With the holidays just around the corner, the snow has started to fall and town is buzzing with excitement. Shops are getting increasingly busier, and the stoke is high, as everyone is wishing for deep powder and an endless winter.
With new terrain opening every day, are you ready for your ski day?
To help steer you in the right direction, here’s our checklist to get ready for your first day out on the slopes this season.
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With new terrain opening every day, are you ready for your ski day?
To help steer you in the right direction, here’s our checklist to get ready for your first day out on the slopes this season.
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One Week Before
1. Wax / tune your equipment
Your skis will thank you, I promise.
If you’re renting your equipment from Four Mountain Sports, we’ve got you covered. Don’t worry about a thing.
If you’re bringing your own skis to the mountain, tuning your equipment is an essential component to a good ski season. It’s recommended to have your equipment tuned at least once a year. This includes sharpening your edges, waxing, and tending to any core shots in the base.
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Aspen Snowmass recently collaborated with a cutting-edge permanent wax-less glide technology called PHANTOM, one of the most eco-friendly glide options on the market.
This polymer-based treatment soaks deep into the base of your skis or snowboard, penetrating further than traditional wax due to its small molecular structure. PHANTOM’s one-time application process results in less mess and excellent glide performance on snow for the life of your equipment.
Pro Tip: If you’ve got enough on your to-do list already, Four Mountain Sports can help. With locations at all four mountains, there are a myriad of options to service guests’ equipment. They can apply traditional wax, full base grind, tune your edges or if you want to Give a Fl*ke they can apply Phantom to your gear or if you are up for it they offer a DIY Phantom packets for sale ($99). rich-text
This polymer-based treatment soaks deep into the base of your skis or snowboard, penetrating further than traditional wax due to its small molecular structure. PHANTOM’s one-time application process results in less mess and excellent glide performance on snow for the life of your equipment.
Pro Tip: If you’ve got enough on your to-do list already, Four Mountain Sports can help. With locations at all four mountains, there are a myriad of options to service guests’ equipment. They can apply traditional wax, full base grind, tune your edges or if you want to Give a Fl*ke they can apply Phantom to your gear or if you are up for it they offer a DIY Phantom packets for sale ($99). rich-text
One Day Before
2. Dust off your boots and make sure they still fit
If you’re renting boots from Four Mountain Sports, you’re in good hands. Our experienced staff will fit you with the perfect boot. Be sure to pick up your rentals any time after 2pm the day before (at no extra charge) to save time so you can hit the slopes as early as possible your first day. Bringing your own boots? Hands-down, this is the most important part of skiing or riding. With comfortable boots, you can take over the world. If they don’t fit, however … that’s a different story. If your boots need some work, don’t hesitate to head into Four Mountain Sports for an adjustment — you’ll thank yourself later. Between heat molding, shell adjustment and overall fit assessment, you’ll be ready for anything the season throws at you.
Pro tip: Don’t leave your boots in your car or outside overnight. Cold, frozen boots are notoriously difficult to get on, and can cause quite a headache the next morning. rich-text
3. Pick Up Your Lift Tickets or Season Pass
You won’t make it very far without a lift ticket. Make sure to pick up your pass early the day before you hit the slopes if you can. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in line while you’re friends are getting first tracks on a powder day.
Pro Tip: Stash your pass in the pocket of your jacket at all times so you’ll never lose it. Don’t put any other credit cards, passes from last year, or phones in the same pocket – that may make it difficult to scan when entering the gates to hop on the gondola or chairlift.
4. Gather All Your Accessories
There’s nothing worse than getting on the gondola and realizing you forgot your goggles. Avoid this scenario by getting your helmet, goggles, gloves, snacks, and hand warmers ready for the day the night before and lay them all out in a pile like you used to do with your clothes on the first day of school (or was that just me?). Toss in some glove liners if you’re prone to cold fingers, as well as a pack of hand warmers.
Pro tip: Our Ambassadors are happily handing out RXBARs, warm apple cider, and coffee every day around the four mountains. If you need a pick-me-up or a warm beverage, stop by and take a little break.
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Day of
5. Download the Aspen Snowmass App
While you’re enjoying your breakfast, download the Aspen Snowmass App to stay updated on trail conditions, snow reports and other events throughout the day. Track your daily vertical feet while expertly navigating our four mountains with the assistance of a virtual trail map. At the end of the day, you can compare stats with friends to fight over who pays for the next round of beers. rich-text
Pro Tip: You get instant rewards, including a $10 food and beverage credit, when you log in to the Aspen Snowmass App. All you have to do is download the app, log in, and show your phone to the cashier to redeem your $10 credit. Grab a warm beverage or a snack and kick back and relax.
And with that, you’re ready to tackle the 2018-2019 season! Here’s to fresh turns, great food, and deep days that leave you wanting more. rich-text
And with that, you’re ready to tackle the 2018-2019 season! Here’s to fresh turns, great food, and deep days that leave you wanting more. rich-text
About the Author
Katherine Keel has been telling stories since she could talk. A former Division I swimmer, she ditched the pool for the Rocky Mountains shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina, armed with a journalism degree and a faint knowledge of how to ski. She quickly fell in love with the sport, and recently moved to Aspen to be closer to fresh turns and high peaks. Never short of ideas, she’s always scheming up another adventure ... or the next great meal.
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