Experts can handle many things that beginners can’t and an extreme skier might be bored on such a slope. If you are an expert you should be able to hold your own different styles of terrain with various snow covered conditions including moguls, trees, and steeps and in any combination as well. You should also be able to maintain full control on any snow surface including powder, crud, ice, etc. This includes snow that has or not be groomed as well. You should also be able to make quick turns, maintain balance and control always, and have the ability to make fast adjustments in speed. The expert skier can’t wait to cover every inch of unexplored terrain. If you are an expert then you should also be able to maintain control on a run with a 40-degree pitch that has trees, tight moguls, and even when the snow has not been groomed with a good degree of confidence.

Advanced skiers should be able to handle blue or black runs and everything that an intermediate level slope has to offer. Usually you will encounter snow conditions that are groomed yet hard packed and you should be able to handle mid-radius parallel turns under these conditions. The extreme skier is the daredevil and anything goes. They will generally drop off steep cliffs not give a second thought to skiing off-piste. Extreme skiers are usually risk takers, to say the least. The novice skiers, well, let’s just say that everyone can spot them a few miles away. They walk in their skis rather than glide and they are likely to be found on the ground more than standing up.

At most resorts you will find the least of novice skiers because they are not yet ready to handle long runs, deep snow, and big moguls. Beginners usually like to play it a bit more safe and frequent well groomed trails with lots of room to practice turning without the threat of being ran over by the others.

It is very important that when you are skiing that you know what type of skiers that you are so that you can ski with others that are at your same level. There is going to be a time when you have practiced enough and feel more confident when you can move on to other playing fields. Categorizing your ski type is good and safe as well. It allows you room to grow and eventually you will know where you want to be and you will get there.

Originally posted 2008-10-31 04:55:31.

Alpine Skiing

Developing quick-firing muscles. There is evidence to suggest that Alpine skiing does result in a lot of strength buildup for the skiers who practice it, but that this type of strength isn’t very conducive to the type of exercises many weightlifters and bodybuilders endure. For example, alpine skiers are more likely to be able to endure for a long time rather than have a tremendous output of energy in a resistance training situation without getting fatigued quicker, perhaps, than people who work primarily with resistance training.

An aerobic exercise? There is also question about Alpine skiing and what kind of exercise it is – anaerobic (“without oxygen”) or aerobic (“with oxygen”). Typically, aerobic workouts mean that you have enough oxygen to feed your muscles, while an anaerobic exercise often focuses on performing work without a lot of oxygen levels pumping to your muscles at the time. Generally, an aerobic exercise won’t rob you of your breath, and is clearly more sustainable than an anaerobic workout. Skiing would seem to fall under the “aerobic” exercise category.

Specificity. Bodybuilders are often concerned with isolating different aspects of their fitness – the development of certain muscle groups, for example. In skiing, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of specificity. This can work tremendously well for someone who is interested in cross-training and needs an exercise that challenges the muscle groups that downhill skiing challenges. But for bodybuilders, skiing might be an ultimately inefficient exercise.

Remember: whether or not alpine skiing is right for you depends on you and your individual goals. What do you want to get out of your exercise and hobbies? If you’re a bodybuilder, you might not want to hit those slopes. But if you’re someone who is interest in a hobby that helps you break a sweat and strengthen certain parts of your body, skiing might just be what the doctor ordered.

Photo Credits: aLindquist

Originally posted 2009-11-26 03:47:47.

Aspen!

What is it about Aspen that makes it such a special place – isn’t the snow there as cold as anywhere else? Let’s take a look into this a little more deeply to discover exactly why Aspen has developed into such a top skiing destination and answer that question this article poses: why is Aspen so great?

• Terrain, baby, terrain – One of the great parts about Aspen is that its location in the Colorado Rockies provides some access to some of the best skiing hills in the world – and not just a few skiing hills, but all of the skiing hills in places like Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands. In other words, Aspen is in the middle of one of the best terrains built for skiing in the world, smack dab right in the center so that everyone can enjoy aspen at different levels.

  Aspen isn’t only for the professionals, but for those skiers who are just getting involved and want to experience what high-end skiing is all about. Just because it’s aspen doesn’t mean you have to be totally fluent with your ski poles; instead, you’ll be able to tackle a wide range of difficulties and terrains, with some of the top ski instructors of the world.

• The people – I just mentioned “some of the top ski instructors of the world.” There is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg element to this point, but it bears mentioning that because Aspen is already so popular, it draws some of the most consistently professional and talent skiers in the world to its slopes. Even skiers who have a greater need for thrillseeking and the more audacious slopes in the world will eventually find themselves landing back in Aspen, if only for the prestige that Aspen carries with it.

Does Aspen sound like the right kind of place for you? If you’re a local in a state like Maine or Wisconsin who simply enjoys skiing as a winter sport but doesn’t necessarily feel too involved with the sport itself, Aspen might not be for you. But for others, Aspen is the Mecca of the skiing world. For more information, continue to do research on Aspen to find out what separates it from some of the other ski resorts in the world.

Photo Credit: ishrona

Originally posted 2009-01-27 04:55:55.

• Aspen Mountain – Aspen, Colorado is arguably the most well known of all ski resorts in North America, made famous by vacationing celebrities as much as for its incredible ski runs. Considering that the town was a mere afterthought to the mining industry, it has made its mark on the world of snowsports. It is the smallest of the mountains on this list with only 673 acres and 76 runs.
• Heavenly – Sitting high above Lake Tahoe, this mountain offers many snow sports and as a bonus, allows a skier to shush down the run in California or Nevada since the mountain straddles the state line. Heavenly recently added a gondola to speed skiers to the top. The highest lift reaches 10,040 feet and the mountain offers almost one hundred runs.
• Stowe – The only East Coast resort to make this list is Stowe, Vermont which offers almost fifty trails with many for advanced skiers. Novice skiers feel welcome there also. At the base of this mountain is a quaint New England town with inns and places to eat. The highest peak is 4395 feet and it has almost five hundred acres of skiable area.
• Jackson Hole – This resort is a favorite for skiers and snowboarders alike. The terrain here is steep but novices will be as comfortable here as those with experience. Jackson Hole offers more than 4100 vertical feet of skiing and with fifty percent of its runs graded expert, it tops this list for challenging runs. Yellowstone National Park is nearby for more sightseeing opportunities.
• Vail – With more than 300 bluebird days every year, the conditions at Vail are perfect almost all season long. The mountain at Vail is seven miles long and 1500 acres of it are groomed daily. Lines at the lifts are minimal due to the large network of high speed quads and lifts.

When you are skiing in any of the above places, it doesn’t matter if you cheap skis or expensive ones – your experience will be fantastic.

Originally posted 2010-06-12 14:54:40.

One of the things that make the Alyeska Resort stand out above the rest is that it is never crowded. That usually means that there is a surplus on the slopes and no waiting in the lift lines which is good news for skiers. Although there is only one cable car line there are multiple chair lifts and surface lifts to accommodate. There are over 60 various trails that are attractive to novice skiers as well as the most advanced.

Night time skiing is very popular at the Alyeska Resort and offers spectacular views of the hanging glaciers and the Northern Lights amongst all of the snow capped mountains. It is no wonder that this particular ski resort is high in the ranks of the top twenty places to go for a wonderful skiing trip. The Alyeska Resort welcomes all from the middle of November all the way through the middle of April. You are sure to get all of the skiing that you can imagine with this part of Alaska offering over 15 hours of day in April. Be prepared though because in December there is barely any light (less than seven hours daily) so if you are a night time skier then head to Alyeska Resort during December.

If you just love skiing then the Alyeska Resort can be a special winter vacation because while it offers the finest in outdoor skiing it also offers as much pampering indoors as you could want. Go outdoors and ski and when you have had enough go inside where it is warm and enjoy yourself. It doesn’t matter who your ski partners are or if you brought the whole family, there is something for everyone at the Alyeska Resort. As a matter of fact, many families do plan their winter wonderland vacation in this very location.

There are other splendid ski resorts located all over Alaska that are just as exquisite. Look around until you find the perfect one for you. In Arctic Valley, the Alpenglow is a wonderful ski resort too. Outside of Juneau, check out Douglas Island which is where many seasoned skiers call home as their vacation ski resort.

Moose Mountain is another very popular ski resort because it has well over 1200 feet of vertical slopes and also offers anything from bunny slopes to thrilling slopes for the advanced skier. There is one thing that makes this resort more unique and that is the protection that is offered due to the location that protects this area from wild winds. This along with the ample sunshine makes this area much warmer than its counterparts.

Don’t bypass the Mt. Aurora Ski Resort because you will want to get a glimpse of the “Silver Star Double Chairlift”. It is the most northern chairlift in the country, maybe even in the world. Remember that the possibilities are endless when it comes to ski vacations in Alaska.

Originally posted 2008-11-20 04:55:34.

We always view skiing as a “winter” sport, but we also forget that there’s no such thing as a “Spring” or “Fall” Olympics. There aren’t any events for running in the residual mud after a particularly snowy winter, and there aren’t any gold medals doled out for the fastest lawn-raker. But what if you really do want to take a winter sport like skiing and extend it into the spring? Are there ways to do it, and are there things you should know before giving it a try?

Sure there are, and here, you’ve found them. Here are some quick tips for skiing in the spring and making it as enjoyable as skiing all winter long:

-Water, water, water. As always, stay hydrated –

This is true during the winter, but when you’re wearing winter clothing on a Spring day that might see temperatures rise beyond what you’ve been used to over the past few months, then suddenly your need to keep cool and hydrated increases even more. Even though it feels like the air is cold, that doesn’t mean your body is cool enough to not need water – it always needs water, so keep an eye on your hydration, and make sure you prepare beforehand by getting plenty of water in you before even strapping on the skis.

-Have goggles/sunglasses handy. -

During the Spring, the sun is out longer, and many times, it breaks through the clouds on a more frequent basis. This means that you’re going to want to have goggles and sunglasses handy – just in case the sun decides to make its first appearance in what seems like months. Since this isn’t always the case (protecting your eyes from light) during the winter, you might have to give yourself a reminder.

-Keep an eye on the weather forecast.-

Knowing the weather forecast will help you dress appropriately, and it will also help you decide what days are still quite winter-like to make the most ideal days for skiing. The closer an eye you keep on the weather, the better prepared you will be for the outdoors.

-Sunscreen. -

I know: sunscreen to a ski hill? What’s next, a warm wool cap to the beach? Well, you’d be surprised: the less you wear during the warmer spring months, and the more frequent the sun appears, the more you realize that you haven’t been getting much sunlight at all through the winter. You don’t necessarily want to go from 0 to 60 right away in terms of your sunlight, so a couple of applications of sunscreen on the exposed parts of your skin is enough to at least be prepared for all of the Vitamin D that’s headed your way.

Photo Credits: dvs

Originally posted 2009-03-10 05:37:25.

Backcountry Skiing.

As it turns out, the term isn’t very complicated. You see, backcountry skiing simply refers to a less-regulated form of skiing in which people go out into more wild areas and ski in unmarked areas. In essence, people are simply downhill skiing in the backcountry. But how exactly is this done, where is it popular, and what are the laws on the books regulating backcountry skiing?

First, you’re a backcountry skier simply by using backcountry – or unpatrolled, unmarked land – to downhill ski. If you’ve ever been skiing on a private hill, there’s an argument to be made that you’ve gone backcountry skiing before. But since many of us only go skiing when there are regulated slopes available, we’re not really familiar with what backcountry skiing really entails.

Some people actively pursue backcountry skiing. If you’ve heard of cat skiing or heli skiing, then you know that many people like to pursue skiing “outside the box” and enjoy taking more risks. Backcountry skiing is typically associated with handling your own uphill travel – unless you can afford your own ski lift.

Backcountry skiing is popular around the United States and Europe – here in the U.S., we call it backcountry skiing, but other terms you might find internationally include “off-piste skiing,” “ski touring,” and “Randonnée” – one guess as to which language Randonnée belongs to. The Alps, which go across places like France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, are a popular destination for backcountry skiers.

There are some regulations of backcountry skiing in both Europe and the United States. Generally, backcountry skiing is allowed depending on local regulations and ski resorts. In Iran, backcountry skiing is not allowed whatsoever.

Is backcountry skiing for you? Only if you’re an advanced skier, as backcountry skiing involves a lot of risks, including the possibility of avalanches. If you’ve seen “extreme” videos online or on television of skiers falling victim to an avalanche, there’s a good chance that you saw a backcountry skier.

If you’re interested in backcountry skiing but haven’t even started out skiing yet, be sure to build up an advanced skill set by moving up progressively. You don’t want to tackle too much at once, as skiing can be a risky sport. Have patience and enjoy the process of developing your skiing skills – eventually, you’ll be an expert and might be ready to handle more difficult terrain.

Photo Credits: Thomas Kirkevåg

Originally posted 2009-12-03 03:50:46.

Wipeout.

Tip #1: Do dry runs with roller skates or roller blades. If you’re not used to sliding around on two separate devices, rollerskating or rollerblading can be fun. You can bring out the ice skates during the winter or bring out the roller blades on the pavement when the weather’s warmer and dry. This won’t necessarily make you an expert skier, but it will help you adapt to the challenges of moving around on something other than a car or a bicycle. It also makes great exercise, and should involve some of the same muscles you’ll be using on the slopes.

Tip #2: Challenge your balance. You’re not going to improve your balance if you only practice being upright, so be sure to challenge your balance. You can do this both while doing the “dry runs” mentioned above or attempting various balancing exercises on your own. If you can find a good stretch of pavement for your personal use, you can set up cones that you can skate around, helping you to get the feel of shifting your body weight for turns. Make sure to search online for at-home exercises you can do to improve your balance, and commit to doing these a few times a week.

Tip #3: The best way to learn is through experience. At some point, it will be time to put your balancing skills to the test and actually go skiing. You can’t avoid this, so it’s best to take advantage of the fact that experience is a great teacher and start practicing skiing by…skiing! You won’t always look good, but if you stay persistent, your muscle memory and your body will adapt to the motions of skiing and it will feel more effortless than when you first began.

Just because you’re a klutz doesn’t mean you’re destined to always be one. Instead, actively work on this weakness and develop your balance.

Photo Credits: cynthiacloskey

Originally posted 2009-12-31 03:48:42.

Thrillseekers - Speed

What kind of skiing personality do you have? Do you enjoy the sounds of nature, or are you more of a “tuned-in” type of person that has to be connected to your iPod at all times? Here are some reasons you might choose one or the other.

Wiring Up

Reasons to do it: If you’re addicted to your iPod, you might feel a little trepidacious about bring the wire with you on a skiing trip. But there’s nothing to feel guilty about – you’re not necessarily depriving yourself of any specific experience. In fact, if you’re wiring yourself up, there’s a good chance you like to make your own experiences, setting the soundtrack to your life. It can help the downtime pass by and can really heighten the overall skiing experience.

Reasons not to do it: Many people say “why wire up when you have plenty of sounds to thrill you?” To them, an iPod doesn’t enhance the experience, but dumbs it down into a sort of MTV-like existence in which you’re not fully outdoors because your ears are still hooked to the tube. Again, this might be a personality issue for many, or simply a difference in tastes.

Going “Naked”

Reasons to do it: No, not because the cold air feels good on your skin – not that kind of naked. Instead, going “naked” would mean simply abandoning the wire and enjoying the sights and sounds of skiing – and there are plenty of those to enjoy. Wiring up means you can’t hear the swoosh of your skis cutting through the snow beneath you, and some people really think those sounds should be savored.

Reasons not to do it: Sure, that’s fun for many, especially if they’re not big listeners of music. But if you’ve usually got a beat in your head, it’s simply not as fun to be outside by yourself or with friends without a little something extra to get your heart pumping.

Ask yourself what kind of person you are – but the truth is, you probably don’t need to take my advice. If you’re already a “wired up” kind of person, the chances are good that you’ve already put together your own ski hill play list.

Photo Credits: Uqbar is back

Originally posted 2009-05-12 05:17:00.

Snowboarder

Believe it or not, snowboarding can’t be traced back further than the 1960′s. Story has it that Sherman Poppen designed a “snurfer” (think “snow” + “surfer”) for his daughter as a present while living in Michigan. The snurfer was manufactured and marketed as a toy the following year.

But despite the fast start and spread of the snowboard, it didn’t originally look like it does today. A rope was attached to the front, helping the snowboarder to steer, and the foot bindings look very different from the attachments that we see today. Throughout the 1970s, the sport was growing and a number of innovators tweaked, invented, and explored new ways to look at the snowboard. Various inventors like Dimitrije Milovich, Jon Roberts, and Pete Matthews all experimented with the design, essentially leading to what would become a modified skateboard – without wheels.

By 1979, the “snurfing” sport was so popular that the world’s first snurfing championship was held in Michigan. In the early 1980s, other innovations were introduced, including the half-pipe, which has its origins in skateboarding. The connection between skateboarding and snowboarding is a frequent theme in the history of snowboarding, as many people will find themselves skateboarding in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.

Although the idea of snowboarding was catching on, snowboarders often found themselves at odds with skiers. In the mid-1980s, only about 7% of ski hills allowed snowboarders to use their snowboards – today, that number is closer to 97%. Many ski hills have hills exclusively for snowboarders, as well, and make provisions for snowboarding accommodations like half-pipes.

With the wider cultural acceptance of snowboarding came more scrutiny and accolade, as top snowboarders like Shaun White became household names. Additionally, these snowboarders can compete at the highest levels of athletic events, including the Olympic Games. With this cultural acceptance comes an even greater variety of innovation and athleticism, further leading to snowboarding development.

Today, snowboarding is mentioned in the same breath with skiing and is considered just as great a way to get outdoors, exercise, and enjoy the winter. Even as you get sick of the cold winter months, you’ll find hordes of snowboarders who wish it didn’t go away – and even some that chase winters and cold temperatures elsewhere!

Photo Credits: visualpanic

Originally posted 2009-07-21 05:23:56.