Shopping is an effective way to fill the time
And now we wait in earnest. It’s a holiday weekend and sadly, we won’t be skiing or snowboarding in the Inland Northwest this weekend. Lake Louise and Sunshine Village are the closest areas open and you can always hop a flight to Salt Lake City. The question remains, what should we be doing this weekend if we can’t go skiing?
If I can’t ski, I can at least go shopping for ski equipment. In honor of the official opening day of Shopping Season, rather than Ski Season, I asked Karl Boldt, Director of Winter operations at Lou Lou’s in Spokane to help demystify the gear display at your local ski shop
It seems as though ski gear gets more expensive each year with more bells and whistles. Are we being taken for a ride with all this new technology? Decidedly not, says Boldt. “I’m 55 years old and I used to run the ski school at Schweitzer when I was 27. I am a stronger skier now than I was at 27. I attribute it to the new gear.”
The parabolic skis have evolved since they first came out around 10 years ago or so. Skis have always had a shape to them — even the straight skis had a slight sidecut. The parabolics came out with a much more dramatic sidecut, making the turn much easier. While many were proclaiming this new technology a fad, many others were shredding runs and powder they have never before been able to conquer. The shape skis now have been perfected a bit further so they are not as wide in the tail as they are in the tip. The skier is able to flex the board easier into the turn, and the board withstands vibrations much better. Combine the new equipment technology with the latest in grooming and the high speed lifts, and we’re skiing better than ever before.
The big improvement this year with the skis is how the binding sits on the ski itself. Boldt noted that many of the ski manufacturers have worked with the binding manufacturers to enhance this system. Specifically Nordica has come up with a most unique system that has won awards with Popular Science. The underlying premise here is that the pressure from the skier is either further forward or further backward on the shape skis. The binding is set such that it can withstand that pressure and accommodate for it. The result is an enhanced turn, making it easier for the skier in slow and high speeds.
Before you buy your skis, there are a number of steps you are going to want to take. First, Boldt likes to talk to each individual and find out about their skiing ability. The three most important factors that come into play are how aggressive the skier is, how his/her ability is, and his/her tendency to stand on the skis. Do some research on your own. Now is the time of year that you’ll find gear guides in many of the outdoor and ski related publications, as well as online. Talk to the sales people at your favorite ski shop. You want to find a shop where they take the time to get to know your ski factors and take the time to understand your needs.
Should you demo the ski before you buy? Absolutely. Matching the skier with the right skis is critical and makes a night-and-day difference on the slopes. You’ll find demo days hosted by Lou Lou’s and many other ski shops and manufacturers listed on your favorite ski area’s websites.
As for other gift ideas, now that we are skiing better than ever and going into areas that maybe we haven’t ventured into in the past, like the trees and the powder, how about some noggin protection? The fashion-minded don’t care for them, but the brain-minded wisely do. So think about it.
Snow Watch
The Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association has announced the launch of a new marketing consortium of the Washington State Ski areas — called Ski Washington — complete with two new websites: www.skiwashington.com and www.ridewashington.com.
Likewise, the Idaho Tourism Council has launched a new winter website that is still being updated — www.idahowinter.org. As always, www.ski-inlandnorthwest.com is your local resource.
Late breaking news
Selkirk Powder Company will be running snowmobile tours over the holiday weekend from the Schweitzer Village. www.selkirkpowderco.com or 1-866-GO-IDAHO.
Bring on the flakes!