Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ski

Best audio/communication solution for snowsports helmet?

Señor Pantalones — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:45:09 -0800

Best ski/snowboard helmet w/audio (mic preferred) integration? Current system of wearing iphone mic'ed buds (attached to a pocketed iphone) under a Bern helmet is nonoptimal. Too many moving parts, fumbling around to find things, etc.

Options:
1. bluetooth audio helmet (giro omen, burton red)
2. wired audio helmet (boeri vortex, poc receptor bug, burton red etc.)
3. DIY (find a good helmet, attach dedicated iphone mic'ed buds to it)

Any reviews/recommendations/experiences? Price is not as significant as ease of use and functionality of the setup. I'd like to be listening to music all day and have the ability to answer calls.

I don't always want to listen to music in the snow, but sometimes I do, and I need an ideal system for it.

Ski New Mexico cheap?

abdulf — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:12:32 -0800

Cheap weekend ski trip in New Mexico? I've never been skiing before and I'd like to try. A group of friends wants to go to New Mexico to ski because it's within driving distance from Amarillo.

I've heard there are ski resorts around Santa Fe.

Say, a group of 6 or so people wanted to go skiing. No experience, no equipment. Maybe, around February 2010. How would we go about doing this in the most affordable way possible?

Tips and suggestions for a first-time skiier

grouse — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:39:05 -0800

I'm going to Whistler for a conference. I've never been skiing or snowboarding before and I'd like to. But I know so little about winter sports that it is hard to make the right choices or to even know what I need to know. I'll be at the conference for two days, and there's a break from 10:30 a.m.–3:45 p.m. on the first day, and 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on the second day. Whistler Blackcomb says that this is adequate time for their half-day ski or snowboard lessons. So here are the questions:

Skiing or snowboarding? This is probably a religious debate, but I haven't been able to make the decision, so maybe someone will have some points that will help me. I have no experience water skiing or skateboarding. I'm in good shape although I've had some minor knee injuries from overuse in running. I'm not fantastic at learning new sports skills, so if you think one of these were easier I would probably go for that.

The second day. I was going to take at least one half-day lesson (CAD 89, CAD 139 with lift ticket and rental). On the second day should I take another half-day lesson (CAD 79/CAD 129)? Or should I try to do an easier trail on my own? The lift ticket and rental alone is CAD 104, so the lesson can be had for only CAD 25 in additional cost. Again, I'm not necessarily so fast about picking these things up, but if the second lesson will mainly be duplication of the first, then maybe it isn't so helpful. I'm sure a whole-day lesson would be ideal but I can't come up early or leave late. I suppose I could always do something else like go tube sledding the second day but I'd rather build on my sure-to-be meager skills.

Gear. The rental includes "skies, boots and poles" but I have U.S. size 15 feet and a Whistler Blackcomb agent said in an e-mail that they should be able to fit me but I am always a bit wary of that. Hopefully it will be okay. The question is what other stuff do I need? Because honestly I have no idea. I assume I probably won't be very happy in jeans, and I don't know whether my light parka will cut it either. Do I need other stuff? What should I get? Where? I live in Seattle.

All other comments and tips welcome. I feel like there are probably other questions I should be asking but I don't know what they are.

Knee pain above and to the outside of my kneecap

Popcorn — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:58:36 -0800

Knee pain concerns: I have a small pain that feels like it is coming from the upper outside of my left knee. I've had this issue on and off for a long time and it doesn't prevent me from doing anything, but it has me worried. I'm in my mid 20's and am a pretty hardcore mogul skiier and I do lots of mountaineering. I'm unable to see a doctor for a few months and I'd like some insight into what this might be.

The pain seems to happen when I am extending my leg under load, for example, when I'm climbing stairs. It also comes up when I'm riding a bike. I've never had any major knee injuries but this feels like it is gradually increasing over time. Sometimes, when I'm running up stairs I get a little twinge and I have to stop running up stairs for a day or two before it goes away. When this happens in the middle of a multi day climbing expedition I can still continue but I have to be a little gentler on the knee. So this is not debilitating pain, I just want to make sure I'm doing everything possible to preserve my knees.

Looking at this picture, It feels like the LCL but I'm not sure. If you are looking at my left knee from the front, the pain is at about 2 o'clock, about 1-2cm (radially) out from the edge of the kneecap.

So I'd like some attempts at diagnosis, is this a tendon problem? Cartilage? Muscle? (I know this is frowned upon here, but I'm not able to get proper medical attention for a few months and I'm going to be climbing a mountain soon) Also, some advice about what I can do to prevent further damage. Would a brace help? If so, what kind? Are there exercises or stretches that would help? Currently I try to stretch the affected area by pulling my heel up to my butt. Seems to help.

Also, for many years I think I was riding my bike with the seat too low and I get a feeling that this is related.

Thanks!

Right ski roof rack?

Wood — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:25:23 -0800

I want to buy a ski roof rack for my late(st) model Honda Civic. Any suggestions? I'm concerned about any impact on the fit (seals) and finish (paint) on my car. How justified is this paranoia? Also I will likely eventually want to carry bikes or other cargo.

How to reliably rent an AWD vehicle when flying to the Tahoe area?

brain — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:27:20 -0800

I'll be regularly flying in to ski near N. Lake Tahoe this winter. Which airport should I fly into and which rental agency should I use to be most assured of getting an AWD vehicle? I drove my trusty AWD-equipped car from the Bay Area to Tahoe many many times last season, but now the both the car and myself are in PDX. How do I get to Truckee and the slopes when chain control is in effect? Should I fly to Reno? Sacramento? Will any rental agency make a guaranteed reservation on a Subaru or other appropriate vehicle?

I suppose I could buy some tire chains and lug them along in my luggage, but what size? Is there a size that's going to fit most/all of the common small rental cars?

Need a solution to keep my sisters feet warm in ski boots.

no bueno — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:15:48 -0800

Need a solution to keep my sister's feet warm in ski boots. My sister has Raynaud's syndrome so whenever we go skiing she has to take constant breaks to go in and warm up. This year she's trying these Swany mittens that have an insert for handwarmers. We tried footwarmer inserts but her feet suck all the warmth out of them within minutes. I think she's going to need something battery powered but everything I've found online seems like it might be cheap(quality not price). Suggestions. Remember this is for skiing, socks would need to fit in the boots, so I'm guessing insoles might be the best bet?

Where to move in Colorado for a skiing teacher

no bueno — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:35:06 -0800

Moving to Colorado in December. Want to be close to skiing and looking for a job in education. Best location and opportunity? I'll be moving in December after I receive my teaching license in Ohio. I doubt I will get a teaching job right away so I plan on subbing in a school or temping somewhere else until the next school year rolls around. I'm 25 so I wouldn't mind a young part of town but is not a must. I'm thinking the west side of Denver though because it's close to skiing. Other cities I should consider or what parts of Denver should I look in? Thanks!

Skiing in December in Japan?

girlgeeknz — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:14:22 -0800

Is mid December too early for good skiing at Niseko, Japan? We're thinking about organising a skiing trip to Japan during the Northern Hemisphere winter, and Niseko has been recommended for good skiing and popular with Aussies and Kiwis. However, due to some scheduling problems between the group, we may have difficulty going in January as we'd hoped. I wondered if mid December was too early for good skiing?

Appreciate any opinions from any snow snobs in the hive. I'd hate to book December and then find out that actually the early season snow is awful.

Thanks!

Montana-Filter: How does someone get from the airport in Bozeman, Montana to a ski resort in Big Sky, Montana at night?

Flood — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:01:46 -0800

Montana-Filter: How does someone get from the airport in Bozeman, Montana to Big Sky, Montana at night? (more inside) Question: Landing at the airport in Bozeman, Montana on Friday, March 26, 2010, at 11:37pm. How does someone get from the airport in Bozeman to Big Sky - at night, during ski season? How much does that cost?

Background: My sister is planning a family ski trip in Big Sky, Montana - for next March. Yes, she is planning VERY early - but that is her way.

There is one problem. Someone is arriving much later than the rest of the group. The rest of the group could rent a car, as planned and go to Big Sky, get settled in - but now, the rest of group might wait 12 hours in bozeman, maybe even spend a day and a night in bozeman - because the one person will not be able to get from bozeman to big sky? Really, he can't get there own his own and meet the rest?

There must be a way that a single adult can get from bozeman to big sky - on a friday night, during ski season - right?

bonus question: plan is ski big sky, with a day trip to yellowstone nat'l park? what other cool things could we do? something cool that the tourist herd would normally miss?

Thanks

Living near surf and snow

lilyflower — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:47:51 -0800

Where in the world can I live where I can go down the beach and surf one day, and head up into the mountains to ski/snowboard the next? I would really like to live somewhere that I could feasibly surf one day and then go skiing/snowboarding the next. If I cannot have that due to seasons, I would like suggestions of a place where in the winter I could go up into the snowy mountains, and go down the beach during the summer. I got the impression that this is possible in California, but even then California is a big place so more detailed options of areas would be greatly appreciated.

I am a moderately confident skier and hopefully will learn snowboarding and become proficient. I am currently a body boarder and would like to start surfing where it is sandy and there is a beach break, I do not want a reef or point break.

I would like to be able to live in a house with a garden where there is internet access. I have a means of supporting myself and would not necessarily require to earn a living in the local economy.

In summary I would like to know where in the world I could live where I could be within half an hour’s drive of a beach for good surf and 2 hours drive to mountains to ski/snowboard. (These travel times are flexible, they are here as preferred times)

Ski boot stiffness index

bsdfish — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:54:06 -0800

How does the ski boot stiffness index get determined, and how does it vary between manufacturers? I usually see stiffness indexes between 50 and 150, and I wonder if some manufacturers inflate them, or if there even is anything like a standard. I have Head Edge 9.5 boots that are labeled with 5.0/6.0 (adjustable) stiffness index ... are they 50/60, or is Head's own weird system? How do you navigate the whole mess of marketing?

Name this nordic ski binding system

Maarika — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:08:41 -0800

What type of boots do I need for my cross-country skis? I just got some cross-country skis for cheap off Craigslist, and now I need to find some boots. Here's a picture of the binding. The guy I bought these from said they might be old Salomon bindings, but I haven't been able to find a match online and have a feeling they're obsolete... So does anyone here know what kind of binding this is? If so, what type of boots do I need? Knowing the name of the boot/binding type should help my future Ebay and Craigslist searches.

Thanks!

Best Tahoe resort for snowshoeing and snowboarding?

benzenedream — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:01:36 -0800

I'm looking for a resort in Tahoe that has both (a) good beginner snowboarding trails and (b) snowshoe trails. Nice to haves: group snowshoe outings and snowshoe rentals.

Are ski lift ticket vouchers legit?

yom3ts — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:47:41 -0800

What's the deal with cheap and abundant ski lift ticket vouchers? Going to Stowe in Vermont next week. Lift tickets usually sell for $84/day, or $223 for a 3-day pass. All over eBay, Craigslist, etc there are "vouchers" for sale, offering $99 three-day passes. The vouchers are listed at about $20-$25, so all in all this is about a 50% discount.

What's the deal? Where are these vouchers coming from? Why are there so many of them? The fact that they are so abundant leads me to think that it's (a) a scam or (b) Stowe is making them freely/easily available and people in the know are turning it into a money making opportunity.

Should I take a suitcase or a pack to Whistler?

girlgeeknz — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:54:20 -0800

Should I take a suitcase or a pack to Whistler? I'm going to Whistler for 3 weeks of skiing (yay). Leaving from Auckland (New Zealand), with 2 nights stopover in Vancouver on the way, and 3 nights in San Francisco on the way back. There'll be a few transfers on buses or in taxis during the journey.

I'm 5' 4", and not very strong. I prefer a suitcase with wheels, because I can roll it along and my strength isn't an issue. My boyfriend thinks I should take a pack, because I can put it on my back, and if there's snow on the ground a suitcase on wheels wouldn't be suitable. I think a pack will be too heavy for me (I have used one before to get up the mountain when we ski locally, and always find it very difficult).

Which would you take?

Pizza --> French Fries --> ???

Slarty Bartfast — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:46:40 -0800

Is it possible for an advanced intermediate adult skier to become an expert (at Whistler, specifically) without shelling out $400 a day on private lessons? If the best answer is to simply keep practicing on my own, please augment with direct experience and words of encouragement. I learned to ski at age 19 and have skied an average 10-15 days a year since then (I'm now 38). I have a blast on the blue runs and I'd probably be content with that for the rest of my life if I had to. I can do some black diamonds but it is much less fun and there have been several times when I've taken off the skies and walked down which sucks. The problem I have is that most of my friends who are willing to go up with me far exceed my ability, so I do a lot of skiing alone.

I have a 5 day trip to Whistler planned next week and looked into lessons but the only group lessons offered on the official Whistler-Blackcomb website are for beginners and private lessons are probably out of my price range, although if that is simply the only practical answer I am open to it.

My theory on skiing is that if you don't learn as a child, you have a much harder time conquering the fear that encumbers a rational adult who stands at the top of 45 degree slope. I think my brain understands well enough how to make those turns, but I lose confidence and get flustered with the loss of control on steeper slopes or narrower tree lined trails.

I am in reasonably good shape. I have reasonably good equipment though I am buying new boots this week.

So:
1. Does anyone know of any group lessons for intermediate adult skiers at Whistler?
2. Does anyone know of a less expensive way to get good private lessons at Whistler?
3. Is it possible to simply try harder to challenge myself and learn as I go on my own (or with friends)? This hasn't worked so far, but quite honestly, in the past I've been more focused on having fun than working to get better.
4. Was there any particular piece of knowledge or skill that helped you make the leap?

Vermont ski resort bus trips from New Jersey?

exhilaration — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:09:41 -0800

Anyone know of any Vermont ski resort bus trips that leave from New Jersey? I just finished reading this entry on a Times blog about about day trips to Vermont from New York City. What I want to know is if similar trips are run out of New Jersey, preferably North Jersey.

I've seen the NJ Ski Council trips, but most are longer than a day and require memberships to ski clubs. Aren't there any ski shops that organize no-commitment day trips like the ones mentioned on that Times blog, but from Jersey?

Owie, my boots hurt

laradar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:10:31 -0800

I'm looking to get a new pair of ski boots in the SF Bay Area, preferably in the South Bay/Peninsula area. Since boot fitting isn't an exact science I'm looking for suggestions for great, not good boot fitters. I bought a pair of boots at REI about 3 years ago and they have been nothing but trouble. A little too big and at the same time, too tight in certain spots making my foot fall asleep. So here's what I'm hoping to find:

- A great fitter who will put me in a boot that will give me comfort and control
- A store that won't overcharge me
- A store/fitter that will give me unlimited adjustments as necessary (boot punches, inserting foam, etc.)

If you can highly recommend somebody, please let me know. Uncomfortable and uncontrollable boots are no fun to ski with!

Instructions for Salomon Automatic2 XC Bindings?

Dreidl — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:29 -0800

How do I operate early 90's vintage Salomon Automatic2 cross country/nordic ski bindings? Where can I find pictures/instructions on this binding? Can these bindings be adjusted or repaired? They're the original SNS standard and I still have the boots.

Switzerland vacation ideas

bucksox — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:18:23 -0800

I just decided to take a winter vacation to Switzerland for the week before Christmas with my friend. I have never been to Switzerland (or outside North America for that matter) and I was wondering if anyone had been to Switzerland and had suggestions about what to do/where to go? I am up for anything! I am flying in and out of Zurich so it would be preferable to go places easily accessible from there. Also, I prefer to be "thrifty" on the trip but I don't want to be too cheap. I love skiing and I am a very good skiier so I definitely want to ski there (which obviously makes the "thrifty" trip difficult)

How to take up XC skiiing?

unSane — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:09:42 -0800

I"m looking for a winter aerobic activity to keep my fitness level up for mountain biking. Cross country skiing is one of them. What should I buy and how hard is it going to be to learn? A few data points:

- I'm pretty aerobically fit

- I'm a good snowboarder but have never been on a pair of skis in my life

- I already snowshoe, but one of my favorite trail systems is XC ski only. Also, XC skiing is supposed to be better for maintaining cycling muscle groups.

- I like to explore the backwoods

- Most of the trails I would use are not groomed and quite often will not be broken. There are a few Nordic centres around here with groomed trails which it would be nice to use now and then but probably only once or twice a season.

- I already have the right clothing... it's the skis, boots and techniques that I'm concerned about.

- I'll probably take a couple of lessons at a local Nordic center first... I'm looking for your advice in addition to theirs!

NB This previous question answered a few questions but not in much detail.

Things to do in Denver

bluejayk — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:19:14 -0800

Should I go to Denver for a month if I want to ski a lot? My job moves me around several times a year for short-term projects, my next one will be in for the month of January. I get some input into where I go, and Denver might be once of my choices. I'm wondering if it would be a fun place for me.

I generally don't like cold weather, but I love snowboarding/skiing. I'd be living in the Cherry Creek neighborhood, or somewhere very close to that. I'll be working 5 days a week, but only during the evenings and will have my days free 6 days a week. I've read that the nearest ski resorts are about an hour away. Are those close by resorts any good? Keep in mind my previous skiing experience has been limited to Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, so I'm okay with non-world-class skiing, but I don't want to move to Denver if I'm only gonna be able to get to mediocre resorts.

Also, how is Denver for non-skiing outdoor activities? It looks like temps are gonna range generally between 20-50 degrees. I've never lived in a winter climate like that, so I'm not really sure what to expect. Do people mostly just stay inside except to go to work and go home?

Where can I find this shirt?

fac21 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:21:16 -0800

Where can I find the ski slope shirt that Anna Faris wore in the movie "Smiley Face"?

Switching from a board to skis?

zardoz — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:57:30 -0800

This snowboarder wants to give skiing a try. How to go about it? Background: I'm an intermediate snowboarder--comfortable on a board, but not to the jump/flip/high, high speed stage. I started on a snowboard and have never been skiing, and I'm curious. So next time I'd like to give it a try. What can I expect? The obvious suggestion is to take a lesson, but I'm not in a English-speaking country, so for the sake of argument let's assume an English lesson is out.

My wife also boards with me, and she skied when she was younger, and said she could help me with it, but I'm curious if I need a lot of tutelage. More specifically, has anyone made the transition from snowboard-only to skis? How did you do it?