Ski Boot Heaven

By Frank Stuart

Here's an article to start your ski season off early about ski bootsand how to get them fitted properly.

Of all the equipment skiing requires ski boots may be the most important. Once you own the right pair of ski boots even an old pair of skis will act totally different (better behaved). The other important issue here is that if your boots don't fit correctly you can reach a whole new level of being miserable and quickly. One last thing, if you travel, it's a lot easier to put your boots in a boot bag and haul them along than adding a pair of skis to the luggage. If you are an advanced skier (and you probably are if you're taking your boots with you :} ) it's an easy thing to rent demo skis at any area. Demo skis are advanced models and cost a little more but are worth a few extra bucks.

Back to boots... here are a few tips that might help. Ski boot shells... the actual hard shell or outer boot... only come in whole sizes. So a 91/2 is actually a 9 shell. The difference is made up in the liner and the insole. As a result you should be sure you are up as far as you can in the fit as is possible. In my boots for example, I am nearly touching the front of the boot when I stand on a flat surface. When my skis are on I am forward enough to bring my foot back off the front of the boot. Now you may not want to push your fit that far and go for the extra ½ size, just understand that the more the boot isolates lateral movement in your foot, the more it is doing it's job.

Boots made the transition from leather to plastic in the late 60"s, with Lange leading the way. As hard as it was you could break in leather but unless you are a very hard skier, you won't really break in plastic shells. What you will break in is the flow in the liner of the boot. Flow is a high density foam that usually molds to your foot pretty well. If your boot shop doesn't do it for you, take your new boots and heat them with a hairdryer... don't burn them you should be able to put your hand inside to check without burning it. When the liner is good and warm strap, 'em on and simply walk around for 15 minutes with them on. Keep moving so the flow allows for the movement of your feet. You will end up with an immediate fit that otherwise would have taken a day or so of possibly uncomfortable skiing while the warmth of your foot broke down the foam.

As a last thought, all of us walk a little bowed out or in with our stance. This is known as pronation or supination. The effect on your skiing is that the ski does not lay flat but rather rides up on it's edge which in turn can cause you all sorts of issues you don't want. Talk to your ski shop about ways to correct your stance with inserts and your skiing will improve dramatically.

Have a great season!

Click here to learn more vital strategies to keep you safe on the slopes this year http://www.ski-safely.com ------------------------------------------- For more information and articles on Skiing, see www.bestskisource.com.

Going Skiing? Picking the Clothes to Make Your Ski Day Enjoyable

By Andrew Bicknell

No matter your level of skiing experience wearing the proper ski clothing is important to your overall enjoyment. Being wet, cold, and miserable will take the fun out of what can be a very fun recreational sport. You want to stay warm and dry while being comfortable at the same time. Fortunately this is easy to do if you use the proper skiing clothes and equipment.

Let's start at the top and work our way down. Either a good hat or helmet is a definite must. You will loose more heat through the top of your head then anywhere else on your body. This is particularly true when skiing first thing in the morning. As the day where's on it may warm up enough that you can just put your hat in a pocket.

A good pair of ski goggles or sun glasses is also something that you can't go without. Protecting your eyes from the wind, blowing snow, and the intense rays of the sun reflecting off the snow is very important. Goggles will also make it easier to see the terrain which can translate into better overall skiing performance.

Next you need to keep your body warm and dry. Start with a base layer of moisture wicking fabric like silk or micro-knitted fleece. This will keep any perspiration away from your body which is key to remaining warm and comfortable. Over this base layer you can add another layer such as a lightweight fleece shirt or jacket or ski vest. This is the main insulating layer so it pays to choose it wisely.

Over your base layers you will need a ski jacket. Your ski jacket protects you against the element; wind, cold, snow, and water. Choose one that offers the option of a zip-in liner which can further help you adjust your layering needs depending on weather and temperature conditions.

Your gloves or mittens should be waterproof and fit loosely enough to allow good blood circulation to your fingers, while at the same time you need to be able to have a good grip on your ski poles.

For your legs you will want a good set of waterproof/windproof ski pants or bibs. Under this you will want an insulating layer to stay warm. Fleece pants or heavy polypropylene long underwear are both good choices. They will need to fit snuggly over your ski boots to keep the snow out but still be loose enough to give you complete freedom of movement.

For your feet a pair of ski socks is a must. They should be stretchy and conform to the shape of your foot without being overly tight. You do not want to constrict the blood flow to your toes because once they get cold they are hard to warm back up. Ski socks should also be made of wicking material to keep moisture away from your skin.

Choosing the proper ski clothes will go a long ways towards your ultimate enjoyment of your day on the slopes. Being cold and wet is no fun and can be avoided if you take the time to outfit yourself with the right kind of clothing.

There is no better choice then a North Face Womens Jacket when it comes to skiing warmth and comfort. To learn more about North Face Womens Jacket please Click Here.

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Ski Helmets

By Mark Kempster

Ski Helmets are becoming the norm for most skiers on the slopes. A few years ago the only people that had a ski helmet on were those you might have regarded as the more extreme or off-piste skiers. Now it is quite the norm to wear a helmet whilst skiing or snowboarding.

A helmet will protect your head from most falls or collisions with other skiers or obstacles. Your head and ultimately your brain are the most important parts of your body to consider protecting from an injury. Damage to your head or brain can have serious injury implications, which in some case can be terminal. Not wearing a helmet while skiing can have some serious effects on your health should you be involved in even the slightest accident and hit your head in some way. The sad death of Natasha Richardson earlier this year is a grim reminder that not wearing a helmet really can have terminal consequences. There are many factors surrounding her death including the length of time it took for her to receive treatment but one thing is for sure, and that is had she been wearing a helmet, the damage to her head and ultimately her brain may not have been so severe. Natasha Richardson is not the only high profile person to die from a head related injury on the slopes. Other well know people in recent years include Sonny Bono and Michael Kennedy.

A report from the US shows that over 7,000 head injuries in a season could have been prevented if a ski helmet was worn. The resort of Aspen has made it compulsory for the 09/10 ski season for all the employees working on the snow to wear a helmet and it is widely predicted that before long it will become compulsory in some places to wear a helmet. There is now plenty of evidence to show that wearing a helmet will reduce the injury that the head may sustain in a ski accident. There is no evidence to suggest that wearing a helmet reduces your vision or impairs your hearing in any way or makes you feel off balance.

Fortunately, helmet wearing is on the increase with latest figures showing that some 48% of adults now wear a helmet whilst skiing with a higher uptake in children and the over 65 age group. The days of wearing a helmet and feeling uncool are fortunately now gone. Wearing a helmet is regarded as the sensible option and amongst younger new entrants to the sport, is regarded in many cases as the norm.

Helmets come in all shapes, sizes and colours now and are made by most of the ski hardware manufacturers along with a number of companies that have made helmets for other sports such as cycling, skateboarding and blading. The design of helmets varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but purpose of the design is to protect the head from most sorts of ski accidents. Designs have now become quite stylish, helmets come in most colours, the most popular being black. Some helmets now have a visor integrated as part of it that will come up or down as required and negate the need for goggles.

Expect to pay around £80 - £100 for a good average helmet made by someone like Uvex who have a very extensive range of ski helmets for men, women and children. If you want top of the range, expect to pay up to £400 for a designer helmet made by a designer company. Companies like Poc make a good range of helmets that sit in the middle of the price range and again, offer all shapes, sizes and colours and some now with a fancy chin / face guard.

A good quality helmet will last many years, so think of the purchase of a helmet as an investment in your safe future.

Booking cheap holidays is not easy - you need to know where to begin! Once you understand the reasons cheapholidays exists it should be easy for you to find one! --------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information and articles on Ski Equipment, see www.bestskisource.com.