Time For A Winter Ski Vacation
Often the winter season causes us to need a break from work and school. A ski vacation or even day trip is an excellent way to get away and have that needed break. Good planning is necessary to get the most out of the trip.
While many live within a few hours’ drive of the nearest ski resort and are able to take a day trip, others have to get their skiing done in an extended trip. In either case, you have to have the correct equipment, or your trip can become quite miserable.
The importance of protecting your head while skiing cannot be overemphasized enough. A Giro ski helmet or other approved ski helmet will protect your head if an accident occurs. You do not want this time of fun to turn into a tragedy with a serious brain injury or death.
When you are out on the slopes and enjoying yourself, it is easy to lose track of time. This is especially true on overcast days when fresh snow is falling and the sun is hidden behind the clouds. You may want to be sure you pack your waterproof black sport watch. The sport watch is able to stand the cold weather, moisture and shock that are all a part of skiing.
When the day on the slopes is over and you are ready for a night on the town, you will appreciate the fact that you packed your brown boots. You will not have wet feet from all the melted snow. In addition, you can keep your feet warm in the coldest of conditions. If you have a boot drier available, be sure that you keep your boots on in for the night.
Skiing calls for plenty of warm waterproof clothing. These will help keep you both warm and dry each day. Nylon jackets and ski bibs repel the moisture of the snow and can easily be dried overnight so they are ready for the next day.
Before leaving for the trip, you will want to have your skis serviced at your local ski shop. Take the time to get to know the personnel there and you will probably have the service done at a lower price than it would be at the resort. In addition, you will not spend majority of the trip with your skis in the shop.
If you suffer from seasonal depression, a winter ski trip may help you through the difficult days of winter. There are often bright sunny days on the slopes. The exercise of skiing may jump start your body to help you deal with the long nights and short days.
The Rise of The Snowbike
There has been a winter sport that has been brewing under the surface for a few years now, and is set to explode on the scene properly this season.The sport of snowbiking takes place on a normal piste and involves traveling down the mountainside on a modified push-bike. The idea was conceived over 50 years ago, but people found that using a conventional bike was ineffective and rather dangerous. Over the years many snowboard and ski enthusiasts have been working on newer designs in the hope of discovering something that worked. After years of trial and error, and a few accidents, a snowbike design was finally conceived that was both functional and practical.
The best snowbike on the market is produced by a Canadian company, and they are so confident that the sport will be a huge hit, that they are arranging the first even world championship for 2010. Rather than being built for tricks or jumps, snowbikes are normally purpose-built for control and carving ability. This will be reflected in the world championship events that will be based around slalom and speed competitions. Unsurprisingly, the best snowbikes available today take heavy influence from powered snowmobiles. They are lower to the ground than normal bikes and have a blade at the front of the bike attached to the steering column. This gives the rider much better steering control, but only one blade is needed as snowbikes are a lot lighter and do not travel as fast as snowmobiles.
Snowbike manufactures admit that snowbiking is not the easiest of extreme sports to master, but that it is well worth putting in the hours to master. Apparently learning how to snowbike shares similarities with learning to ride normal mountain bikes. The learning curve is pretty steep, but when you got the hours of practice under your belt, its not something that you’ll ever forgot how to do. You can get the snowbikes in a variety of sizes, including smaller bikes for children. There are also multiple extras now, such as stabilisers, headlights and even horns.
Given the nature of many daredevil snowboarders and skiers, it is likely that some will attempted the most difficult mountain runs on the snowbikes without much practice, something not advised by snowbike manufactures or ski resort owners. Snowbikes are much harder to stop than snowboards or skis, and if you haven’t mastered the technique you will not only be risking your own safety, but you may be endangering the safety of other winter sports enthusiasts also.
Certain American ski resorts in fact have prohibited snowbikers on their slopes until more is known about the safety of the things. The majority of locations however are understanding to snowbikers, but still suggest that everyone is careful until we know just how safe they are. Whatever resorts think of the bikes, with a reported 30,000 snowbikers worldwide, this one seems like a trend that is going to stick (or slide as the case may be).
Don’t Become a Winter Sports Accident Statistic
Now is the season when many people head for the snowy slopes for some winter sports fun. Skiing and snowboarding have never been more popular but many people seem oblivious to the dangers that these sports can present.
The rates of accidents for skiers and snowboarders are about the same. Many have said that reckless behaviour is the main cause of many collision related accidents. And reckless behaviour is not specific to either skiers or snowboarders. Both skiers and snowboarders are equally responsible for reckless behaviour that puts others at risk.
Damage to the knees is by far the most common form of skier and snowboarder injury that occurs as a result of collisions. Every year there is a catalogue of injuries arising from the ski and snowboard slopes including serious incidents resulting in brain damage, paralysis and even death.
Here’s a brief look at the most common accidents that take place on the slopes each new season.
Collisions.
There is a skier responsibility code that snowboarders and skiers should be aware of as this indicates that people further down the slope always have right of way. Avoiding them is your responsibility. There are always people on the slopes who are oblivious to the code of skier responsibility or how to avoid collisions.
Collisions can result in minor injuries but, unfortunately, are often very serious with head to head contact resulting in broken noses, teeth knocked out and even fractured skulls. The most common injury on the slopes as a result of collisions is damage to the legs.
And collisions are not only between people. Snowboarders and skiers often run into stationary objects like trees, buildings and maintenance vehicles. A collision with a stationary object when skiing or snowboarding at speed can be particularly serious.
Falling.
Falling over is all part of what skiing and snowboarding are about. But falling is another way that many skiers damage their knees.
Avalanches.
Luckily very few recreational skiers ever encounter an avalanche. As long as you stay within the designated skiing areas you should be safe.
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If you are headed for some winters sports fun this season make certain that you have some good ski insurance or adventure travel insurance that will cover you in the event that you suffer injury on the slopes. Travel insurance should be at the top of your travel essentials list wherever you are going.