Skiing, by its very nature, is not a year round sport. We are now at that time of year when the last few skiers are making the most of the last few dregs of snow available to ski on. A recent news report stated that the Boreal Mountain Resort near Tahoe was enjoying its last few days of trading – quite a late finish compared to many other locations in the world.
If this has been your first year of skiing you may wonder what you can do while you wait for the months to tick round to the beginning of the next season. One good thing to do is to check out your kit and see how it performed for you during your first few months of skiing. Were there any items you missed out on and should have had? Do you feel as if you should buy your own skis and boots now instead of hiring them?
Ski equipment hire is always a good idea if you are going skiing for the first time. If you find you don’t like it you haven’t wasted any money. If you find you do, you can now consider buying your own equipment. Buying it off season can mean you get it cheaper as well, so think about whether you should do it now. The quicker you start looking the sooner you will be able to get a good deal.
You should also check the condition of any new ski clothes you may have bought. It can be tempting to buy cheaper items for the same reason as you might hire your gear to begin with. But if you have just discovered a latent talent for skiing or simply a love of this sport you never knew you had, you will find it worth getting good quality clothing. It costs more but it generally lasts longer as well.
The idea is that a bit of forward thinking now will prepare you for the new season ahead when it eventually starts again. Many avid skiers spend the summer months looking forward to their next holiday, planning where they will go and how long they will stay there. The last thing you want to do is to leave it until the last minute to figure out what equipment you need to enjoy your second skiing season with. Forewarned is forearmed!