Ski Boots FAQs
Where are the best places to ski?
This is a question that many skiers will answer very differently and generally comes down to their proximity to a certain area. The best resort is one you can visit as much as you want to and have plenty of fun at. This could be a local garbage dump with a lift going to the top (yes, they do have these) or it could be a local mountain that gets plenty of snow but has no lifts at all and requires plenty of hiking to get one run. But, if you can go anywhere, go to Utah.
Utah really does have the greatest snow on earth. It is fluffy and soft but never too cold. As the air gets dried out coming over the nearby deserts it picks up a ton of moisture from the Great Salt Lake and promptly dumps it into the nearby Wasatch Mountains blanketing the runs in a dry powder that is difficult to comprehend. It can get three feet deep over night and there are so many resorts and land to explore that untracked powder can be found weeks after a storm.
Here are just a few of the ski resorts and little bit about their terrain. Solitude is my favorite, plenty of steep and deep and not a lot of people, plus the lift passes are RFIDs which allows you to get on the lift without showing a pass. Deer Valley is good if you want to have you skis taken from the car to the lift by a valet and eat gourmet $15 burgers. It’s definitely worth the money every once is a while. Park City Mountain Resort is right around the corner and has one of the best terrain parks and super half pipes in the world, remember the Olympics in 2002? Park City also has some great nightlife and the famed Sundance Film Festival. Over a few mountains and right next to Solitude is Brighton where all the young jibbers and snowboarders ride, it definitely has the most street rep here in Salt Lake City.
One canyon south of Brighton and you find some of the most rugged terrain for hundreds of miles, Snowbird and Alta. Alta is famous among skiers and boasts the most snow year after year hands down. If you want to snowboard though you better turn off the road a little earlier at Snowbird because Alta is skiers only, sad I know. The tram at snowbird is one of the quickest ways to the top of any mountain. The skier with the most vertical feet skied did it at Snowbird on the tram. If you have ever watched a ski or snowboarding video you have seen these resorts many times. Most of these resorts are within 30 minutes of Salt Lake City international airport. Just don’t poach any of my secret spots.
What are shaped skis?
Shaped skis are skis that have a pronounced narrowing in the mid point of the ski. This hourglass shape allows the ski to turn much easier than the strait skis of the past. When the ski is turned on edge the front edge contacts the snow first which drives the tip into whatever direction the ski was turned. Then the ski continues to flex until the pressure is underfoot. The back of the ski is also larger so it continues the turn around making a nice rounded turn with no slipping and sliding. The amount of difference between the tips and waist determines how quick the ski will respond and how wide the turn will be.
What are twin tip skis?
Twin tip skis are designed to go both forwards in the regular fashion but also backwards. Why ride backwards you ask? Because it’s cool! It’s even cooler if you can take off of a jump backwards or land backwards. This is called riding or landing switch and it’s very difficult to do. For performing tricks however it is a required skill. Just taking off and landing forward won’t get you any ladies, and if you are a lady riding switch will make every grom love you, if that’s what your going for. Just remember to watch where you are going, adjust your stance and hot dog it likes there’s no tomorrow.
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