Your Guide to Winter Tent Camping

How to Use Hot Hands to Stay Warm in a Tent

When it comes to surviving the cold in a tent, having a few tricks up your sleeve can make all the difference. Hot hands, those small packets of portable heat, can be incredibly useful in keeping you warm and comfortable during chilly nights in the great outdoors.

Understanding Hot Hands

Hot hands are small pouches that contain a mixture of iron powder, salt, activated carbon, and water. When exposed to air, these ingredients undergo an exothermic reaction, producing heat for several hours. They are commonly used as hand warmers, but their applications go far beyond just keeping your hands toasty. They can be found in most retail stores like Wal-Mart and they only cost around $1.38 for a 4 pack. 

Using Hot Hands in Your Tent

1. Preparation is Key: Before settling in for the night, activate a couple of hot hands by exposing them to air. Once activated, they can be placed inside your sleeping bag or around your body to provide continuous warmth.

How Long Does It Take to Learn to Snow Ski?

Understanding the Learning Curve

When embarking on the journey of learning to snow ski, many individuals wonder how long it will take to become proficient in this exhilarating winter sport. The timeline for learning to snow ski varies for each person and is influenced by several factors, including individual abilities, dedication to practice, and the quality of instruction. Understanding the learning curve and the elements that can impact progress can provide clarity for those venturing into the world of snow skiing.

Personal Factors

The time it takes to learn to snow ski is largely dependent on personal factors such as physical fitness, coordination, and previous experience with similar activities. Individuals who are physically fit and have a good sense of balance may find it easier to grasp the fundamentals of skiing compared to those who are less coordinated. Furthermore, individuals who have prior experience with activities such as ice skating or rollerblading may find it easier to adapt to the movements and balance required for snow skiing.

Maximizing Profits: How to Sell Your Used Skis and Snowboards

Understanding the Market

When it comes to selling used skis and snowboards, understanding the market is crucial. Consider the age, condition, and brand of your equipment. Are there any unique features that make your skis or snowboard stand out? Understanding the market will enable you to set a competitive price.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Before putting your used skis or snowboard up for sale, ensure they are in top condition. Clean off any dirt or grime, wax the base, and sharpen the edges. A well-maintained piece of equipment is more likely to attract potential buyers.

High-Quality Imagery

The impact of high-quality imagery cannot be overstated. Take clear, well-lit photos of your skis or snowboard from various angles. This will give potential buyers a detailed look at the item and increase the likelihood of a sale.

Are Toddlers Too Young to Ride a Snowboard?

One Year Old Masters a Snowboard

Snowboarding for Toddlers and Possible Risks.
There is some debate about what the appropriate age is to begin letting your child ride a snowboard. There really is no hard and fast rule; it depends on the kid.

The average age is around 7 years old when kids start really developing some core strength and coordination and have enough muscle mass yet to really control the board.
Toddlers can learn to snowboard, but it requires a lot of time and effort, and most likely private lessons to get them to stay on the board for any amount of time. It really depends on the individual youths physical development whether they are successful or not.

Best Clothes To Wear Snow Skiing

How to Dress for Snow Skiing.

Have you ever seen those images of the beautiful skiers standing on the slope in those fashionable ski clothes looking like they just stepped out of a page from a fashion magazine?
It sure seems glamorous, but there is more to dressing for a ski trip than simply getting noticed wearing the latest high dollar ski clothing with a designer label.

When the temperature is hovering around freezing the name of the game is to stay warm. I am not suggesting that great looking ski clothing isn't capable of keeping you warm. It most certainly can. But there are other measures you can take to keep yourself warm and comfortable while roaming about the slopes.

Let's take a look at some tips on dressing for skiing that will protect you from the elements without breaking the bank. I doubt that any of these suggestions will have the paparazzi tripping over themselves to take your picture but at least you'll be warm and comfortable.

Ski and Snowboard Graphics For Sports Fans

College Snowboard

College Logo on Skis - Why Not?

College Logos on Ski Equipment.
People love to show their team pride. Professional and College sports logos can be found on nearly everything that will hold ink or thread.
Team logos can be found on Shirts, Hats, Coffee Mugs and Bumper Stickers.  Heck, here in Virginia Beach there are more Virginia Tech T-Shirts and bumper stickers than folks wearing those cheesy shirts the tourists buy from the Oceanfront shops. 

But how about snow sports equipment. I have never seen a Snow Ski or Snowboard emblazoned with graphics of a Pro or College team. I see it as a potential Mother lode for someone willing to tap into this market.

Difference Between Snow Skiing and Water Skiing

Summer is here so I figured it was time to talk a little about Water Skiing.

I recently I talked about my first experience on snow skis. It involved a trip to Wintergreen Ski Resort with a bunch of my Greek friends who tried to convince me that there was very little difference between snow skiing and it's water counterpart.

My first journey on the slopes proved them otherwise, so I decided to explore if there was indeed any major distinctions between the two sports. My unprofessional study is based on my first snow ski trip versus my years of water skiing on the Warwick River in Newport News.

3 Reasons Snowboarders Have Better Skills Than Skiers

Common Characteristics of Skiers and Snowboarders.

There are different opinions about the relationship between skiing and snowboarding.

Some hardcore fans in these sports maintain that these are distinct and different from each other. Nevertheless, skiing and snowboarding share the same platforms and manner of execution, namely snowy slopes and downward acceleration.

Whether you are a first timer or a veteran skier or snowboarder, you must learn how to prepare physically and mentally before subjecting yourself to the unforgettable adrenaline rush that both sports offer.

This includes defending yourself against both unforeseen and avoidable injuries that can happen while speeding down the slope.

Why Ski Resorts Had Worst Season in 20 Years

Ski Resorts Had Worst Season in 20 Years.
Visitors to Ski resorts were lower than the previous year, but the sale of snow sport equipment and accessories actually increased. Based on the record number skis and snowboards sold, the economy had little impact on the snow sport industry.

Ski Resorts Suffered From Lack of Snow 

Least Amount of Snow in 20 years. The lack of snow resulted in ski resorts opening later and closing earlier. This was one of a few reasons for skier visitor counts being 10 million less than the previous year - the lowest level since the 1991-1992 ski season .

The 2011-2012 season had 51 million skier visits compared to 60.5 million the previous year, which was the highest ski visit count ever.  I don’t have any figures on the actual revenue generated from ski resorts, but will report that once it is compiled.

How to Appraise Used Skis and Snowboards

How Much are Used Skis and Snowboards Worth?
Snow sports are great fun, but the cost of new equipment and resort fees can put a dent in your wallet. Lots of skiers, particularly newcomers, save quite a bit of money by buying used skis.

If you plan to ski or snowboard only couple of times a year then used equipment might be a better option than renting or paying for new equipment.  If after a couple of trips to the resort, you decide you are meant to be on the slopes then you can always upgrade to new equipment.

Revew of Ski and Snowboard Cap With LED Glow Lights

Sport Cap With LED Lights

Ski Cap with Lights is a Cool New Product

I like this product. It's a Baseball Cap outfitted with a clear Blue LED plastic strip around the brim of the cap. 

It is a classic cotton baseball style cap that becomes an electrifying color when turned on. It would definitely help you get noticed on the slopes and act as a safety beacon for those who like to ski or snowboard at night. 

A search of the web resulted in only a couple of vendors where it can be bought in small quantities: a single hat or two. The price range is $12.95 to $19.95. There are also a number of vendors in China that carry the cap but they must be purchased in quantities of 50 or more units.

6 Important Steps to Become a Pro Snowboarder

How to Become a Pro Snowboarder
The road to becoming a Professional Snowboarder is not easy. You need to have something special. You need the drive and commitment to really want it. Personality and attitude can also play a key role. Here are some tips to get you started on your path to becoming a Pro Snowboarder.

Step One - Buy The Right Gear
You need the right equipment. The first thing you need to do is to educate yourself on the type of snowboarding gear that best suits your body type and riding style. Go to a snowboard shop and ask the staff to help you select the right board, snowboard boots, bindings, jacket, gloves and goggles.

Best Reasons to Use a Ski Instructor

The Worst Ski Lessons I Ever Had.
I'm sure everyone remembers the first time they slipped on a pair of skis and headed down the slopes. The prospect of learning a sport that all your friends bragged about was too tempting to resist any longer. After all, the travel channel made it look glamorous and easy. I wanted to be like the guy on TV.

How to Build a Chair From Old Skis or Snowboards

Chair From Recycled Skis

Give your old skis a new purpose in life by making a fancy chair out of used skis. Recycling used skis into a useful piece of art will be a constant reminder of the times you spent on the slopes. The technique is not that complicated if you have the right tools and a little imagination.

This article includes a step-by-step video on building your chair.  The final product is only limited by your creativity. Your design can incorporate used snowboards instead of skis.

If woodworking is not your cup of tea, there are companies who make furniture from used skis.  Among them are Vermont Ski Recyclers, Green Mountain Ski Furniture, SkiChair.com and The SnowSource General Store.  Prices start at around $300 for a ski chair with ottoman and can cost as much as $700 for loungers.

How to Put LED Lights On Skis and Snowboards

 Bad Prototype of a Lighted Snowboard

Skis and Snowboards With Lights

Has anyone ever seen someone skiing at night with long wave ultra violet lights attached to their skis or snowboard.

More specifically; an apparatus or lights that are attached directly to ski and snowboard equipment for the purpose of providing illumination.

I know it sounds crazy but with all the fancy graphics adorning snow equipment these days it would seem that someone would market a method to outfit snow equipment with LED lights similar to the ones you see on the undercarriage of some of the little Japanese cars that some of the younger generation drive.

Major Difference Between Women and Men Skis

The difference between Women and Men's skis may not seem like much at first glance. For starters, Women’s Skis are much lighter, which  makes it easier to maneuver with less power. And compared to the male versions, they come in shorter lengths. World Champion Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn competes on a pair of Head Skis and Boots.

Difference in Women and Men Skis

Men’s skis which are generally stiffer and heavier, while skis for women are lighter and flex easier which make it easier to ski down a hill or thrash back and forth due to the lighter weight of the skis. Another difference is that women's ski bindings are usually set a little farther forward on the ski to allow for the difference in the way men and women balance. There is also a certain amount of physics behind female skis that make them more in tune with the woman’s center of gravity which is typically set further back on the ski. Pushing the bindings forward a little compensates for that.

How to Ride a Scooter on a Ski Slope

Snow Scooter is a Snowboard with Handlebars

Snow Ski Scooters - The Next New Sport? 
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to ride the slopes on a scooter. Snow ski scooters are a form of adaptive skiing that allow people who are not adept at skiing or have a disability that hinders their abilty to ski on convential snow skis to enjoy winter sports.

Turns out there are companies that sell stand up scooters that allow you to glide through the snow while standing on what is a cross between a stand up scooter and a snowboard. 

Sand Skiing - How to Ski Without Snow

Extreme Skiing  - No Snow Needed

Is it Possible to Ski Without Snow?
Are you so in love with the slopes that winter flies by much speedy leaving you with ski withdrawal signs long before you are prepared to give it up?

In the event you cannot get of winter skiing, you might have an interest in a comparatively new phenomenon slowly sweeping the world - sand skiing.

No longer are you confined to the winter season. With sand skiing, you can not only enjoy your sport year round, you can enjoy it in very any place in the world.

What is Sand Skiing

It is basically one of the newest extreme sports that share many of the same benefits of snow skiing except for the fact you can do it year round, and the ski conditions and climate are somewhat different. From Palm Springs to the Dubai, it is the latest extreme craze.

Styles of Sand Skiing

There are two main types of sand skiing: cross-country and downhill,  both of which more or less mirror their snow ski counterparts. The downhill version involves finding a dune, hill, or mountain, climbing to the top of it and skiing down it.   It can be an experience of a lifetime, except for the part where you need to climb back up the hill.

Snowskates Are a Hybrid of a Skateboard and Snowboard

Snow Skates are Like a Skateboard on Snow
Today I was searching the internet for the latest model of skis and came across something I never knew existed. They are called Snowskates. Like most snow enthusiasts I have heard of Snowboards and Skis but have never seen these unique looking boards.

Turns out that Snowskates have been around for quite some time.  Not that I possess the balance or youthfulness to take my chances riding one of these down the slopes, but I still found them interesting enough to do some research and came up with the following:

A Snowskate appears to be a hybrid of a skateboard a snowboard, primarily designed to permit for skateboard-style tricks on the snow.  There are 4 predominate styles which are mentioned in this article and the colors and graphics come in a variety of choices.  Prices are in the $39 to $150 range.  The majority of users are in age range of 15 to 30 years old. 

Fastest Way to Learn to Snow Ski

Learn to Snow Ski in Less Than One Day
If you require to learn to snow ski quickly, you must first learn to walk - with the snow skis on! Best bet is to take a ski lesson so you can learn what is called "Stepping" from a professional ski instructor. There are fundamentals you'll learn in the coursework of your first day of ski instruction - stopping and turning.

By learning to parallel ski they align our body, and more specifically, our hips, over our feet and thus have more control of our skis. While you may be troubled to get down the mountain, keep the above fundamentals in mind & learn to walk in your skis first - this will help you learn faster and permit you to get down the slope without hurting yourself or someone else.