Top 10 Gifts for the Skier or Snowboarder

When you see the snow softly falling outside the window you can’t help but think how beautiful it looks. When the powder hits the slopes, skiers and snowboarders can’t help but think about how fast they can get to the top of the mountain. If you have a skier or snowboarder on your gift list this year, see the top ten items below that they’d be happy to receive.

Safety first:
The skier or boarder in your life needs a helmet to keep them safe. With the high speeds that these athletes are capable of reaching, you’ll want to make sure that their noggin is protected. If you’re unsure what size helmet your skier or boarder needs, give them a gift certificate to a ski sports store so that they can pick one out for themselves.

Style next:
Your skier or boarder will need stylin’ gloves and a scarf. Make sure the gloves are made of a water proof high quality material, such as gore tex, so that their hands will stay warm and dry on those frigid days. The scarf will keep the biting cold away from their neck.

Don’t forget speed:
Boarders and skiers alike need wax for their board or skis. This is an inexpensive gift (think stocking stuffer at Christmastime!) and can be found in many "flavors."

Another gift for speed:
The edges of those skis and that board need to be filed with an edging tool. Keeping those edges sharp will guarantee that the athlete is able to make their turns and make it down the slopes fast.

A gift for sight:
Goggles can be a pricey accessory for a skier or boarder, but it’s definitely one they need. When the wind comes whipping over those icy slopes, they need to keep their corneas protected. Goggles are also great for sunny days; the sun bouncing off the slopes causes a glare which can make it very difficult to see. Sunny days on the slopes can actually burn a skier or boarder’s retinas.

Gifts to keep them warm:
Most retail sports stores sell warmer packs that can fit in the palm of your hand. These packs can be worn inside a skier or boarder’s gloves or inside their boots to keep their hands and feet warm. The warmer pack isn’t activated until you "break" the activator inside; once that is done, they will stay warm for hours.

Gifts cards are always welcome:
Skiing and snowboarding are expensive sports. Your gift recipient will appreciate a gift card to the ski resort of their liking. The gift cards can be used towards lift tickets, equipment rentals or food at the lodge.

How about a sports mag?
There are many magazines that cater to skiers and snowboarders nowadays. Some popular ski titles include Ski, Powder and Freeskier. A few popular snowboarding titles include Snowboarding, Ultimate Snowboarding and Transworld Snowboarding. Subscriptions to these magazines are affordable and will delight your gift recipient all year long.

More reading material:
Just a quick search on amazon.com’s search engine will return hundreds of selections of books about skiing and snowboarding. A few that look especially entertaining and capture the adventurous spirit of the skier or boarder include, Instant Karma: The Heart and Soul of a Ski Bum and The Art of Snowboarding.

For their viewing pleasure:
Use that same search engine to look for DVD’s and videos about skiing and snowboarding and you will be surprised at how many options there are. Depending on the fitness and interest level of the person on your list, you can find instructional videos, entertaining videos or expert videos.

Visit Shelly's website AnotherPerfectGift for more unique gift ideas to accommodate every event.