Sun & Ski Sports

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If you are getting registered for the BP MS150 ride for 2010 and wanting to join Team Sun & Ski Sports, when you get to the registration page that allows you to search for your team, use the search term “Sun And Ski Sports” to find us. If you need further assistance, please contact us through the comment section below and we’ll be glad to help!

Ok, so now you have kids, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite winter sports. Instead, introduce kids to skiing and snowboarding. As winter sports becomes a family event, be sure that the kids have the right winter sports equipment for their interests and activities.

-Skis/snowboards: Visit one of our Sun & Ski sports shops and talk to our expert staff about how to select the right skis and snowboards for your kids. Our kids’ snowboards include the K2 Youth Vandal, which features a dual progressive shape and 3-inch base bevel. As with adult snowboards, it’s important to find the right boot and binding combinations for kids’ skis and snowboards.

-Apparel: Kids’ winter sports apparel should include the same insulating and moisture-wicking properties as adult gear. That includes starting with a quality base layer, such as Thermotech performance thermal underwear, available in kids and toddler sizes.

-Accessories: Kid-friendly accessories such as the Burton Youth’s Vent Mitt feature Thermacore insulation and a pocket that can open for venting or close to hold hand warmers.

Come meet up at the Arlington Sun & Ski Sports for Bikes, Bagels, & Bananas, our weekly Sunday morning ride. For your convenience, we open the store at 7:30 AM in case the riders need supplies.

When: Tuesdays @ 6:15 PM | Where: Arlington Sun & Ski Sports | Cost: Free

Join us every Tuesday evening for some mountain bike riding though the south part of the Dallas Metroplex (OCNP, CH, BP, BC, RL). Beginners, intermediate and advanced riders are all welcome to join us.

Length: The length of the ride is 30 miles. Please make sure your bike is in working order before we head out.

Note: This is an unsanctioned ride; all riders assume responsibility for their own skill level and actions. Helmets and hydration are strongly recommended.

Questions? Call Scott or Stan at 682-433-0027.

Looking for more information about our Arlington Bike Shop? Visit our Arlington Sun and Ski store or view our online selection of cycling apparel and cycling accessories. Feel free to also peruse our list of bike shop services.

You may be counting the days until you can get out and ride snowboards this winter, but if you hit the mountains in the late fall or early December, keep a few points in mind so you don’t destroy your season:

-Go easy. Even if you have been training in the off season, the first time back on the board requires a little common sense. Get a feel for being on a board again.

-Ease in with the old. Even if you have a hot new board for 2010, you may want to keep an old board on hand for early season snowboarding, when trails won’t be as well-groomed, powder won’t be as deep, and you may be more likely to hit rocks.

-Check your bindings. They may have loosened up over a summer in storage. And if you have new boots, a binding check is a must.

-Dress right. It may not be that cold in November, but it takes some time for your body to get acclimated to a whole day out in the cold, so dress in layers that you can peel off as needed—everyone acclimates at different rates.

Originating from our Arlington Sun and Ski Sports location, we’re now hosting Taco Tuesdays, a weekly mountain bike ride followed by a meetup at Fuzzy’s Taco Stand for free chips and queso/salsa!

When: Tuesdays @ 6:15 PM | Where: Arlington Sun & Ski Sports | Cost: Free

Join us every Tuesday evening for some mountain bike riding though the south part of the Dallas Metroplex (OCNP, CH, BP, BC, RL). Beginners, intermediate and advanced riders are all welcome to join us.

Length: The length of the ride varies depending on the trail but average 6 – 10 miles. Please make sure your bike is in working order – we may not always have access to the shop.

Note: This is an unsanctioned ride, standard IMBA/DORBA trail rules apply and all riders assume responsibility for their own skill level and actions. Helmets and hydration are strongly recommended.

Questions? Call Scott or Stan at 682-433-0027.

Looking for more information about our Arlington Bike Shop? Visit our Arlington Sun and Ski store or view our online selection of cycling apparel and cycling accessories. Feel free to also peruse our list of bike shop services.

Looking for some buds on your next mountain bike ride in the Metroplex? Sun and Ski now has weekly mountain bike trips leaving from our Grapevine location.

When: Thursdays @ 5:30 PM | Where: Grapevine Sun & Ski Sports | Cost: Free

Every Thursday night, join us for mountain bike riding though the northern part of the Dallas Metroplex (NS, HS, AH, KH, LBH, Sansom and Areas North). Beginners, intermediate and advanced riders are all welcome.

Length: Depending on the trail, rides are approximately 6 – 10 miles long. Sun & Ski Sports will ensure no one is left behind by providing SAG. Please make sure your bike is in working order – we may not always have access to the shop.

Note: This is an unsanctioned ride, standard IMBA/DORBA trail rules apply and all riders assume responsibility for their own skill level and actions.

Questions? Please call Nate or Michael at 972-355-9424.

Looking for more information about our Grapevine Cycling Store? Visit our Grapevine Sun and Ski store or view our online selection of cycling apparel and cycling accessories. Feel free to also peruse our list of bike shop services.

You can enjoy winter sports into the early spring if you have the right gear and accessories. Some useful items for spring skiing include:

-Sunblock. You should wear sunblock on your face for winter skiing, too, but the brighter spring sun is more likely to burn your nose, your lips, and the skin around your eyes. Look for sweat-resistant sunblocks in stick form that you can tuck into a jacket pocket for easy reapplication.

-Glove and boot dryers. Spring skiing can be a wetter experience than winter skiing. You may not need foot warmers, but consider using glove and boot dryers after an early spring day of skiing or snowboarding.

-Lighter layers. For early spring skiing, you can leave your heavy ski jacket at home and pack a lighter weight jacket or a fleece. Vests are also great options for spring skiing or snowboarding. To keep your ears warm, a moisture-wicking earband can be a great alternative to a hat.

The right snowboard boots are essential to help you get your best rides, but you might also consider an orthotic insert, also known as a custom footbed, for an even better fit. The benefits of these inserts include:

-Better biomechanics. If you have an orthotic or insert to make sure your feet are properly aligned, you’ll set yourself up for better alignment all the way up through the kinetic chain of your legs, hips, and spine. The better your alignment, the better your balance, and you may reduce your risk of injury.

-Better boot fit. An orthotic device will help keep your feet from flattening out inside your boots, so they will fit more snugly.

-Better feel. Your feet will feel better while snowboarding if they are well supported.

If you don’t want to spend the money on customized orthotics, you can buy generic trim-to-fit inserts for about $25-$50. You can get customized footbeds at Sun & Ski Sports shops. But if you have more serious foot issues, such as pronation, or if you have a history of foot or knee injuries, talk to a podiatrist about sport orthotics to make sure your problems are addressed. And bring the inserts with you when you try on new snowboard boots.

When you are ready to buy skis, consider buying online. Do you have a favorite model of downhill skis that’s a few years old? Look online. Snow skis don’t go bad after one season, and just because a ski manufacturer changes the composition slightly for next season doesn’t mean that last year’s model won’t give you the performance that you want. If you really have a favorite model, buy two pairs. Some other points to remember when online ski shopping:

-Visit in person. If you are scoping out a new-to-you style of ski online, try to check it out in person so you can get a better sense of the weight and feel.

- Don’t sweat the centimeters. When ski lengths change slightly from season to season, it usually more about fashion than function, right? If you can buy skis online that are a little shorter or longer than the latest model, but you know they work for you, then go for it!

Even if you are only traveling to the slopes by car, quality travel snowboard bags are a good investment. When choosing a travel snowboard bag, visit one of our shops and look for some of these key features:

-Padding: Make sure your bag is well-padded, especially if you are checking it at an airport, where it will get tossed around from the moment you hand it over until you retrieve it at the baggage claim.

-Durability: As with your snowboard boot bags, choose durable polyester snowboard bags with reinforced edges. Or for maximum durability, you can buy a hard-sided case to transport your snowboard to the slopes.

-Size: Are you hauling one board, or several? If you can’t get by without your full quiver of snowboards, bags such as the Burton Wheelie Gig bag will hold several boards, more if you remove the bindings.

-Extra pockets: Extra pockets are key for efficient packing. Look for travel snowboard bags with outside zipper pockets for accessories such as gloves and goggles, and for snowboard tools.

-Straps. If you want something lighter than a wheelie bag, seek out travel snowboard bags with shoulder straps as well as handles to maximize your carrying options.