All of that said, sometimes we just want to go somewhere new and have a fresh skiing experience at a new mountain. Sometimes this means just a short drive to another local ski resort, but often we are forced to fly to that special mountain town and the thought of flying with all that equipment can be a little daunting. Here are a few tips to help make the trip simple and therefore more enjoyable.

Planning: A little planning goes a long way when it comes to traveling with your ski or snowboard gear. Start by asking yourself, “What type of terrain and conditions am I expecting to encounter?” This should help you decide which set of skis or snowboard you will want to take (that is if you actually have more than one pair). Also, consider whether or not you will have the opportunity to dry out your winter clothing each night. If you are staying in a hotel, motel, or condo then you will likely be able to do this. If on the other hand you are staying in a hostile or community lodging arrangement, then this might be more difficult and require packing extra ski coats or gloves. The goal here is to minimize the load. Apply this thinking to all items that you are considering taking. Remember, when traveling, less is more.
Packing: Nothing is harder than trying to drag two suitcases or duffle bags, a ski or snowboard bag, and a carry-on through a busy airport. So pack efficiently. Here are some tips.

1. Pack fleece jackets, hats, gloves, and neck gators into your ski carry bag or case. It is amazing what you can squeeze in around your skis and poles in these bags and there is the added benefit of padding that valuable equipment. This will also help to keep the equipment from rubbing against itself and damaging edges and finishes.

2. Use a soft ski clothing bag instead of a suitcase. I call these “exploding bags” because they tend to erupt when you unzip them at your destination. But in my experience a good soft bag will hold a lot more clothing then a suitcase. The only drawback is that things tend to get wrinkled. But that is a small price to pay for convenience in travel.

3. Don’t take your electronics with you. Unless you work for Teton Gravity Research of some other media company, you won’t need your expensive lap top, video equipment, or other large, pricey, delicate gear. It just sets you up for damage and is added weight and worry. Stick to a small camera that shoots video and takes still images and your Mp3 player. That is all you really need.

When checking in for a flight to your “perfect ski vacation”, be sure that you double check the tags for all checked bags. You want to make sure that it all is labeled to land where you are landing. Nothing ruins a good ski vacation like having your ski gear go to Colorado when you are going to Montana. Also, be sure to put ID tags on all of your luggage so that if a mix-up does occur, you have less hassle getting your stuff back.

We believe that by taking just a few minutes and carefully preparing for a long distance ski trip your vacation will more relaxed and stress free. Happy ski travels!