Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with skiing

Biathlon for beginners

billtron — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:31:16 -0800

I live in East Thetford, Vermont. I've never shot a gun or cross-country skied. How do I become a biathlete? Does one take lessons?

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.

Can I use snowboard wax on nordic skiis?

kaudio — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:09:14 -0800

Nordic ski filter: I moved last year and now I can't find the hot wax I have for my nordic skiis, but I found the hot wax for my snowboard. Are there any huge differences in the two? Can I hot wax my skiis with snowboard wax? The snowboard wax I found is like this one. I have to go out and get new grip wax anyways, since that also got lost in the move... but I'd rather not have to pay $30-40 for a new set of hot wax if I don't have to.

2 weeks driving around Europe at Christmas - what not to miss?

allkindsoftime — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:12:48 -0800

European road-trip for the holidays (filter). Meeting up with a friend in Paris on the evening of the 19th - both of us traveling there from different continents and wrapping up on Jan 2nd back in Paris. Here's the current plan:

Week 1 (Road Trip!):
12/19 - Arrive Paris, stay overnight.
12/20 - Drive to Munich, staying with friends.
12/21 - Explore Munich, Christmas markets, etc.
12/22 - Drive to Vienna with a stop in Steyr, Austria*.
12/23 - Explore Vienna, Christmass markets, etc.
12/24 - More Vienna, Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stephansdom*.
12/25 - Drive to Venice.
12/26 - Explore Venice.

Week 2 (based out of Geneva, where we have a free apartment):
12/27 - Drive to Geneva.
12/28 - Ski Chamonix, stay in Geneva
12/29 - More skiing, still in Geneva.
12/30 - More skiing, last night in Geneva.
12/31 - Drive to Paris for New Years.
1/1 - Explore Paris
1/2 - Friend flies out, I'm off to London for a day then flying out myself on the 3rd.

*Both of these were "local recommendations" given by friends - cool things to see and do. I am particularly interested on these around our route.

My questions:

1. Cheap / decent hotel near the airport in Paris - any suggestions?

2. Driving - we're both pretty set on it because a) we both love driving / road trips, and b) we crave the flexibility of being able to stop off in this or that place along the way, stay at a B&B outside the city rather than a hotel in it, etc.. We realize trains are good around here but would really need a strong argument against driving to sway us at this point. Any tips on tolls / etc. appreciated, as well as things along our routes not to miss.

3. Hotel in Vienna - same as above, we are looking for something more local / small, preferably on the city outskirts. From what I understand most of Europe will shut down on the 25/26th, so I figure on spending Christmas day on the road.

4. Hotel in Venice - see above.

5. Best skiing recommendations within reasonable driving distance of Geneva? I'm pretty set on Chamonix as I've been reading about skiing there my entire life, and extreme skiing is my "thing," although not my friend's, so I'm only pushing for one day there - the other 2 days we're looking for something more enjoyable to ride together.

6. New Years Eve in Paris - where to go? What to do? Where to stay?

Any input on the above or anything I'm not thinking of is appreciated in advance. I've only been to the UK and Greece before so if parts of (hopefully not all!) my plans are idiotic, please hope me. We're pretty much going off of the Lonely Planet guide and the AskMe tags (i.e. Vienna, Venice, etc.) for things to do in the cities we are at, but any other suggestions on stops along the way that are don't-miss are appreciated.

Where should my family go skiing in the Pacific Northwest this winter?

bluedaisy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:13:15 -0800

Please recommend ski slopes for my family to learn to ski and snowboard in the Pacific Northwest this winter. We live in Portland, Oregon, and this winter my kids want to learn to ski (the 5 year old) and snowboard (the 7 year old). I used to ski but was never very good and haven't gone in many years. I'd like to take a few snowboarding lessons (yes I know this will hurt). My husband loved skiing til he hurt his knee. He's thinking about snowboarding.

We have some time around Christmas. Mt. Hood is super close, but since we have a few days, we can drive somewhere, and stay a few nights, if it'd be better for us.

I'd like to find someplace family-friendly (like maybe with a tube center), with a good kids' learn-to-ski/snowboard school. We don't need much beyond green slopes. We'd like to stay in lodging pretty close to the ski slope (this is flexible). Also, we are not rich.

So, what family-friendly ski resorts/slopes do you recommend?

Also, any advice on how to prep my kids for skiing and snowboarding would be great. They're pretty active kids, and my older one already skateboards.

Finally, if you have injured your knee and now snowboard, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

Economical Holiday Vacation - With Skiing?

AV — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:05:06 -0800

Vacation planning two part-er: Does cheap, decent skiing over the holidays exist? And if not, where else should I spend my time off from work? My office is going to be closed from December 23 through January 3. I’ve got family obligations through December 25, but after that I can do whatever I want (!).

So far my skiing/snowboarding experience has been limited to hills on the Niagara escarpment, so if this is my opportunity to actually experience real snow on real mountains, I’d love to take advantage of that.

The difficulty: I can’t spend more than a grand, and would prefer to spend less if at all possible. I’m guessing this will involve staying away from the major resorts, and so I’m hoping to get some recommendations for some lesser-known but still decent ski areas that might not be as expensive.

I’ll go pretty much anywhere. I’m not looking for necessarily world-class skiing - just something that is enough of an improvement over the Great Lakes ice I’m used to, to make the trip worth it. I can fly out of either Buffalo or Toronto, or, alternatively, I have a car with snow tires that can be driven from that vicinity. I’m looking for probably 3-4 days as opposed to a whole week but I’m flexible there too.

If the ski thing isn’t going to pan out, I’m open to traveling just about anywhere that won’t be absurdly expensive or frustrating this time of year, so feel free to suggest something else if it comes to mind.

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.

Park City ski schools?

MattD — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:40:22 -0800

Can you suggest the best ski school in Park City, UT for my wife and kids (age 4 and 7) who are all first-timers? Obviously can be different programs for each, but needs to be on the same mountain. 2-3 days would be ideal, to leave some time for getting out on our own thereafter.

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!

Living in Salt Lake City during ski season

Calloused_Foot — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:44:39 -0800

I want to spend Jan-Apr of the 2010 season snowboarding in the Salt Lake City resorts. Can you guys help me figure out where to live in SLC (three months at a resort is just too much $$, and plus I'd like to be able to get away from the mountain on the days I don't ride) , and the best way to go about securing a place? There's really only two things I really need (that I can think of right away) as far as the apartment is concerned:
1) Must be on one of the bus routes that heads up to Snowbird/Solitude/Brighton (I don't care about Alta obviously). This part is non-negotiable, simply because I know it's anywhere from a 45-60min ride up to the mountain, and I am so not a morning person - I need to be able to stumble a couple of blocks to the bus stop after getting ready. Also, since my driving skills are non-existent (no driver's license - this was why Denver and the Colorado resorts were eliminated from consideration), acquiring a car is not an option.
2) Basic amenities (groceries, laundry, restaurants, bars) should be within an easy bike ride (I'll find a beater on craigslist), or short bus ride away, again because of the no car requirement. Walking distance would be nice, if possible.

I've been told by my airport shuttle driver (I was out there at the end of the season in April) I should look in Cottonwood Heights, and that rents for a studio or 1BR would run from about $750-900 a month, and that finding something short term should not be a problem. Is this where I should be looking? What other neighborhoods should I be aware of? Of course I'm going to be looking on craigslist for a place, but are there any real estate brokers I should know about? What other things do I need to know?

How can i get rid of my white panda eyes after a skiing holiday?

freddymetz — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:24:13 -0800

How can i get rid of my white panda eyes after a skiing holiday? After wearing sunglasses while skiing, that area remained white while the rest of my face tanned!
What can i do about this? Ideas that come to my mind are to continue tanning with a balaclava or to apply some kind of make up that will cover it up/even it out.
If anyone really needs a picture to answer my question, i can take one!

Cross Country Boots Flaking Out

brandonjadams — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:53:41 -0800

I have a pair of old 75mm Nordic Norm cross country ski boots. They're leather on the lower half and 'foamy' synthetic on the upper half. The problem is, the 'foamy' synthetic is supposed to be covered with some kinda of vinyl, but like most older xc boots, it seems that the coating has flaked off of my boots. Is there anyway I can make this foamy section weatherproof? Can I stop continued flaking?

Novice Snowboard Costs, Zero To Sixty?

scrump — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:34:30 -0800

How much should I budget to both equip myself and my wife for snowboarding and get us enough instruction so that we enjoy it? I mean, we own nothing with the possible exception of some gloves we could use, and we want to get ourselves outfitted and capable of boarding happily all day at places like Heavenly or Whistler. What will this cost, or, barring that, what do we need to budget for?

X-country Near DC

RandlePatrickMcMurphy — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:33:25 -0800

Good cross-country skiing near Washington, DC? I've seen sites that compare various downhill sites in the area, but little about the x-country opportunities.

I'm not looking for anything extreme, just some nice, well-groomed trails, and rental facilities on site. And the shorter the drive from DC the better - I'd hope for around 2 hours max drivetime.

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.

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?

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!

Snowshoeing, skating, or skiing for n00bs

lukemeister — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:45:32 -0800

How can two oldsters, two college students, and a 15-year-old boy have fun in the snow or on the ice? My 21-year-old nephew and his girlfriend are coming to stay with me, my wife, and son in the Denver area right after New Year's. We'd like to take them to the mountains for a day trip or possibly overnight, but we're totally lame and don't know how to ski or skate. They probably know how to skate, but I don't think they ski. What would be fun and easy to learn? My wife has rheumatoid arthritis, so downhill skiing is right out.

Discount Lift Tickets - Crested Butte

yoyoceramic — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:18:09 -0800

Colorado residents... where can I find the cheapest lift tickets for Crested Butte? I will be up there December 29th - January 3rd. Any ideas where I can start looking for (relatively) inexpensive lift tickets? Crested Butte is asking for my first born.

Suggestions for toddler-friendly activities in Snowmass/Aspen, CO?

esunshine — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:41:04 -0800

Suggestions for toddler-friendly activities in Snowmass/Aspen, CO? Am traveling to stay in Snowmass for a few days in a rented house w/ family and friends, and access to a vehicle. I have tried both skiing and snowboarding, and they are just not for me. In fact, I am not a big fan of being outdoors for very long in the cold weather. I will be bringing my 14 month old little one, who is just now walking well, but likewise is not a fan of the cold weather. Is there any hope for not being a stick-in-the mud while vacationing with skiing relatives? Can anyone suggest activities that might be fun for both of us while others hit the slopes? I am game for any and all indoor and limited outdoor suggestions.

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.

Winter weekend cabin near Chicago?

sandor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:21:35 -0800

Where should we go for a winter weekend getaway within 2 hours drive of Chicago? We're looking for a cabin/house where a bunch of us (7 right now) can go for a long weekend of lounging, reading, cross-country (or downhill) skiing and game-playing in late January/early February. I've been focusing on the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin, close to Milwaukee, since I've been there before for x-country skiing and chances are better there than anywhere else within our radius that there'll be good amounts of snow. But I haven't had much luck. To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, I found this lovely place, but they decided to stop renting in the winter starting this year. I'd love to hear about any specific cabins or homes you've been to or know about, or resources you know of that I could use to search. Thanks.

Skiing in Utah

prozach1576 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:38:29 -0800

I need help planning a ski trip to Utah in February - where should we stay and how should be get around? We're doing a Saturday to Saturday trip, so we're looking at getting 5-5.5 days of skiing in. Our #1 priority is time at Snowbird/Alta, but we would be interested in going to Park City or The Canyons for a day or two if it's convenient. There are only two of us and we'd like to do the trip as inexpensively as possible, but we aren't averse to spending money if it's what it takes to have a good trip.

Are there convenient transportation options from Salt Lake City to the ski areas? I assume there must be some shuttle bus services, but these can be a crapshoot in terms of quality, convenience, and cost so I'd appreciate a testimonial. We would also consider renting a car if it turns out to be more cost-effective.

Or are we better off trying to stay closer to the mountains? Ideally we don't want to pay more than $150/night at the most, preferably less. Recommendations for specific hotels and lodging options to check out would be appreciated.

One more thing - what is the alcohol situation like in Utah? Can we buy non-watered down beer and/or liquor? Do bars serve normal booze? Is it ungodly expensive? We don't have great expectations for nightlife, but hitting a bar for a few nights would be a nice option.

Ski/snowboard mountains to work on?

GrubbyUtter — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:32:23 -0800

I want to snowboard/ski everyday, all winter. Where should I get a job? Short version: Where would you go work for the season if you were able to pick up and go anywhere?

Long version: I did the seasonal job thing last year and had a great time... got to ride all but maybe 10 days! So I want to do it again, but would like to go somewhere that I can work nights and have my days open to ride. I'm not concerned about night life, I only plan on riding & working. I'm not concerned about location either, as long as it's in the USA (though the Rockies are ideal).

Here are things I DO want to consider though:

* public transportation, I don't want to rely on a car
* a job market able to provide a seasonal job (not necessarily at the resort)
* GREAT snow! I don't really want to work at an Iowa hill, hah.
* variety. some good long runs, some terrain parks, some trees, etc.

I'd also love to hear some experiences if you've worked at a mountain somewhere!