A Guide to the Perfect Ski Day

For many of us, skiing is what we live for. When Autumn rolls around, and the leaves start to change, we often wake up in the middle of the night dreaming of fresh powder or carving turns on our favorite groomers. Skiing and riding are such great things to do to explore your own ability and to enjoy time with friends and family. Sometimes all the hype of getting to the mountain so you can enjoy your day on the slopes can explode into a World of frustration. We've compiled information for "The Perfect Ski Day" to ensure that all your ski days are enjoyable and hassle free. Good luck and we'll see you on the slopes.

1) Eat Breakfast Before Clicking Into Your Bindings

The first mistake many skiers and boarders do is not fuel their bodies properly before hopping into their skis. Even if it's grabbing an apple or a granola bar for the first lift up, this will solve a lot of problems.

2) Use Proper Ski and Snowboard Equipment

It can't be stressed enough to have the correct fitting equipment for skiing and boarding. Your equipment is your connection to the mountain. If one of your links is broken, it makes it hard to fully trust your skiing or boarding. Boots must fit correctly, skis and boards the proper length, along with bindings that release when needed. As they say, the best magician is nothing without his wand.

3) Wear Proper Clothing

Skiing obviously involves wearing winter clothing. The trick to staying warm while not overheating is to layer your clothing. If you're too hot, simply peel off a layer and wear it around your waist. Layering also allows you to retain your body heat which enables you to stay warm for those cold rides on the lift.

Here are some additional tips on what to bring.

• Day pack
• Ski / Snowboard equipment
• Shoes / boots with good traction
• Goggles / sunglasses
• Camel back / water bottle
• Scarf / hat / gloves
• Ipod/MP3 Player
• Warm layers (sweatshirts / long sleeve t-shirts / long underwear)
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Pain relievers
• Camera / video camera
• Waterproof coat / waterproof ski pants

4) Avoiding Altitude Issues

Above 8,000 feet, altitude illness affects 20 to 30 percent of visitors from low elevations. The first thing most people notice is a shortness of breath, especially when exercising. In addition, the heart is likely to beat faster and one may develop nausea, fatigue, headache, or have difficulty sleeping. If you develop one or more of these symptoms you may have Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). While skiing, make sure you stay properly hydrated. Some skiers bring along a camel back full of water or gatorade. If you do have issues with altitude, you can visit your local pharmacist for altitude sickness prevention pills.

5) Bring Your Own Steak & Wine

A very unique thing that few skiers think of doing is to bring their own grillable lunch. Some resorts such as Vail Ski Resort in Colorado offer public grills. Imagine sipping a nice glass of wine while you grill a couple of steaks as you look out at the grandeur of the mountains. This makes for an amazing lunch break and will provide great memories for all involved. The best part is you can marinate your lunch while you make powder turns!

6) Ski With People That Have the Same Ability as You

Many of us ski at different abilities and prefer different terrain. The most common argument while skiing is where to go. Some of us like to tear up the terrain park. On the other hand, some prefer nice moderate groomers to carve slalom turns in. The best way to cure this conflict is to separate for a couple of hours while each skier skis their favorite terrain. Just make sure you pick a place to meet and bring a map in case you get disoriented on the mountain. Some skiers and riders bring their own Walkie Talkies or use cell phones to keep in touch.