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Your Pre-Snow Checklist

Prepare for your best season now!

Some leaves are already changing color, and we’ve felt some crisp air blow through recently. The calendar says September, but like any avid skier or snowboarder, Fall means counting down the days until we can get back on snow! There’s plenty we can do to get ready for the upcoming ski/snowboard season (besides just drooling over the latest gear guides) – here are the top 3:

1. Equipment Check: make sure your current gear still fits and is in good repair. For kids especially, last year’s gear might not fit after their summer growth spurts. Best to get them in equipment that will fit both their size and ability level for the upcoming season. Economical ways to kit out the kids include shopping some of the area ski swaps (a fantastic way to recycle your outgrown gear too!) or checking out season-long lease programs offered by select area shops. If you’re ready to spend on new equipment, this season’s newest offerings are just hitting the shops now. If you’re after the latest and top-rated gear, be prepared better buy early – the most popular models tend to sell out quickly. Some shops still have some models from last year, so you could score new gear at a discount.

2. Plan your Trip(s). Before they have a snow report to brag about in their marketing, the destination resorts tempt travelers with the best deals on lift tickets, lodging and airfare. It’s good to book early if you know where you want to go. Wish to take a mountain trip but willing to play it by ear? Keep an eye on the snow reports to help guide you to the best conditions. Staying local? Research options within a reasonable drive of the Twin Cities.

3. Conditioning! Whether you’ve been active all summer or just coming off a State Fair-fueled cheese curd binge, skiing and snowboarding are sports that we’re most successful at if our bodies are prepared to perform. If you’re aching to make some real turns now, The Alpine Factory is an effective and convenient way to get ready to conquer the mountains with confidence and skill. There’s no better way to get better at skiing or snowboarding than by practicing skiing or snowboarding! Consider booking a package of lessons to redeem this Fall, so you won’t have to spend the better part of December and January working on getting your skills back to where you were last Spring. We always get a bit rusty after a long off-season, but now you can stay in top form all year long.

Keep doing those snow dances, too! See you on the slopes (indoors AND outside)!

Join the thousands of Twin Cities skiers and snowboarders who enjoy the slopes. We'd love to help get you to top form.

Book a lesson today