Season Ski Passes
With ski season soon upon us, finding the best season pass is a high priority for many avid skiers. The objective of this research is to provide access to the web resources that can be of most worth to those who are seeking to find the best deal. Because each ski resort has different advantages relative to the preferences of the individual skier or snowboarder, one must first know what they are looking for in a resort. Each resort may have different season pass options depending on what they offer. Someone looking to buy a season pass at a certain resort should visit the resort’s web page to learn about that resort and what types of passes they offer. In areas where many resort options are available, there are often web sites and ski magazines that review and rank different resorts and that can provide valuable background information.
Some factors to consider in choosing a season ski pass include:
- price of the overall season pass
- pass price in relation to the price of one day of skiing and the number of times you plan to ski (if your chosen resort costs $50 dollars per day, but a season pass is available for only $150, and if you plan to ski more than 3 times, the investment is well worth it)
- location of the resort (no matter how cheap, it may not be worth it to have a cheap season pass if the resort is too far away to conveniently ski there)
- qualities of the individual resort (does it meet your needs as a skier or snowboarder. Do the terrain and the amenities match your needs and interests?)
- Location
- Availability of discounts. (Many ski resorts offer a form of price discrimination discounts for students and seniors)
- Restrictions on season passes (different prices may have blackout dates associated with them, such as holidays, when the season pass may not be used. Such passes are usually less expensive than a pass with no restrictions). Also, season passes usually are non-transferable. Those who buy the pass are the only ones who can use it.
- Other multi-ticket options such as 2, 3, or 10-day options and so forth (buy 10 days at a lower price and so on). These types of tickets are usually transferable and may apply to a consecutive length of time or may let you choose which days throughout the season you would like to ski.
- Ski vacation package options. Many resorts and many independent firms offer ski package options. If you plan to take a ski trip, check to see what discounted package options might be available.
Top Online Resources:
- Ski Net
- About.com: Skiing
- Utah Skiing - The best ski, snowboard, and mountain resort guide since 1994
Ski and Snowboard Equipment
When it comes to purchasing ski and snowboard equipment there are many factors that you need to take into consideration when finding the right snowboard or ski.
Snowboards are winter forms of a surfboard or skateboard. The snowboard is large than a skateboard, but the way you ride them are similar. Snowboards range in size from 140 – 165 cm in length and an estimated width of 25 cm. They are constructed for many different body types, sizes, and riding preferences. They are made of laminated wood core and steel edges. There are a variety of types of boards depending on the kind of riding you prefer. These types include: Racing/Alpine, Freeride, Freestyle, Freestyle (rails), All- Mountain, Swallow-Trail, Split, Fish Shape, and Magne- Traction. If you are looking for an all around good board the All- Mountain is the best choice. The style of board you choose all depends on the type of riding you want to pursue. The main ways that boards differ are in the length; width; sidecut which is the edges of the board that are symmetrically curved concavely, so that the width at the tip and tail is greater than the center and this curve aids turning and affects the board's handling; flex which is the flexibility of a snowboard that affects its handling, typically varies with the rider's weight and usually a softer flex makes turning easier while a harder flex makes the board more stable at high speed; and tail/nose width. When looking at brands to choose from the top rated ones include Burton, Salomon, K2, Rome, GNU/ Lib Tech, Never Summer, and Forum. After deciding what style board you want it is time to choose bindings and boots. There are a few types of bindings. These include: Strap in, Step in, Rear Entry, High Back and Plate. The boot’s primary function is to transfer the rider's energy into the board, protect the rider with support, and keep the rider's feet warm. When looking for boots you want a good fit, flex, and whether you like the look of them. The design and color also are big factors in deciding what board you want. You have to like the look of your board. The board is a way that you show your personality and style.
Skis are made from a complex assembly of components including glass fiber, kevlar, titanium, other polymers or composite materials, though many may still contain wooden cores. Most skis are long and thin, pointed and curved upwards at the front to prevent the ski from digging into the snow. You are attached by bindings which hold the ski boots. Currently you can get integrated binding systems which are the ski boots and bindings combined. This system allows the rider to use a railroad track style design, to allow the toe and heel pieces to slide, which in turn allows the ski to flex deeply, without a flat spot underfoot, caused by the presence of a binding and it forces the consumer to purchase both skis and bindings from the same manufacturer, increasing sales. So when considering whether you want an integrated binding system or separate bindings and ski boots all depends on your preference. There are many styles of skis to consider when in the market. These styles include: Alpine Ski, Twin-tip Ski, Alpine touring ski, Monoski, Telemark ski, Cross-country ski, Backcountry ski, Mogul ski, and Ski jumping ski.
When looking at the market for the snowboard or skis that you want, you need to have an idea of the type of skiing or snowboarding you want to do before you make your final decision. Choosing the styles you want all depends on the type of person you are. It is all about preference when it comes to purchasing snowboards and skis. This is a type of purchase that you decide for yourself what you like and don’t like. It is all about you and your comfort. Don’t let sales men decide what you like or what is more comfortable. You make the final decision because you are the one using the product not the sales men.
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Skis
Many things are important to consider in contemplating purchasing downhill skis. There are so many kinds of skis designed for different types of skiing styles and surfaces, plus there are different materials that skis are made of for different purposes.
A purchaser should first consider if they want versatile skis that can handle different situations, or if they want top of the line skis for a single discipline. The second thing to consider is skill level-buy slightly higher than current level. Next you must decide on ski length and shape, and after that it's all in the price!
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