mdolla: 5 Hacks to Prepare for an Amazing Ski Trip

The upcoming ski season has many of us dreaming of the fresh powder days and beautiful bluebird ski moments to come. Skiing is arguably one of the most exciting things about the winter season, which will be arriving soon. If you’re used to skiing your local terrain, you’ve probably grown accustomed to riding on the resorts you’ve already explored in your area. Although this is fun for most of your ski days this season, it might be time to take one of your favorite winter pastimes on the road with a ski trip to explore new mountains and immerse yourself in different ski cultures.

Here are five hacks to help you prepare for an awesome ski trip in the 2016-2017 ski season.

1. Plan sufficiently

As you probably know, packing up your equipment and hauling it off to the resort of your choice is no easy feat. Add on the unique challenges of traveling, and the entire process gets even more difficult. However, if you play your cards right and plan correctly, you’ll find that the additional work is well-worth the incredible experience you’ll have taking your skiing to a new destination.

First, you’ll want to make sure you have all of your bases covered in terms of what equipment you’ll need to bring, how you should prepare for the weather, and what challenges you might need to plan for. Ski Utah offers a solid guide to help you navigate this portion of the planning.

As for identifying the right skiing destination, I’d recommend checking out some websites which offer lots of useful information such as snow levels and ski area features so you can make an informed decision. You can also check out this great guide on incredible places to ski.

2. Bring snacks

We all know that the cost of dining at a ski resort can get a bit out of hand. That’s why smart ski travelers bring their own snacks to munch on before, during, and after a day of skiing.

Bring nutritional items that are easy to store and won’t get smashed easily, like an apple. You can also add in some granola bars for healthy carbs throughout the day. For lunch, pack a sandwich and maybe even a little dark chocolate to satisfy sweet cravings.

3. Take self-care items

One of the major differences between skiing at home and skiing on a ski trip is that you will need to reenergize at the end of the day to make sure you’re ready to go again on the next day of your trip. This is where the importance of self-care comes in.

Significant forces are applied to the feet and then transferred through the ankles and knees as we ski and this stresses the limits of our anatomy. This is why it is important to take additional measures to take care of your joints on a ski trip where you’re planning to ski each day.

Bring an OTC pain reliever like ibuprofen or Aleve with you. Bring along a brace if you have a knee or ankle that often gives you trouble during a day of skiing. Practicing a little yoga prior to heading out for the day will also help you warm up your body and protect your joints. Here is a great guide with yoga poses all skiers should know.

4. Invest in the right equipment

Certain equipment is really worth the investment. For example, smartphone-friendly gloves are sure to come in handy when you’re out skiing on a cold day and waterproof base layers can be a real life saver on a wet, snowy day on the slopes.

Before you head out for your trip, check the weather to determine what gear you might need to accommodate it.

You might also want to consider additional equipment like boot covers and ski straps to help you haul your gear from Point A to Point B during your travels. Although you probably have a system in place for carrying your gear around at your local resort, it would be helpful to have a little assistance from the right equipment when you’re carrying your skis through the airport and around new resorts. Read this helpful guide for some suggestions on this kind of equipment if you’re not quite sure where to start.

5. Use the resort app (if they have one)

Before you head out on your trip, check to see if the resorts you plan to visit have an official app. If they do, download it! This will help you stay informed on conditions and provide you with a digital map of the resort that you can easily store in your pocket or bag. Some apps also allow you to check the wait time on each lift as you maneuver your way through each new resort.

Now that you’ve got an idea of what it takes to prepare for a successful ski trip away from home, it’s time to start planning! Hopefully, these tips will prove useful as you embark on your journey to new resorts and new ski cultures across the globe.

Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com

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