One of my favorite winter activities is going skiing. It’s a rush of adrenaline and endorphins and a great way to spend time with my friends or family while still having plenty of fun. Plus, when you’re done for the day, it’s a great opportunity to curl up in front of a fireplace and get cozy!
Like most sports and hobbies, there is certain equipment or gear that you should probably invest in if you’re getting serious about it. You see, having the proper protective clothing can help prevent serious injuries or even something like frostbite. While we can know what skiing is on a definitional level, that doesn’t mean we have a true understanding of what is involved.
Getting Started
There are some things that you should keep in mind as you’re going to start this hobby. For one thing, different types of skiing exist, so decide what you want to start with. The one most people know is alpine, so that’s what I’ll focus on today.
This is when you use skis to slide down a hill that is covered in snow. It’s fairly popular all around the world, but mostly in colder areas since it is expensive to make the artificial slopes, not to mention difficult to maintain. Many towns in mountainous regions have tourism that relies upon the popularity of this sport.
The first thing you’ll probably want to do is pick a location. This will depend on how far you are willing to travel and what difficulty of slope you want to attempt. Beginners should certainly start off easy to prevent getting seriously injured. It’s something that takes practice.
Safety First!
Anyone who does this recreationally should be especially cognizant of keeping ourselves safe. This might involve something like outlined here, https://www.skicanada.org/ready/what-is-skiing/, but there are some other things to remember.
Some of the most common injuries that can occur are bruised or broken bones. This tends to happen on our wrists, or anywhere on our heads, face, or knees. So, we should prioritize covering those parts of our bodies with extra padding. Obviously, you should always wear a good helmet like the ones from Oakley helmets. There is no excuse not to.
Without one, your risk of getting a traumatic brain injury is much higher. When serious accidents do occur on the slope, this is usually the result. It could even end in death, so take it from me – value your life and wear protective headgear.
You should also get goggles, boots that are fitted to you properly, so they aren’t easily dislodged, and sunscreen. The latter might seem strange considering that you’re going out into the snow, however, there being snow on the ground doesn’t stop the sun from shining and UV rays from affecting us!
In this vein, something you may want to do is select protective clothing. This could be something like ski clothes men, with jackets or sweaters that are warm and can provide you with insulation. Don’t jeopardize yourself or risk getting frostbite by not having warm enough coverings.
Additionally, pay attention to all rules and regulations of the park you are at. It’s a good idea to take someone with you, be it a friend or family member, in the unlikely case of something go wrong. Stick to slopes that meet your own ski level – don’t try to go for something difficult right away.
Even if you’re an expert, getting a warmup on a lower difficulty trail might be helpful. We shouldn’t endanger ourselves willy-nilly, after all. Be safe, follow the rules, and don’t stray off the trail provided. Doing so just invites trouble.
You may even want to consider getting lessons. Sure, they might seem expensive or not worth it, but usually they are. They can even help you with understanding how to prepare your gear beforehand. Things like tightening our boots or bindings might seem obvious to some, but the learning curve can be steep to others.
Never be ashamed or afraid to ask for assistance. On most slopes, skiers are meant to stop and offer aid to anyone who is injured on a trail, so you’ll usually be quite safe. Don’t be afraid to get out there and explore just because there are some dangers involved.
As long as you get ready correctly and have safe, warm clothing along with a helmet, goggles, and any other necessary garments, you’ll probably be fine. Take the opportunity to schedule a trip with your loved ones and get ready to enjoy a fun vacation without it being too hot!
It’s a hobby and sport that is worth trying out, at the very least. Don’t leave it for your bucket list. Once you have the right gear, you’re set to go out and enjoy yourself out on the ski slope! Just make sure to warm up afterwards!
