Ski Column Rehash

With ski season fast approaching I thought I'd re-run last winters ski columns. Enjoy.



“Boots, skis, poles- everyone got their pass?” that is the conversation as we load up the truck for our first day of skiing as a family. It is always a mad scramble, do we have everything? Do the kids boots fit? Ooops, forgot to put on a summer coat of storage wax, that’s ok we’ll ski off the rust. Where are the poles? Helmets, check- what the heck happened to that pair of goggles? There is one ski sock- that doesn’t really help. Looking at my wife- remember when we just had to keep track of our own gear?

That first trip is hectic, and that is just trying to get the truck loaded so that we can get to the mountain. Once we get to the mountain the first real test begins. Can the kids remember how to walk in ski boots? Can the youngest now carry her own gear? Do we all walk from the parking spot, or do I do the nice Dad thing and drop them off over near the lift. We chance it and get a fairly close parking spot and let the kids walk. Of course I can figure out how to get all the gear carried, but then I forget my gloves in the truck- two steps forward, three back.

It’s all worth it when we finally get to the lift and start heading up the hill. As we get off all the challenges of getting to the hill are soon forgotten as we let gravity take over and we begin sliding down the hill. All of us try to find our balance and remember how to stand on our skis. Slowly we get the rhythm and we being to pick up the pace. For the girls another year of growth gives them greater strength and improved balance, for my wife and I another year means we feel even more uncoordinated and wishing we had done some pre-season conditioning. But we are all together and enjoying a great morning out in the cold December air. It is amazing to make a series of turns, being in your own world then pulling up to the side of the trail and watching your kids come down following your tracks or setting their own, and you realize that it doesn’t get much better than this.

The day comes to an end as there are Christmas cookies to be made and pre-holiday cleaning to be done, so we head down from one last run. At the bottom we all look at each other with knowing grins as we realize another ski season has arrived. Now where did I put the car keys?

Now that the season is underway and the holidays are fast approaching here are a couple quick ideas for the skier in your family.

For under $50 you can find a number of great gifts. High quality ski socks would have to be one of my top choices. I’m personally partial to a merino wool sock, but there are several synthetics out there that are equally durable and comfortable. Most good ski socks have a light padding on the bottom, with a bit more on the shin and top of the foot to help with the fit of the boot. They come up to just below the knee to make sure the sock reaches above the top of the boot. You can also pick up a good pair of goggles for under $50, and everyone can use a second pair of goggles. They can either serve as the person’s primary goggles, or as a specialty lens or a back up pair that they can leave in their gear bag. A third option, a gift certificate to their favorite shop, maybe they’ll use it for gear or to finally get their skis or board tuned!

If you are looking at over $50 the list is pretty large. Good quality ski gloves are always a welcome gift. Or maybe new pair of long underwear, or as we call them now, “base layer”. New materials that are form fitting yet unrestrictive and offer excellent wicking and insulating properties are great for anyone. A few brands to look at, Craft, Patagonia, Under Armor, to name just a few.

Looking for special deals or fun events this winter for yourself? Then make sure you spend some of that valuable office time surfing the websites of your favorite ski area and check out their deals section as well as their events page. Most ski areas offer web only deals as well as a number of packages that can save you a significant amount of money over buying your ticket at the window.

Originally printed in The Mountain Ear 12/28/08