Atomic Affection

We got out for a little demo action this week. Best part, many of the skis were the 2014/15 models! I got to try out a number of skis and look forward to giving you my insights into them.

One of the skis that I had the chance to ride and loved was the Atomic Affinity Pure. What a great ski! First a few of the specifics – I rode the 154cm ski, with the dimensions of 122 tip, 79 underfoot, and 101 tail. While this ski is in the Atomic lineup currently, they have updated the graphics of the ski for the 2014/15 ski year. I really enjoy the new colouring and details. I like the multiple colours, they were bright without being overwhelming.

This ski was great in so many ways. The first word the comes to mind in describing this ski as that it was “fun”. I fully enjoyed riding this ski. It was super responsive, I only had to put minimal effort into the turn to have it quickly respond and carve a wonderful turn. I was skiing mainly groomers that day and the ski held its edge really well on all snow - corduroy, ice, hard pack. I never hesitated for a moment on this ski. A great endorsement.

While I didn't have the chance to take the ski into choppier snow, I would have loved the opportunity to see how it responded. But based on its light weight and it's overall abilities I'm sure it would stand up well.

I would fully recommend this ski to anyone looking for a good all mountain ski. The Pure is a ski that could easily be skied by an intermediate skier, but an advanced skier would also enjoy it. Check it out for sure if you are looking for something new at the start of next season.

I also took the Atomic Elysian out for a spin even if the conditions were not optimal for this ski. The details: 159cm length; 126tip, 95 underfoot, 115 tail. The graphics are good, colourful with all the basic colours to make it work well with most bindings, boots, jackets, etc.

The Elysian was a light weight ski that handled well considering the snow conditions – as I said I was on groomers that day. This ski is really meant to be skied in more fluffier areas. The Elysian handled well on the run considering where its strength lie - powder. It was responsive if I took it for long wide turns, allowing the ski to do nice gentle turns. The Elysian has a turn radius of 17.1m, so its meant to do nice sweeping turns. I would love to get this ski out into a wide open bowl or onto a run with fresh powder. I can only imagine how much fun this ski would be when taken into its optimal terrain. Something I plan to do if Mother Nature agrees and I can get my hands on this ski again.

You should consider this ski if you already have a good all mountain ski and are looking to add a all-mountain powder ski to your options. It would be a very fun ski to have as an option.

Demo day!!

Demo day at the ski hill. All the major brands are here and I've tested a lot of next year's skis. Stay tuned for my thoughts and feedback. Awesome day so far!

Ski books for little people

As well as loving skiing I have a few other life loves. One of these is reading. The Kraken is coming to an age where we are reading to him more and more everyday. With that I wondered if there were kids books available that had skiing as a focus, kind of as a way to introduce and build an interest in skiing. With these thoughts in mind, I started my search for ski focused kids books. It's with pleasure that I can say I found one or two, but not very many. Check out the titles I found and my thoughts in these books.

Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen

I really liked this book. Perfect for preschoolers and early readers. While each page has quite a few words, they are pretty basic. And better yet, they rhyme well. This makes it have a great flow as you read it aloud. The general plot of the story is of Mr. Magee heading out to learn to ski on a hill in his back yard. But having never skied before, trouble ensues, with the help of his dog Dee and a moose he meets along the way.  All ends well with Mr. Magee realizing the importance of taking a few lessons. Another highlight of this book is the pictures. Great details and colours. Enough to capture a kids attention and imagination, but also not overwhelming. I would definitely give this book a buy, I will for sure be adding it to our library.

Leo's Skiing Surprise, by Louise Leblanc, Illustrated by Jules Prud'homme

This is a book for a slightly older reader. More for kids that are reading independently and starting to get into longer chapter books. This books focuses around Leo and his friend Julio, a vampire. Leo wants to give Julio a Christmas surprise of a ski trip, so he can feel like a real boy. There are other characters that we meet along they way that play an important roll in making Julio's treat come true. I tried to read this with my 10 year old brain engaged.  I have to say that even with my adult brain off and trying to read it for the audience it was written for, I had a hard time with this book. The general concept of it was there. But I felt like it tried to cover a too many ideas in too few pages. I had to reread paragraphs as the story jumped from one theme to another with no warning and little transition. This made it hard to follow at times. And as a skiing book... not so much. Skiing was a part of the story, but I would not call it the main focus of the book.

I'm not sure that I would make this a first buy for someone, but I can see that for the right kid this could be a good introduction to chapter books. If you’ve read this book and have a different perspective I would love to hear it.

Pee Wee's On Skis, by Judy Delton

This is a beginner reader chapter book and part of the Pee Wee Scout series. I quiet enjoyed this book. There was a good story line with enough background details to get the characters since the book is part of a series. The general idea of the book is that the scouts are off for a trip to the local ski hill in the hopes of obtaining a ski badge. There is a good give a take between the characters, including some good natured teasing and peer support. They even have a bit of skiing details in the book. Although you can tell the book is a little older as they talk about making the skis into a “V”, no mention of “pizza". One complaint I would have is that the instructor shows up in a hat and all the drawings show the kids in just hats. No helmets... A bit disappointing when you consider the audience reading the book and trying to encourage safe skiing and helmet wearing.  Outside of this concern, I really enjoyed reading the book, so I can only imagine how it will appeal to the audience it was written for. And then there is a whole series if your young reader gets into the book. I would give this book a buy for sure.   

Squirrels on Skis, by J. Hamilton Ray
I've yet to get my hands on this book, but I'm super excited to do so.  I'll update this posting as soon as I get the book and have given it a read.  If you have this book, send me an email with your thoughts on it.  

Let's try skiing, by Susa Hammerle
I got my hands on this book today.  And it's a great little book. Perfect for putting a young mind at ease as you introduce them to skiing.  Simon is heading on a ski trip with his family and learning to ski.  He spends a few days in lessons, with some ups and downs, but does better every day and by the end of the trip is having a great time and can ski the big hill.  A great added feature of this book is the ski elf.  He pops up on many pages, offering encouragement or helpful tips.  And the last page is little tips to help your new skier.  A perfect book for getting a little one excited to try skiing.  Oh, and the illustrations are great.  Plus you can have your child spot the ski elf as you read it to them.  I will be adding this book to out library for sure.  

So while there are limited kids books out there focused on skiing, there are a few that are quiet good and well worth adding to your home library when your kids hit the appropriate age.  Enjoy and let me know of any books you have for kids with a ski theme.  

Ahhhh, Hawaii

While I love winter, snow and skiing, there is something to be said for sun and sand in the middle of winter. So we jetted off to the Big Island of Hawaii for 10 days of paradise, getting back just yesterday. What a great vacation. While the flights were tough, the Kraken was a trooper and slept for most of them, both ways. Yep, we're lucky!

The island was amazing. We were walking distance to a great beach that had a little inlet that we could let the boy play in. And when we needed to dip ourselves we tossed a life jacket on him and took him into the deeper water. We had taken swim lessons with the Kraken before so I knew he was comfortable with the lifejacket and he seemed to really enjoy the warm ocean waters. Much cooing, chatting and water slapping made his feelings very clear. The great part of the beach was the amazing snorkelling. Chris said it was some of the best snorkelling he had ever done. There were times that I could see 15 or more species of fish in my field of view. Amazing! Not to mention all of the sea turtles snacking on the nearby rocks...

We had the chance to get a few drives in around the island, all timed around naps of course. And we saw some incredible areas. One major destination for us was Mauna Kea. We lucked out in that the mountain had snow while we were there. But this also meant that the upper part of the mountain was closed. This made little difference to us as we couldn't go to the top. It turns out going from sea level to the top of Mauna Kea is not a good idea for a number of people, one group being anyone under 12. So we stopped at the visitor centre and had a good look around. Chris was sad that we didn’t get to touch snow. But we got a great insider tip that the Mauna Loa access road was just a short drive away and from there we might be able to find snow. Adventure ensued, including a crazy narrow, rolling road that got us to snow. But we made it and felt snow on our flip flop covered feet while on a tropical vacation.

If you look closely you can see snow
capped Mauna Kea in the background.

Another wonderful day was taking to the road to find some beaches that we had been told about. We listened to some new friends and took off for Beach 69. Words can't express how amazing this beach was. We walked through a stand of trees to find paradise! We are talking salt and pepper sand, aqua blue waters, rolling surf and limited people. There were many little coves to pick from and we found a sunny spot near some gentle waves. Again the Kraken had a wonderful time. He really enjoyed the waters here and the sand was a joy for him and us. Part way through the day we left Beach 69 to find another great beach we had heard of that was not too far away – A Bay. Another wonderful beach. Super friendly beach for little people. The shore was gentle lapping waves with a slow slop into the water. Perfect for letting a kid play at the waters edge.

There are so many other adventures that we undertook and so many that we missed (swimming with manta rays), but we had a beyond amazing time. We've already started plotting our next trip. Maybe even with some grandparents in tow so we can go on some solo adventures.

When can my little person hit the slopes?

While the Kraken is way too young to ski, it has not stopped Chris and I from talking about when he'll be ready. Maybe next year, but lets be honest, they are the ones that let us know when they are ready. For those wondering how young you can start a child skiing, please read on.

The first thing you have to remember is that skiing in the beginning is about fun. Not the number of runs, not how steep the hill is, not if they are skiing by themselves, but that it is FUN! Without the fun factor they wont want to ski.

Before you can begin, you need to have ski gear. Many ski shops now offer junior packages. These packages come with skis, boots, and bindings and then offer you the ability to trade them in the following year, because chances are you will have to. I know our local shop has an offer where you can trade in junior gear and get 50% of the value to put towards the new gear within 2 years of original purchase. You can continue to do this swap until around the age of 12 years. What a great way to keep them in gear that fits.

Of course, you will need snow pants, jacket, mittens, etc, but please don't forget the helmet. When looking for a helmet make sure it fits properly. Don't buy a helmet thinking they can grow into it or that a certain price is too much to spend. This is your little persons brain after all. Can you really put a price on that? If you're not sure what to look for in fit, be sure to stop in at your local ski shop, they will talk you through it. I'll also try to post a helmet fitting blog soon.

Once you have them geared up, it's time to take them outside. This is not about giant steps, it's about making them comfortable and making it FUN! So take it slow. Let your little one walk around the house in their new boots. Take them for a walk, pulling them along in their skis. Let them play in the backyard with their skis on. Take them to the local park to experience a little hill in a safe setting. Anything you can do to encourage them to be comfortable in their gear and see skiing as fun.

When you feel they are ready for the real hill, we're talking bunny hill really, it's time for the real adventure to begin. With little ones just starting out, you will be physically supporting them and ensuring that they are maintaining a safe speed. Most of the time when kids start skiing, especially if they are at a very young age, they will not have the strength, or knowledge, to turn and slow themselves down. This is where you come in. In the beginning you will be skiing with them between your legs, helping them. You will help them slow down, stay upright and turn. At the same time you will be coaching them and providing words of encouragement.

Again, this is about maintaining fun. You might get one run in, you might get five. But take whatever you can get. Don't push, simply accept what your little one can give you. By remembering that this is a life long passion you are creating, you will remember to take the small steps and work to ensure that you make the whole thing fun. Notice that I keep coming back to the idea of “fun”?

You might be on the bunny hill for a long time. Be prepared for this. But you have to progress through all of this a the rate that you child is ready for. Don't push, but encourage.

With all of this you will notice I have yet to give you an number. That is because each child is different. Some are more daring than others, some are very active and athletic. A good rule of thumb for the lower limits of when a child is ready to ski is that they must be able to walk, run and jump with confidence. Another “rule” I've heard is that if a child can jump off a step, couch, etc. and land, supporting their own weight, then they have the strength to ski. But you know your child best and are the best determinate of what age they are ready to begin the adventure.

Have fun! I would love to hear stories of your first outing with your little one.

Conform-able boot liners make for comfortable feet

As mentioned before, I've had a great deal of problems finding a pair of ski boots to fit my tiny feet (still loving my Salomon X Max 110 W).  In the quest to get a pair of boots that fit well, I have tried many options, including a variety of liners.  One liner that I tried, and really enjoyed, was the Conform-able Custom Made for Me liner.

Here are some of the things I found wonderful about these liners. 

First off, they are fully heat mouldable.  What this means is that with heat, they reshape to fit your foot specifically.  The liners will shape to hold your heel well, accommodate width of foot, stretch to allow for a high instep, etc.  The liner will also shape to fit your boot shell as well.  So now you have a liner that is fitted to your foot and the shell, not just sitting within the shell.  All of this equals a more secure fit (no heel lifting, no foot shifting within the liner/boot) which in turn gives you more control in your turns.  What can be better than that?  

Remember that you can always add an insole to this liner – think Superfeet.  Just make sure that you insert it when you are heat fitting the liner.  This way the liner forms to allow for the insole and your foot giving a great fit.  

The other thing I loved about this liner was that there are laces along the tongue.  I found that by tying the liner, I gained an even better boot fit.  What worked best for me was to lace the boot across my foot – this really helped me to not move within the boot and feel like my heel was pocketed well.  I then skipped one of the lace holes at the bottom of the calf, allowing for my “shapely” active girl calf.  I finished the lacing by tying the liner tightly at the top to give a bit more fit to the whole setup.  In lacing the liner this way, I found that I had even better fit and turn control.  

Finally, I found this liner quiet warm.  So on top of being moulded to your foot, an added bonus was that the liner was warm.  As I've mentioned, having warm feet is super important to me (hello boot heaters).  And I enjoyed the warmth I felt with these liners.  Bonus...

I don't wear the Conform-able with my X Max,
I just wanted you to see what it looks like.

This is defiantly a liner I would recommend for a variety of reasons.  One, if you are having boot fit issues.  This is a great step in helping to make a boot fit better.  It can hold the foot in place and provide a secure feeling.  Two, if you are looking for a liner that is warmer than your current liner.  If you have a liner that you are finding to be cold, this liner might be your ticket.  Third, if you are skiing in an older boot, but don't want to spend the money on a new pair or you like your boots, you could give this liner a try to give new life to an old pair of boots.  Consider it, I found them great.    

This ski “Lines" up

I recently had the chance to take the Line Soulmate 98 out for a day. And what a great day I had! Some details on the ski, before I go into all the things I loved about this ski. I skied the 158cm length, which has the dimensions of 132 tip, 98 underfoot and 123 tail. The ones I road had a demo binding on them, which means that the binding can be adjusted easily, but this also adds weight to the ski. Even with this binding I found the ski to be fairly light.

As always, I need to hit on the graphics. Again, another part of this ski that I loved. Very geometric, but with lots of great colours. This means you can have a good looking ensemble, without looking like Rainbow Brite.

So with those details out of the way, let me tell you what I loved about skiing the Soulmate. And that was pretty much everything. We had had a fair bit of snow a few days before we headed out, so there was lots of different snow to play in. I took these skis onto the more groomed runs, I didn't find any corduroy, but still found some well groomed areas. These skis were great in these areas. I had no problem getting them to carve some great turns. They were easy to turn, very responsive and I felt very in control. All great feelings. I would love to take these skis onto more groomed terrain to see everything I could do with them.

I also played a lot in the remains of the previous days snow. No real fresh to be found, but there were small pockets and lots of looser snow. I have to admit that I spent most of my day here. And these skis were wonderful! Again, they were super responsive and easy to turn. The light weight of these skis was evident in making quick turns in the bumps and chop. At one point I had to do some fancy skiing to avoid a huge rock. I was able to miss the rock while maintaining control of the ski, and this was defiantly related to the weight of the ski. The Soulmate cut through the snow really well and made skiing looser snow a lot of fun. I can't say enough good things about these skis in this terrain.

I would give this ski a strong recommendation to an intermediate to advanced skier that is looking for a good all mountain ski. I really enjoyed this ski and would be happy to ski it on a regular basis.