XC Holiday Gift Shopping Guide
Eight Great Gift Ideas For The XC Skier On Your List
Whether you've got a whole pile of family and friends on your shopping list that are die-hard XC fans (and who isn't we may ask?), or just one special someone you need "right gift for" that loves the sport, this holiday XC shopping guide is your ticket to some of the best XC gifts now available.
Your first choice for picking up a few gifts can be as easy as a couple clicks away. The xcskiworld.com family of advertisers feature some of the best choices for not only some of the finest products and resorts, but also on-line retailers where you can take care of your entire XC gift list.
Happy shopping!
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Number Eight...Better Than A Mutual Fund
Although a somewhat specialized gift, skiers (grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.) with some of young friends out on the snow could consider making a contribution to a local ski education foundation or race program in the name of your little buddy. Whether this gift is used for travel to a youth/junior event or to help defray coaching costs, it's hard to beat the return on this particular type of investment.
Number Nine...Jewels of the XC Trail
Handcrafted jewelry and other XC artwork is a wonderful holiday gift that has the added bonus of coming from distinctly un-mainstream corporate sources. One such outlet that xcskiworld.com can recommend firsthand is Elentari Handverk featuring some beautiful pieces by Portland, Oregon-area skier Debra Carus.
Number Eight...Everyone Loves A Sharp Dressed Skier
Clothes can make the skier and with all the great choices in XC clothing these days, some snappy duds make an outstanding choice for gifts.
On a budget? Few skiers can resist a new pair of performance gloves or a nice hat.
Number Seven...The XC Library
Nothing beats a good book on a cold, blustery winter day and nowadays the XC cupboard is full of excellent gift choices for the XC skiers on your shopping list. Titles to choose from range from books about waxing, training, and technique to fictional novels based around Nordic skiing. XC books also make practical gifts in terms of price with most titles priced under $30. Even better, since many of these titles are not available via mass market stores, you'll have yet another reason to help support XC specialty firms.
Number Six...Videos, CD's, and DVD's
If you are looking for a bit more flash or interactivity in a gift, a number of excellent XC videos, CD's, and DVD's can be found to match just about any skier's taste. Videos have been produced with XC race footage of every World Championship or Olympics over the past 12-14 years offering plenty of excitement and educational value for teens to super seniors. Additional "older" videos (many from the mid-90s) can be found on waxing and technique. Much of the information still relevant.
Within the last couple years, a number of CD's and DVD's have also come on the market featuring a fresh approach to previous video topics. Particularly interesting are the new digital educational media which offer a vastly improved platform for learning technique. No more rewinding, fast-forwarding, and messing around with the pause button. Just a couple clicks and you are immediately to the info you want and need.
Number Five...Underwear and Socks Someone Wants To Get
Often thought of as the holiday equivalent of a box of raisins on Halloween, underwear and socks might seem like a boring gift until you see the sweet stuff now available for the endurance sport market. Let's just say high performance underwear and socks beat the heck out of the typical Aunt Bertha collection from big box stores.
Borrowing a page from many team sports which are using a bike short style under to help keep the quad and hamstring warm, several brands now offer perfect models for XC skiing. These make a great alternative to full leg long underwear on mid-temperature winter days.
If you haven't skied in really, really good socks before, well, you may need to buy a pair for yourself to see how nice a gift they can be. Good socks will offer the best in warmth, moisture wicking, and padding which all add up to more comfort and higher performance every time out the door. You know not to skimp on boots so be sure not to skimp on socks!
Number Four...Boot Covers
For skiers that spend a lot of time in very wet and/or cold weather or cruising off track in soft snow with their performance gear, boot covers are a priceless gift. For the unfamiliar, boot covers are like a weather-proof sock that wraps around the outside of your performance boot. Past models typically used velcro to get the cover snug (which sometimes would come loose), but newer models have the convenience of a back zipper. Note when buying that boot covers are quite snug so it can be wise to buy a size or two up from the skier's boot size to make sure the cover will go on easily.
Number Three...A Good Headlamp
A fact of life in the winter season is an annual battle with darkness for folks wanting to get in a post-work ski. Some fortunate souls have lighted trail systems to ski on near enough to home/work for a quick spin. But for many, the only way to ski after dark is with a headlamp.
You can find ultra-powerful models strong enough to light up a NFL field but -- unless your vision requires better -- most skiers can get by with far lighter and convenient models that end up being little more than an extra headband on your head.
Number Two...Skibags and Travel Cases
For skiers that travel a fair amount to races, a good skibag is an absolute must. All models obviously offer protection from the elements, but good skibags also have a bit of padding which can keep skis and poles safe through dozens of trips on planes, trains, automobiles, vans, buses, etc..
If your favorite skier travels by plane on a semi-regular basis, ski travel cases provide the ultimate in protection. Although you can can't "expand" a case like you can a ski bag to fit in every last pair of skis, very , very, very few skiers actually need to take more than 2-4 pairs anywhere in the world so a case offers plenty of room. More expensive than ski bags, the big upside to a case is that you have as much guarantee as you are ever going to have that your gear is going to arrive intact to your destination. Airlines tend to look favorably on cases because of the decreased liability risk so you also have a higher-than-normal chance of having no security, weight, size, and other hassles.
Number One...Gift Certificates
If you don't want to mess around with getting the right size, color, style, etc. of XC gift, gift certificates to a XC specialty outlet (stores and on-line) or a gift certificate at a favorite ski resort are a wonderful surprise that you know will never have to be returned or exchanged!
Don't forget that XC gifts stretch well beyond the holidays. The best wedding gift our editorial staff ever came up with was getting a group of friends to go in on a certificate for a weekend stay at a major XC resort for the newlyweds. It ended up being like a second honeymoon for the couple (but better cause it was on skis!) and with a group sharing the load, cost no more than a typical wedding gift. Contact an XC resort (or race, or camp) just about anywhere and we'll bet you can arrange pretty much any kind of gift certificate you like.
