skiing questions
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Anonymous
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We are novice skiers but the past few years we have really enjoyed going to a local mountain with our kids, staying in a lodge and doing a "ski package" including lift tickets and ski rentals. This year we are thinking of spending a weekend at a friend's condo in the Poconos and driving to a nearby mountain to ski, which means we'd get lift tickets but nothing else through the mountain. We are thinking of renting our skis here before we go, to save money (instead of at the mountain). My question is how do I transport them - will they fit in the trunk of a car? Four sets of skis and poles - two adult, two child. We do have bars on the roof of our car which run parallel to the length of the car, but not the crossbars.
Also, I have a couple of questions re: how to dress. I know layers, but I'm wondering how many. I plan to pack LL Bean long underwear (top and bottoms) - can we just put ski pants on top of the long underwear, or should we put a pair of sweatpants on before the snow pants. Ditto on the top - long underwear, and then a fleece pullover and then jacket - do I need another layer? Thanks for all tips, how to dress and otherwise. |
Anonymous
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We are avid skiiers and have the cross bars as well as a car top carrier. I don't think the skis will fit in the trunk. We have a wagon where the seats fold down and we can fit our skiis in that way. We usually use the car top carrier. You might want to rent the skis and boots at the mountain and store them overnight there. I don't know how much cheaper renting equipment is down here.
Most important: RENT OR BUY HELMETS. We each have one and will not ski without them ever. As far as layers go here is what I wear, Hot Chilis brand long underwear, fleece pants and fleece top, waterproof jacket and waterproof pants. My jacket and pants are only a shell. They don't have insulation. We have neck gators, gloves (I prefer mittens) and goggles. You may want to adjust your second layer if your jacket and pants have some sort of insulation or you will get too hot. As it is, sometimes I get really warm but my jacket has zippers that can be opened to release heat. |
Montana
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| As per PP, rent helmets - the best ever, safest, and warmest. If your kids are cold, the skiing will be a disaster, for everyone. They gotta be warm. Buy hot chilis for each kid, as a base. Then add very good skik socks. The rest you already have: a light sweater/fleece, then coat. Yup, ski pants right on top of the hot chilis. Buy several hand/foot warmers also, in case a kid gets cold. Easy to stuff in your jacket. Neck gaiters only necessary if it gets really, really cold/windy. Renting down here will be cheaper, and less anxious versus doing it at mountain. |
Anonymous
| Go to the ski center in spring valley and they will set you up with the right skis and gear. |
Anonymous
| New PP here ,with a dumb question: does the helmet keep your head as warm as a hat? Do kids need hats under their helmets? |
Anonymous
yes; actually no, it's warmer than a hat nope. |
Anonymous
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First PP here. Helmets are warmer than hats and no you don't wear a hat under the helmet. On really cold days one might wear a balaclava but it doesn't sound like you are that hardcore to be out when its that cold.
I agree Ski Center is the best in the area but it doesn't sound like you have a car that can handle the ski equipment. Most skis are larger than standard trunks so if you don't have a fold down back seat there won't be enough room for the skis. That's why I suggested renting everything at the mountain. It will be pricer but if you can't transport the equipment, you will be out of luck anyway. If I misunderstand and you do have room in your car for the equipment, go to Ski Center. |
Anonymous
| Besdies being safe, the helmets stay on.. I can't stand when a kids hat falls off in the snow and then you have to shake it and try to put it on tuck in the hair etc. |
Anonymous
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Thin layers are better than bulky layers (no sweats). Agree with hot chilies although I have Patagonia wool long underwear. I just wear ski pants on top. For the top I wear a tneck, sweater and jacket. Gaiters are a must for me and are only about $8. Agee also on helmets. We all wear them. I really like mine. Comfortable and warm.
I don't think rentals are any cheaper here. it's probably cheaper to get a ticket/rental combo at the ski area anyway. Only downside is the wasted time. We have a ski rack but usually manage to fit skis in the car with a seat down. When we fly and rent a car we can usually fit them down the middle of a sedan. Kids skis should fit in the trunk. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for all of these replies. (Fyi, the follow up questions were not me.) Based on these replies, we'll just plan to rent skis at the mountain, since we don't have a roof rack, and possibly we can find a combo lift ticket/ski rental deal as a pp mentioned. Thanks also for the clothing tips. I've never heard of hot chilis, but next time we need new undergarments I will definitely check them out. This season we will all be wearing LL Bean "wicking" long underwear on top and bottom - with just ski pants over the bottom, and a t-neck, thin fleece and jacket over the top. (I don't get why people say to dress in layers, though - if you take off a layer while skiing, where do you do it, and where do you put the layer you took off?) We all own helmets and goggles - the first time we skied (a few yrs ago), we got talked into buying these, and our heads/faces stay much warmer with them on. I'm not sure what a gaiter is, but I'll look into that, too. Re: tip to get hand warmers, do you tuck them into your gloves while you ski? Thanks again everyone. Happy skiing this winter! |
Anonymous
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You take off your layer when you're waiting in line, and tie it around your waist, or you take it off when you stop for hot chocolate and stash it in a locker.
Or you leave the layers on but unzip the jacket so you can cool off. |
Anonymous
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Layers aren't so you can take them on and off (other than at lunch) but because layers trap warm air and keep you warmer. Gaiters are fleece neck warmers that you can pull over the bottom of your face.
You need to get to a ski shop just to see what's out there. |