How to Choose Ski Gear for the 2024-25 Season
A practical, opinionated guide to picking skis, boots, and helmets for the 2024-25 season, grounded in industry data and safety research.
Gear Reviews
The Ski Journal
Trail ratings and avalanche safety.
Featured Article
Latest Articles
Safety & Avalanche
Avalanche Danger Is Exponential, Not Linear: A Safety Editor's FAQ
I debunk common avalanche myths and share hard numbers on risk, helmets, and tree wells. One key takeaway: the danger scale jumps exponentially, not g...
Techniques
Your Skis Are Too Wide: A Case for Narrower Rippers in Avalanche Terrain
A field report arguing that fat skis hurt your avalanche safety. Learn how narrow skis, proper technique, and danger-scale discipline can keep you ali...
Techniques
Blue Square or Black Diamond? How to Read Ski Trail Ratings Anywhere
Trail ratings are local. I break down how to read green, blue, and black runs by gradient, snow, and what happens if you fall—so you can pick terrain ...
Techniques
When Should You Actually Drop Into a Black Diamond?
A working ski instructor's take on when it's safe to step up to a black diamond, using trail ratings, injury data, and the real difference between a g...
Gear Reviews
Does a Real Ski Helmet Change Your Risk? Yes, and Here's the Math
Helmet use jumped from 25 percent to 90 percent since 2002. We look at what the evidence actually says about head injury risk, and when a helmet won't...
Techniques
Skiing Technique Fix: Why You're Not Carving, and How to Actually Start
Think carving is for experts? Wrong. This practical guide shows you how to break the habit of skidding and start laying down real carved turns on any ...
Safety & Avalanche
Avalanche Danger Isn't a Weather Forecast: Read It Like a Pro
Avalanche ratings are relative, not absolute. Here's how to read them, why 'Considerable' is deadlier than you think, and what the stats really say ab...
Safety & Avalanche
The Danger Scale Isn't Linear: Why 'Considerable' Avalanche Risk Can Kill You
Most skiers misjudge avalanche danger because they think of it like a dial. It's not. 'Considerable' is the deadliest rating. Here's what that means f...
Techniques
Carving vs. Slarving: Which Ski Technique Wins for Steep Trees?
Carving and slarving both get you down steep trees, but one is safer and more efficient. Here's how to choose based on snow, terrain, and your skill.
Gear Reviews
Why Your Helmet Won't Save You From a Tree Collision
Gear reviews focus on helmets, but tree collisions kill skiers every year. Here's what actually protects you on the slopes, based on the data.
Safety & Avalanche
Check the Forecast Before You Drop In: Avalanche Danger Is Not a Suggestion
Before you ski out of bounds, read the avalanche forecast. High danger means don't go. Here's a simple pre-ski routine that could save your life.
Safety & Avalanche
Ski Area Avalanche Danger vs. Backcountry: Why I Side with the Resort
Most skiers think avalanche danger only matters in the backcountry. I argue that understanding the danger scale is still vital inside the ropes—and th...