Skiing For Beginners

By Sydney Garrison

Skiing can be a fun and exciting sport. But, for the beginner in can be downright frightening. Knowing what to expect before hitting the slopes is the best way to calm your fears and ensure that you have a safe and fulfilling experience.

The three things to keep in mind when starting out are the ski slopes themselves (where will you go skiing), the equipment you will need, and the instruction that you will receive. There are ski resorts throughout the country which have slopes ranging from beginner to extremely difficult. Whether you are looking to stick close to home, or to take a skiing vacation, the internet can be your best resource. First, you will need to narrow down how far you would like to travel from your home and how much money you have to spend. When planning your trip, keep in mind that skiing will engage muscles that you never knew you had. You may not want to plan a week-long vacation for your first time (unless there are other activities that you will do on your vacation). Once you have narrowed down the general area, check online (or with a travel agent) to see where the best slopes are and find out how much it will cost to ski there. You can usually get deals for multiple days and discounts if you are traveling with a large group. You can also find packages that include your equipment and instruction as well as lift passes. This is all depends on your requirements.

Your equipment is the next important issue to discuss. You are going to need certain things which you could buy, but renting is more practical for the skier just starting out. You may turn out to hate the sport (though I doubt it) so buying equipment before trying it out may not be wise. Boots, skis, poles and goggles can be rented from the ski resort or you may be able to find them cheaper at a local sporting goods store. Many of these stores do offer rentals, but you will then have to carry your gear with you. Clothing is very important as you will be in extremely cold weather while skiing. You may want to invest in a pair of snow pants or other waterproof bottoms (a great deal of your learning will be spent falling on your butt), dress in layers and make sure that you have gloves and something to protect your face from the freezing winds. You may want to wear a few layers of socks as well to keep your feet as warm as possible.

The last thing you will need to decide on is your instruction. You could teach yourself how to ski, but since you don't actually know how, that is not advisable. If you have a good (and patient) friend who is willing to teach you, this is a much cheaper option. However, keep in mind that they may not know everything there is to know, and just because they are a good skier doesn't mean they will be a good teacher. Your best option, would be to take private or class instruction at the ski resort (this will depend on your budget, though private would be ideal). A certified ski instructor will be able to teach you the skills necessary to stay safe out there and can ensure that you have the best time possible (after all, it's not much fun if you break a leg in the first fifteen minutes).

Where ever you decide to ski, have a great time, this is an experience you won't soon forget!

Sydney Garrison is an avid cyclist and sports enthusiast. She is also a partner in an online bike rack store.

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For more information on Skiing for Beginners, see www.bestskisource.com.

Skiing in Washington State on Crystal Mountain

By Kerry Devere

There are many reasons to visit Washington State but for the winter sports enthusiast what better reason could there be than to visit the challenging ski resort of Crystal Mountain? During the winter months Crystal Mountain is ideally placed to provide snow-capped peaks of over 7,000 feet, standing proud below the towering Mount Rainier which climbs to over 14,000 feet.

The months of November to April bring several feet of fresh powder snow to Crystal Mountain, this being a reliable happening thanks to the cold Cascade storms common to this area. This factor alone makes a compelling reason to visit this first class Washington State ski area.

There are breathtaking views of Mount Rainier from the summit of Crystal Mountain. The area positively bulges with 2,300 acres of fabulous skiing and here you will find every kind of skiing you can imagine, making this the largest ski area in the state of Washington.

Of particular appeal to advanced and intermediate skiers who will enjoy 87% of all runs, there are some 7 runs for beginners which amounts to a generous variety for all levels. Intermediates are best catered for with 57% of all runs and of all the runs the very longest is called Northway and stretches for 2.5 miles or 4km.

With a definite bias in the distribution of trails towards the more experienced skier, lift capacity runs at 20,000 per hour. There are 2 high speed quads, 2 high speed sixes, 2 triple chairs, 4 double chairs and a surface lift for children. Despite leaning towards the more experienced skier, lessons are available and it is possible to rent skis and other equipment as required. This is also useful in the event of losses and breakages.

There is a Kids Club that is open from 8am to 4pm each day for children aged four to eleven years old. They will be well looked after while the experts in the family explore the remainder of the resort and experience the thrill of skiing the black diamond runs. The Kids Club supervises skiing on the appropriate slopes for their charges and there is also snowboarding available for children aged 7 - 11 years old. Children will learn while having fun and being supervised on the slopes while the remainder of the party can enjoy the challenging terrain that this Washington ski resort offers.

For those who enjoy back country skiing, Crystal Mountain has two back country areas which can only be reached by hiking. This is extreme and unforgiving terrain and the ski patrol has specific rules for those looking to ski in these areas. Covered mainly in thick woodland, North Backcountry does have some trails which have been cut through the trees.

The season runs from the middle of November to the middle of April, when the best snow fall is experienced. There are many places to choose for lodging, meals and evening entertainment. After a day of skiing, you should definitely head over to East Peak Massage & Fitness to take advantage of the hot tub, sauna, showers and even the games room. Massages are available with a reservation. In the summer of 2004, Crystal built the Campbell Basin Lodge, a Cascade-style lodge serving pasta, pizza, soups, teriyaki, burgers, salads, Mexican food and more.

For a superb vacation skiing in Washington State this is a great place for the family. Everyone can have a great experience at Crystal Mountain, even though the slopes are more for intermediate and expert skiers. Novice skiers can have fun as well as long as careful attention is paid to the grade of slope attempted.

Kerry Devere is a great fan of holidays in the mountains and in particular thrashing the red runs. Before you plan your next ski safari, read more of her ski destination reviews.

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For more information on Ski Holidays, see www.bestskisource.com.

Guide to Skiing - Learning to Ski

By Mark Thomas Walters

In this installment of our guide to skiing we look at learning to ski...

Standing up, turning, and stopping, are the three basic skills you will need to master if you want to ski.

Start by standing, placing your feet even with the width of your shoulders and making your feet "pigeon-toed" with the tips of your skis pointing inward and forming a "V" - this is called a 'snow plough.' The following three steps are next - (1) create a more stable stance by slightly bending your knees; (2) increase your balance by spreading your arms out widely; and (3) help your turning and stopping by leaning forward.

Moving forward / down is no problem as your skis will automatically do so on even the slightest slope. To go faster, make the triangle / V shape of your skis smaller at the back (i.e. move your heels closer together) and, to slow down or stop, turn your toes more inwards and push your heels further apart. Doing the latter will work on small slopes, but for steeper slopes, to slow down or stop you'll need to gradually turn your skis so they face horizontally across the slope, instead of vertically down it.

Turning is really not much more complicated than moving forward on skis (simply point your skis in the direction you want them to take you), except that it will require that you find your comfort zone with balance and timing before you will be able to do it well.

For sharper turns, you'll need to move your weight from foot to foot (i.e. to turn sharply to the right, put more weight on your left foot and, to turn sharply to the left, put more weight on your right foot) as well as pointing your skis in the direction that you want to go. You will master sharp turns more quickly if you will remember to move nothing but your feet while turning, as moving body parts like your arms and shoulders is not necessary and can decrease your focus on the body part that's actually effecting the turn.

Want to know more? Click here to continue reading our guide to skiing: Learn To Ski ----------------------------------------------- For more information on Learning to Ski, see www.bestskisource.com.

Cross Country Skiing Provides a Fun Workout

By Gerald Fitz

Have you been using an elliptical machine and ever thought how they developed it? One of the major influences on the designers of the first elliptical machines was the Nordic sport of cross country skiing. The great element that the designers took from cross country skiing is the continuous non-impact movement of the skiers. The first elliptical machines actually were just lower body, but after people wanted a complete full body workout they added the hand bars that act in the same way as a cross country ski pole.

A person that is looking for a good workout in the winter should consider getting off the elliptical machine and getting on a pair of cross country skis. The sport isn't as difficult to pick up as downhill skiing or snowboarding. It also doesn't cost as much as the other sports that rely on the hill and gravity to provide you with the momentum to go. With cross country skiing all that is required are a pair of skis and a path to follow that is packed with snow. Really cross country skiing is a fun way of going hiking in the winter time. Sure you could get a pair of snow shoes, but gliding across the snow is much more efficient and rewarding. There are many areas in the winter time that you can only get to with either cross country skis or snow shoes. Yet, people don't take advantage of these items to see wonderful landscapes and winter sites.

Cross country skiing is also a challenging workout, which like an elliptical machine, isn't as strenuous as running or riding a bike. During the summer a great way to prepare for cross country skiing is to use an elliptical machine, and to increase the amount of time you spend on building the muscles in your legs. Powerful leg muscles will help to propel you across the snow in the winter. In addition the less you weigh the easier it will be to move across the snow.

Adding protein to your diet is a great way to help your body to create new lean muscle. Lean muscle is great for helping you to lose weight, and for you to get an edge when you are participating in sports like cross country skiing. It takes a lot of calories for your body to create and to maintain lean muscle; which means that when you have lean muscle even when you are idle you are still burning fat. Protein is the building block that your body uses to create lean muscle.

A person that is actively training should get at least half their body weight in grams of protein per day in their diet. That is difficult to do with conventional forms of protein, like meat and eggs. The best way to add protein is to use a whey protein supplement. Whey protein is easy on your body's system, and won't cause any major negative side effects, like indigestion. Whey protein is also easier for your body to metabolize and to use more efficiently. Meaning that you are able to get better results compared with using soy based proteins. When purchasing whey protein it is important to look for whey protein isolates. Whey protein isolates contain 90% pure protein and don't have the fats and carbohydrates that other supplements contain.

If you are sick of looking at the same thing every time that you get onto the elliptical machine, then it is time for you to find a pair of cross country skis and to see what winter has to offer. It is a great workout, and you will find a hobby that will last the rest of your life.

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For mor information on Cross Country Skiing, see www.bestskisource.com.