All the Gear But No Idea...?

So, you've bought/begged/stolen the skis, but you've no idea how they're going to propel you down the slopes?! From Telemarks to Race Skis, from Freestyle to Twin Tips skis, choosing a new pair of skis from the plethora of those available is today a very difficult and complex task. Over the past 60 years or so, skiing equipment has moved on leaps and bounds. In the 1930s, alpine skiing made the transition from an exotic, leisure pursuit for only the selected few, to a worldwide participant sport. At that time skis consisted of shaped, long wooden 'planks' with ‘bear trap’ bindings however today you’re more likely to see such skis as antiques that are hung as decoration pieces within ‘traditional style’ marketed chalets adding that bit of rustic charm to your holiday! Along with the 1960s came fibreglass and it was at that point that the traditional ski began to change. The 1980s were dominated by the infamous 'pencil skis' that were accompanied by the good old rear entry boots and one-piece suits with which designers creatively brought bright colour to the ski slopes. The more fluorescent the better! Whilst you may still see the occasional fluorescent number and pair of pencil skis on the slopes (or at a baste taste themed evening in town), those who continue to persevere with them should know that today, this rather dated equipment is playing havoc with your skiing potential. The 1990s saw the introduction of carving skis which opened up the market for ski design all based on a similar carving system. In the current market, the right pair of skis should almost feel like an extension to your boots and should suit your style, ability, weight and skiing aggressiveness. The ‘wrong’ pair of skis can result in your legs becoming wholly uncooperative machines that have the potential to cause serious injury! ... see "All You Ever Needed to Know About Skis..." for more

So, are you a 'knarly free-riding dude or dudette?' or is a 'nose grab' with a 'tail poke' more your thang....? Confused....? The snowboarding craze really took off in the 1980s, although there is evidence to suggest that it began as far back as the 1960s. Over the past couple of decades the sport has continued to grow in popularity and its skateboarding roots have undoubtedly been responsible for the change in today’s cool and trendy skiing fashion and clothing designs. Along with the introduction of the snowboard however came a rebel like 'bad boy' image which was largely brought about by the fact that it was adolescent males who were taking to the sport. Fortunately in today's skiing climate the sport is continuing to grow and appeal to men and women of all ages. In 1998 snowboarding made its debut at the winter Olympic Games but this was not without contraversy, Sadly even in todays open-minded skiing community it continues to struggle to shrug off its arrogant and misconceived 'rebel like' image amongst skiers and other mountain users. Moreover, there are still a few American ski resorts where the sport is completely banned! Its popularity can be partly due to the fact that snowboarding is quite simply... easier than skiing! Not only is there less paraphernalia to carry around but the gear is also considerably more comfortable as the boots are soft and almost trainer like, (making them perfect for a spot of après ski partying!) Speaking from personal experience too, the ‘art of skiing’ can take years of hard work and dedication to perfect. Even after a good twenty (plus) years at the sport (which includes many hours as a child at the dry ski slope and days heather hopping in Scotland’s mountains), I still haven't managed to perfect my off-piste and moguls technique, and apparently I possess a number of bad habits and faults that I had pointed out by a qualified instructor during a recent refresher lesson. Snowboarding on the other hand is pretty straight forward. In general it can take a good three to five days to get the hang of it. There's no denying, it can be a painful three to five days but after that the learning curve is generally as big as your courage! It’s also much easier to ride a snowboard in fresh powder too so you can safely hit the off-piste much quicker than you could skiing. Riding off piste offers a gliding or floating sensation that is completely different to that experienced on skis. There’s also an indescribable exhilarating feeling felt when you make a turn in fresh powder that sends a huge spray of powder in the air or at your mate if you’re skilled enough! ... see "All You Ever Needed to Know About Snowboards..." for more

Mountain biking can be an intimidating world, full of technical jargon and strange small pieces of metal that cost an extortionate amount of money. This year, a number of technical innovations are on the market, alongside products that are still going strong. Read our guide to what's what in 2008 in this exciting, fast-growing sport, and spend your hard-earned pennies on the stuff that really counts. ... see "Latest Mountain Biking Kit" for more

The chances of surviving an avalanche are dramatically increased when the group are properly equipped with the standard avalanche equipment, and are trained in how to use it. None of the devices we have listed here will actually prevent an avalanche or prevent physical injury from occurring, but will assist in the recovery process. So what does the basic avalanche equipment consist of?

For anyone going off marked pistes, (including climbers, skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and walkers); it is advisable that the following items of equipment are carried at all times: ... see "Avalanche Search & Rescue Equipment" for more