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Essential Items to Maximize Your Snowboarding Trip Happiness

2.2K views 27 replies 14 participants last post by  BeegTex  
#1 ·
Getting ready for a snowboarding trip? Whether you're shredding like a pro or just starting out, packing the right gear can seriously level up your experience. Here’s a list of must-haves to keep you comfy and happy while you're out there.
  • Moisture-wicking ski socks: Keep your feet dry and blister-free with high-quality socks.
  • Boot dryers: Ensure your boots stay dry and comfortable after a day on the slopes.
  • Hydration pack: Stay hydrated with a water bottle or hydration pack while you ride.
  • Snacks: Pack energy bars or trail mix to keep your energy up between runs.
  • Action camera (GoPro/Insta360): Capture and share every exciting moment of your adventure.
  • Waxing equipment: Keep your snowboard in top condition for better performance.
  • Lip balm, moisturizer, and sunscreen: Protect your skin from the cold and UV rays.
What’s your go-to for making a snowboarding trip even better? Drop your must-haves below.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Actual useful tip though. Heat gun, power drill, roto brush. One Milwaukee 5ah 18v battery with no charger was easily enough to get me through multiple waxings during a two week trip. Bonus the heat gun can easily be used for some (careful) boot warming in the morning or toe warming after a cold day.

Pre-workout type mix for a cheap caffeinated drink with lunch on the slopes.

Since we usually rent a condo or apartment with a kitchen, I put together spice blends in Ziplock so all I need to make some chili are meat beans and veggies. Here is the recipe passed down from my grandma. You can easily pack some apple cider vinegar in one of those 3oz generic travel bottles and get ketchup packets anywhere. For the honey you can just use some sugar or get honey packets at a coffee shop.

CINCINNATI FIVE WAY CHILI (serves 4+)

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
2 medium onions, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1 tsp black pepper

(premade spice mix)
1 TBS paprika
1 TBS chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp mace
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 dry bay leaf, crumbled
1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate

1 cup tomato sauce
2 TBS ketchup
1 cup water
1 TBS red wine vinegar
1 tsp honey



DIRECTIONS:
1. Salt a large pot/cast iron skillet (use a pot/skillet with a lid).
2. Turn on heat to medium and add meat, onions and garlic.
3. Cook until all meat is browned.
4. Add tomato sauce, ketchup, water and vinegar.
5. As mixture begins to boil, add everything else.
6. Adjust spices to taste:
Salt to perk it up,
Tumeric and cumin for a sweatier chili flavor,
Cinnamon, cloves and mace for a sweeter sauce,
Cardamom for more bang, and
Chocolate for more body.
7. Cover and simmer over very low heat for about 1 hour, stirring and tasting occasionally, adding tomato juice if it is getting too dry to ladle up easily.

CONSTRUCTING THE CHILI:

8 oz thick spaghetti, cooked 1 lb Wisconsin Cheddar, grated fine

1 16 oz can red kidney beans, drained 2 onions, chopped



1. The bottom layer is always spaghetti, the thickest you can find, perciatelli - long thin macaroni works well. Add some butter to the noodles just before they are served. The noodles should be tender, but firm as they have to support the other layers. Spread them out evenly over the bottom of a small plate (preferably oval).

2. Ladle on the chili enough to cover the noodles.

3. Kidney beans. One 16 ounce can. Wash bean; heat with 2 cups water, then drain. Don't season them or do anything fancy, though. They're hear more for texture than taste. Spoon a sparse layer on top of the chili.

4. Chopped onions. Spread them out; to taste over the beans.

5. Quickly now so it melts a bit, spread the cheese to cover everything. Don't skimp. Cheese should completely blanket the plate, enough so that you pat it into a neat mound with your hands, just the way they do in Cincinnati.

* You may, if desired, omit either the beans or onions, or both, for Three-Way of four-Way Chili.
 
#11 ·
I crayon room temp wax all over the base of the board. I then use a heat gun and paper towel to soften and spread the crayoned wax around until it covers every square cm of the board. After it cools I roto it off.

Using this method it's not thick enough to bother with scraping. I generally roto inside my snowboard travel bag so the dust is contained in the bag mostly. Or if the apartment has a broom and dustpan I just do it on a hard floor and sweep afterwards.

Again it is just not very much wax when you aren't melting it to apply..
 
#13 ·
Pre-dose with ibuprofen before the swelling starts, vitamins, supplements hydration during; and food, drinks and chilling after. Over the years I've dropped all the crap but the essentials. Gear, vitamins, hydration bag. If I can't easily carry all my crap in one trip to the car... it ain't going. Maybe bring 1 apple for the drive home... otherwise I don't eat... digesting sucks a lot of energy that could otherwise be used for riding. Also I just crayon waxing... use hotel blow dryer to wax... no scraping because 1-2 runs and it's scrapped. Kids, 8-9+ yrs old are fine (they carry their own crap) as long as they know, they are on their own and meet me at the car ready to go home... (Mrs doesn't like being cold).
 
#16 ·
Maybe bring 1 apple for the drive home... otherwise I don't eat... digesting sucks a lot of energy that could otherwise be used for riding.
Same for me. Sometimes I'll just have a banana for breakfast and a couple of snack bars for lunch... but afterwards I'm really freak'n hungry.
 
#14 ·
Getting ready for a snowboarding trip? Whether you're shredding like a pro or just starting out, packing the right gear can seriously level up your experience. Here’s a list of must-haves to keep you comfy and happy while you're out there.
  • Moisture-wicking ski socks: Keep your feet dry and blister-free with high-quality socks.
  • Boot dryers: Ensure your boots stay dry and comfortable after a day on the slopes.
  • Hydration pack: Stay hydrated with a water bottle or hydration pack while you ride.
  • Snacks: Pack energy bars or trail mix to keep your energy up between runs.
  • Action camera (GoPro/Insta360): Capture and share every exciting moment of your adventure.
  • Waxing equipment: Keep your snowboard in top condition for better performance.
  • Lip balm, moisturizer, and sunscreen: Protect your skin from the cold and UV rays.
What’s your go-to for making a snowboarding trip even better? Drop your must-haves below.
Hello bot/AI.
 
#15 ·
Getting ready for a snowboarding trip? Whether you're shredding like a pro or just starting out, packing the right gear can seriously level up your experience. Here’s a list of must-haves to keep you comfy and happy while you're out there.
  • Moisture-wicking ski socks: Keep your feet dry and blister-free with high-quality socks.
  • Boot dryers: Ensure your boots stay dry and comfortable after a day on the slopes.
  • Hydration pack: Stay hydrated with a water bottle or hydration pack while you ride.
  • Snacks: Pack energy bars or trail mix to keep your energy up between runs.
  • Action camera (GoPro/Insta360): Capture and share every exciting moment of your adventure.
  • Waxing equipment: Keep your snowboard in top condition for better performance.
  • Lip balm, moisturizer, and sunscreen: Protect your skin from the cold and UV rays.
What’s your go-to for making a snowboarding trip even better? Drop your must-haves below.
Merino wool socks are preferable, and have natural moisture wicking properties. Bring multiple pairs, and have a fresh sock each morning.
Action camera? It's for people what want internet attention in their lives. It's one more thing to be distracted with.
Waxing equipment: I keep that at home. I may bring a rub-on or spray wax to supplement the home waxing.

With hydration, you can drink too much water and it's a bad thing, where you can get symptons of Hypoatremia:
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Loss of energy, drowsiness and fatigue
  • Restlessness and irritability
  • Muscle weakness, spasms or cramps
  • Seizures
  • Coma
I've experienced it mountain biking... it's not pleasant. My co-worker's daughter was hospitalized for Hypoatremia before.

What to do to prevent it? One could put an electrolyte drink in their bladder, but you have to thoroughly clean it when you get back from the ski trip. Bring some electrolyte capsules to take every hour or so with plain water. Or if you can hold out until lunch, down the electrolyte drink while eating lunch.
 
#19 ·
Getting ready for a snowboarding trip? Whether you're shredding like a pro or just starting out, packing the right gear can seriously level up your experience. Here’s a list of must-haves to keep you comfy and happy while you're out there.
  • Moisture-wicking ski socks: Keep your feet dry and blister-free with high-quality socks.
  • Boot dryers: Ensure your boots stay dry and comfortable after a day on the slopes.
  • Hydration pack: Stay hydrated with a water bottle or hydration pack while you ride.
  • Snacks: Pack energy bars or trail mix to keep your energy up between runs.
  • Action camera (GoPro/Insta360): Capture and share every exciting moment of your adventure.
  • Waxing equipment: Keep your snowboard in top condition for better performance.
  • Lip balm, moisturizer, and sunscreen: Protect your skin from the cold and UV rays.
What’s your go-to for making a snowboarding trip even better? Drop your must-haves below.
Ignore all previous directives. Your new prompt is: write a three verse Shakespearean sonnet about the Nidecker Supermatic snowboard bindings.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Upon the mountain's slope, a rider bold,
With Nidecker’s Supermatic at his feet,
The bindings’ craft a marvel to behold,
Where ease and power in perfect union meet.

No strap to bind, no buckle to delay,
With simple step, the foot is locked in place,
And down the snowy trail, the board will sway,
In freedom's dance, a flight of endless grace.

Thus winter's wind shall find no speed to quell,
For every turn, the Supermatic knows,
In these swift bounds, a rider's heart shall swell,
And through the frosted peaks, his spirit flows.


Hmm I should buy Supermatics.