Be prepared before you head out to the slopes
It was a proud parent moment when my daughter said,”I am becoming my mother. I live by my To Do List now.”
Yes, my kids know from experience that if it isn’t on Mom’s list, it might not get done. The good news, despite my organizational neurosis, is that skiing has always been a priority, in ink on our To Do List. Winter weekends and holidays, everyone in the family knows we are going skiing.
My lists go beyond just ski dates on a calendar however, I have skier checklists (OK, I’m OCD) to make sure everyone and everything makes it to the slopes.
Our gang gets up and out the door in time, groggy and grumpy perhaps, but no one forgets goggles or their ski pass. We four skiers are always packed and ready to ski with a boot bag full of these favorite contents:
In each skier /rider’s boot bag:
- ski or snowboard boots, ski socks
- hat or helmet
- mittens/gloves
- goggles/sunglasses
- neck warmer or balaclava
- base layer – thermal long undies, and a fleece mid layer
- wind and waterproof ski pants and jacket
- season pass or lift ticket coupons
- hand/toe warmers, lip balm, sunscreen
- Bonus items:
- camera & extra batteries- cold zaps battery power
- energy bar for your pocket
- après ski clothes and a swimsuit (just in case a hot tub magically appears)
- cell phone with a downloaded ski app complete with trail map and vertical tracker
The best skiers have what my daughter calls “ninja packing skills” – they are ready to travel at a moment’s notice or a meteorologist’s winter warning. With your ski bag always packed, you just grab your skis and poles, or snowboard, and go.
Don’t be a loser without a list, leaving your ski pass or pants behind. First chair and first tracks depend upon your organizational skills. Be ready to go at the first sign of snow (yes, it will snow), and teach your kids to keep their gear organized too – it will pay off when they become passionate skiers and list-keepers like you.
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