Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
When it’s 90 degrees outside, you’ll take the time to stretch and warm up before your round of golf or your daily run. You wouldn’t think of playing softball without stretching or warming up. Then why do you walk up to the base of the mountain – click on your skis and just go? Hello! It’s cold outside! How about a warm up?

Snowmen have been spotted this morning along Pena Blvd in Denver. The life size snowmen have congregated near the Green Valley Rd. exit off of Pena Blvd and are looking for a ride to Copper Mountain…

Merry Christmas everyone and welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
Watch a really good all-mountain skier and how they handle all types of conditions on all variety of terrain. They handle bumps, powder, crud, wind-blown snow and combinations of all these conditions with ease and fluidity. The one efficient movement they make to ski all these conditions is retraction.

If you have not experienced the cuisine, breath-taking views, and laid-back atmosphere at Black Mountain Lodge yet, you are missing out. Come up to A-Basin and stop off at Black Mountain Lodge for lunch. Featuring an alpine-bistro style menu at affordable prices, Black Mountain Lodge is the ultimate in on-mountain quick dining with incredible views. Don’t forget to check out Black Mountain Sports located in the lodge, for all the things you may need while on the mountain. They carry everything from top-of-the-line sunglasses and goggles to t-shirts, hats, and sunscreen. We’ll see you at Black Mountain Lodge!

Looking for some great deals in Ski/ Snowboard School this season? Look no further than Arapahoe Basin’s Snowsports School. We have everything from Private lessons for kids and adults to Guarantee to ski and ride which includes a season pass! Call ahead for reservations, 1-888-ARAPAHOE.

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
Next time you put on your ski boots, I want you to think of me. Stop and look at the sole of your ski boots. I want you to check out the toe and the heel of your boots. Are they nice and square or all rounded off and chewed up from walking in them? If they are nice and square, go ski. If not, then listen up.

We all love movies, but this weekend a movie of stunning visuals and storytelling arrives in theaters, and it’s not the latest Tom Cruise film. This film instead focuses on something near and dear to our hearts: Skiing. Do the names Glen Plake, Chris Davenport, Ingrid Backstrom, and Seth Morrison ring any bells?

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
Flat light – those two words can wreck havoc with skiers. Everything looks white, no bumps, no rolls, and even the pitch of the run disappears. It can happen suddenly when clouds obstruct the sun or be continuous when the whole day is overcast.

Telluride, Colo. -

"We’re all in this thing together, walking the line between faith and fear. This life don’t last forever … when you cry, I taste the salt in your tears."
- Old Crow Medicine Show

The snow was coming in white sheets billowing from heavy pines. It was the kind of snow that bent time. The morning existed in a time lapse, everything blurry from the night before, from the falling snow, from the haze of hurt and the promise of a weightless day. We left Telluride amid the storms the day before because we had heard there might be enough snow at Wolf Creek to change our lives.

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
The fastest way to improve your skiing is to take a lesson. Professional ski instructors are trained to help you break through those tough barriers you can encounter when learning to ski. They also have a critical eye to help determine what you are doing wrong on the hill.

Looking for some great gifts for the skier or rider on your list? Look no further, Arapahoe Basin has plenty of unique gifts in Arapahoe Sports. You can pick up anything from Montezuma Bowl logo wear to posters or even Christmas ornaments. If you can’t find what you are looking for there, stop by The Base ‘n Edge Tune Shop for a $35 Perfmormance Tune Gift Certificate. The performance tune is valued at $45 and is the best tune A-Basin offers. Visit www.arapahoebasin.com or call 1-888-ARAPAHOE for details.

We know you have been waiting all season for the news that your favorite chairlift in all of Colorado, Pali Chair is finally opening! We are happy to announce that this Friday is the day! So, strap on your boards or board and enjoy tons of great skiing/ riding and all the new snow at Arapahoe Basin. Pali terrain is not opening yet, but you can ski the terrain to the east of the Pali Chair! Go to www.arapahoebasin.com and check the runs open page for additional information.

Arapahoe Basin still has job openings in lift operations and food and beverage. Apply today at www.arapahoebasin.com. You could ski at 16 mountains in Colorado for free! Yes, I said 16. Other great employee benefits include discounts in retail, food and beverage, tune shop, rentals and on lessons. Also, you get free breakfast on the days that you work! Call us today at 1-888-ARAPAHOE.

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
Powder skiing for some skiers is effortless fun. If you struggle in deep snow, here are a few tips on how to enjoy it.

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
Do you want to become a better skier? My suggestion is to set some very specific goals for yourself. It could be that you want to be faster in the NASTAR course or you want to learn how to ski bumps.

Telluride, Colo.

My friend says he plans on using his new boards, a spring break smile folding his cheeks.

They’re a foot wide underfoot and made for more snow than we’ll see in a year. By all means, they are totally unnecessary and a waste of money. A church for Easter Sunday! A wishful thought! Should have bought a snorkel while he was at it!

Ski town translation: they are a necessary waste of money.

“I’m psyched, man,” he says. “It’s going to be so fun…”

Welcome to this edition of Better Skiing, I’m Bruce Ruff.
Most people know when their car needs a front end alignment because there is a steering problem. Yet, most skiers don’t have a clue about boot alignment. Boot alignment is critical because skiing is a balance-based sport. How you stand in your boots effects your forward and backward balance as well as your side to side balance on your skis. Your side to side balance determines if you are standing on a flat ski or not.

UPDATE: The World Cup has been postponed due to the heavy volume of snow that has fallen in the past few days. Races are scheduled to resume on Saturday.
World Cup excitement continues in Colorado this weekend with the Women taking center stage at the Audi Aspen Winternational World Cup Race.