Welcome to the brand new Women's Zone! Ski Vermont welcomes Lisa Densmore, outdoor enthusiast and rippin' skier. She'll be providing equipment, gear and technique tips throughout the season. Check back often, new tips will be posted regularly.

Lisa Densmore has been a familiar face on Vermont's slopes since age 14. A former U.S. Ski Team Member from Stratton Mountain, Lisa has written hundreds of articles on snowsports since retiring from the pro tour in 1990. She is the author of "Ski Faster", a top-selling guide to high performance skiing and racing (McGraw-Hill, 2000). Today, she gives women's ski clinics around the United States, is a consultant on women's products to various gear and apparel companies, and a regular host of ski-related television programming on RSN, though she will gladly play hooky on a powder day or to compete in a masters race. densmoredesigns.com

Equipment and Gear

Nordic: Picking Your Poles

Your choice of ski poles for cross-country skiing is easy once you know what type of skis you need. Just get the same kind of pole.

Selecting the Right Nordic Skis

Nordic skis or cross-country skis are also commonly nicknamed “skinny skis”. While they are skinnier than their alpine cousins, not all skinny skis are the same.

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Tips and Techniques

Proper Alpine Pole Plants

There are two parts to a pole plant: where to plant it, and when to plant it. Get it right, and you’ll put more rhythm in your turns.

What's "angulation" (and how do I get some)?

Angulation is what you do with your body as pressure builds on your ski edges. It’s not a static body position per se, because angulation increases as a turn progresses.

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