How to Use Cross-Country Skis As Decorations

Flying silently across the snowy landscape on a pair of cross-country skis is a relaxing experience. If you're a fanatic of the sport or simply looking for a distinct way to decorate a winter cabin, cross-country skis can also provide a type of décor. Consider using an old pair that you no longer use or purchase an antique pair of skis for a rustic look.


Instructions

1) Mount the skis on the wall. Depending on the space, you can hang them vertically or horizontally. Opt to hang them at various angles to create visual interest.

2 ) Attach pegs or hooks to an old cross-country ski and mount on the wall to hang coats.

3 ) Use a wooden peg holder to display different sets of skis and poles. This decorating option works best for those with a large collection of skis to display.

4 ) Incorporate the cross-country skis into your furniture. Create a headboard for a bed by lining up a row of skis and attaching them together. Build a chair that uses a similar row of skis for the back.

5 ) Place a pair of cross-country skis, boots and poles against your fireplace for a simple, yet rustic feel as if someone has just come in from the trails.

6 ) Turn four cross country skis into a picture frame for a painting or photograph of an outdoor winter scene. You could also use them for a mirror frame as well.

7 ) Wrap Christmas lights around a pair of cross-country skis and lean against the wall. Add ornamental greenery for a festive holiday feel.

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How to Ski in Verbier, Switzerland

Skiing enthusiasts flock to Verbier, Switzerland, every winter to take advantage of its legendary network of intermediate and expert-level ski runs. However, most of the best skiing to be had is off the beaten track, making Verbier an excellent place for dedicated skiers to hire a ski guide

Instructions

Ski in Verbier

1) Fly to Geneva, Switzerland if possible. If you fly to Zurich, you will have to access Verbier via Geneva anyway, requiring you to transfer twice if you are taking a train from the airport.

2) Secure your accommodations well in advance. Your options will be limited if you show up in Verbier without reservations, especially during the peak ski season around the Christmas holidays.

3) Know the local geography prior to your arrival. Technically speaking, the Verbier ski resort area is actually comprised of two towns. Le Chable is the lower village, and Verbier proper is higher up in the Swiss Alps.

4) Rent ski equipment if you are not bringing your own. Expect rental costs to be fairly expensive.

5) Remember that there are only a few runs designed for novice skiers. Verbier caters to skiing enthusiasts with considerable experience, and the vast majority of the ski runs are designated for intermediate or expert skiers. The Savolyres area, near the town of Verbier itself, is where most of the easy hills are located.

6) Sign up for ski lessons on the morning of your first trip to the slopes, unless you are an advanced-level skier. The Verbier terrain is generally quite challenging, even for skiers with considerable, mid-level experience.

7) Head for the local bars beginning around 4 p.m. if you want to enjoy drink discounts during happy hour. The restaurants get very crowded in the evenings, as do the nightclubs, most of which remain open until about 4 a.m. Expect a cosmopolitan crowd.

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How to Get Your Child Prepared for the Ski Slopes

You are on a holiday vacation to a ski resort. You have your old skis and warm jacket that you use every year. Your children, however, need more preparation before they will be ready to hit the slopes. Read this article for tips on how to prepare your children for the slopes.

Instructions

1) Skis or a Snowboard. You may wish to purchase your own equipment because you are done growing and will get many more years out of your equipment. Children, however, can outgrow their equipment quickly. If your child grows taller or improves his/her skiing ability, your child will probably need new skis. You also want to avoid buying your child a pair of skis to "grow-into". Purchasing skis that are too big will hinder your child's ability to learn. Unless you plan to purchase your child new skis at least every year, then try renting equipment until your child stops growing.

2) Boots. Make sure your child has a pair of boots that fits. Be careful to fit boots properly in the rental shop.

3) Socks. Also, purchase your child a pair of skis socks. Trying to keep feet warm with multiple socks instead of ski socks will probably cause your child significant discomfort in his/her boots. You also want to avoid stuffing your child's pants into the top of the ski boots. This will also cause your child severe discomfort. Keep your child warm by just pulling his/her snow-pants over the top of the boot.

4) Snow-pants. Waterproof pants are a must because children are far more likely than adults to spend time sitting in the snow. Then you must decide- pants with a bib or pants without a bib. Pants with a bib will help keep snow out. Pants with a bib, however, will also be harder to take off in the event of a bathroom-emergency. Snow pants without a bib can be easier to take on and off. If you buy pants without a bib, however, be sure to compensate with a longer jacket to keep the snow out.

5) Jacket. Buy a warm jacket. Try to buy a water-proof jacket as children are likely to roll-around in the snow. Buy a jacket that goes slightly below your child's waist to prevent snow from getting inside the jacket.

6) Gloves. Make sure your child has water-proof and warm gloves. Give your child hand warmers if needed. Also, buy gloves with extra area to cover the wrists.

7) The face. A child with exposed skin will probably feel the cold more than an adult. Buy your child a face mask or a neck warmer as needed.

8) The head. Your child needs a warm hat AND a helmet. You child should wear a helmet at all times while skiing. You child will also need a warm hat for après-ski time. Be sure your child can tolerate the material of the hat before purchasing. If you buy your child a wool hat and she thinks the hat is itchy, then she will probably take the hat off anyway.

9) Water. Make everything easier when your child gets thirsty by purchasing a small camel-back. These small backpacks hold water with a hose that reaches to your mouth. These small packs also have a pocket to store extra things in.

10) Sun Block. Put sun-block on every exposed and potentially exposed piece of skin. The sun is unexpectedly strong at high altitudes and can cause severe burns. Reapply halfway through the day.

11) Eye protection. Your child MUST have proper eye protection. Make sure your child has goggles instead of sun glasses. Goggles also protect your child from the wind, sun, snow and cold.

12) Attach things. Get clips to attach your child's gloves to her jacket. If you cannot find clips, then buy a long string [about the size of your child's arm span] and tie one end to both gloves. Put the string through each sleeve of the jacket. This way if your child takes his/her gloves off inside, he/she will not lose them. This will also prevent gloves from falling off the chairlift.

13) Congratulations, you have just made your child as comfortable as possible on the slopes.

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French Activities for Winter

Tourists flock to France every summer to experience its romantic architecture and picturesque countryside. The mild weather makes travel easier and the great outdoors more appealing. If you've been to Paris and other hot spots during the summer, you know what it's like to fight crowds and wait in line. During the winter you'll see another side of France that's just as charming; smaller crowds will make it easier to do what you want.

1. Ice Skating

   • If you're in Paris anytime between December and spring, immerse yourself in the romance of your surroundings with a trip to the stately Hotel de Ville. This hotel is the backdrop for a skating rink that appears every year and the setting couldn't be more romantic. Gorgeous Gothic and Baroque buildings are everywhere you turn and the beautiful Seine is nearby. If you have your own skates you can glide across the ice for free or you can rent a pair. It's an experience you'll never forget. Chamonix and other resort areas also offer ice skating.

   Ice Diving

   • Imagine plunging into a dark world where your bubbles dart across a shimmering frozen canopy like mercury. That's the world of ice diving; adrenaline junkies can get their fill under the ice of lake Tignes. The ice diving scenes in "The Big Blue" were filmed here but it's different when you experience it first hand.
     As you drop through a hole in the ice, you're protected by a safety line and expert guide. You're also wearing a dry suit so you don't feel the cold. This lets you enjoy an alien underworld where the ice glows and the fish are shadows in an inky blackness.

   Skiing

   • Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports and the Alps are an ideal place to experience skiing. Tourist hot spots like Chamonix offer trails for every skill and comfort level. Chamonix is also among the best places to ski in Europe since it sits at the base of Mont Blanc (the tallest mountain in Europe). With more than 30,000 acres and 145 trails, you'll never run out of places to go. Whether you prefer cross country skiing, downhill skiing or speed skiing with a parachute to control your descent, Chamonix has you covered.

   Igloo Building

   • For those with a taste for the unusual, the resorts of the southern French Alps borrowed this activity from the Eskimos. You can snowshoe to a site and build an igloo in half a day, or go for broke with an overnight excursion. The overnight excursion takes you to a high alpine plateau where you build an igloo and spend the night in it. Dinner and breakfast are included along with sleeping bags and mattresses. You won't forget the experience or the winter survival skills you learn.