We tend to give our gear more attention when storing it after the old season than when getting it ready for the new one. Whether or not that describes your approach, it’s important to give skis and boots a careful once-over before getting back on the hill.

You may have gained or lost some pounds, or your skill level may have improved. Both can impact your binding adjustments.

It’s always smart to take your boards into a good shop for a once-over. “I recommend getting a binding adjustment  once a season,” says Skip Beitzel, owner of Hickory and Tweed in Armonk, NY. Ski Magazine once named it the best ski shop in the nation.

If you put your skis to bed last Spring without a tune (I don’t mean a lullabye), now’s the time to do it. Sharp edges are essential to navigate early-season hardpack. And it’s always wise to have bottom gouges and other damage repaired.

If you like your boots, treat them well. They’re your most important equipment. Mine were cleaned at the end of the season and stored in a boot bag. A few of you have posted comments about finding dead furry things in unprotected boots left for the summer on the garage floor.

Check clothing for broken or malfunctioning zippers, tears; other issues. I keep finding things in my closet long past their “use by” dates. A new parka, gloves, or pair of pants can fit and perform better. And if you’ve delayed the helmet purchase, delay no more! New technologies are improving the ways they protect your noggin.

It’s Snowing!

https://www.facebook.com/telluride/videos/1925721831068537/

The good folks at Telluride sent this video of snow falling. Like the real thing, it’s mesmerizing. In October, alone, Telluride received 37″ of natural. The resort’s snow guns have been on overtime, all in prepration for the mountain’s anticipated November 22 opening.

R.I.P. Lou Batori, 107

Lou Batori passed away last February at the age of 107. He started skiing when he was 10. He was a legendary fixture at Crystal Mountain, in Michigan. He was active in NASTAR racing, and was #1 in its 90+ category. Lou was recognizable both for his age and his full-body white ski jumpsuit, complete with silver helmet. According to an article in the Traverse City Eagle-Record, he learned to ski at age 10. His family emigrated frrom Hungary to New England. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and became an aeronautical engineer. Among his career highlights, he worked on NASA’s lunar landing module. In recent years, Lou got on the hill at least once a season. H liked to say, “One run on one weekend justifies existence.”

 

A Few Videos to Enjoy

Remember these outfits?

 

Origins of Freestyle Skiing

This, from Dick Barrymore’s “The Golden Years of Ski Films,” highlights the origins of skiing in North America and Hot Dog Skiing in particular.

Monterreal, a Mexican Ski Resort

This came as a surprise to me, but Mexico has a small ski resort, 90 miles from Monterrey in Coahuila state. Natural snow falls in December and January. The two runs are covered with a brushy surface which allows skiing year-round.