class skiing and you can begin to imagine just how hard it would be to stumble out of bed for a powder day. There is also one extra bonus point for Heavenly, if you own a Colorado or Epic season pass from Vail Resorts, your pass allows you to ski for free at Heavenly too. This what you would call icing on the cake.

Rocky Mountains: The Rocky Mountain region in the U.S. stretches from Montana all the way down to Taos, New Mexico. There are over 40 great resorts each with their own nightlife festivities. After considering each ski town, we have come to the same conclusion Ski Magazine as well as numerous other publications have come to; Aspen, Colorado has the best nightlife in the Rockies and also makes a very strong case for the best skiing in all of North America. The town of Aspen is located in the Roaring Fork Valley and perhaps is one of the most picturesque ski towns in the world. Somehow, its nightlife matches its scenery. The most amazing part about Aspen‘s nightlife is, it blows away its competition. With over 20 world-class restaurants, multiple high-class hotels, and some of the best bars west of the Mississippi, Aspen surely lives up to its title of best nightlife in the Rockies. The culture created by the combination of movie stars and ski bums, just cannot be found anywhere else.

East Coast: Just because the East Coast doesn‘t have the vertical elevation, snow levels, or snow quality as other areas in the U.S., doesn‘t mean they don‘t know how to have a good time after a long day on the ice. The East Coast has some great ski towns within a couple of hours of America‘s greatest metropolises, like New York and Boston.

One such town is Killington, Vermont. Not only does it boast some of the best skiing on the East Coast, it is also known for the best nightlife, highlighted by some of the best live music schedules in the country. Killington boasts over 50 restaurants, pubs, and lodges packed with skiers and riders of all ages. Each January, Killington hosts their annual Collegiate Snowfest for 2 weeks. Snowfest brings in some of the top performers and movie premiers from around the world for 2 weeks of epic parties and festivities lasting well into the morning. Snowfest is just one of the many events that compliment Killington‘s classic ski town nightlife, and will definitely leave you wondering if perfect corduroy or 12 inch powder days are worth fighting a hangover.

If you have comments on any of these areas, or have some recommendations of your own, feel free to post your favorite resort nightlife. We would love to get some tips…and we‘re sure that other readers would be interested to know of some other great areas.

By: Brad
Ski Guru - Skis.com

There are a whopping 481 ski areas in the United States, and every one of them has at least one person who believes that respective ski area is the best on Earth. Maybe they feel this way because they had the most epic powder day of their life there, or perhaps they met their wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or fiancé their. Or perhaps it is just where they’ve been going all of their life. Regardless the reason, there are numerous reasons why a ski resort is considered the best. The real question however, is what qualities does a mountain/resort have to have to top the charts?

If you define “best” as most luxurious, than you’d be looking for a mountain resort like Deer Valley, Utah, Beaver Creek, Colorado, or Sun Valley, Idaho. The lodging and the cuisine at places like these are topped by few, if any. But, if cruising down groomers, sipping down hot chocolate and wearing slippers by the fireplace during a long lunch isn’t your ideal ski day, perhaps you’re looking for something with a little less cache, and a lot more deep powder.

The search for deep powder will lead you to a series of other questions about what makes a mountain the tops in the world. One such question is, do you want consistent powder? If the answer is yes, head out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This area offers more than enough snow and some extreme terrain to fulfill skier’s desires.

Looking for big powder dumps? Check out California’s Squaw Valley, where they get some of the strongest snow storms and snowfalls anywhere. Another area of interest might be Mount Baker in Washington State. This area set the record for most snowfall in a single season at an astounding 1,140 inches…that’s 95 feet! Just be ready for some wet, heavy snow if you head out to this area.

Perhaps your favorite ski area is one where you had your best day. This can happen anywhere at anytime, meaning your favorite ski area could change depending on how the day went. For me, my favorite place is Grand Targhee in Wyoming. This area gets more snow than Jackson Hole, and it also has the local feel that is hard to resist. The food at the base lodge isn’t overly fancy, but it will be exactly what you’re looking for to break up a long day of powder skiing. This is what counts in my book. Your’s is likely to be different, but the real question is why?

I would love for you to share some of your favorite places and what makes them your favorite places. Please feel free to comment to this blog with your experiences and favorite ski areas.

By: Brad
Ski Guru - Skis.com

Is skiing while listening to your favorite tunes dangerous? Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question, maybe you haven’t, but the bottom line is that ski technology has advanced so much in recent years that it is something that many skiers are now beginning to ask.

Ultimately the answer to this question is debatable, as different ski groups and skiers of varying ages will argue yes or no. If you ask an experienced skier who is accustom to the old school ways, you are likely to get a resounding “no!” if you were to ask if it is safe to fly down a groomer or a huck a cliff while Metallica’s “Fuel” is blaring in your ears. Ask the same question to a spirited teenager and you will likely get a conflicting response to our old-schooler.

As I hit the slopes today, I see many more people grabbing their personal music players, throwing in their ear buds, and heading to the lift. Technology has made it increasingly easier for skiers and snowboarders to take their music library with them to the mountain. The popularity of music on the slopes is growing, but the answer to our question on safety really depends on what situation a skier/boarder is in.

When talking about ski technology, it is easy to notice that the technology has improved in several ways. Skis are routinely receiving makeovers, jackets and pants are becoming more versatile, and helmets are getting lighter and stronger.

One of the most notable upgrades in recent years, skiing aside, is how music is listened to from a personal standpoint. Personal audio players are migrating their way into the everyday lifestyle of people across the world. For skiers, this migration is extremely evident. As a lifetime skier, I have seen how the evolution of music players and equipment has had an effect on the mountain. Portable CD players with bulky headphones, to mp3 players with ear buds, to helmets with Bluetooth technology, I have seen a fair amount of evolution in music technology on the mountain. I wouldn’t have ever imagined that I could listen to my favorite musicians, and then switch to answer an incoming cell phone call; all while standing atop a mountain and not even taking my gloves off.

Ultimately, this raises an additional question, is there such a thing as too much technology on the slopes? Skiing requires a lot of focus, concentration, and awareness to protect not only yourself, but the other skiers around you. Is the integration of music and cell phone technology on the ski slopes making things more dangerous? There have not been many studies on this subject, but the overall sentiment appears to be that it is OK for people to plug in their headphones and ride. Those who oppose these types of technology liken riders to individuals who have a hearing impairment. Furthermore, it is argued that the music makes for more dangerous skiing, which endangers every skier on the mountain.

Music is a part of us all; no matter what type of music you listen to. It inspires, motivates, drives, and helps us in many of the things we do on a daily basis. Skiing and boarding is just another one of those situations where music enhances the experience and makes it more enjoyable. From a personal standpoint, I find skiing to be therapeutic and music certainly enhances that experience.

When I head to the slopes, I am equipped with my personal music player and a Bluetooth Giro G10 helmet with built-in headphones. I believe that the convenience of the helmet reduces the danger on the mountain because I don’t have to fiddle with the players’ volume, track buttons, etc. Additionally, I can turn my music off in certain situations. Two that I can offer as an example are when I the slopes are very crowded and there are more skiers to be aware of, and when I am dropping off a cliff where I need to hear for potential bad situations. What you will discover, as I have, is that listening to music is a completely personal decision. If you try it and you aren’t comfortable, that’s fine. If you try it and you are confident about your safety and those around you, that’s good too. But understand that it is something you should test out before you go blazing down the mountain side.

If you have opinion on this topic or any comments that you’d like to share with me or other readers, please feel free to do so by posting comments to this blog.

Not only do twin tip skis provide you with an immense degree of versatility, but they also provide a sense of youth. This feeling of youthfulness is exactly why snowboarding evolved into the levels of popularity it holds today. Ultimately, snowboarding made people feel young, cool, and adventurous. The same feeling is felt when ripping up the mountain with twin tips.

The mountain takes on a whole new look and you begin to venture off into places you have never been, or even thought about going before. The next thing you know that foot of fresh powder is effortless to ski through and you begin praying for more. You seek out the little lips of rollers to catch a little air and the terrain park is not as scary as it once was.

When it comes to what twin tip you should consider, it is important to know that there are many different types within this small niche of skis. Many aren‘t much wider or structurally different in sidecut from most other All Mountain skis. These will ski very much like an All Mountain ski but with the added benefits of a quicker release in the moguls and extra surface area for better flotation in soft snow.

Also understand that some twin tip skis are designed specifically for skiing in the terrain park. These skis generally have a symmetrical or nearly symmetrical sidecut which allows the ski to ride just as well when switch (backward) as forward.

You will also find Powder Twins. Many believe that Powder Twins are only for the deep snow, which isn‘t necessarily wrong. Many of these style skis are deep snow specific. However it isn‘t the case for all because of the sidecut of today‘s Powder skis. Twin tips skis that are as wide as 100mm at the waist are phenomenal as All Mountain/Powder skis. They will turn and hold well on groomed snow, remain super stable at high speeds, and when new snow falls you won‘t struggle to stay afloat, or have to waste time in the rental shop. Instead, you‘ll be outside enjoying the fresh powder like you never thought you could.

Basically, what I‘m trying to say is that if you haven‘t skied a pair of twin tips yet, I strongly encourage you give it a shot. They will alter any previous idea you have about what is possible on a pair of skis. They are lighter, more versatile, and just flat out more fun! Just about a decade ago I was so bored of skiing that I gave it up to snowboard full-time. Then twin tip skis hit the market and I haven‘t owned any other style ski. Don‘t be surprised if you end up with a similar story…provided you give them a shot!

If you have a similar story to mine or any comments that you‘d like to share with me or other readers, please feel free to do so by posting comments to this blog.

By: Brad
Ski Guru - Skis.com

If you’re anything like me, you live to ski. Your passion is so great that you begin counting down the months, weeks, days, hours, and minutes until ski season opens the day after it closes. The agonizing weeks of September and early October are where you spend a disproportionate amount of time at work or school (possibly both) checking the snow report, mountain cameras, and staring out the window looking for any sign of a storm cloud or snow-covered peak. Finally, the day arrives and you feel like a young kid on Christmas morning again.

The delightful news of opening day on the slopes hit my ears last Wednesday, November 5. My buddies and I promptly cancelled our weekend plans in favor of a new plan. On Saturday we made the two-and-a-half hour drive to Breckenridge, Colorado for our first runs of the season. We could not have asked for a better, more beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, temperatures hovered around 25 degrees, and one inch of fresh snow had fallen. Each of us pulled on our ski boots, which were overly stiff and tight from the lack of use over the preceding 6 months, grabbed our skis, and headed towards the Gondola to get to the base of the mountain.

Upon reaching the base we were welcomed with the best surprise any skier can ask for…NO LINE! This is practically an unheard of event on the opening day of the season. Particularly when you consider that there is only 1 run and 1 lift to service every skier that makes it out on the first day. Finally, after 6 months, 3 days, 7 hours, and 21 minutes (see I told you I counted), I was back on the slopes. Turn after turn, top to bottom, we skied on the same run for hours on end, smiling from ear-to-ear.

If my excitement isn’t radiating to you by now, let me just say that there is something special about the first day of the season. I think of the mountain as a giant playground. During the peak of the season, every skier goes to their separate play structure to enjoy whatever they like doing. The pros head to the black diamonds, the cruisers head to the blue squares, and the new skiers stick to the green circles.  But the first day of the season is like a brand new jungle gym; a jungle gym that everyone wants to play on. It’s one of the rare times that pros, cruisers, beginners, bump skiers, park rats, kids, and adults all share the same run. There’s no yelling or arguing, just a bunch of skiers who are excited to escape to the mountains again.

For any of you that have yet to experience the first day of the season, it is something that I can only describe as truly magical. So from me to you, I would like to be the first to welcome you to SKI SEASON!

If you have a similar story to mine or any comments that you’d like to share with me or other readers about the opening of ski season, please feel free to do so by posting a comment to this blog.