5 THINGS I'M DOING TO GET READY FOR SKI SEASON
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… the countdown to the opening day of ski season is on, and in the words of every ski bum I know, I’m told it’s time to “get ready” and “get stoked.” Now, if you’re experiencing fatigue from the sanctimonious, self-evident “9,872 Things You Should Do” lists pervading the internet today, I can’t make any promises about this piece, but, entering my 33rd ski season, when it comes to ski preparedness, let’s put it this way: I’ve arrived at the mountain without ski poles and gloves too many times to count… and yes, I’ve skied in jeans... and not by choice. So with that, here are the five things I’m doing (and you can, too) to get ready for the season:
Strength training
Do it early, do it often, darlings. To be utterly macabre, it can be the difference between a vacation-ending injury and another round of Aperol spritzes by the fire. If you live in a mountain town, there are plenty of opportunities to jump into a pre-ski fitness class, and even cities like Dallas are having a go at off-snow workouts with the introduction of PowderHeart this summer. I personally love my Session Pilates for its full-body approach, but no matter what form of fitness you most enjoy, integrating strength training into your routine ahead of hitting the slopes is essential to help prevent injury and make the most of your time on the mountain. This workout by Lindsey Vonn’s trainer is a great place to start, and some of its simple (wait, did I really just write that?) moves can be done at home.
Checking and tuning equipment
I love the men in my life, and they’ve given us great reason to check our equipment each year. Once my husband made it all the way up the gondola before realizing he was wearing someone else’s ski boots, which wouldn’t fit in his ski bindings. Another time, my father wanted to get “just one more season” out of his pair. As he was walking across the parking lot, he stepped stocking-footed into the snow as the antiques literally broke apart into several different pieces. And we’ve been late to the lift line more times than I’d like to admit due to my habit of misplaced goggles, a broken ski pole, or missing mittens. Take my word: there’s no better way to test the boundaries of family fun than by running late to the mountain. NOW is the time to dig it out, take inventory on the state of your gear (and its whereabouts), and replace or tune it up. (Stay tuned for my forthcoming checklist)
Booking airline tickets/reservations/rentals/lessons
If you haven’t done this already, you’re in good company. I haven’t ordered my Christmas cards yet, either, but the time has come. If you’re traveling to the slopes, it helps to make an itinerary and checklist of everyone on the trip and what their needs will be, whether it’s renting skis, buying lift tickets, arranging childcare, or getting dinner reservations. There are great package deals out there like Jackson Hole’s Golden Ticket , and a little bit of planning can really help maximize your time.
Shopping for après
Would this even be a Lacelliese King piece without some sort of call to fashion action? And even moreso when it involves sipping fireside wrapped in cozy layers? In the words of my fellow ski aficionado James Jung, “because après the ski it’s the après-ski.” There are so many great guides out there right now, like this one from Moda Operandi, and I can’t wait to share my own selection of must-have slopeside style here soon. Shop now, slay later.
Getting stoked
Ah, that beloved word again. (Try saying it in your everyday vocabulary and see what happens: “Thank you for coming to our dinner party tonight, dears. We are just so stoked to have you!”) If you need a little inspiration to fan your ski season flame, these Instagram accounts are sure to put some snap in your schuss: @theApresSki, @MrLuxurySki, @TetonGravity, and of course, the Queen of the Mountain herself, @LindseyVonn.