10 things to do to get the best ski experience?
People are spending on experiences not things. So when you plan a ski or snowboard trip, how can you enjoy that experience to the fullest?
- Plan ahead so you are totally prepared for your ski trip
- Start by doing any type of aerobic activity to increase your stamina so you do not get fatigued and make others wait for you.
- Take a ski lesson. Or if you prefer hire a ski pro to coach you. Yes even if you have been skiing for 50 years. Get rid of some old habits. Learn some new tricks. Go to your local ski area which will cost less than the mountain area rates.
- By planning ahead you can get some great deals at mountain resorts.
- Join a local ski club. Ski clubs get some of the best rates for trips as they get the group rate. It is also the easiest way to go on a trip. You go to a club meeting, pay the trip chairperson, and the club does all the arrangements. Often meals and wine and cheese parties are included.
You also get the camaraderie of many like-minded skiers. If you are a new skier, club members can also give you valuable tips and take you under their wings. You may even gain some life long friendships. - Go to the gym and use the leg machines to get the muscles in shape. Have you ever been on day two of your ski trip and can not walk down the stairs? Just a couple days a week on leg machines makes a world of difference. OR do leg work outs at home.
- If you have ski equipment, take your gear to your local ski shop. Get your skis tuned and bindings checked if the gear is several years old.
Ask your ski shop pro who has been to years of training on equipment and how to properly fit boots. Often if you have difficulties skiing it is attributed to your gear – not your ability. It is not you it is the gear.
Do your boots hurt your feet? Have your local ski shop pro check your boot fit. Boots are the most important piece of gear.
Is your gear suited to your ability level? Your ski pro should ask you 4 things for you to get the right ski for you, so you have the best on the snow experience. - Do you have the right gear to keep you warm, dry, comfortable and safe? Take out all your ski wear to see what needs to be replaced. The best time to get deals on skis and clothing is preseason or post season. Use this check list to see what you need for a trip.
- Take a few trips to your local area to practice and/or take a lesson.
- Save time by going to your local specialty ski shop where you will find those with years of experience.
What to Pack on a Ski or Snowboard Trip?
Going on a trip? Can't remember what to bring?
Use our handy dandy trip checklist to make sure you have the necessities for your trip.
| What To Pack | Day Trip | Weekend Trip | Week Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuned skis or snowboard * | X | X | X |
| Boots | X | X | X |
| Ski poles | X | X | X |
| Base layer underwear | X | X | 2 - 3 |
| Socks | X | 2 pair | 2 - 5 pair |
| Jackets | X | X | 2 - 3 |
| Pants | X | X | 2 pair |
| Helmet | X | X | X |
| Gloves | X | X | 2 pair - 1 light 1 heavy |
| Ski carrier, powder leashes | X | X | X |
| Ski, snowboard, boot bags | X | X | X |
| Boot carrier, dryers | X | X | X |
| Après Ski Boots | X | X | X |
| Goggles | X | X | X |
| sunscreen and lip balm | X | X | X |
| snacks / lunch for the slopes | X | X | X |
| Video or digital camera and Chargers | X | X | X |
Pack Your Gear In These Great Bags!
It's better to bring more gear than buy it at the resort where it can be more expensive. We RECOMMEND bringing your own equipment and not renting. Renting increases your chances of getting wrong or badly tuned equipment and can ruin your trip.
*If you will take your gear to a shop for tuning allow up to one week, especially just before the holidays, MLK weekend and Spring Break weeks.
**If you are going during Spring Break through season closing take a shell jacket for warmer sunny days.
Traveling by Car: When traveling with your skis or snowboards on a roof top rack, the tails go to the front and tips go to the rear of the vehicle. Protect your equipment by using a bag or at least a binding cover to keep dirt out of your ski bindings.
Traveling by Plane: When transporting your gear in the luggage compartment of a plane, always put your skis and snowboards in a padded bag for extra protection. Fill the empty space in the bag with clothing for added protection.
Packing Tip: Put your skis and or snowboard in its travel bag and then put one complete outfit in your boot bag and another outfit in with your skis or snowboard. If the airlines loses a bag at least you will have one outfit and half your gear. The clothing around your gear will also give added protection to your equipment.
Cargo Bags
Ski/Board Bags
Outerwear
Types of Travel Bags for Sking and Snowboarding
A bag is necessary for traveling and a great way to carry and protect your gear. Choose from a basic bag, a hard travel case with wheels or find something in between. Get a bag with color or a design to help find your ski bag easily on the airline carousel. To find more tips on on how to decide what type of ski boot bag to get check out our newsletter article
Buying the Right Bag. Do not store your equipment in a ski travel bag! Bags rarely get cleaned and they trap moisture which will deteriorate your bases and rust the metal edges. Wishing you much snow and an awesome trip!
When packing for a trip use this checklist so you do not forget any needed gear.Back Packs for skiers and boarders!
You can purchase a regular backpack anywhere. Alpine Accessories specifically carries back packs that help skiers and snowboarders carry their gear. Backpacks with outside boot storage (so they can breath and dry out), backpacks with inside boot storage (so they can stay warm), backpacks with goggle pockets and backpacks with detachable shoulder strap. Check ‘em out.Ski or Snowboard Boot Bags!
A boot bag is necessary for traveling and a great way to protect your boots. Choose a ski boot bag to fit your needs from one of our basic bags or a boot bag that is fully padded and has wheels for when you check your luggage. If you carry on your boots get a boot bag that has a shoulder strap or backpack straps. For a day trip you may only need a small bag. For longer trips get a ski luggage piece that stores not only your boots but also enough stuff for a weekend or entire week long destination trip. If these boot bags are too small for what you need then check out a cargo bag.Boot Cargo Bags!
A boot bag is necessary for traveling and a great way to protect your boots. A boot cargo bag is a great way to travel with your boots and gear in one bag. Choose from one of our basic bags or get a boot cargo bag that has wheels. You can fit your boots, helmet and a weeks worth of clothing in a cargo bag which makes them perfect for a destination resort. Use this checklist for packing so you don't have to go shopping when you arrive at your destination for something left behind.One Pair Ski Bags!
A single ski bag is necessary for traveling and a great way to protect your skis. Choose from one of our basic bags or get a 1 pair ski bag that is fully padded and has wheels. One pair bags will protect your skis and poles on the school bus trip when they pile skis in the bus luggage section. Often poles get switched on these trips and one doesn't find out until they are on the hill or at home.Two Pair Ski Bags!
A double ski bag is necessary for traveling and a great way to protect your skis. Choose from one of our basic bags or get a 2 pair ski bag that is fully padded and has wheels.Multi Pair Ski and Snowboard Bags!
Why have one bag to carry skis and one bag to carry snowboards when you can have one bag that carries both? A multi pair ski and snowboard bag is great for traveling and a great way to protect your equipment. Choose from one of the multi pair ski and snowboard bags we offer.
Pack your bags to go skiing or boarding!
A travel bag is necessary for traveling and a great way to protect your gear. A bag with wheels just makes it easier to get your gear around, especially around large airports and hotel lobbies. If you pay the airline baggage fees, you might as well pack as much to the 50 pound limit as possible and a wheeled bag will save your back from carrying such a heavy bag. Check out our selection of bags ranging from manufacturers from Sportube with either their hard travel cases or their boot bags, to rossignol and even the Dakine roller cargo bag or the Dakine roller snowboard bag. Pick out the right bag for you and get to the slopes! Most of these bags have durable 2 to 3 inch diameter in line style skate wheels, so you can easily drag your bag over the curb or up the stairs in the airport or at the hotel.