Why I Started Snowboarding Classes

Author: Jasmine Stone

Let me tell you all about the time that I went to snowboarding classes and why I absolutely think that you should go out there and do the same. When you learn something new it provides and excellent sense of well being and can result in many hours of fun and enjoyment that can come as a result of the new skill that you have attained.

When I was only 16 I really liked watching winter sports on television and although it may sound stupid, it was actually sledging that drove me to want to learn a winter sport. I always liked sledging and I even went sledging when it wasn't snowing. You see, where I live it is absolutely impossible to go sledging 11 months of the year, and if we are lucky enough to have as much as a month of snow then I am always sure to take advantage of it and go out their and sledge away! That is why, coupled with my love for watching snowboarding and sledging on television, that I decided that I would go out their and learn how to snowboard.

So you are probably wondering why I made the choice of snowboarding over skiing as my choice for the winter sport that I would try. The main reason for this was because I have a lot of friends that do snowboarding but absolutely none that do skiing done at the local ski slope. Although they do snowboarding the slope caters for both and I suppose the decision really did come down to me. Anyway, in the end I decided to go out their and choose snowboarding and I would be lying if I said my friends were my only influence in my decision to choose the board over the ski's. You see I do not know if everyone will know what I am talking about but I feel that a snowboard just appears to be so much more responsive than ski's. Do you know what I mean?

At our local ski slope there is only 100M of run that is around 300 feet if you convert it. In that period on ski's what can you actually do? If it was some kind of complicated slalom then that would be different, but just going down a hill on ski's to me seems slightly boring compared to on a snowboard. A snowboard appears to be more of a white knuckle ride. That is why I decided to choose snowboarding, but don't get me wrong I still think that skiing looks fun, and as I now go down to the skiing slope every week or so I have actually started to do skiing some times for a bit of a change. You see, once I learned how to snow board I had some transferable skills, such as an ability to use the lift, how to handle speed, when to slow down etc. That is why I am glad that I learned how to snowboard first. If I had skied first, then I would probably have found it a lot more difficult to pick up snowboarding second. Anyway I went to snowboarding lessons and really enjoyed myself, I am not as good, nor as dedicated as some of my friends but I still really enjoy myself and that is what it is all about.

About the Author:

Read more about skiing, including skiing tips and skiing vacations at the Ski Trip Planning website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Why I Started Snowboarding Classes

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4 Ways to Save Money on your Next Ski Trip

Author: Aaron Jochum

It's becoming ever more expensive to plan an enjoyable, inexpensive ski trip. Ski ticket prices are going through the roof. For a one day pass, you'll pay $69 at Banff, $78 at Mammoth, $82 at Aspen, and over $80 at Keystone. Hotels and condo rentals aren't getting any cheaper either.

But there are still time honored ways of saving money on ski trips if you plan ahead.

1. Make Your Ski Plans Early

The best ski bargains for the winter come in the spring. And it's mostly true that the good deals go first. Running a ski resort is a risky business because you are depending on a certain number of snow days in order for the season to be profitable. Trusting in the weather is a big risk. To offset that risk a bit, in the spring, many ski resorts will offer deep discounted tickets for the upcoming fall season. That way they guarantee themselves a cushion and are able to survive if a season is particularly bad from a snow standpoint.

In addition, many ski resorts will not only offer ticket discounts. They will also offer air fare and room discounts.

Buying early is a bit of a risk, of course. Your plans may change, emergencies may pop up and so on. But these days with all the different avenues to resell tickets and vacation packages, the risk is probably minimal.

2. Make Your Ski Plans late

Ski resorts and hotels hate last minute cancellations, but they are a business fact of life. If you are in a position to leave your vacation plans flexible, you can take advantage of their misfortune. In fact, an entire business model has sprung up around the idea of packaging last minute deals for customers. You can find many sites on the Internet selling last minute deals. Even a multi-million dollar company like Travelocity has a special section on their site where they offer "Last Minute Packages".

3. Find Yourself Some Ski Coupons

This is so easy and almost painless. Many online companies have very nicely put together great package deals that they are willing to offer you if you simply print and use their coupon. You can find discount coupons for lift tickets, lodging and accommodations, season passes, ski classes, travel, restaurants and almost any vacation activity you can think of.

4. Take Your Ski Vacation Off Season

If you want the best deals, go when the crowds are at low ebb. For ski resorts, the beginning of the ski season and the tail end of the ski season are their low points. These are the times when you can find the best deals. Also from a purely sports standpoint, these are the times when you'll get the most ski runs in for your money. Do you hate long ski lines? Well you won't be waiting 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or more in line waiting to go up the ski lift. You'll make your downhill run and ski directly back to the lift with no waiting.

These, of course, are not the only ways to save money on your ski vacation. They are simply some of the easiest ones to take advantage of without much effort and inconvenience on your part.

About the Author:

Aaron Jochum is a freelance writer who writes articles relating to skiing travel, esp. Colorado ski vacation, skiing tips, and skiing resources. Visit his site at http://www.skiwhat.com .

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - 4 Ways to Save Money on your Next Ski Trip

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Tips For Renting Snowboarding And Skiing Equipment

Author: Gray Rollins

So, you're planning a skiing or snowboarding trip. You have your travel and lodging plans all set up, but have you gotten your equipment yet? While buying your own equipment may be more convenient, it's also a lot more expensive. If you have never been skiing before, you may want to consider renting in case you find you don't like it. You can always buy equipment the next time you go. Renting also makes it affordable for people who can't spend hundreds of dollars to buy equipment. Plus, you won't have to lug all the extra baggage on the plane or in the car. If you have children, you know how quickly kids can grow out of their clothes. When you rent, you don't have to buy your kids new equipment every year or two when they grow out of the old stuff.



Once you've decided to rent equipment, you should make sure to reserve it well before you take your trip. This is especially important if you're going during peak season. If you wait until you get there, you may have to do a lot of searching to find appropriate sizes and equipment. You definitely want to make reservations if you're renting snowboarding equipment. Snowboarding has greatly increased in popularity and many stores haven't caught up with demand.



You will probably have a choice of renting equipment at the mountain, or from other stores in the area. At certain resorts where there's not much of a town you should probably rent at the mountain. At other resorts, you may have many other rental options. The benefit of renting elsewhere is that you'll probably get a better price. If you're only renting for one day, the mountain will probably be more convenient because you won't have to carry equipment as far.



If you decide to rent at the mountain, you should arrive an hour before you plan to ski or snowboard. This will give you time to get your equipment and get fitted. If you rent elsewhere, it's best to get the equipment the day before you go out. This way, you'll be able to find other accommodations if they do not have the appropriate equipment. When you get there, you should be ready ahead of time with everyone's shoe sizes, heights, and weights. While some people may want to fudge on their weight, you should be honest. The type of equipment you need depends on your weight. If you give the wrong weight, you may be risking your own safety. If you have a very large shoe size, you should make sure the shop you rent from has the right size boots. If not, you should buy equipment online before you show up. You should ask the shop before you do this; you may be able to buy boots that fit their equipment.



When you get ready to sign the contract for your equipment, they will offer you insurance on the equipment. SAY YES! While your chance damaging the equipment is probably fairly low, it's still a great idea. Cost for insurance is generally about a dollar a day. That's 3 or 4 dollars per trip. Compare this to the hundreds of dollars you could pay to fix damage to skis or a snowboard. And that's nothing compared to the cost if you completely ruin the equipment. You should also remember that it doesn't take that much to damage equipment. A mountain is covered in snow when you ski on it, but under that snow are rocks and branches. If the snow cover is thin on a mountain, you risk hitting these objects and you generally can't see them to avoid them.



Hopefully these tips will help you get the right equipment and get you to the mountain. Have a great trip!

About the Author:
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for two ski resort websites. If you're interested in skiing in Aspen or skiing in Breckenridge, then be stop by one of his sites - GoSkiAspen.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tips For Renting Snowboarding And Skiing Equipment

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Picking the Best Ski Equipment for your Vacation

Author: Adrian Hardy

Skiing vacations are unlike many other vacations in that you need a good deal of equipment and gear in order to enjoy and have a successful time. This article will run through the key equipment that you will need so that it all goes well and you can't wait for the next winter to go on another ski trip.

It goes without saying that you need a pair of skis. A pair of skis can be broken down into three components – the skis themselves, the bindings and the boots. It is an impossible task to buy a pair of skis if you have never tried skiing before. My advice would be to hire the skis for your first trip. If you like skiing and think that you will be skiing for many years to come then it makes sense to buy a pair. However for the first trip, if you rent you will get your first insight into what to look for in a pair of skis, the bindings and a pair of boots.

Ski's vary in terms of length and width. They vary in terms of shape and look. What all these qualities are catering for are the size of the skier, the skill level of the skier and the types of terrain that they want to ski on. In terms of looks, this is appealing to the potential buyers sense of style and has nothing to do with the performance of the skis, unless go faster strips really do make things go faster !

Hiring skis will help you understand the type of ski that fits your size and weight. Carving skis are the most popular type of ski design at the moment. They have a curve along the sides of the skis, starting from the middle (or waist) extending to the tip and tail of the ski. The difference in length of the width of the tip/tail to the waist is known as the sidecut. The greater this length the easier it is to do carving turns. Other designs, without the sidecut may be used for off piste skiing.

Ski bindings generally come with the skis. If they don't it is advisable to use the same brand of bindings as the ski brand. If the ski brand doesn't make a binding then they will endorse a brand of binding for their ski. It's always best to go with this advice. Bindings are designed to release the boot whenever there is a change in weight on the ski. This can prevent ankle and knee injuries.

Boots must fit your foot snugly. You should test them out by leaning forward. Make sure the foot doesn't slip or move when you do this. Most boots are plastic and can be adjusted around the foot, ankle and calf. They should be tight fitting around the top of the calf to prevent snow getting into the boot.

After that you need some poles. There is not much too selecting poles. You must consider the weight and length of the poles. They shouldn't be heavy for you (most aren't so this shouldn't be a problem). In terms of size, the standard advice is to hold the pole by the pointy end with the grips touching the floor. If your arms are parallel to the ground when you do this then the poles are the right size for you.

Goggles or sunglasses are also essential for skiing. Goggles provide the best protection in all conditions but may be bulky for some people. Start off with sunglasses as most people have a pair.

About the Author:

For the latest on resort news, skiing and snowboarding tips and reviews of equipment and gear then visit http://www.snowboardnskiing.com . The site gives advice on selecting Skis by explaining some of the terms used to describe the ski and it's performance. Adrian writes on skiing and snowboarding.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Picking the Best Ski Equipment for your Vacation

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Skiing Magazine That Offer Useful Tips on Skiing Techniques

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru

Skiing is a very thrilling and entertaining sport which is a hobby for some and a profession for some others. This sport is enjoyed by a lot of people all over the world. This sport is gaining in popularity in recent times when a lot of people do not mind spending on a skiing holiday where they can really enjoy and unwind.






There are innumerable resorts around the world which offer facilities for skiing. If you are on the lookout for an ideal place to enjoy your vacation, you may be at a loss as to which resort to choose from. Information on the various deals offered by these resorts can be found in the skiing magazine that will be of great use.





Apart from information on resorts, the skiing magazine also offer readers information on the various skiing techniques old and new, skiing gears which have come in new into the market, various instructors offering skiing courses and their details and locations, etc. If you are a skiing enthusiast, the you must subscribe to at least one of the good skiing magazine to keep yourself updated with the various happenings in the skiing world.





These magazines also offer you useful information on which is the best time of the year to go to which resort, the prevailing weather conditions there at present, the level of snow in the slopes, the safety aspect, etc.





There are some skiing magazines which are really of good quality and informative. Some of the good magazines are Ski Canada, the couloirs magazine which gives us information on back country skiing and snowboarding, the telemarking and back country skiing online magazine, the freeskier magazine, the powder magazine online, the Skinet, etc.





Skinet is a magazine that has been successfully around for sixty years. This is a magazine which gives information on top resorts in North America. Powder mag is an online magazine providing the latest news, information about the various gears, listing of events, photos and even videos.





Skiing is a skiing magazine run by the online portal amazon.com that provides information and useful tips on skiing techniques and various other details. The Freeskier magazine gives us valuable information on skiing equipments, reviews of various resorts around the world, articles on skiing and skiing techniques, reader's reviews, etc. This magazine also features attractive photographs of skiing.





Telemarktips.com is an online skiing magazine that provides information on back country skiing among other things. Six trax is North America's fast track skiing magazine which covers adventure skiing, ski touring, back country skiing, recreational and cross country skiing, etc.





Skiing heritage is a quarter yearly skiing magazine which provides varied information on the sport of skiing. The issues of this magazine are usually mailed during the months of March, June, September and December.





These are some of the well known skiing magazine offering enthusiasts useful information on skiing activities, events, gears, destinations and resorts worldwide. You can subscribe or become a member of any of the online magazines to keep up with the happenings of the exciting world of skiing.

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Skiing for Years. For More Information on Skiing Magazine, Visit His Site at SKIING MAGAZINEI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On Skiing Magazine At My Blog here

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Skiing Magazine That Offer Useful Tips on Skiing Techniques

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How To Shop For Ski Equipment Online

Author: Frank McGoldrick

As we all know, it is easy to buy pretty much anything online: cars, books and computers. However, for an avid skier, what about shopping for skis, ski Boots, helmets and equipment? Is it possible to skip your local ski store and buy your equipment online ? Simple answer, yes. Why limit yourself to a few ski stores in your neighborhood when you can search for the best deals online. One of the biggest advantages of buying your ski equipment online can be the cost savings and finding the best selection of equipment you need.

Obviously, one of the biggest concerns with purchasing ski equipment online is getting the correct fitting for your size and weight. A simple solution to this problem is to visit your local ski store and get fitted for your equipment (skis, ski boots and ski poles). Plus, take this opportunity to get all the free advice from the sales staff on their favorite brands and models. The sales staff can also advise you on the right ski equipment for your profile (beginner, intermediate or expert).

Once you have the information on size and fit, it's time to do a little bit of research. So grab some coffee and get comfortable because there is a lot of information out there. For example, if you are looking for skis, I would begin with a website called Ski-Review.com . They are an independent source of current reviews on skis and they can steer you in the right direction before you make any purchase. If you can't decide on the type of skis you want to buy (all mountain, powder, twin tip or racing), there is another website called Skis.com, which can provide information on the differences between each type of ski.

Finally, after you have completed your research you can start shopping. It is easy to find deals by searching through some of the major online ski stores. Websites like Altrec.com or evogear.com to name a few, have a great selection of ski equipment. One website, SkiHeart.com searches multiple websites for sales on ski equipment. They then post all of the deals on their website. For example, if you were looking for a ski sale or ski boot sale you can visit the site and find multiple deals on each product.

I hope this article can help you on your next purchase. Your local ski shop doesn't have to be your only option to buy ski equipment. And don't get me wrong, there is no reason that you have to buy your ski equipment online. There are plenty of local ski shops that will offer competitive deals. However, if you do the research first you can make an educated decision before you buy. Ski equipment can be an expensive investment so just take some time to look online before you buy. See you on the slopes!

About the Author:

Frank McGoldrick is an avid skier and snowboarder. Enjoy the article.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Shop For Ski Equipment Online

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Winter sports insurance: what you need to know !

Author: Neon Glory

Making sure that you are insured against all eventualities is essential after you have booked a skiing holiday and before you take to the slopes. Standard travel insurance will not always protect you against problems that may arise in connection with winter sports activities and you are likely to need to look for a more tailored policy.

What should your winter sports insurance policy cover?

There are an abundance of policies offered by different insurers available online. It is important to shop around before you buy.

All winter sports policies should offer personal accident cover as a priority. If you are skiing in Europe and have a European Health Insurance Card then you may be able to receive some treatment for free or at a discount, however, the cover offered under the European scheme is not extensive enough to look after you fully while on the slopes and it is essential that you purchase private insurance.

Your personal possessions should also be covered, including your ski equipment. Even if you do not yet own your own skis, boots or poles, you are likely to be liable for any damage to the equipment you hire.

Other items of cover should include cancellation or curtailment of your trip and piste closure.

Check what is not included under your policy.

The greatest variation between winter sports insurance policies is likely to be found in what they do not cover, i.e. in the exclusions section.

If you are an extreme skier you must read the policy information carefully to ensure that it will not be invalidated if you decide to go off-piste. Skiiers of all levels should make sure that you will protected during all activities in which you intend to participate.

Some exclusions will be largely standard; for example, most insurers will require that at all times you ski safely, wearing all the appropriate protective equipment; that you take notice of all local authority warnings. It makes sense that you should not recklessly expose yourself to hazard at any time during your trip.

It is a good idea to compare the policies of different insurers on the market. If you have little time, then take a look at the policies of AA Travel Insurance, Go Travel Insurance or 1Stop Travel Insurance. We recommend these insurers as they offer affordable policies with comprehensive cover.

About the Author:

For great deals on travel insurance including annual travel insurance with discounts for couples & families, visit AA Travel Insurance.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Winter sports insurance: what you need to know!

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