Skiing

[DH]

Ill be going skiing for the first time in February. Some questions...

What are the best places to go within a couple hours from central Jersey?
Should I rent a cabin/hotel? Probably gonna have 6-8 people.
Should I take lessons first?
Will I be able to reant everything I need onsite?
Why cant Andy Reid win a big game?

Help.

[rjs246]

No idea what the best places are near central Jersey.
Rent a cabin. It's more fun.
Definitely take a lesson, on a snowboard. Skiing sucks. Snowboarding is the tits.
You'll be able to rent everything you need and tons of shtein that you don't.
His ego keeps him from changing his play-calling and he is terrible at scouting himself.

[Sgt PSN]

Definately take lessons.  Beginner lessons typically only last a half day or so, so it's not like you'll be tied up with them for your entire trip.  But once you've mastered the basic art of skiing, don't let your ego think that you are ready to conquer black or double black diamonds because you won't be and chances are, you're final trip down the slopes will end with you laying on a tiny sled being pulled downhill behind a skiing medic.  Stick with the bunny slopes and maybe a couple intermediate slopes as well. 

There are some good places in central and western NY to go.  I think the name of the mountain/resort I went to was called Gore Valley or Gore Mountain.....something like that.  I think there's another place that was called Bolton Valley Resort too.  The Poconos are always an option as well and are pretty good mountains for new/inexperienced skiiers. 

If you want to try and hang with the big boys though, then head up to Killington, Stowe or Sugarbush in VT.  First class everything up there. 

You will be able to rent everything you need.....skiis, boots, poles.  When you rent, let them know it's your first time.  They will give you a longer ski, which are slower and they will also losen the bindings on the skis so that your boots aren't permantly stuck to them.  That will come in handy when you fall because the bindings will release your boots which will lessen the chances of injury. 


And whatever you do, don't lick the frost off the ski lift.

[Wingspan]

You will be able to rent everything you need.....skiis, boots, poles.  When you rent, let them know it's your first time.  They will give you a longer ski, which are slower and they will also losen the bindings on the skis so that your boots aren't permantly stuck to them.  That will come in handy when you fall because the bindings will release your boots which will lessen the chances of injury. 

longer ski's are faster, shorter ones are for beginners

[hunt]

You will be able to rent everything you need.....skiis, boots, poles.  When you rent, let them know it's your first time.  They will give you a longer ski, which are slower and they will also losen the bindings on the skis so that your boots aren't permantly stuck to them.  That will come in handy when you fall because the bindings will release your boots which will lessen the chances of injury. 

longer ski's are faster, shorter ones are for beginners

shhhhhhhh!

[Sgt PSN]

Heh, I did type longer, didn't I?  Which is weird because I know I was thinking shorter as I was typing.   Sometimes I think my fingers have a mind of their own.

[Sgt PSN]

You will be able to rent everything you need.....skiis, boots, poles.  When you rent, let them know it's your first time.  They will give you a longer ski, which are slower and they will also losen the bindings on the skis so that your boots aren't permantly stuck to them.  That will come in handy when you fall because the bindings will release your boots which will lessen the chances of injury. 

longer ski's are faster, shorter ones are for beginners

shhhhhhhh!

ha!  Now that's just farging wrong. 

[Diomedes]

Never been, wouldn't know.  Have fun.

If I did go, I'd snowboard.  Skated for years as a kid, can't understand why anyone would want a seperate board for each leg.

[MURP]

- The Poconos has some decent mountains if you dont want to travel up to Vermont.   Camelback, Shawnee, Blue Mountain.   I would suggest just going up to Vermont and hitting up Killington or Okemo if you are going there for a little vacation.  Poconos are more for a day trip IMO.   Dont be intimidated by the big mountains, they have very long beginner trails which is great because you dont have to wait in line at a ski lift every 10 minutes. 

-  Take atleast one lesson.  More if you have the time.  You will enjoy your time much more if you know what you are doing.   The couple hours of lessons will allow you to do a lot more on the mountain and it is a lot better than killing yourself crashing over and over on the bunny trail. 

-  Like Sarge said, you can rent all of the ski equipment.  I would suggest you buy some very good gloves.  Nothing worse than your gloves being soaked through and your hands frozen.   Optional to get good snowpants that have pads built in.  Landing on Ice sucks. 

[Diomedes]

Is there snow on the mountains?  It's frosted only three time so far this winter...

[MURP]

they make fake snow. 

[DH]

I was thinking about Vermont and the Poconos, but thats cuz I dont know any other places. Ill definitely googles search the spot in NY sarge provided.

Whats a decent price for a cabin for a 4 day weekend?

[Wingspan]

you'll have a hard time finding anything for 4 days, most places book a few months in advance i would actually start calling and reserve a place today.

a cabin normally runs $250-$400 a night in the pocono area

[Seabiscuit36]

I hate skiing, mostly because i twisted my knee nastily.  Definitely get lessons, i thought because i was a good Skater/Hockey player that i would be able to translate that into skiing.  Also cut down on the Booze the first time Diehard.  

[DH]

I dont drink.