Technobabble

One of the greatest tools out there for any modern athlete (amateur) is the internet, particularly when it comes to skiing. 'The internet?' you may ask. Why yes; the ability for pros and ams alike to share photos and edits allows for a never ending library of materials for learning and improving. It's been scientifically shown (unfortunately I don't have the study link to share) that watching video of an activity makes you better at it. That's why people who go to the ski premieres before the season starts are better prepared for opening day. If you're a skier who only gets out for a week vacation a year, might I suggest hopping online and pre-gaming your skication with a little Solomon FreeskiTV or hitting up TGR's site for the newest edits or even simply hitting up YouTube.

I've watched more ski-related videos this last season than my entire life before, and it's the one thing I don't think I'll ever get bored with. It helps build the stoke, lets me see what sort of technique the pros use for varying terrain, and lets me see what the ams do wrong in getting themselves hurt. It's the perfect learning tool. In addition to videos, the interwebs contains so many articles, from Powder mag, to Skiing, to blogs and outdoor websites; these are invaluable for people heading into sticky situations such as double black, sidecountry, and backcountry terrain. Just looking at the content available on Twitter and Instagram is enough to keep anyone busy for days; clicking through pictures from places like Chile and Greenland gets me drooling every time. It's a great tool for staying safe that every skier should take advantage of.

So, while you may have a wicked pair of skis, those sweet telescoping carbon fiber poles I want so bad, a full backcountry kit, a great map, and a good crew, don't ignore the cheapest resource available to you as a skier. Hit up your computer (you know you're avoiding work anyway, and probably spend a fair amount of time on YouTube looking at videos of talking animals or whatnot) and study up. This could be what helps pushes you forward.