Happy 4th of July from The Ski Renter

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The final line of the Declaration of Independence reads “we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

Many of those that signed the Declaration of Independence did sacrifice their lives and fortunes in America’s War for Independence. Because they did so, we now live in one of the freest and most successful nations on Earth. It is appropriate, therefore, that we celebrate Independence Day with friends and family, enjoying the freedoms they bequeathed us.

July 4th is just around the corner! If you haven’t already made reservations for camping equipment, give us a call. We rent tents (all sizes), sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, stoves, coolers, lanterns, bear canisters and pretty much anything else you might need—and what we don’t rent, we sell. Need some backpacking food to throw in your backpack for that short trip on the 4th? We have that too. We have it all!

Do you need to reserve some gear for the holiday? Give us a call at 408-255-9600, email us at tsr@jaimem28.sg-host.com, or visit us at 10675 S. De Anza Blvd., Ste. 2, Cupertino, CA.

Don’t forget—why buy when you can rent?

Summer Weather at Last!

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Well, kind of! You can still go skiing at Squaw on weekends, or Mammoth every day. While we can still take care of your skiing or snowboarding needs, we’re also ready to help you prepare for summer hiking, backpacking and camping.

The Ski Renter rents tents (2, 3, 5 and 8-person), sleeping bags (0 degree-rated bags and 20 degree bags), sleeping pads, backpacks (five sizes; each size is adjustable), lanterns, backpacking stoves and two-burner car camping stoves, coolers, bear canisters, and more!

Spring Skiing and a Sale!

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The Ski Renters’ End of Season Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th

Apparently the groundhog was right: he came out of his den and saw his shadow, and now we are enjoying at least six more weeks of winter. This is a tradition that began in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1887. As the story goes, each year, when the groundhog (known as Punxsutawney Phil), comes out of his den on Groundhog Day, February 2, if he sees his shadow he goes back into his den and we have six more weeks of winter. He must have seen his shadow and then some this year, as we have had more than 337 inches of snowfall since Groundhog Day, including eleven more inches in just the past three days! Spring skiing is about as good as it gets!

In spite of the great snow, most of the resorts are still planning on closing mid-April, with the exceptions of Squaw Valley and Mammoth Mountain. Accordingly, we are planning our End of Season Sale for May 4th, so mark your calendar. Skis, snowboards, boots, jackets, pants, and poles go on sale. This is a great opportunity to pick up some good used equipment at great prices. Like always, we will have free hot dogs and soft drinks to help you keep your energy up while you shop!

We’ll see you then—and in the mean time, think snow (because you can never have too much)!

Getting the Proper Boot Fit

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Some say the hardest part of skiing is putting on the boots. Because of their stiff, outer shell, ski boots can be difficult to put on and take off. The shell is stiff to protect your ankles, but they definitely shouldn’t hurt!

To put the boots on, make sure all of the buckles are undone and that none have re-caught. With one hand, pull the tongue all the way forward while holding the inside back cuff of the boot with the other hand, spreading the boot as far open as it will go. Point your toe straight down into the boot, and then step straight down with your heel, letting it push your toes forward into position within the boot.

The boots need to be buckled when they are being fitted. Once the foot is in place, pull the power strap tight around the cuff of the boot and join the Velcro to hold it in place. Next, buckle the boot starting from the bottom and working your way up. (Later, when you are taking the boot off, unbuckle starting with the top buckle and work your way down, taking the power strap off last.)

When you are sitting or standing straight legged with the ski boots on and buckled, your big toe may be touching the front of the boot. However, when you stand up and bend your knees into skiing position, this should pull your feet back inside the boot so that the big toe just barely touches the front of the boot, or not quite touches the front of the boot.

The boot should fit snugly all over, but comfortably, like a glove. Not too tight, with too much pressure anywhere on the foot, but not too loose, either. You should be able to wiggle your toes, but not curl them, and your heel should not move up and down more than a quarter of an inch. You control your skis through your feet, so your boots need to fit snugly so that they respond immediately when you roll your feet and shift your weight making your turns.

Also, when you fit your boots, make sure you are wearing the same thickness of sock that you will be wearing when you are skiing. Socks shouldn’t be too thick; you don’t want your feet sliding within the boot. Definitely do not wear two pairs of socks for the same reason. And the socks should be made of a synthetic, or a wool/synthetic blend that will wick moisture away from your feet, helping to keep them from getting cold and clammy. Don’t wear cotton socks, as they absorb moisture, making your feet cold and clammy.

That’s all there is to it! Enjoy your skiing in comfortable, responsive boots—and don’t forget to think snow!

 

Seriously Fresh Snow!

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One of our bylines is “Think Snow!” Apparently you did, as we just got two to three feet of new snow in the Tahoe-Truckee area. That’s two to three feet of fresh powder, and there is another foot and a half on the way!

Why do we love new snow? Because it is very forgiving! It softens the bumps, smooths out the ride, and is easy to make turns in. It doesn’t grab your edges. It feels like you are floating, as long as it isn’t too heavy (meaning it has too much water content). When that’s the case, or when the new powder has been down for a couple of days and starts to congeal, it resists your turns more. If you notice that, you need to focus more on carving your turns. That’s also when the groomers come out, to make it easier for you.

For skiers and snowboarders, there’s nothing quite like fresh powder! Consider trying it with powder skis. They’re a little wider, to take even greater advantage of the soft stuff. We have a number of powder skis in our demo rack. They are bigger, and mostly aimed at our more advanced skiers. If you fit that description, give them a try. And whatever you do, keep thinking snow!

Snow!

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It’s here! 22 inches at Kirkwood, 18 inches at Dodge Ridge, 17 inches at Bear Valley, 16 inches at Boreal, 14 inches at Squaw, 13 inches at Northstar, and 12 inches at Heavenly. Another storm is expected next week! The experts are projecting anywhere from 11 inches (low projection for Mt. Rose) to 30 inches (high projection for Dodge Ridge and Squaw). It can always change, but that’s the current forecast for the next ten days.

We have 500 pairs of skis and 250 snowboards that are ready to get out on the slopes, along with almost everything else you might need to help ensure a great trip! All of our fitting technicians have just finished re-certifying for the season, so come in and let us set you up. After all, why buy when you can rent? And don’t forget to think snow!

Ski Resorts Are Opening Soon! Are You Ready?

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TIME TO GEAR UP FOR SKI SEASON!

Resorts Opening Soon

Heavenly and NorthStar have already started making snow! At this writing, both resorts plan to open on November 16th.

Limited Season Rentals

With a season rental, you have the skis or board, boots and poles already with you, ready to go. Just throw them in the car and go! You have them with you at your disposal from now until the end of the season. You can bring them in anytime during the season for buff wax, and if you want to try a different pair of skis or board, just bring the ones you have in and exchange them! What could be easier?

We only do a limited number of season rentals each year, so come on in and get your season rental now. Why buy when you can rent?

If you have your own board or skis in need an edge and wax, get this done soon so you’ll be ready when the snow falls. Don’t forget to keep thinking snow!

Join Our Team

Do you know anyone looking for part-time work? We’re hiring! We’re looking for a part-time team member to work over the Christmas holidays. Interested? Contact Kathy at 408-255-9600 or tsr@jaimem28.sg-host.com.

Ski Season May Be Closer Than You Think!

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GOOD NEWS FROM COLORADO!

Last Friday, Wolf Creek Ski Area in Southwestern Colorado opened for weekend operations. It was the resort’s second earliest opening of all time! Arapaho Basin, also in Colorado, is opening this Friday.

“With nearly two feet of natural snow combined with the low temperatures for snowmaking, we’ve been able to create a quality base for Friday’s opening,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin Chief Operating Officer. “We’re excited to get the ski season started.”

Hopefully this bodes well for our upcoming season here in California. Maybe it’s time to bring your skis and boards in for a pre-season wax and tune-up. We’re ready. At the very least, “Think Snow!”

Don’t Miss Our Sale! September 29th–October 7th

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Used tents, lanterns, backpacks and lots more, all at great prices! Help us clear out our summer stock as we get ready for the upcoming winter season. We are discounting the last of last season’s roof racks for skis and snowboards. Lots of accessories are also on sale, as well as some summer t-shirts and winter jackets.

Don’t forget to stop by the store between September 29th and October 7th! Our hours are Monday–Wednesday 11am–7pm, Thursday–Friday 11am–9pm, and Saturday–Sunday 10am–5pm.

Do you know someone who is at least 18 and in college or unemployed looking for a fun place to work (part-time) for the winter? We are hiring, so if you do know someone or you are the one looking, call us at 408-255-9600 and ask for Kathy or email us at tsr@jaimem28.sg-host.com.

Just looking to rent? Call us at 408-255-9600, email us at tsr@jaimem28.sg-host.com, or stop in to make a reservation. We’re located at 10675 S. D Anza Blvd., Ste. 2, Cupertino (close to Bollinger). Why buy when you can rent?

The Best Way to Spend Labor Day

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How are you spending your Labor Day?

Labor Day is just around the corner! Camping is one of the best ways to spend the holiday—one of the many reasons we live in California! Don’t have the gear you need? The Ski Renterrents tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, stoves, lanterns, and so much more! Call, email or come by and reserve your gear. Call 408-255-9600, or email tsr@jaimem28.sg-host.com, or drop in and do it in person at 10675 S. De Anza Blvd, Ste. 2, Cupertino. We are open 11:00 am–7:00 pm Mon–Wed; 11:00 am–9:00 pm Thu–Fri, and 10:00 am–5:00 pm Sat–Sun. Why buy when you can rent?