Guide to Skiing – Buying Skis

In this installment of our guide to skiing we look at buying skis…

In order to make the most out of your skiing time, it is important to choose the correct pair of skis, as they are the most important piece of equipment needed for skiing. There are many variables (type, length, shape, stiffness, etc.) with skis though and the right pair for you is dependent on your skiing ability and style.

Skis are designed to support certain types of skiing, so it’s important to know what type you plan to do. You will find that most skis have been designed for powder or packed runs, because those are the most popular types of skiing. Those are the skis you should look to get if you’re a beginner. Upgrading your skis to those tailored specifically for off-piste or deep powder terrain should happen when you feel experienced enough to take on those challenges.

It’s not advisable to start off with modified skis though as it’s believed they can hinder the initial progress of beginners.

Length, shape and stiffness are arguably the most important considerations. Regarding length, the shorter they are, the easier they are to turn. For this reason, most beginners start off with a pair of short skis. Once you’ve mastered the basics of skiing and are confident of your ability, then you can consider longer skis, which will allow you greater speed in many different snow conditions, but which also will be less forgiving of errors.

Shape dictates a ski’s stability – skis that are wide in the boot area provide more stability while making broader turns than those that are narrow in this area, providing for faster, sharper turns. The two factors that make up a ski’s stiffness are the material it is made from and it’s shape.

Longer ones are usually stiffer than short ones and are more stable at high speeds. The less stiff shorter skis offer greater maneuverability which is seen a benefit to beginners.

The last point to remember is that you shouldn’t invest in skis until you know you will use them, so go skiing a couple of times before purchasing your own skis. Even if you’re sure you’ll be a regular skier, rent before buying because they’re not a cheap investment and you’ll want to be sure that you get the right type, length, shape and stiffness for your specific needs.

Psyched to ski, but are your legs ready? In this video, trainers at www.AspenSkiTravel.com demonstrate leg-toning exercises to prepare you as ski season 2008 gets started. Sign Up Today for our ski newsletter at www.AspenSkiTravel.com for more fun!
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Cross Country Skiing ? A Healthy Way to Get in Shape

Cross country skiing is one of the most all body workout there is. Cross country skiing is a great way to get out of the house during the long winter, and enjoy the great outdoors, while getting in shape. Nordic skiing also burns calories. With a moderate pace xc skiing can burn anywhere from 470 calories to 745 calories per hour. If you are racing then nordic skiing may burn anywhere from 900 to 1500 calories per hour. For average person burning 3500 calories will result in the loss of one pound of weight. So a couple hours a day of cross country skiing can shed those extra pounds fast! Many have used the nordic track one time in their life – the real thing is a lot more fun! This sport is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. You can enjoy the beauty of nature – mountain vistas, lakes, snow covered meadows all while experiencing a total body workout.

Nordic skiing uses the entire body – arms, legs, lungs – all your muscle groups! It is a cardiovascular sport – so it exercises your lungs as well.

Cross Country Skiing, also known as nordic skiing or xc skiing requires some basic equipment that one can either rent or purchase to enjoy this sport. For the recreational cross country skier looking to tour in their backyard or at a local cross country ski touring center, the beginner will need xc touring skis, boots, bindings and poles. Unlike alpine skiing, xc skis are attached to the binding at only the front of the foot, allowing the boot to flex as you are propelled forward. The cross country skis are narrower and lighter than their alpine cousin, and ski pole length is typically longer.

The sport of nordic skiing has two main techniques – classic and skate skiing.

The beginner wanting to tour out their back door generally begins with the classic method, which is what most people typically have seen, using the diagnol stride. Classic cross country skiing for the beginner is a bit like walking – only that you have snow under foot. The xc skis are propelled forward by putting the weight on one leg and pushing forward with the same leg. The poles swing opposite the skis. Classic cross country skiing depends upon keeping your knees and ankle flexible, keeping your weight over one ski at a time, and putting the heel down first on the forward ski so you can engage the “kick zone”. The kick zone is where the wax or fish scales are located. You want enough traction to propel yourself forward. At first ski touring may require a bit more balance, since the ski bindings are fairly flexible and the heel is not attached to the ski. With enough practice, cross country skiing becomes easy and will allow you to get away from the crowds and into some beautiful winter scenery. For the beginning cross country skiier, taking a cross country ski lesson is well worth it.

Most beginning xc skiers have a tendency to over dress. Nordic skiing is a cardiovasular sport and considerable energy is exerted. Dress in layers, so as you warm up as you are skiing you can shed the layers and remain comfortable throughout your ski. Skis and ski cloths can be purchase at our online store http://xcskistore.com.

http://xcskistore.com

More Getting In Shape For Skiing Articles

The Time To Get In Shape For Skiing Is Pre Ski Season

Article by Aaron Jochum

The ski season finally arrives and you just can[t wait to get out on the mountains. And, hopefully, you have been conditioning your body for the slopes. Because the right time to start your conditioning program is long before the ski season starts.

Professional athletes expend a lot of time and effort in pre season getting their bodies in shape for the upcoming season. And, while you may not be a professional athlete, you also want to get yourself into good enough shape so that you don’t incur any injuries once you are actually on the ski slopes. A large number municipal parks in all regions of the country have winter conditioning programs. You can can sign up at these and get conditioning tips and techniques to allow you enjoy the ski season with minimal injuries.

A great way to both have fun and keep in shape over the winter months is to participate in winter sports. But, to do so, you have to get into shape. If you don’t, you will be more susceptible to all kinds of sprains and injuries that can ruin your enjoyment.

A great number of the injuries and accidents that happen on the ski slopes is due to skiers hot-dogging and doing dangerous stunts. But, If you take these away, it turns out that the majority of injuries occur to people who are simply not in shape to go barrelling out of control down the mountain. This is why you see so many weekend skiers coming down with knee sprains, stomach pulls, hamstring injuries, muscle cramps, and so on.

Once you start your off season training, you should mainly focus on two types. One is general fitness training. The second is training specifically geared towards your skiing muscles. In skiing, the leg muscles are the ones that you use the most. So your off season training should include plenty of fitness routines to both strengthen and give flexibility to the muscles of your legs and thighs.

If you don’t have an exercise machine, a really fantastic exercise to improve the flexibility of your legs is the calf stretch. Otherwise, there are quite a number of exercise machines on the market that can be configured to both strengthen your calves as well as stretch them. These exercises will get you in shape for the twists and turns that you will be making on the ski runs.

One of the main parts of your general fitness routines should be to encompass at least one activity that will really get your heart rate going. As an example, an exercise such as jogging or skipping rope can quickly get you into skiing shape. The functionality of general exercises is to simply condition the body so it doesn’t easily get winded. These exercises also serve to build up your heart and lung capacities so that, once you get onto the slopes, you aren’t constantly getting out of breath.

Even though no one really disputes the intelligence of working to get yourself into skiing shape before the ski season, you shouldn’t try to jump into your new exercise program too rapidly. This is especially true if you have been a couch potato for most of the preceding months. And, before you implement any new and strenuous training program, as always, check with your physician.

Find More Getting In Shape For Skiing Articles