Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with skiing

couch skiing

Capri — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:18:09 -0800

When I first learned to ski, in the late 1980s, my ski coach and several friends all suggested a technique for improving skiing that involved watching videos of skiers with excellent form skiing the same run over and over and over. The idea was that this would somehow encode in the viewer's brain what a good ski turn looks like, and that information would come out when the viewer got up off the couch and started skiing. Anyone recall what this specific technique was called? I remember that the name was sort of brand-namish, like DynaSkiing, not just a description, like video training.

Also, if you've ever tried this, did it help? At all? Was there any research on it?
Are there any current videos using this technique with the new skis?

And alternatively, what else can one do in the off-season to keep from back-sliding new techniques that are learned in a sport? I've made huge progress in my downhill skiing this year, and don't want to lose too much between now and next winter, which is typically what happens for me in any sport. So although this video technique seems like it might be just so much laetrile, I'm feeling desperate and wondering if it's worth a try.

Easter break skiing in South Korea

drea — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 01:03:17 -0800

Family is spending Easter break in Seoul. Please recommend a ski resort that is: - near enough for a day trip - accessible via public transportation - not too crowded as a bonus The only other ski resort we've ever been to is GALA Yuzawa in Japan, and it was accessible by train, so we'd like to imitate the same experience in Seoul. Thanks!

Tore ACL skiing. Don't want surgery. Can I ever ski again?

StrawberryPie — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:42:58 -0800

I'm looking for opinions and stories from people who've torn their ACL but elected not to get surgery. How much physical activity can you still do? 30 years ago, I partially tore my left knee's ACL in a downhill skiing accident, and 3 weeks ago I had another skiing accident in which I tore what was left of that ACL. (An MRI last week confirmed this.) I'm not particularly keen on having surgery if I can avoid it. I'm male, 49 years old, not overweight, in good health, modestly fit, expert but non-competitive skier. I've never been super-athletic, though I do love skiing, and I also enjoy scuba, sometimes running and bicycling, hiking, and hitting the gym for cardio and weights the rest of the time.

My doctor describes the choice between physical therapy and surgery as choosing between being able to do "fitness-level" activities and "sports-level" activities. Skiing falls into the latter category, but for me, it's the only thing that would be in that category—I don't need to do any competitive sports, and it doesn't sound like any of my other physical activities would be a problem without surgery. But I think I would miss skiing...

If I do physical therapy, exercise, and get a brace, can I ever ski again?

Ski town without ski bum?

carolinaherrera — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 03:27:19 -0800

I'm becoming enamored with the idea of moving to a ski town for a while. I'd like to know more about what it's really like. I really LOVE skiing (although very much a beginner). I'm out of my early 20s, and not much of a partier, although I find it easy to make friends. I would probably be living off of savings or doing remote work, but am not wealthy.

- Have you done this? Are you still doing it? - What do you like most about living there?
- What undiscovered or really wonderful places might I not know of that would be great places to live? Places in Colorado? Places off the beaten path?
- What are summers like?
- Can you point me to any good blogs/memoirs/etc. about doing this?
- Tips, tricks, suggestions, starting points?
- Other things that might be helpful

What not to miss in Beaver Creek, Colorado?

gardenbex — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:46:35 -0800

My boyfriend is taking me on my first ski trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado. This is my first time both skiing and seeing the Rockies. Besides skiing and relaxing sore muscles in a hot tub afterward, what else is a must see or must do in this area? Thanks!

Skiing with 3-4 year olds near Boston, the impossible dream?

katers890 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:09:45 -0800

So I have volunteered to coordinate getting a bunch of 3-4 year olds (ok, like 3 of them) to the slopes for a day trip/morning ski lesson, but not being a 3 year old, I don't know the best place to take them. I need a place that has group lessons that take 3 year olds (and that the 3 and 4 year olds can be together in a class) and that is near enough for a short day trip from Boston, MA. I could just search the web for all the mountains around, but I thought MeFites might know the better places to go. Thanks!

Ski Boot Fitting - Process and Shops Near Westchester County, NY?

Opposite George — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:09:08 -0800

I'm looking for a good ski boot fitter no more than three hours away from northern Westchester County, NY. Do you know of any? How about any other tips concerning boot fitting? The last time I bought boots was from an amazing fitter up at Killington, but that's too far for me these days. This was almost ten years ago and I'm sure things have changed in the industry/process since then.

Difficulty: No (zero, zilch, nada) arches; extremely wide toe box; wide ankles; low, muscular calves and severely knock-kneed on left side.

I'm a professional ski instructor and spend about 100 days on snow each season. I will be looking for a performance (not race) boot and fit. I'll certainly need custom insoles, and almost definitely need shell work and canting plates under at least the left sole.

Are there specific certifications I should be looking for (e.g., pedorthist?)

Last time the fitting was included in the price of the boots, and came with a lifetime adjustment guarantee. Is it fair to assume that most reputable shops operate the same way?

So, people, who are your superstar fitters, and what should I expect from the process in 2013?

Where can a new skier go on a day trip near San Francisco?

aloysius on the mixing boards — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:43:09 -0800

I just went skiing for the first time in Colorado with some friends and loved it. Now that I'm back in the Bay Area, where can I go skiing that's beginner friendly and close enough to make it a day trip? I realize it's a lot of driving, but I know a few people do it. I also know about the ski buses, but I'd rather drive myself. I suppose I could be convinced to stay overnight, but I don't know if I want to do that right away. I'd rather get my feet wet, so to speak.

Since I'm new (to skiing and the area), it's hard for me to tell which places are good for beginners and which are easiest to get to. It'd also be great if it wasn't so crowded. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I might take some private lessons, but not right away and not every time I go. Are some resorts better than others with their ski schools?

(This question was pretty helpful, but the asker rules out Tahoe specifically.)

Talk to me about ski bags

never.was.and.never.will.be. — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:02:41 -0800

Should I get a hard case or a soft bag? Single or double? Anything else I'm not considering? Looking for a ski bag for my boyfriend. Some questions I have:

1) Hard vs soft case: Is a hard case essential for airport travel, or will skis survive being thrown around in a soft case if you wrap them in clothes and bubble wrap? The case will be used for non-airport travel 90% of the time, so it seems like a soft case would be more comfortable for day trip use, but I don't want to have to get ANOTHER case if we do decide to go on a ski trip by plane.

2) Single vs double: Is a double bag usable for 1 pair of skis, or would they be too loose in there? Can double bags be tightened with the straps on the bag to hold 1 pair of skis tightly (assuming a soft bag)? 99% of the time, we'd be skiing together, so a double bag seems like a good idea. However, the 1% time that he'll go without me, will his skis be too loose in there if there is only 1 pair? Are double bags too heavy/bulky to be comfortable and each person should have their own bag anyway?

3) If you have a bag that you love, what brand/model is it? What's so great about it?

Bonus question: This will be a Valentine's day gift, so what fun little goodies can I fill the bag with?

Just putting him on skis and pushing is probably a bad idea.

katers890 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:40:42 -0800

So I want to get my son into skiing, but I'm not sure the best method given that he's only 3. Pointers for those who have done it or suggestions that this is ridiculous and just to wait till he's older both welcome. So my husband and I are both skiers. We love it and want our boys to love it too. The youngest is only 9 months, so he's obviously too young, but our 3.5 year old seems to be at an age to start. We live outside of Boston so we have lots of options for skiing around. Initially we wanted to do several days to a week at a resort and just sign him up for the group lessons they do there, assuming they'd get him skiing just fine (3 years old is the youngest for the lessons, but my son is a big 3.5 year old and one that has always been ahead of the curve with motor skills and whatnot). However, due to a bunch of reasons, it looks like that won't be happening, but I'd still like to get him up on skis this winter if possible. Is trying to do a day trip just a disastrous idea? Do they really need a couple consecutive days to get it and have fun? If he liked it we could possibly do a couple day trips or something so he has a bit more experience with it, but I don't want to do a day trip at all if he's just going to be frustrated the whole day and not get to the fun part.

Secondly, if we were to do it as a day trip, should we try to just teach him ourselves, or should this really be done by someone who has taught this age group before? My general understanding of little kid skiing (both from personal experience and watching them on the slopes) is that you get them to shuffle along, then teach them the snowplow and then off they go down the mountain (or more likely, bunny slope) without really turning at all. I know chair lifts require assistance at this age, but I'm not sure we'd really try that unless he was having a great time and really getting the skiing part on the bunny slope.

Any suggestions or pointers welcome. I will also be willing to hear that this just isn't going to be feasible either because of age or because we'd need several days in a row. Thanks!

Hypothermia, be gone! XC skiing in Norway, seeking clothing help

fakelvis — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:36:59 -0800

Cross-country Skiing Outfit: I'm seeking clothing advice so that I don't freeze when XC skiing for the first time this winter (in Norway). This winter I'll be travelling a lot to Oslo, Norway and while there will be cross-country skiing for the first time. I'll be going with my partner (also a beginner) and maybe some seasoned Norwegians later in the season (who will be taking it easy for our benefit).

What do I have? Skis, shoes, gloves, jacket. (And lessons booked!)

What do I not have? Trousers, underclothes for lower and upper body, a "proper" hat, sunglasses.

My questions:
- As a beginner XC skier what layers should I be wearing on my legs and my torso (number of layers, materials, etc.)?
- Is this hat (my only winter hat) OK (note that the jacket also has a hood)?
- Do I need sunglasses, and if so what type? I have an unused pair of Bolle 'sports' sunglasses I could resurrect.

Thanks for helping me survive, preferably without looking like this (great for kids, but not so much for 18yo males).

Winter Is Coming! but is the train out of Sapporo running?

larthegreat — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:03:20 -0800

I just impulse bought tickets to Japan for the last 2.5 weeks of February. I plan on skiing. How hard is it to get around Hokkaido by public transit? I was able to leverage some pretty killer points coupled with a fare sale into a rediculous deal from NYC to Tokyo in late February. Flights from Tokyo to Sapporo are pretty cheap, so I figure I'll indulge my crazy skiing habit with a 2 week trip around Hokkaido.

So I've seen this question and I know that Niseko caters to Aussies, so I figure I'd spend a few days there, but I've been very intrigued by some of the other resorts in the country, Ashidake, Rusutsu and Kurodake have all grabbed my attention.

I've found a hokkaido rail pass that looks promising (map) but am unsure that it will actually let me get to all of the smaller/more scattered locations. I know there are busses from Sapporo to Niseko (and to other resorts), but don't know how easy it will be to locate them. I have read that it is inadviseable to rent a car and drive around in the winter- some of the more out of the way resorts seem rather difficult to get too without personal transport.

I would be looking to stay in hostels, or the Japanese hostel equivalent- what search terms should I be looking for? (I don't mind non traditional accomodation, and in fact prefer it)

I am very open to any advice. Also to attending a mefi meetup in Tokyo as I pass through.

bonus question: I am severely allergic to shellfish, and I know that outside of Tokyo there is very little english signage, and would like to not be a complete idiot/end up in the ER. Where can I sign up for beginner Japanese lessons in NYC, and is any self study a good idea, or should I really just do classes? yes I know about allergy cards, and will be carrying a stack of them, as well as registering my epi-pen

Help me find a new england winter resort for the whole family

Thrillhouse — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:24:17 -0800

Trying to find winter resorts in New England for the whole family that aren't ONLY about skiing. My family wants to take a weekend away in New England. 8 adults and 6 kids. 4 or 5 of us ski/board. The others enjoy outdoor activities but don't ski or board. We all enjoy a good spa and some quiet time. Where can we go (even skiing isn't a requirement) with the whole family that will please everybody?

Should I stay or should I go (ski trip edition)?

lollusc — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 22:20:24 -0800

How much harder is it to ski (x-country) carrying a heavy pack? How much harder is a four day trip than a two-day one? How hard is it to switch from one type of ski to another? Can I do this? I ski cross-country once or twice each season. My first trip for this season was last weekend where I did a one-day 10km trip (with an extra 2.5km warm-up beforehand). About half of it was non-stop uphill. I sweated and swore, and decided I would never go skiing again.

This weekend I did a two-day trip, with a few hours of easy practice skiing on the Saturday, snow camping, then a full day (9-4:30 with three 20-minute-ish breaks) on the Sunday. There was a lot of uphill, but it was interspersed with sections of flat and downhill. Some downhill runs were super scary to me. There were some short uphill bits that I didn't think I was going to manage, and where I had to break to catch my breath every fifty steps. I injured my knee slightly near the end, which I'm sure was entirely fatigue-related stupidity. I think it will heal up pretty quickly, though. I sat in the snow and cried three times, promising myself I would never go skiing again.

In two weeks time some friends want me to join them on a four-day cross-country trip (Jagungal, if any Australians know it). They say it's a trip that can be done in two days, but they are going to take it slow and maybe include a couple of detours on the way. The people on my trip yesterday said that the Jagungal trip is very similar in difficulty level to yesterday's skiing. BUT I'll be carrying a pack for at least some of it with four days' worth of food, dry clothes, emergency gear, sleeping bag, etc, and maybe a tent, although we might use the huts instead. (If we use the huts, we'll leave the packs at one for at least one full day). By the fourth day I will be fatigued from three nights of not very good sleep (because cold! hard surfaces! etc). And I've never skied with more than a small day pack before.

Also the friends are insisting that we use lighter Nordic skis instead of Telemark, and I've only ever used Telemark skis before. I'm scared that the Nordic skis will be less stable and more difficult to control on the downhill portions, which will effectively lower my skiing ability, and that they will not be as good on steep uphills as Telemarks with skins. (My friends tell me that's nonsense, and that I'll be very glad of the more comfortable boots and less weight).

All in all, I'm thinking this trip might be too hard for me. But I thought the same about this weekend's trip and I'm really glad I went anyway.

Skiers of Metafilter: if I can do a two day trip of similar difficulty, can I do a four day trip with different skis, and carrying a pack? If I have two weeks to prepare, what can I do, assuming that ski trips in the meanwhile are not an option?

Algonquin in the winter

molecicco — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:59:52 -0800

Algonquin Park in the winter. Do you have experience/advice/recommendations? My girlfriend and I are thinking of spending a couple of nights in Algonquin Park this winter, around New Year's. Have you done this? Do you have recommendations of what/how to do it?

We have little camping experience, so the idea of inner-park "wild"-camping is a bit daunting, although theoretically I am up for the adventure. Is it as dangerous as I imagine it to be? The more realisitc option, I though, would be to get a Yurt for a couple of nights, and do some cross-country skiing on a groomed trail and some snowshoeing. Or would it be better just to get a B&B in the area, and then drive in to do the skiing etc?

Is my knee ever going to get better?

amodelcitizen — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 01:14:44 -0800

Is my knee ever going to get better? I fell about two months ago, and it hurts and pops incessantly. I went skiing and fell hard. I twisted my body in such a way that my torso was one direction and my knees the other. There was a popping sound and I could hardly stand to put weight on my leg. The knee was swollen immediately. I couldn't straighten it completely without pain for a couple of weeks, and bending it also hurt, too.

Two months have gone by. I can walk and bike without discomfort, but there is still pain when I put weight on the outside edge of my foot (pain on the side of my knee, not in the knee cap or thigh.) When I rub the side of my knee, I can feel inflammation and swelling around the bones. My knee also pops continuously. It pops probably one hundred times a day. I guess it's probably a ligament, but sometimes I think my knee cap is out of whack.

You're not a doctor, sure. But have you had an experience similar to this, and how long did it take for you to get better? Or do you know anything about knee injuries? Will wearing a brace really help? It's annoying as hell, and I really can't stand it, but I'll do it if it helps. What else should I do? Will I be able to ski this winter?

I would go to the doctor, but I don't have insurance, and I was pretty sure they wouldn't be able to do anything, anyways. I only want to go if it's going to matter. I've broken a rib and hurt other areas of my body, and it seems, unless it's broken, they send you home with nothing but a bill.

Thanks.

Recommendations for ski shops in Washington DC

girlgenius — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:33:34 -0800

Tell me the names and locations of the best ski shops in Washington DC. A colleague is travelling to Washington DC next week, and wants to buy some skis and snowshoes while he's there. Where should he go?

He wants telemark skis in particular, and won't have access to a car to get around.

Any ideas to keep our next winter (Western U.S.) ski trip under budget?

bluestocking — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:31:45 -0800

My boyfriend and I want to spend 2-3 months skiing in the western U.S. for (hopefully way) under $3,000/month. Any ideas for where, when, and how to do this? Basically, this is just the winter version of this extended ski vacation question, with some added restrictions.

I'm starting to plan and create a budget for next winter's ski trip, but even with some research, I'm realizing I don't quite know where to start.

The "problem" is that my boyfriend and I are really flexible with time, and location; not quite so much with money (but more so, if we start budgeting now).
Also, I don't know much about skiing out west or for that length of time, so I need some help!

What we want:

Skiing
Western U.S./Canada -- we're in the midwest; eastern skiing is not entirely off the table, but he has family on the west coast and we were going to plan on visiting them, too.
2-3 months -- between November - March
$1200/month (or less!) for housing -- we'll have a car, so staying 20 minutes or so from ski lifts is fine.
Ideally, less than $3000/month -- is that doable? we don't need ski equipment, and we're both okay with roughing it, as far as food and housing is concerned. Lift tickets, housing, food, gas -- am I forgetting anything?

Also, we wouldn't mind working during this vacation, but I don't want to plan on finding employment, especially since we wouldn't be there more than 3 months.

I've looked on sabbaticalhomes.com (and will continue to keep an eye on it) and some other rental sites, but I haven't found any other great sites or resources for monthly rentals yet, especially for only 2 people.
Obviously, I don't have to find a place to stay right this minute, but I would like to know there are options in our price range.

Haven't tried craigslist, either, mainly because we haven't yet decided where we want to go. Missoula, Montana is the prime contender at the moment, but other suggestions would be great.

East Side

peachtree — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:14:06 -0800

Which ski resorts in Eastern Austria would one recommend? It seems the majority of recommended Austrian ski resorts are on the Western side of the country. However, we're traveling by car from Budapest, and in our wish to keep the drive under four hours, wish to stick with Eastern Austria. Flying is not an option. Also, with English-instruction on learning how to snowboard would be a plus. One of us is very well versed with skiing resources in France, but when it comes to Austria we are clueless! Since we're starting off from Budapest, we were open to anywhere within four hours of driving. We were also considering Slovenia, but everything online seems to edge us towards Austria... so here we are today. We've looked on the internet, and this is what comes up but nothing very concrete as a clear recommendation versus the overwhelming volume of resources for Western Austria:

Schischaukel
Almenland Naturpark
Noschkar
Hebalm <-- seems only in German on their website
Novog <-- also only in Geman
... any others?

Even though the old metafilter threads make it out to be a daunting experience, we're looking to learn how to snowboard for the first time. One very experienced French skier, and one American who knows NOTHING about winter sports.

Extra Help:

- places which would easily have private English instruction of how to snowboard.

- if there are any recommendations for nearby nicer or higher-end hotels to relax (for the aftermath of recovering from falling-on-face a billion times from learning how to snowboard)

Last minute ski trip - where to?

treehorn+bunny — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:42:55 -0800

Where's the good snow right now? I want to go skiing and snowboarding this week, and I've been kind of overwhelmed by possibilities. Need help narrowing it down. I can go anywhere in North America, but ideally someplace I can get to from an airport that Southwest Airlines flies to (since I'm buying tickets last minute). I know that the weather has been unseasonably warm in many places. Does anyone know where there are good ski conditions right now, and expected through the rest of the week and next weekend?

Bonus points if you have tips about how to get a good deal on lift tickets and/or a place to stay.

too much of a good thing?

wutangclan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:02:19 -0800

Too much circulation in my feet: agony when the blood flow backs up with ski boots on. So, unlike many wintersports enthusiasts, I have really warm hands and feet due to good circulation -- too good, in fact.

This leads to tremendous discomfort whenever I exert myself, due to blood pooling in my feet with the outflow constricted by my ski boots. My boots are not especially tight, just snug. I am always having to jump around to relieve the constriction, or undo my boot buckles completely in between runs?

What can I do?

Recommend a quiet NorCal family ski destination

mosk — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:04:23 -0800

Looking for recommendations for a quiet family ski area in Northern California. Special snow...er, details in side. We're a family of four, with two kids, 11 and 7. We're taking the kids up to the snow in about a month for a brief but much-needed vacation, and will have a total of four days or so on the slopes. My wife and I both ski, but neither kid has any real experience with skiing, and we'd like to go somewhere where we can take some private lessons as a family and have a good time. Friendly and uncrowded is what we want. Ideally, we'd take some private family lessons in the morning and ski some bunny slopes with the kids in the afternoon. We mainly want downhill, but we might go cross country skiing one day as well.

The catch, I suppose, is that I'd like to go some place much more laid back than Tahoe, or really any of the large resorts. I was originally thinking of Dodge Ridge (which I last skied ~20 years ago), or perhaps Badger Pass (which I've never skied), but I would welcome other recommendations and especially recent and relevant experiences. We've done Tahoe to death so I want to go some place outside the greater Tahoe area -- so no North or South Tahoe resorts, no Bear Valley, no Kirkwood, etc. North or south of Tahoe is fine, as long as it's family friendly and within a 5-6 hour drive of SF.

Bonus if you can also recommend lodging.

Good east coast skiing for a relatively new skiier?

gchucky — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:51:43 -0800

I've skiied a total of six days on the west coast. I live on the east coast, but need help finding a place to ski that's somewhat nearby (6 hrs drive), has trails on my level, won't be filled with people, and would be good for a long weekend. Got any recommendations? More details inside... I currently live in the NYC metro area. I learned to ski in Colorado (Aspen - Buttermilk, for what it's worth) and have skiied a total of six days out there. By the end of my sixth day I was doing mostly easier blue runs and was more or less sure of myself, but I was still a little shaky.

But I don't have time to make it out there this year, so we're looking for places to go here on the east coast. I've never skiied on the east coast, but I know the conventional wisdom that east coast skiing sucks and all that. Still, just being out on the slopes would be nice for a long weekend. The problem is that, as far as I can tell, all of the ski areas near the NYC metro area are jam packed with people, are entirely ice, and all that.

Basically I'm looking for a place in the northeast US where I'll be able to ski on my level without humiliating myself in front of thousands of people, being bullied on the hills, or to be totally out of my league. I have a friend who goes to Stratton quite a bit, but she's far more experienced than I am. I've got a car, so really anywhere within, say, six hours of NYC would be good. I don't own skis (and my girlfriend doesn't have her snowboard here) so we'd need to rent as well. So.. anyone got an ideas?

Closest ski resort to NYC that is open this weekend?

falameufilho — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:42:54 -0800

I'm in New York City. I want to go skiing this thanksgiving weekend. None of the nearby resorts seem to be open (yet). What is my closest option? I'm willing to take a very long drive, but I'd like to avoid flying on thanksgiving. Thanks!

Is it looking like a bad weather year for mid-December Vermont Skiing?

unionsquarepark — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:45:05 -0800

We're considering a ski trip to Mount Snow, Stratton, or Okemo December 16th-18th. It doesn't look like there's snow on the ground yet, but we need to put in for vacation days early. Will we likely be OK, or should we forget about such an early-season trip given this year's weather so far? Thanks!