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.
Article by: Adrian Whittle
Photo by: Gudmundur Jakobsson
mrsjack29327 - 15 years ago
winter