Get Ready to Ski!
What 2 items are the best predictor of your success?
Your well fitting, properly adjusted ski boots!
When driving a car, a responsive, accurate steering wheel is essential to maintain control of the car. Think of your boots as your steering mechanism. When you drive the skis with your feet, the ideal scenario has the boots moving in response to the direct pressure of your feet directly affecting skis. The boots + skis become one with the skier and everything moves together harmoniously.
if the boot is too big or not buckled tightly and correctly, the skier has inadequate control of the ski
if the boot is too tight, pain and numbness will limit the skier’s ability to control the skis.
Gear up!
🎿skis
⛑️helmet
🎿 boots
Skis come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, widths, length, materials, purposes, plus a whole host of various technical options that may begin to sound like another language. The important things to note at the beginner level: Are the bindings current, safe, and properly adjusted? Are the skis short enough to easily maneuver and long enough to support height and weight and provide stability? The rental shop will be able to set you up with appropriately dialed-in skis and poles.
Helmet: Wear one. The risk of brain damage is real. Brain trauma is cumulative. The vast majority of skiers and riders rock helmets. So when you ask yourself the question: Do I need a helmet? The answer directly correlates with your desire to continue learning, feeling, thinking, loving. It takes but one crash to render the brain inoperable. And this crash may not have anything to do with your behavior. Crashes are just plain bad luck. Mitigate brain damage. Wear the helmet.
Ski boots are not made for walking!
They don't feel good when you traverse the parking lot. They are scary slippery on stairs and tile. They are not comfortable.
. . .Unless they are attached to skis and your body is in a solid athletic stance:
knees over toes
center of mass over bindings
chin reaching toward ski tips
Your ankles are flexed, your shin is crushing the boot cuff
Always be crushing!
And off you go.
Your feet drive your skis.
Your boots make it happen.
When these elements are well integrated you are a skiing machine.
For your foot to become one with your boot it must fit like an exoskeleton directly attached to all points of your feet, ankles, and shins.
There can be no wiggle room. Very thin, non-padded ski socks are the only things that belong in your boots besides your feet. Socks should be as thin as possible with no extra padding. You want to feel the boot through your thin ski socks to allow the boots to perform as designed.
Ski boots are not designed to be comfy and soft.
Ski boots are designed to conform to your foot and perform.
Ski boots are the best investment you can make towards becoming the best skier you can be.
Rent the skis, they will thrown in the poles. Buy the boots.
Dress for Success!
winter, snow, elevation, exertion.
base layers
waterproof outerwear
thin ski socks
mittens
Layers.
The first layer is in direct contact with your skin. It should be thin with flat seams. It should never be cotton. The material must be capable of repelling sweat away from skin and allowing it to evaporate keeping you warm and dry. This is described as wicking. These fabrics have fancy trademarked names but similar garments with the same properties can be had at a lower price point when descriptions are read carefully