Who makes the best ski equipment - Rossignol, K2, Elan, Salomon, Atomic, Volkl?

"The right pair of skis should feel like part of your body" experts say. When considering buying a pair of skis, keep in mind a few things - ease of turning, vibration absorption, light weight, edge grip, stability at speed, and versatility in all conditions. Choose skis that fit your ability level. Ski boots should be comfortable and it must hold your heel firmly in place. I've heard so many people come off the slopes at lunch only to say their feet are killing them. Boots make or break your ski day. Choose wisely. We recommend perhaps renting skis the first few times you ski to see what you link or don't like. Get a feel for different bindings, boots and ski lengths. The top skis for 2006 to buy are: K2 Apache Crossfire w/ 12.0 IBX Binding ($899), Salomon Scrambler Hot Pilot Skis w/ S912 Bindings ($899), Atomic Metron:ex PULS-ti Skis ($729), Rossignol Zenith Z5 Oversize TPI Ski ($749), and the Rossignol Bandit B2W Ski ($599).

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The top ski boots for 2006 are Nordica Speedmachine 12 Men's Ski Boot ($649), Lange Comp 120 FR Medium Fit Ski Boots - Men's ($629), Tecnica Diablo Magnesium Hiperfit Men's Ski Boot ($599), Salomon X Wave 10 Fast Ski Boot ($549), and the Salomon Siam 8.0 Women's Ski Boot ($329). As we mentioned above, try on the ski boots and remember that comfort is the main criteria since you will be wearing them up to 7 hours a day when you are skiing. As for the top ski bindings of 2006, these were ranked the best - Atomic Neox 4.12 Ski Bindings ($249), Rossignol Scratch 140 TI WB Binding ($249), Salomon S912 TI B85 Ski Binding ($229), Marker Titanium 12.0 Piston Control Ski Bindings ($229). We found the best site for research and reviews on skis, ski boots, and ski bindings at Tramdock.com.

Where can I get quality ski jacket?

There's nothing that can ruin a good day of skiing except not being warm enough. A good ski jacket is critical to maintaining body heat and staying warm on the slopes. The top brand names in ski jackets are The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Sierra Designs, Columbia Sportswear, Sessions, Marker, and Spyder. Columbia Sportswear wins out for sheer variety and overall customer satisfaction. Their latest line of jackets with the Convoy Parka ($89), High Alpine ($189), Windy Point ($109), and Peak Ripper Shell ($99) offer waterproof, comfortable and extremely warm jackets for ski season. The North Face and Spyder ski jackets are excellent as well, but the price for some of their models far exceeds the competition for what you get. You can research and read reviews on all ski jackets at SierraTradingPost.com.

Top Ski Areas:

Looking for the ultimate ski vacation for 2006? Can't find a ski resort with everything you want? If you are traveling with a family, we suggest the Whistler or Lake Tahoe ski resorts since they offer more family experiences with lodging and restaurants catering to the family. Single or traveling with a group of adults, then give the ski resorts in Utah or Colorado are more your style with upscale accommodations and difficult ski slopes to challenge skiiers of all levels. If you are looking for a ski trip of a lifetime, we recommend going out of the country to France and ski in the Alps. Ski vacations to Europe (Italy, France, Switzerland) are not as expensive as you might think and the ski lodges and conditions are absolutely fabulous in rustic settings. Having done ski vacations mostly in North America and having stayed at top ski resorts in Vail and Whistler, I can say that my recent trip to ski in France was the most memorable. You can research and read reviews on over 2000 ski resorts worldwide at Goski.com. They give you tips on time of year to go, where to stay, and which ski areas offer what.

What ski resorts offer the best ski vacation packages?

We found that Whistler/Blackcomb ski resort was the best ski vacation destination in North America. With plenty of ski lodges to choose from and endless slopes on 2 mountains, the skiiing in Whistler is superb and a main reason why the Winter Olympics will be held there in 2010. There are other ski areas in Canada, but they can not compare to the sheer size and amenities offered at Whistler. You can rent houses, condos, townhomes or stay at a hotel near Whistler Village. There are 100's of restaurants to choose from and luxury shopping abounds. A close 2nd was Park City Utah, which again is a great destination for a ski vacation or ski trip. Utah did hold the winter Olympics not so long ago and the ski areas around Salt Lake City have flourished ever since with many European travelers coming to the ski resorts they saw on tv. Other top ski resorts in the US are located in Colorado (Ski Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen) and the Lake Tahoe area (Squaw Valley, Heavenly ski resort, and Northstar). You can get a Colorado Ski pass (good at 24 premier Colorado Ski Resorts) for $3000. Family ski vacations are becoming more popular again and ski resorts are located in all parts of the United States so choose one that is close to home to cut down on flying expenses. You can find out more information on Canada Ski Resorts at Ski-Canada.com and for Lake Tahoe see SkiLakeTahoe.com.

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