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Helpful skiing tips that you may not know...

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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6384 - Karma: 953

I read this article in Powder (I think) a few years ago and it was actually pretty informative with facts I didn't know.  Anyone know what I am talking about?  In any case, I thought I'd start an NS one that everyone could add to.  I thought of this when a kid was asking about cold hands in a different thread.  So here goes, just add good tips about staying warm, saving money, helpful stretches/exercises, energy foods before you go, etc.

Tip #1: The veins that carry to your fingers are in the back of your hand, not near your palm.  So to effectively prevent numb fingers, you want to put hand warmers on the back of your hand.  I recommend picking up some surgical tape (type that sticks to skin well) from CVS/Walgreens and just taping one of those little handwarmers on the back of each hand in the morning and voile! you are good for the rest of the day.

Again, don't just put down "good advice", but maybe something people don't realize.

Jan 1 2010 9:44AM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
heres a good one for people who slide ALOT of rails.

try switching your skis onto the opposite foot every once and a while. it will help reduce edge damage.
Jan 15 2010 6:08PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
Hahaha. Thank you. If I didn't already have you at 10/10 id give you +K
Jan 15 2010 8:31PM
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dylansiggers
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 6,089
if your fingers are cold, swing them violently forward and back. blood rushes to them and the will warm up instantly
Jan 15 2010 10:48PM
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blong131
Posts: 2193 - Karma: 59
finally did this for the first time. this is the greatest tip in the history of history. my boots have never felt better.
Jan 15 2010 11:18PM
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Robs
Posts: 123 - Karma: 27
gotta keep this in my threads
Jan 15 2010 11:36PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
my threads theres some good stuff in here.
Jan 16 2010 1:11AM
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Capurnicus
Posts: 9947 - Karma: 1,886
two tips:

1. if your ipod quits working and starts freaking out when it's really cold out, put it under your ballsack on the way up the lift

2. don't touch my ipod
Jan 16 2010 11:12PM
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Parrish
Posts: 8695 - Karma: 1,008
Oh lawl. The Best Anti-thief.
Jan 17 2010 12:03AM
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traylortrash
Posts: 1935 - Karma: 2,450
buuuut by not doing this you can maintain 2 decent edges and switch em when you actually need em
Jan 17 2010 12:53AM
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Mavrck
Posts: 2765 - Karma: 27
this all onlly theoretically works if you slide rails same foot forward every time. spinning on, spinning off, switchups and unnatty slides will beat your edges up on all sides
Jan 17 2010 2:09AM
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mezzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 15
well if you suck at rails like me then it should work just fine
Jan 17 2010 11:44AM
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bappelabb
Posts: 282 - Karma: 131
yes!!!
Jan 17 2010 11:53AM
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wh@t
Posts: 6204 - Karma: 51
thanks for your contribution
Jan 17 2010 11:55AM
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Parrish
Posts: 8695 - Karma: 1,008
I learned a lot from it.
Jan 17 2010 12:00PM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
This..

I I wonder who puts their skis on the same foot every time? It not like they are right foot left foot skis.
Jan 17 2010 2:52PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i have graphics that run from the one ski over into the other and i tend to put them on accordingly...

Jan 17 2010 2:54PM
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steviecakes
Posts: 83 - Karma: 10
a camelbak can fit 2 water bottles, 3 sandwiches, and 2 capri suns, making for a great meal for 2 on the lift. saves money and time (you don't have to go back to the lodge + making use of otherwise idle time on the lift). bamboo dress socks are warm and thin and wick away moisture and feel silky smooth. be prepared for survival situations. even if you're in new jersey. a pocket knife or a whistle can save your life if you're stuck in the woods. sizing up for fashion reasons leaves you colder than if you actually wore properly fitting clothes. function > fashion.
Jan 17 2010 6:15PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
never leave the house without my knife !


Jan 17 2010 6:21PM
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effehz
Posts: 193 - Karma: 10
putting the boot liner in heaters might not always be a good idea though, the sole can get too warm and lose its shape and that will destroy the support it should have for your foot
Jan 17 2010 6:24PM
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Nic_Sutter
Posts: 108 - Karma: 222
Low on cash, yet you still gotta get those bases nice and waxed, but all your wax is gone? Mom's candles are where it's AT, Breh! (Be sure to ask first though, and make sure it's not a scented candle. . . that'd be a little weird) Candle wax > no wax at all.
Jan 17 2010 6:38PM
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Dbit
Posts: 385 - Karma: 71
Put your lift ticket on your pants not your jacket.

When hiking the park or early/ late season skiing you'll have the freedom to shed a layer.


Jan 17 2010 7:49PM
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Yack
Posts: 79 - Karma: 85

i put my pass on a lanyard and tied that onto my belt loop, then if a liftie wants to see my pass i can just pick my sweatshirt or jacket up and my pass will be right there

also, if your hands do get extremely cold, find the nearest bathroom and run them under hot water to increase the blood circulation in your hands thus making your hands warmer, just amke sure your hands are completely dry before you go back out

Jan 17 2010 11:15PM
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mattridesskis
Posts: 635 - Karma: 17
woow! my threads. this is amazing
Jan 18 2010 12:01AM
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austinmetsch
Posts: 525 - Karma: 17
1)whenever you go inside make sure you take as much your jacket and anything else down to your base layers and open the vents on the pants. this will allow the cold air to escape and when you put everything back on it traps the warm air inside.
2) if you don't really think about how cold it is you don't get as cold. i have been using this method for years and i rarely get cold.
3)if you wear bright colors or other clothing that stands out the liftees will remember you and won't make you take out your pass every run. thin ski socks are warmer for sure.
Jan 18 2010 12:07AM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
No this is so dumb. Candle wax does NOT > no wax at all. Candle wax, if anything, makes your skis slower. Much slower, candle wax grabs at the snow.

I can imagine the relation you made between candle wax and ski wax: "Uhmmm, their both waxes right?". They are almost completely different from each other other than the fact that they are both solids at room temperature and melt with a little (there are a few other similarities too). But really, there is a lot of tech that goes into ski wax.

If you think I'm wrong. Take flat piece of plastic, get a small block of wood or a snowball with a flat side.

1.Place that object on the plastic at one end and slowly raise that end until it slides.
2. Wax half of each side of that plastic with one half candle wax, and the other half ski wax. Repeat step one two more times placing your object on the ski wax half first and candle wax next.

The higher you have to bring it up, the higher the coefficient of friction between the two surfaces.

Your results should be as follows from lowest to highest (that it was raised): ski wax (using snow), ski wax (using wood), no wax (using snow and wood/same result), candle wax (using wood), candle wax (using snow)

Try it I dare you.
Jan 18 2010 12:32AM
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mcweapon
Posts: 175 - Karma: 247
i have the same problem!  i cant see out of one of my eyes well so i have to ski switch looking over one shoulder so it makes me turn that one way... !  Help with this would be great!
Jan 18 2010 1:27AM
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mcweapon
Posts: 175 - Karma: 247
this always works for getting rid of fog without having to go inside.... take some kleenex or napkins or whatever (you can usually get kleenex at the bottom of the lift) ... take your goggles off, shove the kleenex into the inside of the goggles... and put them in the inside of your jacket and zip it up... by the time you get to the top of the lift.. they should be good to go!
Jan 18 2010 1:33AM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
Ummm. I don't know. That might rub around and ruin your goggles.
Jan 18 2010 1:41AM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
That would be called fraud.
Jan 18 2010 1:43AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
I was waxing my skis yesterday when i tought of this trick....

when you're sharpening the edge on your freshly waxed skis wax can accumulate in the base file and clog it.
easiest way to clean the basefile is to hold a lighter under it and melt the wax between the teeth so it runs out (don't burn the wax)
Jan 18 2010 4:24AM
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Lexx
Posts: 327 - Karma: 688
If your hands get to the point to which they are hurting because they are so very cold, you should go inside and actually run them under cold water.  If your hands are that cold, you are close to getting frost bite and it could actually make your hands hurt alot worse with warm water because the blood will rush back to fast.
Jan 18 2010 8:43AM
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Sharpbrick
Posts: 133 - Karma: 20
off because if you fall it could mess your hand up
Jan 18 2010 9:20AM
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wesley.
Posts: 6483 - Karma: 1,049
LAYERS. if your hiking and sweating, take a layer off. because then when you get back onto the lift, the sweat gets cold and so do you
Jan 18 2010 9:35AM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
my threads
Jan 18 2010 2:11PM
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mcweapon
Posts: 175 - Karma: 247
um... it has never ruined a pair of my googles.. you have to just shove it in there, dont rub it around... it actually absorbs the moisture in the googles and makes them defog... and its not like you are moving around on the chair lift.... trust me ... its a winner!
Jan 18 2010 5:06PM
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hellomynameisjef
Posts: 5794 - Karma: 167
i heard if you stick a jiberish die cut to your dick its like instant insulation
Jan 18 2010 5:11PM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
Yea thats what the astronauts do to keep from freezing to death on the moon. The space suits are just for style points.
Jan 18 2010 5:19PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
I'll take your word for it, it would suck if it smudged the filament on the inside of your goggles though.
Jan 18 2010 11:10PM
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powderpanda
Posts: 18 - Karma: 10
great thread, i def learned some new stuff.
Jan 18 2010 11:44PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
this is true.  i got my job tuna fishing this season by going up the chairlift with someone in the tuna business.  if i was listening to music and decided to be a jerk i wouldn't have had that awesome life experience.


Jan 19 2010 12:17AM
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GILLSKI
Posts: 1250 - Karma: 361
bar far the greatest thing ive ever heard
Jan 19 2010 2:23PM
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Big_Shane
Posts: 132 - Karma: 11
Lots of really good tips in here. Keep 'em coming guys!
Jan 19 2010 4:12PM
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everyone
Posts: 63 - Karma: 13
if you bring food or whatever into the park, take your shit with you when you leave or i will be pissed at you and won't help you scrape your teeth out of the snow after i beat you to death with your empty pop can that you left at the top of the rail
Jan 19 2010 4:52PM
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McShane
Posts: 270 - Karma: 145
This is a super helpful thread! +K, and for now, my threads!
Jan 19 2010 11:09PM
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jalokim1
Posts: 50 - Karma: 11

my threads

Jan 20 2010 2:19PM
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Flowsion
Posts: 1461 - Karma: 11
Don't pull your liners out unless absolutely necessary! every time you do, you crease the heat-mold your body heat creates within the liner. also, use very gentle heat to dry boots. too much heat will reset the heat mold. air circulation is what dries boot liners. heat isn't necessary, just speeds it up a little bit.

also, ALWAYS ALWAYS buckle the top buckles first. don't do the bottom ones until the very end. buckling at the top pulls the heel back into the heel pocket, the lower buckles should support the top of the foot. don't crank on the lower buckles. veins run on the top of your foot, buckle too hard and blood cuts off. this makes for cranky feet. if your boots kill your circulation, try buckling this way.
Jan 20 2010 6:18PM
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tuna.
Posts: 2627 - Karma: 111

:(

Jan 20 2010 6:31PM
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Binbag
Posts: 56 - Karma: 102
Remember, "it's not how the mountain challenges you, it's how YOU challenge the mountain"
Jan 20 2010 6:38PM
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D.Hatch
Posts: 593 - Karma: 43
If you mix some hand lotion with crushed Advil tablets, then rub this mixture on you shins it will numb them and get rid of shin bang

Although i would NOT recommend doing this, i think that shin bang is a pain that you want to know is happening get boots that fit!
Jan 20 2010 7:13PM
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henrytargett
Posts: 903 - Karma: 35
this isnt really a tip but its fun so you should do it.

when your on the lift going over a run your about to do, throw your poles down and try and stickum in the snow. its dope.
just make sure they dont get stolen... (i own shitty poles)
Jan 20 2010 7:37PM
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