Posts Tagged ‘Must’

Protective Snowboarding Gear: A Must For Beginners And Expert Snowboarders

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

An extreme winter sport, snowboarding can cause injuries to the rider that could be as small as innocent and minor slips or as harsh as crashes that have a high impact and the consequences could be rather dire. The newcomer to snowboarding is often the most vulnerable and gets injured even while undertaking less risky maneuvers. All this implies that the snowboarder requires protective snowboarding gear and this is more relevant to snowboarders that have not yet learned how to keep a stable stance on a snowboard and so face more threat of being injured.


In fact, it is believed that as many as 25% of injuries take place during the first experience a snowboarder has with snowboarding and nearly 50% take place during the first season.


First Time Snowboarders


First time snowboarders as well as regular snowboarders need protective gear and some of these are snowboard wrist guards, snowboard knee pads, snowboard hip pads, snowboard helmets, and a safety leash. The most common of all injuries that can be sustained by snowboarders is the wrist injury, which may be caused when one slips backwards or lands on the hands and the hard impact may cause sprains or fractures.


Protective gear such as Snowboard Specific Wrist Guards are ideal in preventing injuries as it can ease the force of the fall on the joints of the upper body. When hard collisions, such as hitting a tree or impacting from unexpected angles or turning motions occurs, the knees may get injured and so one needs protective snowboarding gear such as knee pads to help prevent contusions.


Another protective snowboarding gear that is used by snowboarders to cushion the fall as well as keep the seat warm and dry is the hip pad which is stretchable and can be pulled on like biked shorts. The extra padding in the backside of the Snowboard Hip Pads prevents tailbone bruises and the beginning snowboarder who does not wish to purchase such protective snowboarding gear may even rent out snowboard hip pads for the first few days of riding on the slopes.


It should be kept in mind that even professional riders use protective snowboarding gear such as hip pads, especially when trying out new moves in the halfpipe and terrain parks.


Sometimes the snowboarder may crash with natural objects such as hard snow or ice surface conditions or rocks and trees and this may result in serious injuries. This means that one should use protective snowboarding gear such as a helmet, even if one is very able and has high level of expertise.


Finally, one may need another protective snowboarding gear called the safety leash, which is a safety must and is essentially a non-releasing strap that can be wrapped around the leg to prevent the snowboard from getting away accidentally.

For more information on protective snowboarding gear visit http://www.snowboarderbasics.com/ or http://snow-boards.blogspot.com/

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Holidays where cheap travel insurance is a MUST

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

If you’re going on holiday this year then there may be a temptation to skimp on cheap travel insurance in a bid to cut corners and save money. With the worsening economic situation, it is understandable that travellers want to make cutbacks and not shell out on unnecessary extras.

Cheap travel insurance is one thing you cannot afford to skimp on however, especially with as many as one in three Brits claiming on their travel insurance after going on holiday. If you are prepared to shop around then there are some excellent deals to be found and quality cover on the cheap. Travel insurance is needed on most holidays abroad, but for these three holidays it is absolutely essential:

Prague, Czech Republic

Tourism to Eastern Europe has been growing in popularity steadily for a while now but the Czech Republic has probably got more of a boost in tourism than other surrounding countries. The capital Prague offers some stunning gothic architecture at the Prague castle which includes the St Vitus Cathedral.

Unfortunately, the darker side of Prague is notorious for petty crime, particularly pick-pocketing. Cheap travel insurance is an essential for a holiday in the Czech Republic but in Prague in particular, in case your wallet is stolen. Holidaymakers are also advised to take travellers’ cheques with them instead of large sums of money.

Colorado, USA

If you’re worried about the depreciating value of the pound against the euro but can’t give up on the adrenaline rush of skiing, then Colorado is about as good as it gets. Your cheap travel insurance is well warranted here though, as is a crash helmet.

The Crested Butte resort was voted one of the most dangerous mountains in the US, and with extreme runs such as Body Bag it’s not difficult to see why. For extreme winter sports like skiing and snowboarding cheap travel insurance is a pre-requisite.

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand is the back-packers country of choice and for those travellers on a budget provides an excellent snapshot of Asia. Bangkok is an unusual blend of simple elegance and awe-inspiring extravagance. The Grand Palace is about as opulent a marvel as you will ever see but it’s set against a backdrop of vendors selling succulent street food.

Thailand also dominates the travel insurance claims in the UK: from illness, to injury, to missing luggage or traffic accidents. Bangkok itself is responsible for some of the most numerous and varied travel claims on the planet, making cheap travel insurance a necessity for travellers visiting the Thai capital.

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Snowboard Gear – What you Must Have to Enjoy Snowboarding

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Snowboarding is a fun sport that requires skill, technique, energy and a bit of courage to get the most enjoyment out of it. In saying this, while you are learning the technique of snowboarding and then testing your skills by perfecting jumps or flying down a slope you need the right snowboard gear. Snowboard gear essentially is there to protect you from falls and other mishaps that you will experience as you progress in your snowboarding adventures. This article will discuss some of the gear you need and some that is not as essential.

No Bumps On The Head

Starting from the top of the body, you need to protect your head. You will see many snowboarders that don’t have helmets because they don’t like the feel of a helmet or maybe they are just free riding down a hill and don’t think it is necessary. It is probably a good idea to start off with a helmet and then make your mind up as you get more experienced. If you are doing jumps or contemplating black runs or off piste snowboarding then it is a good idea to wear a helmet.

You want a helmet that fits snugly without being too constrictive. It may also provide insulation against the cold.

Goggles may not be a priority for you but they also provide protection from the sun and the glare of the sun off the snow. They help your eyes when it is snowing or windy. This is vital when you are going fast down a slope and need to be able to see where you are going. Many people start off with sunglasses as they are similarly effective but goggles are best in the long run as they create a seal around the eyes and stop snow getting between your eyes and the lenses.

Keep The Body Warm But Not Too Much

For the body you need warm, water proof clothing that also allows air to circulate so that you don’t become too sweaty. There are countless choices when it comes to a snow jacket. You can go with the standard jacket or a smock or even a snow suit. Apart from the look of the jacket you need to consider how well it insulates and keeps water out and if it is designed to let air circulate. You may want additional features like number of pockets or storage places. Some jackets come with ipod or cell phone storage but this would be considered nice but not necessary to have.

In terms of protection against falls you may consider padding for the knees and elbows. These are the most likely areas to be affected if you fall. Snowboard pants also have padding in the knee area and around the rear to protect against falling on the tail bone.

Gloves are also essential. Your hands will feel the cold the most and they will need to be protected against the cold and snow. You will also be carrying your board from time to time or lifting barriers or holding onto t-bars. If your hands are cold they will lose feeling and can be easily damaged. Gloves are essential if you are planning on snowboarding for the day. If you are just messing around for a few runs then you might be ok but I’d always advise to wear gloves.

The boots and board go together and is another topic that is concerned with performance rather than protection. There are other things to consider in terms of the board. This involves the type of snowboarding you want to do and the level of experience you have.

For snowboarding tips and reviews of snowboarding gear then visit http://www.snowboardnskiing.com . The site features reviews of gear including no fog snowboard goggles. Adrian writes on skiing and snowboarding.

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Snowboarding Gloves: A Must In Cold Weather

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

There is lot of contact with snow whilst snowboarding and a good day may turn very cold if the hands become wet and freezing. It requires a lot of serious consideration when purchasing snowboarding gloves as it is very important to purchase the right gloves. One may also think about mittens to act as a substitute for boarding gloves and these are perfect for people who have cold hands as all the fingers fit in the same compartment and thus stay warmer longer.


For those who like the feeling of snowboarding gloves they should use a glove liner inside the mittens. The inner liner is essential for boarding gloves or mittens and is normally made from fleece or other soft moisture-wicking material. When the boarding gloves are not being used like at the end of the day, one should remove the liner so that both it and the glove can dry out quickly.


Different Layers Of Waterproofing


Snowboarding gloves have many different levels of waterproofing and the prices of these gloves vary according to the amount of layers present. Normal gloves usually have a waterproofing coat while more expensive boarding gloves may have Gore-Tex lining as well as taped seams to give better waterproofing and are most useful in case of wet climates.


The design of snowboarding gloves may consist of large wrist cuffs that go over the sleeve of the jacket while some may go under the jacket sleeve. There are also many snowboarding gloves that are made especially for the springtime and one should try them out while wearing one’s jacket to find the right pair of gloves and the choice one makes is mostly dependent on individual choice and preferences.


There are many gloves that have elastic cuff cinches to enable the gloves to be easily pulled off and there are also some that have soft fleecy patches that are used for itchy noses or there may be a small plastic squeegee on the finger for wiping one’s goggles. The additional features of course end up costing more.


A name that is well known in selling good snowboarding gloves is Burton who has a wide range of gloves that are simple, versatile and keep the user’s hands warm. These snowboarding gloves are strong enough for men and also stylized enough for use by ladies. Some of their gloves have Rodeo leather palm and also have stretchable no-snag Velcro cuffs.

For more information on snowboarding gloves visit http://www.snowboarderbasics.com/ or http://snow-boards.blogspot.com/

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