How are ski slopes prepared for contests? (how come there is so much ice on contest slopes?)?
84123
It's not fake snow.  It depends on the temperature, amount of sunlight hitting the snow, etc.  At high altitudes like where the Olympics are the temperatures are lower, causing a dry, hard snow more like ice.  The grooming machines pack it down for competition and it becomes a hard, compacted surface, similar to a sheet of ice.  After about 10-15 racers ski over the same line and the sun hits the snow, it turns to ice.
631013
I only race on Atomics, but for speed events, all the Austrian manufacturers are good - Atomic, Fischer, or Head. For slalom skis, I have SL:11s which I love and I also have a 10.22s, DH, and SG Atomic boards - I can't recommend any of them highly enough. The only downside is you're forced to use Atomic bindings (or void the ski warranty). Rossis are known for SL skis, but I've seen a lot of people break them in races lately, so quality may be an issue.\n\nYou can get most race skis cheap on eBay - I've used Denver Wholesale Skis before (dwskis) and they're reliable and their service is great.
111863
it depends. if your legs aren't strong enough then it will be really hard and you wont be able to ski as well. if your legs are strong enough and your just doing powder then you should do whats comfterable same with if you have a soft ski. if you have a stiff ski then you probally want to do it. also if you race you would want to do it . good luck!
13029
Although snow is made of ice, their coefficients aren't exactly the same because snow is a crystalized form of ice; therefore, snow has a rougher surface. I found a number for a ski board (waxed wood) on snow, which is .14. Plastic is similar to waxed wood, in a sense. I hope this number is more accurate, and good luck on your physics project.
805954
For $3 it isn't a bad idea. What time of the year are you going? If it's early or late in the season there is more potential to hit rocks and other hazards so it would be a good idea then. What kind of skier are you? If you are an intermediate skier who rarely strays far from the groomed runs I wouldn't worry about it. If you are an expert level skier and will never stay on the groomers it isn't a bad idea. If you are a beginner and will be sticking to the congested beginner area, definitely pick it up as the chances of another skier hitting and damaging your equipment is fairly high there. But again, 3 bucks for a little piece of mind is a good deal.
323797
I used to ski on Salomons but they lose their stifness very quickly.  I now ski on Atomics which have been great.  As always, you get what you pay for!
96829
That's a good question. These Winter Olympics in Turin are the first I've seen of the new scoring system and it seems to be working fine. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this new system designed more to prevent the ugly cheating scandal involving the French and Russian judges at the pairs competition during the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City? If it's made that sort of rubbish impossible to be repeated, then I think it's a big step forward.
11710
Wet snow makes the best snow men. Dry powdery stuff is great for skiing.\nPack an armfull of snow into a ball shape and begin rolling it around until it is the size you wish for the bottom. Flatten the top surface to make the next step easier.\nForm another ball and when it is about 2/3 the size of the first, roll or lift it on to the first. Pack snow around the meeting point to keep the second part stable. Flatten top of second ball.\nRoll snow for the head, lift onto body and pack connecting area with more snow. \nThen accesorize!\nGood luck.
537854
Artificial rinks can  be made in cold climates by enclosing a level area of ground, filling it with water, and letting it freeze.\nWith the pipes cold, a thin layer of water is sprayed on the sand or concrete to seal and level it (or in the case of concrete, to keep it from being marked). \nThis thin layer is painted white or pale blue, for better contrast; markings necessary for hockey or curling are also placed, along with logos or other decorations. \nAnother thin layer of water is sprayed atop this. \nThe ice is built up to a thickness of 2-3 centimetres by repeated flows of water onto the surface. \nPeriodically after the ice has been used, it is resurfaced using a machine called an ice resurfacer. For curling, the surface is 'pebbled' by allowing loose drops of cold water to fall onto the ice and freeze into rounded peaks.
808500
check out www.rsn.com  They have listings of ski areas around the world.  good luck and have fun!
375481
SKI RACING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8285
You should have warm clothes, but not necesarily ski pants or jacket. Dress in layers is best. You should take lessons the first few times. Do not expect to be a pro after only one time. Stay on the easy trails until you have gone many times and can control your skis.
17885
In Saratoga Springs, NY where it can get very cold (and Olmpic Speed Skaters have competed on an oval rink) the ground is sprayed with water and allowed to freeze in a natural shallow basin that was bulldozed into an oval track with land in the middle.  Water can then be sprayed on top of the original ice layer to thicken it without melting through.  When the ice layer is thick enough, the entire area can be slowly flooded.  The water used is at groundwater temperature from a hydrant using a fire hose.  I believe that groundwater is about 46F here but will vary from city to city as it is basically the average temperature of all the water that seeps into the ground during a typical year.  The lowest temperature of drain water is of course 32F.  Thus the water is only 14F warmer than the ice being layed down and it must be well below freezing to prepare the rink.  A hockey rink could be built the same way by omitting the land in the middle; but it would require more water.\n\nOf course, ice rinks can be located on a lake or pond if it freezes thick enough.  The NY State Park here has a special rectangular rink that merely requires flooding for figure skating and recreation.
960979
I wouldn't hold my breath ... as of today, all of the ski areas in Andorra are reporting 0cm new snow and 0cm base depth ... unless they experience snowfall of biblical proportions in the coming two weeks, it's looking pretty bleak for the end of November.\n\nYou can keep checking the link below for latest ski conditions there.
812462
We live on a lake, & build a rink on it right out side our front door.  Dress warm, and like someone already said make sure you have lots of pucks, beer/hotchocolate, and snack!  I think that's propably the best advise!
948072
it is winter and weather is that we want ice
192547
he has his different way of getting ready for races. he can be a total ass but he's awesome. hes got an amazing skiing style and he just didn't show it at the olympics. maybe if tv networks showed more ski racing you would see how amazing he is.