Skiing guides

posted by admin on Oct 26

Downhill skiing is a tedious and dangerous physical activity. That is why the athlete must ensure that he possesses physical fitness to make sure he can carry out the different physical activities.

Experts recommend that people who are into downhill skiing must possess the agility, balance and speed. These couldn’t be carried out if the athlete isn’t physically fit enough for the activity.

That is why part of the significant investment of the downhill skier goes to the physical training. The body must be physically toned and conditioned so that the tedious and challenging requirements of downhill skiing can easily be met.

Experts recommend that an athlete who aims to join a downhill skiing event must make the necessary physical conditioning at least 8 weeks before the actual downhill skiing event.

Skiing fitness trainings for such athletes must be principally aimed at the muscular strength and endurance, specifically at the core leg muscles, which are also considered as the body’s big muscle group.

Here are some basic training activities that could help you attain that needed physical conditioning when you are training for a downhill skiing event.

Warm-up and stretching

As most physical trainers and gym instructors would advise, you must first carry out warm-up activities before the actual exercise. This is because warm-ups and initial stretching will condition the muscles into a workout session.

Through warm-ups and initial stretching, the blood circulation needed for tedious activities can also be achieved, lessening the risks for abrupt blood pressure movements during the duration of the skiing fitness program session.

You can also be sure that your joints will be conditioned before the actual skiing fitness program. The joints, as experts would attest, secrete liquids needed by the bones and muscles when doing physical and challenging activities.

Here are some warm-up activities that you could do before any skiing fitness activity.

o The thread mill, or simply walk or jog around. Walking is a good form of war-up activity because it conditions the body overall for further physical activities. Walking also helps improve blood circulation in the body and helps lower bad cholesterol levels.
o Do the jumping ropes. Boxers usually do as part of their regular physical training. Skiing fitness programs can also make use of jumping ropes as it improves not just blood circulation but also conditions the knees into bending and the thigh muscles.
o Lift light weights. Another great warm-up before the skiing fitness training is lifting light weights.

Basic cardio training

As mentioned above, blood circulation throughout the body is very important when you are into skiing fitness training. It is also more important during the actual downhill skiing itself.

Basic cardio training is always part of the regular and basic skiing fitness training program.

Here are some basic cardio training exercises that you could perform during skiing fitness trainings and the actual downhill skiing activity.

o Squatting. Simply squatting upwards and downwards would produce more sweat, and subject the thigh and leg muscles to greater stress, making for great leg flexibility.
o Walking, jumping rope or doing the thread mill.
o Running. Speed is the name of the game. That is why, to induce speed into training, skiing fitness programs must also incorporate running activities into the program.

Good nutrition

Of course, aside from the physical endurance and agility being developed through skiing fitness programs, the downhill skiing athlete must also make sure he has good nutrition.

A good and well-planned diet involving protein, carbohydrates and vitamins would certainly keep the body going during skiing fitness programs and during the actual downhill skiing activity.

There is no recommended special diet for skiing fitness programs, though you are advised to monitor the food you eat and make sure you have a good nutrition.

Good nutrition doesn’t necessarily mean lower carbohydrates, like most popular diets nowadays. Skiing fitness activities require a lot of energy, you are advised to take in more carbohydrates.

Consult your dietician and doctors to make sure the skiing fitness program design is suitable for you. Otherwise, the overall training program would be futile and you won’t be able to fully enjoy the wonderful activity of downhill skiing.

posted by admin on Oct 24

While no one can certainly argue about the benefits of skiing in general, no one as well can deny the dangers associated with this particular sport, especially if you’re in the habit of skiing alone and in unmarked territories. To ensure that you’ll come back home safe and sound, do abide by the following rules:

INFORMATION IS THE KEY
Inform someone reliable about where you’re heading, what time you’re expected to return, and who or where to call if you’re not back by that time. If there happens to be a change in plans, call that person to relay said changes if possible.

You yourself must be well-informed about the site you’re planning to ski. Know which slopes are for beginners, intermediate skiers, and so forth. Know where the nearest shelter is and other places which you can go for help if anything unexpected happens. Lastly, be sure to check the weather forecasts for your skiing destination before leaving.

HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
Skiing with too much of a load might hamper your style, but it’s still better to ski safely rather than to ski fashionably into danger. At the least, make sure that you have a first aid kit, matches, and a flashlight with you. Make sure that the flashlight’s working and you have spare batteries.

MARKING YOUR TRAIL
Know how a compass works and always have one with you. Secondly, have a map of your destination. Thirdly, mark your trail as you go farther and farther from your starting point. Paper materials don’t make good markers unless they’re water-resistant. Painted pebbles should do as long as they’re large enough to get noticed and you put them on areas where they won’t get buried under the snow.

HOW TO BUILD EMERGENCY SHELTER
If there are no visible dwellings that you can temporarily use for shelter and the necessary resources to make an emergency shelter, you can try finding the right area to build a snow cave. The best place to build a snow cave is one where there’s a deep snow drift. When you find something like it, you need to start digging. Make sure that the entrance to your snow cave is built in the opposite direction of the wind. Get rid of excess snow on your cave’s walls to prevent it from dripping water. Pierce your cave’s “ceiling” to give the area proper ventilation.

HOW TO AVOID AVALANCHES
Even while having fun skiing, always dedicate a portion of your mind and attention to what’s going around you, and be particularly alert for any signs of an alarming amount of snow gathered in one area and felled trees because these are all possible indications of an incoming avalanche.

If you have a bad feeling about things, do your best to stay on safe paths and away from any slopes with steep curves, cliffs, and gullies. If you’re unlucky enough to get buried under an avalanche, you must imagine that it’s water around you and you need to swim yourself up to safety.

HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE
These two are the most common illnesses people experience during harsh winters. You’ll be in danger of experiencing hypothermia when you’re exposed to extremely cold temperatures for a long time. Hypothermia causes cold to gradually and steadily reduce the functions of your mind and body. Frostbite, on the other hand, affects any parts of your face or body that are exposed to the cold, most commonly of which are your ears, fingers, and toes. When frostbite sets in, any of these parts can easily be damaged.

To prevent hypothermia and frostbite from affecting you, make sure that you keep yourself bundled under as many layers of cloth as possible without hampering your movement too much. Keep your fingers, ears, and toes especially protected. Drink lots of liquid to keep yourself from getting dehydrated, which can happen when left out in the cold.

ATTITUDE SICKNESS AND HIGH ALTITUDE PNEUMONIA EDMA
Attitude sickness is like cabin fever, only this time, it occurs right out in the cold. Attitude sickness affect people who are physically, mentally, and psychologically unfit to handle a particular journey, in this case, skiing.

High altitude pneumonia edma on the other hand happens when you’re in a particularly high area and your respiratory and circulatory system experiences difficulties in functioning normally.

Skiing is fun, but it can be dangerous too so be sure to have companions with you as often as possible.

posted by admin on Oct 24

Downhill skiing has evolved from being a necessary transport activity in the past several centuries into a fun and well-loved recreational sport.

Downhill skiing is also popularly known as alpine skiing in the European continent and has been widely accepted as a form of recreational activity since the 1920s to 1930s.

Basically, downhill skiing is simply trekking down the downhill slope covered with powder or crud snow. Downhill skiing could become extremely dangerous especially if the skier isn’t careful and cautious enough.

Downhill skiing is now more than a simple and recreational activity. Through the years, downhill skiing fanatics have come up with a kind of sport that basically employs the skills in downhill skiing.

Now, you surely have heard the terms slalom racing and giant slalom racing. Slalom and giant slalom racing are actually downhill skiing sports that integrate lots of twists in the activity.

Find out more about slalom racing and giant slalom racing by reading on.

Slalom racing

Slalom racing is basically a downhill skiing sport that principally tests the skier’s overall agility, speed and balance. You can bet that simply skiing down the slope is a challenge in itself. Now, be amazed to find out that there’s more to it.

In slalom racing, the expertise of the skier is being subjected to a thorough test because the downhill slope for downhill skiing in slalom racing have zigzags and a number of quick turns.

Now imagine that, if you aren’t that proficient and skilled about downhill skiing, you surely won’t survive the game. Slalom racing is, importantly, not for downhill skiing beginners. Slalom racing is truly for experts.

Usually, slalom racing involves two courses. First, there will be gates where skiers will be asked to rapidly go back and forth. After the downhill skiing players are done getting through the gates, they are now ready for the second course.

The second phase of slalom racing involves sprint racing, which will ultimately test the players’ risk taking skills and agility. The winners of the slalom racing would be those who would record the fastest time to successfully complete the two courses.

Now, you might think that the slalom racing is more like an obstacle course game. You are right.

Giant slalom racing

Because slalom racing has been an instant success, there is another popular downhill skiing event that is gaining popularity among extreme sport aficionados.

Giant slalom racing, as the name suggests, is the larger version of the usual slalom racing. The giant slalom racing, on the other hand, is a test to the players’ technique, strength and ability to choose the best option to completing the course in the fastest time.

The giant slalom racing is as fun as the usual slalom racing. But, as any other sport, giant slalom racing requires players to adopt several measures to prepare for this downhill racing event.

Preparing for downhill racing events

Just like any other athlete, downhill skiers need to thoroughly and religiously prepare for downhill racing events, be it the slalom racing or the giant slalom racing.

For starters, experts recommend that the athletes enroll in off snow training, that is, downhill skiing training not necessarily in snow.

There are a number of downhill skiing centers that teach beginners at improvised sites made of synthetic snow or snow-similar materials. This would help the beginner acquire the necessary skills for downhill skiing.

Next would be the on snow training, which is basically, the second level of the downhill skiing training. Experts say that a beginner won’t advance to on snow training without first passing through the off snow training course, with flying colors.

And of course, just like any other sport using special equipment, downhill racing athletes must ensure that their poles and skis are in the best condition. Prepping the skis would be necessary, and is recommended at least several hours before the downhill racing event.

Use coats and waxes when prepping the skis. Clean your tools with love and utmost care.

Now, you are ready to race. Enjoy the downhill skiing and racing event. Have fun.

posted by admin on Oct 23

Downhill skiing is an extreme recreational activity that is characterized by the sliding motion down slopes of snow-covered hills. This outdoor sport has been gaining much popularity and recognition worldwide as more and more people are becoming interested in it.

Downhill skiing is one extreme sport that is somehow risky. That way, downhill skiing requires people who are interested to make ample and tedious preparations.

As a recreational activity, downhill skiing can be pricey. This is because you need to invest in several expensive tools and apparel before you can do downhill skiing. Among these equipments are the skiing poles, the boots and the skis.

The skis are metal wedges that are attached to the feet of the downhill skier. In downhill skiing, the skis are essential because it facilitates the smooth gliding movement of the skier down the snow slope.

Things to take note when preparing to engage in downhill skiing

It would be helpful if you would first consider several important issues and information before you finally enlist in a downhill skiing class or before you go to a ski resort to do the sport.

The most important considerations would have to involve your physical fitness. Downhill skiing is an extreme and very physical activity, it is important that you possess great agility, flexibility and overall physical endurance.

The best and most expensive tools for downhill skiing would be useless if the downhill skier isn’t physically capable and skilled to perform the highly demanding activity.

The aspiring downhill skier must be physically in good shape before he can get into the sport. Simple exercises taught by gym instructors, especially for the leg and thigh core muscles, can be of great help to achieve that physical agility needed to perform safe and effective downhill skiing activity.

Stance and steering

The first physical condition you must take care of if you aim to get involved in downhill skiing would be your stance. Stance is everything since you can’t do the downhill skiing activity sitting down.

Experts advise downhill skiing beginners to initially adopt a martial arts stance before and during the downhill gliding activity. That is because such stance would help make up for a balanced and relaxed body position, a great start for such a heavy and demanding physical activity.

Steering would be a secondary key to making you do the downhill skiing activity. Though downhill skiing principally involves gliding down slope, inevitable instances will always arise when you have to develop steering abilities when downhill skiing.

Steering is the ability to go to a slightly diversed direction when you are tracking down the normal course of the slope. You must develop steering ability so you can avoid small obstacles and holes along the way.

Edging and footwork

Downhill skiing aficionados would also surely recommend that you develop edging abilities, just like in hockey. Edging is the ability to slowly stop or hop to a stop. Downhill skiing makes use of gravity down the slope and you’re not a machine with brakes, you have to develop edging abilities.

When you learn to get moving, you should logically also learn how to put your moving self to a stop or pause.

Downhill skiing involves much footwork. It is advisable that you learn the proper knee positions, the appropriate bending angles, how to move each foot and other footwork activities as these are essential when performing the sport.

Moving body mass and using the poles

Of course, not to be overlooked is the ability to move body mass between each foot. This is important because there will certainly be areas down the track where you have to balance well and doing so would mean you have to transfer weight from the right foot to the left.

Moving body mass ability is also significant in the steering and edging movements in downhill skiing.

When you know how to move your body mass properly, the last thing you will learn is using the poles.

Poles are important downhill skiing equipment because they serve not just as navigational tools but also as support, speed control and directional tools.

Using the downhill skiing poles is as important as learning all the abovementioned skills because poles are necessities when skiing. You can never ski without poles.

Overall, downhill skiing would surely be a fun activity. But before you get into it, consider the safety and physical issues. Otherwise, you won’t enjoy the extreme sport and might endanger your life as well as the lives of other downhill skiers.

posted by admin on Oct 22

Downhill skiing is rapidly gaining popularity as an exciting, and action-packed extreme sport and at the same time as a recreational activity.

Centuries ago, downhill skiing was considered an essential and practical mode of mobility and transportation in regions, which are characterized by extreme cold conditions and snow.

Excessive snowing makes infrastructure useless and prevents the mobility of people. That is why since automobiles and cars weren’t widely used during those times, or if they were, didn’t become useful in such regions, people learned and devised downhill skiing.

The popularity of downhill skiing is so huge that even people from countries where there isn’t any snow are learning it through going to different ski resorts worldwide and going to artificially snowed domes.

However, before you finally decide to get into downhill skiing, you must first learn about the basic information and skills of the activity. First, you should begin by getting to know more about powder and crud snow.

Downhill skiing in powder snow

Powder snow is of course, snow that is made of powdery flakes. Thus, the snow covering the downhill slope for downhill skiing is powdery, the skier is somehow more challenged.

It is also important to note that most downhill skiers are usually oriented at skiing over hard pack snow. That is why, when downhill skiing over powder snow, the skiers more often tumble and fall, especially when edging, turning and carving.

Experts advise that downhill skiers must think and feel as if they are skiing or floating over snow, so they can move freely and more comfortably.

The downhill skier who is accustomed to skiing over powder snow logically possesses different and special skills that can be learned through constant skiing and expert learning. The most basic tip experts can advise wannabe powder skiers, is to ski as if you are skiing on water.

Downhill skiing in crud

Downhill skiing in crud is just as hard as downhill skiing over powdery snow. That is because crud isn’t powder. Crud is something in between powder and hard snow.

People from snow-capped regions have many different terms to refer to crud. Among these are snow cones, sticky, grabby, mush, slush and crust.

One dangerous characteristic of the crud is its ability to change in texture with sun exposure, mountain altitude, moisture content and even time of the day. Thus, crud is different from powder snow because crud is basically many other different types of snow.

Downhill skiing in crud is actually different and harder. Experts advise that if you are aiming to downhill ski over crud surfaces, you should first invest in special and usually premium-cost, quality, and reliable skiing equipment.

Different sets of skiing tricks must also be learned basically because the downhill movement during downhill skiing in crud is truly challenging and risky.

Other basic downhill skiing skills

Of course, the downhill skier must orient himself into skiing on downhill slopes that aren’t free from bumps, steeps and even trees.

Bumps, steeps and trees provide not just obstacles for downhill skiing but also significant dangers that can even threaten safety.

Here are some simple guidelines that will surely help downhill skiers get into the extreme snow sport without compromising their safety.

o Make sure to know more about the recreational activity before finally getting into downhill skiing.
o Invest in good and appropriate downhill skiing equipment because these are the tools that would primarily facilitate the accomplishment of the activity.
o Prepare physically by being a health buff and conditioning the body through regular exercises and activities. Talk to your gym instructor to know more basic exercises that would condition the necessary muscles for skiing.
o Enroll to a skiing school. There are a number of good skiing schools at skiing resorts across the globe.
o Learn how to navigate using your poles and your ski. More importantly, also know the natural body reflexes and recommended movements to facilitate good skiing especially when there are steeps, bumps and trees ahead. Mastering such a skill would help prevent accidents.

Downhill skiing is truly exciting, but can also be dangerous if the skier is not properly oriented about this recreational activity.

posted by admin on Oct 22

There are many ways for skiers to go down. You can do it the professional way by executing fancy turns as you navigate your way down the slope. You can do it cautiously by taking things very slowly and virtually making what’s intended to be a ten-minute trip downhill into an hour-long journey. Or, you can do it in an extremely embarrassing way by neglecting to learn the basic downhill skiing techniques and resorting to screaming and dodging all the way to the edge.

If, however you wish to learn how to ski downhill properly, there are several methods that you can choose from:

Basic Downhill Technique – Let’s start with something simple. Assume the basic stance by keeping your skis approximately twelve inches apart from each other. Remember to keep your knees and ankles slightly bent. Keep your head up and back straight. Make sure to remove any snow clinging at the back of your skis because this could make you lose your grip and balance.

Now it’s time to move. With your hands slightly ahead of you and the poles back but slightly off ground, allow yourself to let go. As you go down the slopes, use your poles to give you a push only when necessary, and make sure that one of your skis is slightly in front the other. If you need to make a left turn, bend towards that direction while putting your right foot forward and vice versa.

This basic technique is best used for gentle slopes and easy terrains. As you find yourself getting nearer to the end, you’ll automatically find your body going lower. That’s normal, however remember to keep your arms outstretched in front you.

Snow Plow or the Wedge – If you’ve mastered the previous downhill technique, it’s time to move to something slightly more challenging: the snow plow technique. This technique will not only help you go downhill safely but also allow you to adjust your speed accordingly.

This technique is also called the wedge because your skis have to adapt a wedge-like position. Keep the edges of your skis just half a foot apart from each other. Besides the notable difference in your feet’s positioning, everything else remains the same. You still need to keep your head up, look straight ahead, and so forth.

To go downhill, you’ll have to turn your ankles inwards so that your skis will be able to dig down. This action is what allows you to control your speed.

Step Turn – If the snow plow allows you to control your speed, the next downhill skiing technique we’re about to discuss is what will allow you to make crucial turns or direction changes as you go downhill. To facilitate learning the step turn technique, find a slope that’s well-packed, even, and with no steep curves. The starting position is still the same.

To make a right turn, put your left ski slightly in front. Then, lift up your other leg and afterwards push your left pole slightly nearer to the right. This will make your whole body turn to the right. As it does, make sure that your left ankle turns inward while your right leg pushes off. Only after this and when your right leg has gained enough distance should you put it down. Push your arms in front once more together with your left leg. Lastly, move until both your left and right skis are parallel with each other once more and both of your poles are ahead you.

Sideslipping – Thankfully, this technique is easier to achieve than sidestepping, although it will require you to execute a small trick. To sidestep, you’ll first need to place your feet sideways. While going down, you’ll have to make sure that your skis are still partly facing sideways. At the same time, they also have to be positioned in such a way that you can exert the necessary force to help you slow down.

Skiing downhill - albeit easier than skiing uphill - is definitely scarier because we have to contend with our fear of heights first. Still, as long as you make a conscious effort to trust in yourself and keep your control of your poles and skis relaxed but firm, there’s no way for you to fall flat on your face when you reach the end of your slope. Good luck on your way down!

posted by admin on Oct 21

The gap in knowledge, skills, and experience separating pros from beginners is a mighty big one, but this gap can be significantly reduced if you take the time to learn the five cross country skiing techniques below.

Reminders
Cross country skiing is a demanding sport. Make sure that you’re in excellent condition before trying it out.
Don’t attempt to learn any of the techniques below without the supervision of an adult – if you’re a minor – or a professional if you’re still relatively new to cross country skiing.
Make sure that you’re practicing in terrains or areas that are clearly marked for beginners.

Five Ways to Go Uphill
One of the most interesting aspects of cross country skiing is how it enables you to go uphill on your skis. There are five ways for you to do so.

Straight Climbing – You can only succeed in straight climbing a hill or slope if you have firm control of your skis and the ground. The basic position for this is with keeping your head up and your eyes straight ahead, back straight, and your knees bent. As you start to go up, use only one leg to move forward and remove the snow in front you. When your leg goes back down, it will have a more secure place to move.

Keep a firm grip on your poles, and never forget that they’re there to help you push yourself up rather than pulling your weight up. Simply put, it’s you who should carry your weight and not the poles!

Traversing – This uphill skiing technique is slightly more difficult to master than straight climbing. It’s best used slopes with long and steep heights. The edges of your skis play a very important role when traversing uphill. In straight climbing, the whole ski is used to help you secure your footing as you ski uphill. In traversing, you use the edges of your skis to help you navigate on areas that wouldn’t be normally conducive to skiing.

You’ll understand how traversing works better when you’re on the snow and you’ll do things step by step.

Sidestepping – This uphill skiing technique on the other hand is best suited for slopes with steep but wide properties. Your starting position for sidestepping will be to place your feet widely apart, making them form an open V. Keep your poles just slightly ahead of your toes.

To start moving, plant your uphill pole about eighteen inches ahead of you. Make sure that you have a secure grip on both of your poles. When your uphill pole is firmly planted on the ground, let your uphill leg and ski follow suit. When all of the weight has been transferred to your uphill leg, that’s the only time you should move your other leg then lastly your other arm and pole.

The important thing to remember when sidestepping uphill is the order of movement: uphill pole, uphill leg, downhill leg, then downhill pole, and the cycle goes over and over again. Make sure that your arms or legs don’t move simultaneously because you’ll easily lose your balance. It has to be moved one by one!

Herringbone – This uphill skiing technique resembles a herringbone, hence its name. Allow the edges of your skis to face to the side for your starting position. Continue to hold this position as you move while keeping in mind to turn your ankle in so your ski will have a firmer grip of ground underneath. If the slope turns steeper or sharper, adjust your feet by placing them wider apart. Remember however to avoid bending at all costs because this will make you lose your balance.

Kick and Turn – This technique is quite similar to traversing with a few notable exceptions. Firstly, your skis should adopt a perpendicular positioning to prevent you from slipping backwards. Secondly, similar to sidestepping, you’ll be using the edges of your skis to help you climb up the slopes.

Although all of these techniques seem pretty hard to follow, you’ll just have to practice them regularly and you’ll surely get the hang of it sooner than you think. The techniques discussed above are just some of the few that could help you look ten times better than you really are. Just keep practicing, and you’ll continue to look more impressive on your feet.

posted by admin on Oct 21

Cross country skiing is one of the most exciting types of skiing. Keep in mind however that this particular sport is neither for the faint of heart nor for the physically challenged. Cross country skiing takes a lot of courage, skill, and perseverance. Rest assured however that each achievement you accomplish in this sport will always make your efforts worthwhile!

Novice Skiers Always Need a Teacher at the Start
This is a fact. Even if you’re used to learning things by your own or from reading a book, you’re sure to need an expert at one point to teach you a technique or two. In most cases however, three lessons are all that’s needed for any individual to successfully ski on the beginner slopes. Having additional lessons after that is entirely your prerogative.

Do You Need Additional Lessons?
To determine the answer to this, you’ll have to ask yourself more questions.

Ask yourself if you have a goal in mind. If there’s something else that you wish to learn or improve on, then definitely you need more lessons. If, however, you’re already satisfied with your present skills, then maybe it’s time to simply relax and enjoy the gentle slopes at your ski resort.

Ask yourself if you’re still having fun. Having learned the ropes in skiing, you found it incredibly satisfying the first few times you managed to complete the easy courses alone. Ask yourself now however if you’re still having fun doing the same thing over and over. If not, it’s time to move on to whiter and tougher pastures and have a skiing tutor help you out.

If you’ve decided to change skis and you find it particularly difficult adjusting to your new skis, maybe just one extra lesson would do just to help you adjust quickly but properly.

Skiing without Poles
This is purely an exercise to help you maintain your balance. Let your legs do all the work. The only job for your arms is to help you keep your balance. Don’t allow them to move too much!

Learning How to Diagonal Stride
Diagonal stride is the first move or technique you’ll have to learn when cross country skiing. In spite of its name, you’ll not be actually moving in a diagonal direction when doing this. Rather than your feet, it’s actually your arms that are making a diagonal motion. As your left leg goes forward, your right arm swings back and the same opposite directions are made by your left arm and right leg. The diagonal stride is similar to a sequence of kicking and gliding on skis.

The best and safest way to practice making the diagonal stride alone is trying it out on an even or flat area first. Then, you can try doing it on a gentle slope if you’re feeling more confident. Experts however are able to make the diagonal stride even when they’re going uphill.

Learning How to Glide
Gliding is easier or tougher than it looks, depending on how you perceive it, so the best way to learn this technique is by simply keeping an open mind.

The proper starting position for gliding is having your knees and ankles bent slightly. Make sure however that you keep your upper torso straight. Keep your hands and poles in front as you make a gliding motion, remembering to put all the pressure of your weight on the gliding leg. Continue doing this until the movement stops feeling jerky and awkward and gradually becomes natural.

Learning How to Double Pole
This is also one of the basic techniques in cross skiing. There are two types of double polling movements you can make: one with a kick and another one without.

To go double polling, just swing your arms – while holding the poles of course – forward in a simultaneous movement.

To double pole with a kick, just make sure that you have firmly planted your poles on the ground. As you make a single forceful kick, swing your poles to the front simultaneously. Double polling with a kick is basically used when you find it hard to switch to a diagonal stride or plain double polling.

The lessons in cross country skiing doesn’t end there. In fact, that’s only the beginning. If you wish to learn more about cross country skiing, all you’ll have to do is practice and practice some more. Whether you do it by yourself or with a tutor, however, is entirely up to you. Have fun XC skiing!

posted by admin on Oct 20

When people want to have fun in the snow, skiing is the ultimate choice for most adventure-seekers.

Skiing refers to the pursuit of moving smoothly over the snow with the use of fiberglass or wooden boards with metal frames known as skis. They are fastened to the feet using straps known as ski bindings.

Before, skiing was used to transport people from one place to another in areas covered with snow. But after quite sometime, skiing was transformed into a remarkable winter sport.

Cross-country Skiing Concept

One of the most popular forms of skiing is cross-country skiing. It is a well-loved winter sport and is being enjoyed by many people in various countries with big boulders of snow in areas such as Canada, United States, and Northern Europe.

This type of skiing is one form of skiing that takes account of Nordic, Ski jumping, and the Olympic style of cross-country skiing. Cross-country skiing is also known as Nordic skiing.

In many snow-covered countries around the world, skiing is simply cross-country skiing. Here, people consider it more as a hobby and not so much as a sport.

Hobbyists define cross-country skiing as something that provides them various trails with different levels of complexities and time-spans.

On the other hand, some people consider it as a sport. Sports enthusiasts consider cross-country skiing a complicated sport with movements that are easier said than done.

Whether regarded as a hobby or as a sports event, cross-country skiing involves movements that trigger the utilization of some of the major muscles in the body. No wonder why cross-country skiing is also viewed by fitness enthusiasts as one of the most effective ways of burning more calories in just one session.

To commence cross-country skiing, Skiers are situated at the top of a steep slope or slopes that have 15% or more inclination. This kind of arrangement will trigger the gravitational movement of the skier to glide smoothly in the snow down to the finished line.

Cross-country skiing is normally held at ski resorts, where snowfields are already packed down to smoother surfaces. This initiates smoother and safer glides down the slope.

However, for people who wish to experience a tougher and bumpier game, backcountry skiing is recommended. Also known as off-piste skiing, backcountry skiing is normally done in remote areas, situated at moderately high altitude.

People who are engaged in backcountry skiing are usually those who go in for harder trails with abundant tracks of unmarked or unsullied snow, also known as powder.

Adventurous people love deep powder skiing more than the usual backcountry skiing because of the challenges that they provide. With a steeper slope and a courser trail, deep powder skiers are in for the most exciting part of their skiing lives.

With combined strength, skills, and the proper tools, deep powder skiing can be considered as one of the most exciting form of skiing.

For a more sophisticated and smooth skiing adventure, trail skiing is the ultimate choice. Trail skiing lets people enjoy the activity without having to exert so much effort.

With a well-groomed surface, trail skiing can provide smooth gliding in the snow minus trail breaks and different snow situations. This type of skiing is highly recommended for beginners since the extent of difficulty is easier to manage.

For those who want to experience a grand vacation with a twist, hut skiing is recommended. With hut skiing, you can enjoy the cold, mountain breeze as you doze off to sleep in a remote hut in the mountains.

Ski resorts take time to prepare in providing vacationers with the best country style services right at the comforts of your rented hut.

Once rested, you embark on your skiing adventure as you trail along the smooth tracks of snow in close proximity to your hut. Thereafter, you can relax and call it a day off back in your hut and enjoy another warm session of hot chocolate with a lovely bonfire right before your very eyes.

With hut skiing, you doubly enjoy the activity because of the comfort that a cozy hut can give you as you rest after each skiing session.

With all these types of skiing, winter will never be the same again.

However, experts recommend skiing with a backpack. Backpacks are remarkable skiing buddies, providing you with spaces for your belongings.

Most backpacks used in skiing are made of lightweight material, thereby, providing comfort all throughout the track.

If you are planning on overnight camping trips after skiing, it is best to use overnight backpacks. These types of backpacks have bigger spaces for your overnight camping needs.

Indeed, cross-country skiing can be an exciting adventure for you and your family to enjoy. Just keep these facts and get the most out of cross-country skiing adventure.

posted by admin on Oct 20

Are you ready for the snowy season? Gloomy for some but really fun for others, right? Start investing in durable skiing clothing and gear or else the monstrous Alps will surely eat you up as you crumble and roll like a helpless idiot. These kinds of apparels are really needed if you want to have a good time and not spend the rest of your vacation in bed due to extreme wounds and frostbites. There are numerous stores that offer long-lasting gear and clothing but some can be expensive, so choose the best one that has a reasonable price.

Some skiing essentials are as follows: helmets, skis, ski poles, ski bindings, ski boots, jackets, ski pants, ski shirts, goggles, sunglasses, avalanche safety, hand warmers and the list just goes on. You should have the best skiing apparels to avoid accidents and to fully enjoy your skiing trip. Investing on the best skiing merchandise is really a must since your life is at stake when you are out there in the powdery mountains. So what if it costs you lots of money, buy the essential things to safeguard your life and at the same time enjoy the adrenaline rush plus picturesque view while gliding down the glittery all-white mountains.

When it comes to pants, they must be lightly insulated, waterproof and breathable, and continuously give warmth and protection from the cold wind. Pants must also have pockets to keep your hands warm and an extra pocket to keep other essential things.

One skiing gear that you can’t overlook is a ski jacket. A ski jacket must protect you from the wetness and cold with its insulated zip-in liner and waterproof breathable fabric. The best kind of jacket is one with an easy zip-in liner jacket so that you can wear it on cold days and ditch the lining when you ski during the spring. It must also have a system to regulate your temperature at all times plus pads on the shoulders that provide space where warmth escapes and thus eliminates cold spots on your torso and shoulders.

The ski boots must also provide comfort and at the same time warmth to have protection against the elements. You should also pick a pair of boots that perfectly fits you. This is to not only make you feel comfy but also for your feet to have a good grasp so you don’t wobble as you glide down the slope. With regards to the gloves, they must be fully seam-sealed and waterproof to keep your hands warm all the time. The material should be soft but can still provide warmth so you won’t have a hard time strapping your boots and holding on to your ski poles. With a quality pair of gloves, you will have no worries when it comes to the fast turns since your hands will be warm all the time. To know more about the features of the best skiing clothing and gear, you should check out some of online shops and do some comparison shopping.

There are several sites that sell cheaper but durable skiing clothing and gear, so if you don’t have enough money browse online to find the cheap but sturdy skiing essentials to ensure your safety. If online skiing shops isn’t your thing, the best thing you could do is to walk in a shop and try on some apparel.

The perfect set of skiing apparel will certainly make your skiing trip smooth-sailing and definitely rewarding. The primary things you mustn’t forget are obviously the ski, skiing poles, jackets, ski boots, goggles and other stuff to keep you warm. You should buy quality made clothing and apparel so as to lessen the possibility of accidents and also for you to have an enjoyable skiing trip. Another thing is that you should know the features of each skiing item you have, the things it provides you plus consider the price so as to have a good choice of skiing apparel. Clothing and apparel aren’t only about the brand name but the comfort and durability for it to last long and give you value for your money.