Extreme Sports Blog

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Posts Tagged ski equipment

You Must Have Your Ski Boots Before You Buy Skis – Here’s Why

Feb 8

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Heli Skiing | No Comments


Have you been on your first few ski trips, used beginners ski gear and equipment rentals, and now understand why people like to own their own? If so, then you have probably decided that if you want like to learn more about skiing then purchasing your own ski gear in on your ‘to do’ list.

Now that you are ready to take the plunge and are deciding on your ski gear purchase, knowing a few things beforehand can help eliminate hassles down the road and prevent costly mistakes.

For starters, one of the most helpful rules to remember when shopping for ski gear is to purchase your ski boots before you even go looking for the right ski. The reason for this, is that the fit, comfort and support of the ski boot is much more important to your ski experience, and your boots will influence the skis and bindings you select.

Once you have found the right ski boots, you will then have a little bit of direction in choosing a set of skis, as well as other ski gear. You can then look for skis and bindings that are suitable to your skill level and which will work with your chosen boots. Taking expert advice here is important – they will know for instance that if you are a woman, your ski bindings for women should be set more to the front to accommodate a different center of gravity and skiing style.

Another aspect to consider when purchasing your ski gear is that different ski boots affect the performance of some skis. So, getting the ski that works the most effectively with the ski boots that you’ve got can easily boost your results.

Some of today’s equipment marketers recommend that you purchase bindings and ski boots from the same manufacturer, suggesting that they are only compatible with each other.  This is rarely the case however, but it may serve to enhance the combined performance of the ski gear.

There is certainly nothing wrong with purchasing all of your different components from different sources – and you can generally save a heap of money doing it that way.

Having comfortable boots that complement your other ski gear will make a huge difference to your skiing experience.  They will be more comfortable and safer, and will therefore allow you to stay on the slopes for longer – and isn’t that what you want?

Check out the latest sales and Burton boards at - Snowboards.net

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How to Ski – Learn to Ski without Crying – It All Starts Here

Nov 9

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Heli Skiing | No Comments

My friends all used to say to me ‘Learn to ski and you won’t be able to stop’. They were right on both counts of not being able to stop. I’ve learnt how to ski and sometimes brake in the last forty odd years, but I won’t get rid of the ski addiction until the snow stops falling.

Maybe I shouldn’t associate skiing with a drug but that’s what it did for me. Learning how to ski on that first ski vacation to Norway was like the first occasion I drank alcohol – happiness then headache then more happiness and more headaches. The two emotions were well balanced where balance on skis was missing!. For all that, the sheer cameraderie, the atmosphere, and the laughter generated by the lack of oxygen at altitude, was addictive and it’s been a part of my life ever since.

This is the first time you’ve skied right? Well let me introduce you gently to the greatest pastime since charriot racing. Let’s go to Austria. If you have been on a skiing holiday before and know vaguely how to ski but are keen to get better, you can join us too in the Austrian Alps and then have a look at my free ebook about ‘Secrets of Better Skiing’, which will turn an intermediate skier into an expert.

We’ve come to Austria because it is simply the best place to have an enjoyable time – pretty girls with frothing mugs of beer, roaring log fires, and easy runs in the sunshine.

So we have had a good breakfast and made it to the beginners’ slope. The kitting out in the shop was an adventure on its own and we are carrying and wearing some interesting stuff but we’ve made it. There is a faint smell of woodsmoke and the hairs up our nose are tingling. It’s freezing but we are cosy aren’t we because we are kitted out for the South Pole? Take it from me – we won’t have it on for long ….

For how to dress functionally when skiing read this really useful article about Ski Wear.

The slope is really a field but now has a thick layer of packed snow on it. It’s flat where we are and then rises a bit when we look towards the valley, but looking upwards to the treeline a hundred metres away we can see that it rises a bit; the top of the slope is only ten feet higher than us. Let’s go a bit higher and put our skis on. Let’s leave out how to put your boots and skis on here and get on with the business of skiing – you can really only do this with help from your instructor on the day.

Take small steps up the hill for about ten yards using your ski poles to push you and slowly turn till you are looking down the hill – the slope is so gentle you will have to push yourself off with your poles to begin with – and just let the skis run on their own. When you stop at the bottom, take the skis off and walk back up a little higher than previously. Just let them run straight and go a litttle higher each time. Soon, as your equilibrium improves, you can stop before reaching the bottom of the hill by stepping round to either the right or left – if you keep stepping round the same way you will soon be at right angles the slope and will therefore come to a stop.

Let’s just concentrate on falling over because you should be doing quite a lot of it. Just before you are going to fall, sit down and hopefully you will be topsides of your skis and although you may have a few bruises, you’ll have a few laughs too. Doing it this way will reduce the fear of falling!

That’s all for now. To learn more and to get the low down on ski equipment as well as ski clothes, or maybe even to look for a ski holiday go to Ski Jungle – Ski Holidays, and happy skiing!

Check out the latest sales and Burton boards at - Snowboards.net

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The Lazy Guide To Buying Ski Equipment

Sep 26

Posted by Talon W. Ing in Heli Skiing | No Comments

For most people who regularly ski or for anyone going on a ski holiday one of the most important thing they will need is the right ski equipment. Quality equipment is vital for skiing as it all comes down to ensuring your safety. Spending up big and chosing designer brands does not always mean you will get quality. Try not to cut corners as its your safety you need to consider first.

The first thing to purchase is a good pair of skis. The skis must be in the right size and they need to be suited to your level of experience. Skis that are too long or short can cause injuries so its important to chose skis that fit and match your level of experience. Ski length is determined by the type of skiing and the speed at which you want to go. Previously the length of the skis was determined by the height of the person using the skis. These days you can find skis for every style and experience level.

Next after the skis comes a good quality pair of ski boots. Ski boots have the role of transferring movement and instructions to your skis so its important you purchase quality boots. Many people say boots are really important so go for quality when chosing yours. The ski boots need to fit snuggly around the foot and must never be too tight. Make sure the skis are the right size as lose skis are a safety risk.

The next consideration after your ski boots is binding. Binding is attached to your ski boots and is vital for your safety. Binding is a neccessity for safety reason in the event of mishap. Often choosing bindings for your boots can be overwhelming so endeavour to go for quality. If you are unsure of what you need speak to the store assistant.

The last item that you wil need ot be able to ski is ski poles. One thing to consider when purchasing poles is that they have a comfortable grip and are not too heavy. You don’t need to outlay a lot for ski poles, just chose ones that feel comfortable.

After you have all the ski gear then its time to test them out for real. Hop in the car and head for the snow for some fun and games.

Check out the latest sales and Burton boards at - Snowboards.net

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