The ski resorts are open! If this is your first time out to ski or snowboard we are sharing -10 Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Ski Trip from Travel and Leisure. Skiing may take a lifetime to master, but there are some easy mistakes you can avoid right now. To help, Travel + Leisure spoke to a ski instructor and a ski guide to share the best advice.
1. Picking a Resort That’s Above Your Skill Level - One good example of this is Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. Twenty-seven percent of their on-mountain terrain is for beginners and first-timers can ski down five of the resort’s six mountains.
2. Forgetting to Book Lift Tickets and Ski Lessons in Advance - Many resorts are only selling lift tickets and ski lessons in advance this year, nixing day-of ticket window purchases. But even if that wasn’t the case, sorting out lift tickets and booking ski lessons before you arrive will typically save you money. If you’ll be in town for a long weekend, ask the resort if they have a multiday pass or a lesson and lift ticket package. Or, see if the resort you’re headed to is included in the Epic or Ikon pass, both of which provide access to multiple mountains over the season and can offer serious savings for multiday or multiresort skiers.
3. Not Taking Time to Read Up on the Rules of the Resort (or Understand the Trail Signs) - There are some general rules that every North American ski resort adheres to, like coding each ski run with a difficulty rating — green circles for beginner runs, blue squares for intermediate runs, and black diamonds for expert terrain. But there are also rules specific to each resort. This year, most resorts are requiring guests to wear face coverings — an easy ask, considering most skiers sport a buff anyway — and many are only seating people together on a chairlift or gondola if they’re in the same ski group.
4. Not Knowing What Gear Should Be Rented and What to Bring From Home - There are companies that rent out soft goods (jackets, gloves, pants), but in general, most ski tourists opt to rent their skis, boots, and poles from a rental shop and bring everything else from home. If you go that route, you’ll need to buy (or borrow) a ski helmet, goggles, jacket, ski pants, gloves, and a buff (for cold and on-mountain COVID-19 protection). In addition, make sure you have thin wool socks and plenty of lightweight layers.
5. Picking Ski Boots That Don’t Fit Well - You’re going to be in your ski boots for four to six hours, so don’t mess around when it comes to fit. Ski boots are notorious for being uncomfortable, but they don’t have to be.
6. Thinking You Can Throw a Bulky Jacket Over a T-shirt and Go - Skiing is all about layers. In general, your base layer should be something warm and lightweight that wicks sweat like it’s its job. Then comes a thick layer, and finally, a waterproof shell to keep you dry no matter how many wipeouts you have. Depending on your ski pants, you can probably get away with a thin base layer pant that resists odor and keeps your legs warm all day long.
7. Leaving the Lodge Without Food and Water - If you’re going to be out in the elements all day, you’re going to have to think ahead. There’s food and water at the resort, but it’s always smart (both from a financial and safety standpoint) to bring along a little something.
8. Not Being Prepared to Battle the Sun - When you’re out on the mountain, your UV exposure is multiplied. Snow reflects the sun’s rays, so you’ll have to go overboard in your efforts to protect yourself from the sun above as well as the rays bouncing off the snow.
9. Thinking You Can Bomb Down the Hill Without a Lesson First - To start, your ski instructor will take you to the beginner zone, often called the bunny hill, to teach you the basics.
10. Letting Your Ego Take Over - Once you’ve taken a few lessons and have your skier lingo down pat, you might think you’re practically a pro. But keep that ego in check. Call it quits as soon as you get tired, because most injuries occur when skiers are fatigued, but decide to head up for just one more run. To read Travel+Leisure's full article - CLICK HERE.
Good news - Most Utah ski areas expect to be open by the weekend according to Rick Egan at The Salt Lake Tribune. By next Monday, all but five are expected to be open for the season. Snowbird will set off a second spree of openings Monday. The resort will require parking reservations for the first time this year as its method of limiting crowds and maintaining social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Sundance will start its lifts turning Friday and Deer Valley will join in on Saturday. Solitude plans to open Dec. 7 after delaying its start because of lack of snow. Eagle Valley, meanwhile, has set Dec. 18 as its opening date. Brighton kicked off the Utah ski season on Nov. 19 to passholders only. Park City Mountain Resort, Brian Head Resort, Alta Ski Area and Woodward Park City all quickly followed suit. Snowbasin opened Wednesday for its 80th season.
All Utah’s resorts require masks inside all buildings and in lift lines and are asking guests to stay with their groups on chairlifts. In addition, most are requiring lift tickets to be purchased online.
The living room is the every-room, so how do you design such a multifaceted space? Apartment Therapy answers that question in 5 Golden Rules for Designing a Great Living Room.
Don’t skimp on rug size - In a large room, like a living room, you can unify the space with a rug. And to do that, all of your furniture’s legs should sit on the rug. If your sofa is against the wall, the front legs of the furniture should sit on the rug.
Layer lighting - Overhead lighting is great, but it can be harsh. A soft glow creates a more intimate and sophisticated vibe. To achieve this look, add a variety of light sources—table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, bookshelf accent lights, and candles—to the room.
Follow the rule of threes - An odd number of items not only looks more natural, it also forces your eyes to move around, creating more visual interest. For an even more attractive vignette, try varying the size, height, and finish of the objects as well.
Choose the right accent tables - Coffee tables should be the same height as your sofa’s seat cushions, or very close to it. And end tables should be within a few inches of your sofa or chair’s arm height.
Float your furniture - By floating sofas and chairs away from your walls—even by just a few inches—you instantly create a more intimate conversation space. If you have a very large living room, you can break up and group the furniture to create natural conversation spaces throughout the room.
