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13 Things You Should Do This Ski Season

This is a ski season unlike any other. So that makes it a good time to try some new things.

PHOTO: Bianca Germain

1) Free-up a Midweek Day

Skiing when most normal people work has always a core goal for core skiers. And this year, avoiding crowds is about more than just fresh tracks. It’s about just. staying. healthy.

Remember that college version of yourself? The bright-eyed punk who worked harder on consolidating their class schedule into as few days as possible than on the actual classwork itself? Channel that person. You may not be able to only work Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving five days each week for skiing. But on the flip side, adulting shouldn’t mean letting that fire die. Go to bat for yourself, and negotiate a free Monday.

2) Get Some Non-Reserve Days

Remember when COVID didn’t dominate your daily plans and pillow talk? Well, public health numbers and trends aren’t looking very good going into ski season. However, at least for now, there are places and ways to ski without needing to book a reservation.

Sure, having to reserve all your ski days probably won’t be as bad as it sounds. And after a big early season rush, systems should solidify and pressure may decrease. But, it will feel mighty good to buy a local season pass or a few days at a close-by ski hill where you can ski spontaneously. Here along the Front Range, we’re liking Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin for a few soul-freeing wake-up-and-go days.

Of course, these are uncertain times, and it’s possible COVID-19 again shutters resort skiing. In that case you may have to…

3) Ski Uphill

Alpine touring was already growing rapidly before the public health crisis made backcountry skiing even more appealing. Bottom line: Earning your turns is a great way to keep skiing and stay away from crowds.

That fact comes with a few major qualifiers, though. If you are going to skin for your turns, you must be able to do it safely and responsibly. Learn how.

4) Wear Thinner Socks

Naturally, we have to include a few gear notes on any listicle we publish. So here’s the first one: Your socks are probably too thick.

Powder7’s team of bootfitters recommend lightweight ski socks that wick moisture away from your skin. Why? Although it may sound counterintuitive, wearing thick ski socks can actually make your feet colder. Sweaty, wet skin doesn’t mix well with winter air, and more material inside your ski boots means easier loss of circulation.

Our pro tip: Thin socks and boots that fit correctly.

Shop for socks

skiing in the east
PHOTO: Tim Peck

5) Leave Earlier

If you’re used to getting to the resort, or getting on the highway, and immediately wishing you’d left earlier, consider this an intervention. Leaving earlier is as simple as, well, just doing it.

Alternative? Leave later. Let the morning madness unfold as you drink espresso, and time your arrival for the less crazy afternoon hours.

6) Try Wool Baselayers

Do you think of wool as a scratchy, heavy grandpa-style flannel that you only wear around a campfire? Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Take a pro tip from Morgan, one of our soft goods gurus: “Merino wool, which is soft to the touch, retains warmth, wicks away moisture, and is naturally odor-resistant. What does this mean? Moisture is able to pass through the baselayer, instead of being absorbed. This keeps moisture away from your skin, helping you stay warm.”

Learn more about layering.

7) Treat Yourself to New Gear

Retail therapy is real. And yeah, it’s rather over-the-top for a ski shop and ecommerce website to tell you to buy stuff. But facts are facts. There’s never been a better ski season to cheer yourself up with fresh gear.

So: Shop our best deals

8) Ski First Chair to Last Call

Any ski day could be your last. No, we’re not talking about dying. We’re talking about the ominous implications of a pandemic potentially closing resorts down. So, every day you ski, maximize your laps.

top ten portable ski snacks

9) Eat Pocket Pizza

Choosing to each lunch on the lift rather than pay $25 for a brisket has always been smart. This year, that’s truer than ever. So if you have never eaten pocket pizza, now is the time to get on board.

Note: This is only a sampler of our thoughts on portable ski snacks. Get the full lowdown.

10) Hike More

What? We didn’t sell you on ski touring?!

That’s fine. You can also get fresher turns, fewer crowds, and more cardio by hitting the bootpack in-bounds. Just be sure to unbuckle those boots before you start steppin’. Your feet will thank you.

11) Plan Better

Hawking daily over ski forecasts and weather patterns will help you pick the best days to reserve your skiing. We recommend an all-access membership to OpenSnow.

tin cup whiskey

12) Drink Whisky

Didn’t you know…firewater fights COVID!

[Editor’s Note: This claim is not supported by any scientific evidence or data that we are aware of. It is purely the opinion of our eccentric blog writer.)

Looking for an inexpensive, yet high quality, flask option? We recommend Tincup Rye.

13) Stay Positive

Just remember. When that storm underperforms or your favorite run is tracked or you core-shot a ski or the lift line is long, at least you are skiing. At least you are in the mountains. Skiing is the respite from the real and more important problems. So, from the whole Powder7 crew: We’re with you, and happy turns!

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