Going Snow Skiing for the first time in 16 years - what's changed?
 

So finally taking the kids snow skiing - have not been in 16 years.

Figure the wife and I can slow into it - and can hang out in the bar if we get too tired.

The kids are 22/15/12 - figure we'd get them into a 1/2 day lessons then cut them loose - They want to snowboard - they are all pretty athletic so should be fine.

I noticed in some of the literature - looks like snowboard rental comes with helmets - everybody wearing helmets these days?

Anything else I need to know? Headed to Frisco to ski both copper mountain and Breckenridge.

Your bones are more brittle.
Your joints are less flexible.
Gravity is the same.

Good luck! :D

Your knees are 16 years older :D Have fun!!!

snowboarding (first time) is something you do if you have time..
and PATIENCE..

equipment is lighter and better..
the Parabolic ski's are gonna make you smile..
enjoy..
and my rule when schussing ..
only go as fast as your willing to crash..

Rika

Yes, most folks wear helmets nowadays.

The skis are much shorter and wider than they used to be, which makes for 'easier' turns, I suppose.

The ski bunnies will be VERY YOUNG looking.

Snowboards everywhere.

As others have indicated--the equipment is much better--especially rental gear.

The skis are running shorter due to the shape revolution which you are probably familiar with since it occurred prior to your last outing.

If your kids are first-time snowboarding, you are doing them right by getting the lesson. They should be making linked turns their first day--once they "get-it" it is easier to become better faster than with skiing.

Yes--a lot of folks wear helmets these days--probably far outnumber those that don't.

Oh--and prices have probably gone WAAAAAAAAAAAAY up since the last time you skied.

Yes, helmets are a must.

Parabolic skis are way easy to ski

Lift tickets have probably tripled in price since you last went.

Love Breck and Copper....jealous!

Bring a flask!

Oh it's a lot more expensive - and yes - I know all about joints and bones and such - I am missing an ACL (same one I was missing last time) - so have a decent knee brace

interesting on the shorter ski's - noticed that at the last shop were at. Looked more like a water ski shape.

thanks -

What's changed? You. And me as well. Just looking in the basement yesterday and we are slowly getting rid of stuff. Wife suggested that we get rid of our downhill skiis.
Not a bad idea as I go x country skiing only now.

Yes you need helmets for everybody. Last time I went I used a hockey helmet. Especially for when skiing among trees. I used to treat skiers and especially snowboarders as if they were vehicles. Give them lots of space. Shoulder check. Wife got hit by a snowboarder a few years ago.

Lessons as mentioned above are a good idea. Ski within your own capabilities. Your children won't likely stick with you but that is okay. Have fun.
Guy

the skis are the biggest change. COMPLETELY different style and shape. I took 15 years off also and everybody was looking at me like i was a dinosaur in my Rossignol 4S 205s!!

I'd get lessons yourselves if you've had that much time off of the snow.

The equipment has changed, and unless you were a studly racer back then doing Hermann Maier turns on your inside ski, you could use a touchup on the "new" techniques. Much more "two footed" and so much more efficient.

Let the kids board. You can ski - why devolve?

[ducking head]

Para-bolics are okay for schussing about..
but nothing beats a pair of real ski's when doing downhill stuff..
have 1 set of Para...8 Dino's..

Rika

Give me Rossignol or give me Head - He He = still makes me chuckle.

stay hydrated.. You are at 10,000 feet.

Nothing to add except Frisco is awesome. Our friends have a place there, that we try and stay at as much as possible. Have fun! SmileWavy

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When I quit I was on 204 Olin's and I'm 5'5, which might be in part why I quit, that and Reynaud's syndrome. That was around 2000. What has changed since then? Everything, including the skill level of the folks on the steeps and the entire economic model of the resorts. Not for the better. I'm on xc skis exclusively.

A tailbone pad for the newbie snowboarders is a good idea. They will spend considerable time on their butt and a bruised TB can wreck a vacation. It's been a couple of years since I have been skiing but last time I do remember tiring more easily and the knees were well off their prime. We used to run with the "ridges and chutes" crowd in our youth.

http://www.xsportsprotective.com/pages/how-to-choose-snowboard-padded-shorts

I've had a 15 year lay off before, It's like riding a bike and the new equipment makes it even easier. The biggest difference will be that your legs give out much quicker. Day one you will be just getting into the grove and the feel of the new equip and then the thighs will begin to burn. It takes me about three days into a season, with days off in between, to be able to get a whole day in without having to slow down or just start drinking at the lodge, which is still a win in my book. :)

In a similar situation... It's WAY more expensive. Even the second and third-tier places which used to run $20-$30 for a weekend lift pass are now $60, $70 or more. Lots of snowboards - use caution. Lines are way longer. Agree with the "wear a helmet" sentiment - learn from Michael Schumacher.

Basically it seems to mirror most things these days - lower quality, higher cost, more high-tech whiz-bangs and a more detached experience IMHO. Sorry to sound like a downer - it's still fun but the last time I went (first time in almost 15 years) reminded me of a lot of the reasons I haven't gone for almost 15 years!

Enjoy it all the same!

With modern skis you just roll your ankles and the skis turn themselves (in comparison to the old planks)....and, they actually carve now!

I have a weekend place in Frisco. Make sure you stop by Prost on main street. A little hole in the wall German bar that serves German beers on tap and house made sausage. Heaven!

That. It's like power steering. My first few turns I was almost facing the wrong way. Skis are lighter. Specialty powder skis are amazing.

I wish they had terrain parks and those jumps when I was a kid. Of course I'd be dead today.

Another change is the increase in moron quotient with more boarders. Don't get me wrong, I like snowboarders and they saved the sport from financial ruin. But they opened it up to folks bombing down the slopes with much less control. So wear a helmet.

Enjoy!

I live 5 minutes from the hill, it's small but you can't beat the convenience. Our hill also has night skiing. I ski about every 2nd day in season.
Like others have said skis are different and a lot easier to use, but there is a bit of a learning curve.

LOL
people wear HELMETS now and very expensive ski outfits as if they were olympic champions, and that's not just the ones climbing off the short bus.

In my day we wore levis over long johns, a knit sweater and a down jacket if it was cold. We had goggles and gloves but never, ever even considered wearing a helmet while skiing.
We did that when we played FOOTBALL.

We figured that if you didn't fall down all the time you didn't need a $go-zillion worth of poser-wear ;)


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Sammy, you probably skiied uphill both ways as well.

Theres no reason not to wear a helmet. Falling onto a rock or a sheet of ice at 40+ mph has potential to mess you up. Ive got to much money invested in my brain to worry about "looking cool" by foregoing the helmet.

As to the high end ski gear, why not stay warm, comfortable and dry if you can? Jeans on the hill, you look like an idiot. Not to mention if you went out in any sort of weather your legs would be frozen after 20 mins.

Ask Michael Schumacher about the whole helmet thing. If he hadn't been wearing one, where do you think he'd be today?

Or Sonny Bono.

Have fun, but be careful

excellent!