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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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Skierguy1234
Posts: 1684 - Karma: 88

TO STAY WARM- i like to put a hand warmer in my underwear. if your balls are warm, your body is warm, simple science.

Feb 1 2010 10:36AM
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bumblebeetuna
Posts: 218 - Karma: 57

The cafeteria of most hills will allow you to get hot water for free, making it possible to make a lot of different hot meals for very little $$$. Ramen noodles, mashed patatoes, oatmeal, and mac and cheese to name a few.

Feb 1 2010 6:01PM
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3-6-steeze
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 147
Stretch and stay hydrated, i
guess you get hurt less?
Feb 1 2010 9:37PM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,954
dont call last run, not for superstitoin, but for the sake of taking all of your runs with full commitment. for me calling last run sometimes means letting myself slack a little, or it might mean pushing it too far out of my comfort level to try to salvage a shitty day. decide you just had your last run when you get to the bottom, so you dont take that last hit and end up half-assing a trick you would normally land.
Feb 2 2010 12:53AM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
thats a good way to do it. people who do it out of superstition have the right idea but good job explaining it properly. its all a mind game
Feb 2 2010 1:14AM
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Bob_Loblaw
Posts: 8384 - Karma: 38
When you take a fall in deep powder and are struggling to get out of your hole, place your poles on the snow in a cross. Push on your poles where they intersect. The poles increase the surface area making it much easier to climb out.

Putting  dryer sheet in your boots after you ride dries them out and absorbs odor. Keeps them fresh.
Feb 2 2010 2:15AM
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congratsxihatexu
Posts: 67 - Karma: 11
good thead just read all 9 pages lol

best breakfast before going skiing or going to school is egg whites with salsa and wheat toast
Feb 2 2010 2:59AM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
o rly?
Feb 2 2010 3:22AM
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Jake...
Posts: 11976 - Karma: 296
if you have the armada poles from a couple years ago, you can pop off the grips easily and fill each pole with what ever liquids you like. Have a few shots to take the cold edge off, or some redbull to pump you up, whatever it may be.
Feb 2 2010 12:47PM
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FoxtrotSport
Posts: 162 - Karma: 23
Oatmeal as breakfast can keep you going through lunch.  Add in powerbars and water on the lift, and skiing through lunch to avoid the crowds is easy.
Feb 2 2010 1:14PM
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pomme-de-terre
Posts: 3915 - Karma: 703
when i used to race r/c cars (gay i know) i would lightly sand the edges of all of my car's carbon fiber parts (shock towers, chassis,ETC.) and then run a thin bead of CA glue the whole way around each part to protect it from chipping/cracking on the edges. 

this method works great with the edges of your topsheet on your skis/snowboard.very lightly file the edge of your topsheet where it meets the sidewall just get some good epoxy/CA/super glue and run a little bit of it right around where the topsheet meets the sidewall all the way around your ski, it will help to protect it from chipping and delaminating.
Feb 2 2010 1:47PM
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lyzwa
Posts: 11 - Karma: 129
I don't belive no one mentioned:
TAKE A DUMP BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE GONING ON A HIKE
Feb 2 2010 1:58PM
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OG.Kush.Budz
Posts: 133 - Karma: 98
i second
Feb 2 2010 3:39PM
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BandeezyBandanas
Posts: 140 - Karma: 17
-buy two sets of goggles each with a different lens, one for foggy days and one for sunny days..i find if i have one set of goggles and two frames, constantly changing the lens leads to the anti fog coating to come off, so if simply leaving the lenses inside the frames, and having two of them make both of the goggles last much longer. Also if you have one set and are planning on buying a new lens for it, remember than a new lens is basically as much as a new set of goggles, something to keep in mind. Also avoid covering too much of your hat under your goggles, because the heat generated from your hat will fog the inside of you goggles.
-Before Halloween buy as much of the mini chocolate bars as you can, to stock up for winter. Nothing is better than a half frozen mini mars bar on the way up a chair lift


Feb 2 2010 4:07PM
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annex_
Posts: 1659 - Karma: 1,499
Genius thread!
such good stuff on here.
Feb 2 2010 11:29PM
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Pinguu
Posts: 1581 - Karma: 49
*After Halloween! Candy is soooooooooo cheap after halloween. Just pick up the stuff that didn't sell. I got like ten pounds of candy for about ten bucks this year.
Feb 2 2010 11:42PM
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Apresbang
Posts: 618 - Karma: 276
mmmmm candy.....
Feb 10 2010 2:49PM
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chardi
Posts: 5040 - Karma: 59

when you go into the lodge, put your handwarmers in the toe of you boot to heat it up,

use the warm air hand dryer to dry your bandana, could probably do the same for your boot but i never have, might be a good idea, for gloves too if you don't have handwarmers

Feb 10 2010 3:56PM
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DGiurk
Posts: 786 - Karma: 194
Don't fuck up
Feb 10 2010 5:16PM
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SirClancelot
Posts: 162 - Karma: 49
MT.. i dont really have any tips since most have been said. but for those of you just getting into park (this could prolly include me) try to learn both left foot forward and right foot forward on rails early on. This will make everything easier later on and it's really frustrating trying to get your unnatural looking good.
Feb 10 2010 6:54PM
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wameron
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 1,222
when you're going on traverses, to avoid getting to much speed, ride with your tips and with your tails hanging off the back
Feb 10 2010 7:14PM
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Brenner
Posts: 631 - Karma: 33
If there's a really hot lifty, hook your ticket or pass to your pant's crotch zipper. It is literally the funniest thing you can do
Feb 10 2010 8:12PM
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,570
then wtf do you do when your lenses get dirty on the inside?
Feb 10 2010 8:19PM
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GILLSKI
Posts: 1250 - Karma: 361
can you wipe the inside of oakleys if there dry?
Feb 10 2010 8:22PM
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teleTay
Posts: 2320 - Karma: 186
sounds fun
Feb 10 2010 8:34PM
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theo79
Posts: 305 - Karma: 70
Doing P-tex work yourself will save you lots of money when getting a tune.

Just make sure the holes filled all the way by scraping it flush with a metal scraper.

The worst is when you get a base grind and find out you didn't do a good ptex job.
Feb 10 2010 8:38PM
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D_War
Posts: 266 - Karma: 34
http://http://www.ski-depot.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DRYGUYSTIX&Category_Code=BOOTACC

these boot dryers are the best... i has a transpack where the boots go on the sides, so i leave these in my boots after they dry all night. when i leave the house i put a sock or glove in each one to keep them warm. then i take them out to put my boots on. at the end of the day when im packing up i put them in my boots so all i have to do is plug in my boots when i get home.

they work for other shoes and gloves too.
Feb 10 2010 8:59PM
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buttr_me_up
Posts: 12 - Karma: 10
good thread- my thread
Feb 10 2010 9:33PM
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DaNinjew
Posts: 240 - Karma: 44
to prevent frozen bandanas on the lift wrap ur hand warmer in it and it will defrost it or blow hjot air in it to warm it up.
Feb 10 2010 9:38PM
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dirty.
Posts: 736 - Karma: 69
and all this time ive been tying my neon yellow ribbons tightly above my kneecap over my pants in order to not loose my skis. youre telling me this wrong?
Feb 10 2010 11:49PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
bandanas are useless, if its wet or frozen, take it off. its just a thin piece of cotton fabric that might look cool, there is no point in defrosting it or wasting your time keeping it warm.
Feb 10 2010 11:53PM
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HTTT
Posts: 19 - Karma: 15
this is really terrible advice...yes, it's cooler to drive a manual, but's not that cool when your e-brake goes out (from over wearing it, you're not supposed to break like that, it's really bad for it) and you end up running your cool little 5 speed into a tree. don't drive a manual with boots on. or an automatic for that matter
Feb 11 2010 1:14AM
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Apresbang
Posts: 618 - Karma: 276
When they're dry its fine, just when they're wet. But even when they're dry don't go nuts and it'll last longer.
Feb 11 2010 5:33AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Noticing lots of moisture getting in your jacket on pow days? Consider removing your tall tee.
Feb 11 2010 6:04AM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
Good suggestion Rowen, but you know that's never going to happen! :-D
Feb 11 2010 11:09AM
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kstanz
Posts: 3058 - Karma: 477
i have to walk back and forth between my ski hill and home, should i keep my boots buckled up or really loose or whatevers comfy?
Feb 13 2010 7:27PM
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Ftacnik
Posts: 1997 - Karma: 111
I would bring some ugly shoes and just throw them in the rental shop while your skiing. That way you save the toe/heel pieces on your boots and it's a lot more comfortable to walk in.
Feb 13 2010 7:30PM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
To answer your question, its a comfort issue so loose buckles are good for circulation and movement. There are rubber soles that you can attach to your ski boots to prevent them from wearing on the bottom, you can stuff them in your pockets and they have better grip than your boots.

435109Lrg.jpg

Feb 13 2010 8:23PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
iif you go camping in the snow, crawl into your sleeping bag and sleep on top of the cloths you wear during the day, that way they're warm and not frozen in the morning :)

(don't take em with you into your sleeping bag because they are probably wet and will cool you down dramatically or they'll become moist from your sweat)

also, a small candle does wonders when you're trying to start a fire....
Feb 15 2010 11:06AM
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PaleCelery
Posts: 7228 - Karma: 609
God advice.... I would imagine that very few members of this site spend much time in the backcountry though.
Feb 15 2010 11:14AM
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elesqudor
Posts: 107 - Karma: 15
haha thanks man i always put hand warmers in and they only warmed my palms so i tryed this and it worked my whole hand was warm ......thnks again =)
Feb 15 2010 11:27AM
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ButteredToast.
Posts: 6459 - Karma: 2,570
AHHHHH that feels soooo weird!!!!!!

poooooooopy im addicted to it
Feb 16 2010 10:53PM
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H8CH
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 218
Here's a good one- today I was trying to find where I could buy a posidrive screwdriver in the USA (most ski bindings use posidrive screws- these a different to a Phillips screw head and if you use a Phillips screwdriver you'll f*** up the screw head and not be able to remove the binding). They're tricky to find in the states- no home depot etc will sell them- so you usually have to order online from a specialist ski tool shop. However- some research later and I found out ikea uses posidrive screws in their furniture, and if you go to an ikea they sell these little multi tool kits for very cheap- these contain amongst other things, numbers #1,#2 and #3 posidrive screwdriver bits... A #3 is perfect for removing binding screws. A super useful tool kit to own for skis, and er Swedish furniture.....
Feb 16 2010 11:48PM
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JahJahBinks
Posts: 3567 - Karma: 461
Don't wear dark lenses on a cloudy powder day. This past weekend I was at vail and couldn't see the snow very well and skied full speed through snow covered moguls and bit the dust.
Feb 16 2010 11:56PM
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GratefulShred
Posts: 419 - Karma: 408
Buy Swany Toasters.
Mittens with a zipper and an insert attached, never take your gloves off again.
Great for people with cold fingers... or smokers.

Skullcandy icons work as great earmuffs, they push your hat closer to your ears, and stay on well.

If your ipod battery is shit, slap a toe warmer(adhesive) to the back. I thought it would have been bad, but my ipod mini gets so cold that i get about one song in before it dies. so this keeps it goin all day.

When smoking I put my lighter in my hand and stick my cig in my sleeve and light it in there. Very convenient when battling wind.

A good playlist makes a happy skier. 



Feb 17 2010 12:19AM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
that is brilliant
Feb 17 2010 12:30AM
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robert77
Posts: 361 - Karma: 235
This is so legit!
Feb 17 2010 12:43AM
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shammond9
Posts: 10 - Karma: 10
eat cheese and crackers from the line if you dont have any money in the lodge
Feb 17 2010 12:47AM
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Apresbang
Posts: 618 - Karma: 276
So true!
Feb 17 2010 4:36AM
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butteredpretzel
Posts: 1484 - Karma: 862
before every ski season buy an industrial box of CLIFF organic fruit twists. Preferably the tropical fruit kind. They are absolutely delicious, low sugar and calorie, and will get you through the day.
Feb 20 2010 4:05PM
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