I know there are many of you out there that aren’t enticed by the word Free. In fact, there are probably more of you out there that dash away from Free because it probably has strings attached, isn’t of good quality or doesn’t really exist (No such thing as a free lunch, etc.).

Well, put all your trepidations aside and open your heart and mind to the idea of first-rate free, a.k.a nothing, on the house, open, liberated  or gratis. . . you get the idea. Today, I’m here to tell you about about Free Ski-iPhone Apps you can download to your iPhone and get some really stellar information, from trail maps to lift openings to snow reports to directions and much more. You can get apps from Apple’s App store or find guys who post them on their own websites.

The Ski-O-Meter iPhone app lets you keep your iPhone snug in your zipper breast pocket and record everything from distance, speed, maximum, average, and minimum speed. All you have to do is press Play, while being sure to put the iPhone in the lock position. I know I love having this information after a long bike ride, so now it’s possible with skiing. I think this app is really great for either alpine or cross-country skiers.

The Snocater iPhone app is probably one of the most diverse iphone applications; plus, it’s really built for skiers and boarders by skiers and boarders. The displayable trail maps not only show you where you are, but allow you to interact and see where you’re going or how to get there (mid trail). Not to mention, you can access mountain cams, get forecasts, check nearby lifts and runs and terrain, all while  keeping in touch with friends through Sniff—a texter that allows you to text friends and see where they are at too. The designers, Liberty Media Corps, are offering both US and International locations (coming soon).

The RealSki iPhone App doesn’t use virtual reality but claims to be unique in it’s use of AR or Augmented Reality. To describe it, the app overlays digital graphics by utilizing, “camera, compass, and other 3GS features to overlay ski runs and key points of interest in AR.” Essentially, as you turn the iPhone to the slopes, little ski trail and resort signs (green here) pop up on the screen telling you which way to this or that run.

The Hangtimer Iphone App maybe doesn’t do a lot of fancy-shmancy stuff, but it does do one thing that all the other never thought of—catch how long you catch air! I like this app because it’s good for skiing but good for a lot of other sports where air time may not be important but is fun. Apparently, in using some arduous math skills, it can tell when you take off and when you land, whether jumping off a cliff or careening down a slope or roller coaster.

The REI Snow Report iPhone App pretty much has it all. You can view snow reports around the globe, so it’s not just US-Centric! From Australia to Chile, New Zealand to Austria, this app can show you the depth, forecasts, trails, maps, open and closed lifts and even projected snow fall. You can even access web cams and links to other web resort sites. Aside from Hangtimer, this app can do what all the others can do, combined. Improved from last year and unique, get it for free now.

The iTrailMap 3D iPhone App lets you see yourself on a 3D mountain and record them and later get them on the web. Additionally, you can keep record of your stats, like distance, speed, vertical drop and much more. Some unique, fluid features include rotating 3D, panning, switch from digital to paper maps and even see the snowscape in landscape mode, showing you all the terrain and topography. Whats more, once you have the maps downloaded, you don’t need cellular connection while mid-piste. You’ll have access to it all from memory and see it when you want, regardless of connection.

The SkiJump Lite iPhone App has been said to be a very addicting game. I’ve not tried it, but for all it’s worth, I thought including a generic little game would keep you from getting bored with all the serious stuff. What is really cool about this game, however, is that once you do make an amazing jump (longest, as this is the aim of the game), your score is uploaded to the database automatically and you are entered to win some cool prizes, from Gore-Tex jackets to Softshells that make skiing fashionable and fun.

From Strap-Ons to Snowboard Slings, I’ve looked for some of 20-10s cutting edge toys to help you squander that ski holiday money. At any rate, I just wanted to give you some ideas for the slopes to help you with everything from staying warm to staying in step. Here are some things to help you get at it!

iPhone Apps

I might as well give you a sneak preview of next week’s blog article: iPhone Apps. I’ll soon give you a run-through and teach you about some of the niftiest iPhone applications related to skiing, but for now, I’ll tell you that there are all kinds of apps for gear, snow conditions, trail maps, international and US ski resort information and weather updates. It’s like playing God, pointing to what you want to see and instantly knowing. Oh the Power! (Stay Tuned.)

Battery-Heated Ski Socks

Say you’re on ski holiday but you never really get to enjoy those Alps in Tonale, Italy nor do you ride the runs in Tignes, France because you’re always just too cold. If you’re the type that freezes to death on a summer’s eve, it’s time to quit shivering. May I introduce to you the battery-heated ski sock, long enough so you can still fit into your ski boots, and warm enough to keep you skiing merrily till dusk. If you’re still cold you can try Smartwool socks, Insolator winter insoles or Thermastat silk that heats up naturally. Ther-Mic Foot warmers have insoles already built in to a battery operated heater sock. You may never have to enjoy hot cocoa again…

No Such Thing As Handicapped

If you have an amputation above the knee, then do not fret—Your high-adrenaline rush will continue to flow with the XT9 Energy Storing Prosthetic Knee. From Telemarking in Kranjska Gora to Alpining or Cross-country skiing in Les Orres, SymBiotecks make it possible to ice climb, play ice hockey, go ice skating or, yes, snowboard (among many other non-ski related fun). Your next skiing holiday will be just as fun as you remembered it, but this time, you may even be better than ever!

SnowQ Snowboard Sling

Though this doesn’t involve any batteries or windy widgets, the SnowQ Sling allows you to carry your snowboard or skis on your back. This is especially handy, if like me, your ski hotel, hostel or apartment is immeasurably far from the slopes (yes, because I’m poor and cheap). At any rate, no more lugging your skis or board to the slope with arms achey and numb. (So far, I think these are only available online from retailers in the USA.)

Tri-Slider Sled

Some of us just want to stay off our feet while on ski vacation. One way we can do this and have more fun is through the tri-slider sled. This sled allows the rider to comfortably sit over the top of their legs and have control whilst going vroom down hill. The concept is quite easy and nicely ergonomic. There’s even brakes and steering handlebars.

Strap-On Snow-blades

You’ve probably heard of these because they have been around for a few years. Snow-blades are unique in that they are shorter but wider and mainly used for Alpine skiing, though denomination groups for snow-blades may very well use them for all kinds of purposes. They are easy to carry around and great for carving. Usually, these are worn with your alpine ski boots, without poles.

The World Cup Finals are a sure sign that spring has arrived and that Alpine Skiing will retreat from the spotlight for half a year.

The best skiers are gathered in Garmisch Partenkirchen and are taking part in the last competitions of the season, but many are already adding up the scores of this season. The season itself is far from over; there are several National Championships taking place in April and some FIS races as well. Some skiers will take time to test new equipments, as all sponsorship deals end after the Olympics.

The Germans are learning how to organise World Championship races. Garmisch Partenkirchen is hosting major skiing events next year as well as they gained some experience by hosting the Junior World Championship in Alpine Skiing last year and this year it was the world cup finale. After what I’ve experienced, they have their work cut out for them if they wish to get any praise in the future.

The press centre in the arena was certainly too small. In fact, it was actually a combination of a canteen, a space for teams and working space for reporters. Chaos ensued. During the first race of women’s grand slalom there was a power outage and many reporters were left without visual contact and race results.

This is unforgivable; every FIS race must have backup generators to prevent such problems. There were also plenty of logistical problems and it is vital they sort out the parking facilities. All in all, there is plenty of work to be done, and the slopes themselves are not as attractive as they could be.

A lot of buzz is surrounding the Austrian team. Once the strongest Alpine Skiing team in the world just had the worst season in history. First, there is the disaster at the Vancouver Olympics: the Austrian male team did not bring home a single medal. Downhill, the most revered discipline and an Austrian speciality, proved to be a disaster. They did not manage a single win in the entire season, which last happened 18 years ago. Things weren’t that great in the Super G and grand slalom either.

The only successful skier this season was Reinfried Herbst in slalom, and this does not suffice for the Austrians. Tony Geiger’s dismissal is now a fact, and it looks like the team is changing its head of the national team after 11 years. The chairman of the Austrian skiing association Peter Schröcksnadel is announcing radical changes, for example hiring Austrian coaches which had success with training other National teams. We have some interesting changes to look forward to as far as the »coach market« is concerned.

We need to mention someone else as well. In the men’s super G, we saw Liechtenstein’s Marco Büchel on the starting line for the last time. He is one of the most well loved alpine skiers. Everyone from his competition, coaches and reporters adored him. When he made it to the finish line in his shorts, half the female world cup contestants were waiting for him there. The winner of 4 world cup races is finally giving up skiing at 38. Now he’ll be able to spend more time with his wife Tania and his dog Jesper. He will surely stay linked with skiing however; he will be the expert correspondent at a German television channel.

Once you’ve got skiing in your blood, there’s no turning back.

If you get the chance on your next ski holiday to Chamonix or Courchevel (or any number of resorts) and want to wander off track, then it may suit you best to try one of these wacky winter getaways. Now, these are not your traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride or ever-fun snow tubing. No, they are very real pursuits of the half-wits of the slopes who believe that regular snow pursuits just don’t provide the adrenaline rush that it used to. Be sure to either be ready to die, ready to get very hurt or, if lucky, survive to tell about these next tomfoolery exploits.

Sailing on the Ice

There are plenty of places in Europe where beautiful mountain lakes freeze over and fill to the brim with ice. An alternative to ice skating or ice fishing or anything sane for that matter is ice sailing. This involves forming a sail on a sled or other bladed contraction to go sailing (really flying) across the frozen ice and tundra. If you’re  a seasoned sailor, then ice sailing may come a bit more naturally to you; if not, then be prepared to zoom till you either collide with something or flip ass-over-kettle. By the way, there’s no real method to stopping!

Play Like a Polar Bear

There is a club of fellas and ladies who gather together to take a dip in freezing water. The Polar Bear Club has been around for several decades and baptises wannabe members by making them swim in below freezing water (well, it sure feels below freezing). The not-yet iced-over water makes a great escape from a day of turmoil and offers you to turn your body blue. The ice-shock to the body is said to be a cure-all for most any ailment. You won’t be playing as much as running for the nearest place to get warm.

Shovel Skiing

There was a group of workers who needed to get down from a day of labour from atop the piste when the lifts were non-functioning. One way they did it, in fact, was by riding their snow shovels down the slope. The fun caught on and today there are shovel sledding races all over the world, with dedicated shovel-athletes competing for the top prize—clearing the snow from the patio decks! (Just kidding). The best shovel skiers have designed their own shovels for the events, and often come up with some crazy designs. As long as you can shovel with it, you can ski downhill with it in competition.

Bike Skiing

It’s not as far fetched as the title would have you believe. There are bikes out there, for real, designed to go down and across snow. There’s even an association of riders who mount their favourite snow bikes and head out on a cold day. At any rate, ski bikes can have a back wheel and a front ski blade or a blade on the front and the back. Riders can pedal around or glide downhill and use the some mechanics as skiing to turn, stop and throw snow at passer-bys.

Blade Runner

This is not about the famous science fiction movie or novel. This is probably one of the most dangerous skiing pursuits tried today. Blade runners simply jump out of a plane and head down a course of tall pylons. The person who makes it through by touching less and staying hovered above the ground usually wins. There are measurements about how far or below the torso must be to the “blades” or pylons and participants often jump out of the plan several thousand feet above the ski slope before aiming perfectly downhill. This sport is not for the inexperienced, that is for sure.

I spent this weekend with a friend of mine filming at Vogel, Slovenia. We built a nice step-down jump over the road with had a great view of the mountains behind. A perfect place to make a cool trick over and get away with a clean shot which could be published on an internet page, ski magazine or on a commercial.

Performing tricks in the park are usually much more easier easier to do than in the great back-country of the Alps. The big difference between doing a jump in a park or in the back-country is often it’s location. Doing one in the back-country often has a rough landing zone which is covered with trees. It’s often short with no pop at the end and also it’s often narrow and the in-run is hardly skiable without a good knowledge of skiing. Below I have set out, in my opinion, 7 ways of progressing from park to back-country jumping:

1. get really comfortable with a trick in the park
2. find a nice open place with steep landing and without trees in it
3. locate the area where you can build the jump and making sure that you will have enough speed to clear the gap
4. get focused on the trick and landing before getting counting the number of tries (max 3)
5. land the trick with perfection
6. check the shot with your photographer and cameraman
7. take a rest, go for a beer at a lodge on the hill

These are just a few tips for all you free-ride and free-style skiers out there. Be careful that the location is not exposed to avalanches and that the weather is perfect.

Each Olympic Game brings its own winners and losers and their stories inspire us and other athletes for decades to come. These are stories that embody the Olympic dream. Children that wish to become athletes don’t dream about winning a world cup or perhaps a world championship competition, what drives them is the thought of winning an Olympic medal.

This is the magic behind the most prestigious sporting event. Every 4 years the best of the
best gather for 14 days and push the limits of what was thought possible. Higher, faster, stronger.

True heroes aren’t always those who win gold. There are hundreds of athletes from all over the world, and everyone has a story. Canada was moved by the story of Joannie Rochette. The popular figure skater’s mother passed away just before the start of the Olympics, and everyone thought that she would retire from the competition, but instead, she decided to participate and show the world everything she was working for every day these past 4 years.

The whole nation supported her. She received hundreds of letters and emails, each full of support and comforting words when she needed them most. She was very nervous before both of her performances, but she managed to focus and her performance was nearly perfect. She won bronze. Her father was on the stands, crying, and everyone in Canada was watching as well.

After the competitions she said, that this was something she had to do, and that her mother would surely understand, since she was supportive throughout her career and that she felt she was with her throughout the Olympics as well. This was the first figure skating medal for Canada since 1988.

This is just one among many stories that have already become part of Olympic history and those who will in the years to come. The only other story that touched so many people during these Olympics is Petra Majdič winning bronze in sprint cross country skiing with four broken ribs.

Both athletes have shown that the power of spirit can overcome the body, and that the limits of what was thought possible can be moved.
If we look through the archives of past Olympic Games we can find many of these stories. But their magic lies in their emotional charge and their power to inspire us to try harder in our day to day lives. Not all heroes are those who appear on the big screens. Everyone, who sets out to achieve their dream and is prepared to risk it all, is a true hero.