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Many handicapping sites offer free sports picks or newsletter service options to their visitors who show interest in their services but don’t want to commit to the handicapper on the first meet. Professional handicapping services are plainly overflowing with useful betting knowledge which could be given away to people for free.

This is a very positive aspect of handicapping services as free knowledge shows that the handicapper has adequate knowledge regarding the business and also, their business’s USP lies much more beneath the knowledge. This in-depth knowledge and statistics could not be availed from anywhere except professional handicappers. Also, there are many self proclaimed ‘gurus’ and ‘masters’ in the betting business who are really scammers. This is why a visitor should always check a handicapper’s track record and market reputation before selecting them.

Another thing which a bettor can do is to check whether the handicapper’s sports picks have been listed by professional sports monitoring services. This is a great indication of how various handicappers feel regarding their own free sports picks. If a visitor has any difficulty in checking them, then the handicapper might not be worth the risk. The customer is paying for valuable betting information and he/she should make sure that their money is well spent.

Also, a customer should also avoid any website or handicappers who are offering ridiculous claims for getting successful and even display incorrect examples and records. It can be easily judged by the percentage they are advertising. Handicappers with success rate around 55 to 60 percent are reasonable, particularly when they are advertising for NFL and other football games.

If a website or handicapper says that they get amid seventy to eighty percent of correct Sports picks, then they should be susceptible as even the best analysts who have earlier played the game and have links with the best coaches and players could not promise such large a percentage. What has been outlined in the above mentioned lines is just a glimpse as to what can (and goes) behind the scenes in the sports betting and handicapping services. The elements of trust aren’t held by all the handicappers, so a customer has to always be aware regarding what the services are offering and what could he/she get.

Many professional sports handicapping websites offer free sports picks daily. A visitor should always check whether these sports picks are premium play or second rate predictions. Premium play requires hours of hard work analyzing statistics and market trend whereas second rate predictions could be made by any bettor. Also, the time on which the website offers its picks is very valuable as anyone can offer picks at the end of the game, but getting picks at the start of the game or with few minutes down is reasonable.

Sports Handicappers – Tips to Finding Yours

One of the easiest methods of locating the best sports handicappers is the internet. Many of the best advertise themselves and explain what they can do for you. What you want to do is compare each handicapping site to find if their expertise is in the area you are most interested in. If you are interested in baseball, discard all that focus primarily on football.

While some handicappers claim to be successful in all areas of sports wagering, when you first begin stick with those who specialize in your area of interest. Sports handicappers advertise more information on what they do well and less about the ones their system does not work well with.

Once you have chosen several of the handicappers you want to evaluate, write down their picks and/or suggestions and compare them to the actual outcome of the games. Don’t lay any money on these bets yet. Wait a few games. If the outcomes fall in the range you are comfortable with, go with them. If not, keep looking.

If you like to bet various types of sports, you might want to find a different system for each sport. Take advantage of different system sports knowledge. Each handicapping system prides itself in t its area of expertise. Don’t use basketball handicappers for soccer wagers. You don’t want your banker doing your heart surgery.

The only good handicapping service is the one that makes you money. Promises of winning and making money won’t buy you a new car. If you are not making money, find a new handicapper.

You probably already know how much the Internet has revolutionized many different facets of life, but nowhere has it had a greater effect than in the world of sports betting. In fact, Internet sportsbooks are a large part of a roughly $20 billion industry that has been changing the scope of gambling throughout the entire world since they emerged. There are now hundreds of online sportsbooks that accept wagers from thousands of gamblers worldwide – and as a result, this form of gambling is now more popular online than it ever was offline. The reasons for this are self-explanatory: Online sports betting works well for everyone involved – it is easier to manage as a bookie and as a bettor – because the Internet allows for transactions to be faster. In addition, there can be many different types of wagers at each sportsbook, and they largely overcome the legal issues involved with the practice. Nowadays, anyone can make a sports bet online, regardless of gambling experience or knowledge of sports in general. This is just a tiny glimpse into the power of Internet sportsbooks, and if you want to get in on the action then read the rest of this article to see exactly how easy it is to safely place an online sports bet.

Offshore sportsbooks came into existence around the same time the Internet emerged into everyday life, and eventually took a powerful hold of the virtual marketplace in the mid 1990’s. The mode of the modern Internet sportsbook largely depends on the country where the institution is headquartered. In other words, different countries throughout the world can admit bookmakers to legally accept sports bets, and how they govern them reflects their ability to survive in the competitive, self-regulated industry. Most of these companies are located in Central America and on Caribbean island nations. As with most billion dollar industries, technological advances and a strong financial backbone are the most important factors for the credibility of an Internet sportsbook. The very first Internet sportsbooks laid down the foundation for this structure and how these companies should operate. That is, they set the standard that the importance of reputation of an Internet sportsbook is key for the survival of the institution. A reputable service is one that offers fair odds and lines, delivers reliable payouts, provides tight security, has excellent customer service along with a large number of customers. Where an online sportsbook is legal and what the regulations are on how they operate vary from nation to nation, because strong companies generally have a larger economic impact on the smaller countries, especially in the third world.

The best Internet sportsbook is the one that offers odds consistent with competing Internet sportsbooks, has a strong financial backing so payouts are fast and secure, and has above average customer support for their thousands of avid gamblers. These sportsbooks will generally have hundreds of thousands of regular sports bettors placing wagers on their websites every day. However, the opposite type – which their are hundreds of – are poor Internet sportsbooks and are a high risk to player funds, have below average customer service, and offer inconsistent odds and lines for their players. Some are outright scams, and you would not have a chance to recover your funds if something went wrong when requesting a payout. This can be daunting to a gambling newbie. Also, it may be the defining moment for someone who is interested in sports betting to decide whether or not they’re going to get in on the action, because everyone knows how relentless Internet scammers can be – especially within the risky business of gambling. However, if you use a trusted and celebrated Internet sportsbook, then you will feel confident that you are investing in a reputable service that can potentially be very lucrative for you.

Online sportsbook bets can be placed at one of the hundreds of reliable Internet sportsbooks, they are the most convenient place for bookmakers to readily accept wagers for outcomes on a wide variety of sports including baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and horse racing. Internet sportsbooks work great for everyone involved because they operate much more cost effectively than they would as a land-based casino sportsbook. That’s because transactions take place over the Internet or over the phone, and the wagers are deducted from the sports bettors account balance or “bankroll” whenever they want in on the action. They are also the place where the odds and free sports scores are established, which can be seen by everyone and compared to other Internet sportsbooks. Different types of bets can be placed at each sportsbook, and this benefits the bettor because you can shop around for the type of bet you want to make with the best available odds for that particular game or event.

Are you beginning to see how Internet sportsbooks have shaped the sports betting world? Modern day bookmakers are as prevalent as ever on the Internet and there are many different websites that feature a wide variety of bets you can make for a number of different sporting events. You can even make bets on the Scripps National Spelling Bee if you wanted to! Internet sportsbooks take advantage of the power that the web has to offer and make it easier for sports gamblers to place their wagers – and now more than ever the growing interest of making online sports bets has even made it possible for intelligent individuals to make a full-time living off sports betting. So, whether you’re an experienced bettor or you’re someone who doesn’t know anything about sports or gambling at all, there is an opportunity for everyone to safely and effortlessly place a bet at one of the many reputable Internet sportsbooks from the comfort of your own home.

A great day on the slopes can mean several different things. Not everyone shares the same expertise when it comes to sliding down a frozen mountain on waxed slices of fiberglass. Hopefully this quick guide to skiing will help you get on your way. Use the following links to skip down to the section that most interests you.

1. Taking lessons
2. Choosing the right clothing
3. The best equipment for you
4. Where to skiv
5. For the extreme skier

Taking lessons

If it’s your first time on skis, there are several ways you can learn the proper style and technique. You can teach yourself, learn from a friend or take lessons from a professional ski instructor. Teaching yourself might not be the recommended option. There are more risks of injury and you can learn some bad habits. This could result in missing out on some (or most) of the fun, getting discouraged and not enjoying the sport.

If you decide to take lessons from a friend, you will definitely save yourself some money but you might not get all the important information and tips you would get from a seasoned pro. What if your friend taught himself and learned some bad habits?

The most practical option is to take lessons from a professional ski instructor. This will help you stay safe and learn important techniques. You can also choose to have the lessons tailored to your skiing needs. Luckily, all five ski resorts around Canmore offer lessons.

What to wear

When it comes to staying warm on top of a snow covered mountain, you will need to find the appropriate clothing from head to toe. The good news is you don’t have to worry about the boots; they come with the skis. However, they don’t offer much insulation and extra socks might be a good idea. You will appreciate having two pairs of socks. The outside pair should preferably be wool.

For your legs, layers are recommended. A good pair of flexible pants (i.e. not jeans) covered with water tight ski pants will usually be adequate. Depending on the forecast, long johns might also be necessary. You might be thankful of spending a little extra for some ski pants with reinforced knees – this is usually the first place to wear-out with frequent falls.

Your upper body should also be covered in layers; a minimum of three. The bottom layer can be a comfortable long-sleeve T-shirt. However, the next layer should be water resistant but breathable. This will keep water away from you body, keep you dry and help keep you warm (there’s nothing worse than cold water to steal all your body warmth). The outside layer should break the wind – most ski jackets do the trick. They also have several zippered pockets to stash all things necessary (lip-balm is indispensable).

Let’s not forget your noggin’. A good percentage of body heat is lost through the head. This makes it very important to cover it up. Start with a good neck warmer or scarf for you neck and chin (if you opt for a balaclava ski mask, this might not be necessary). You will also need eyewear. While sunglasses usually do the trick, winds can pick up unexpectedly on the mountain tops so goggles are recommended. If you buy goggles, make sure they offer UV protection; the sun glare off the snow can be hard on your eyes. Finally, cover up your head with a warm toque.

Note: the amount and warmth of the clothing you decide to wear all depends on the forecast and the season. Obviously, spring skiing asks for cooler ski wear. Use your best judgement and always remember – too warm is better than too cold!

The right equipment for you

When it comes to choosing the best equipment, a beginner can more than manage with some inexpensive rental skis and poles. All of the ski resorts near Canmore offer rentals. Plus, you might find out that skiing is not for you so you might not want to spend too much money getting all geared up before hitting the slopes a few times.

Once you get the hang of it, enjoy it and start skiing more frequently, it’s time to look at the option of purchasing your own equipment. Luckily, several online outlet stores (like Backcountry.com) let you browse various items before deciding on what brand, type and style of skis, poles, bindings and boots you want to invest in. Some online stores even offer used equipment if you want your own gear with a less expensive approach.

Where to ski

With five major ski resorts within an hour’s drive, your stay in Canmore gives you access to a wide variety of skiing options.

Choose Nakiska, just 35 minutes away, for its smaller, uncrowded atmosphere.
Visit Fortress Mountain for its two mountains and sweet snow conditions.
You can try Mount Norquay if you like night skiing.
Maybe you prefer Sunshine Village, which offers fast lifts, the most snow and great powder.
There’s also the ski resort in Lake Louise, the largest ski area in North America.

No matter which resort you choose, there is enough skiing around Canmore to keep you coming back season after season.

For the extreme skier

If you’re an experienced skier, you know that powder snow is the ultimate experience. However, you also are aware of the fact that it’s rare and hard to find. Even though most ski mountains get frequent snowfall, the dryness and depth of the snow is marginal. Add the early morning traffic to all this and the deep, smooth, untracked powder is soon groomed and packed, making that “perfect powdered run” hard to come by.

The good news is that there are alternatives to being a conventional “powder chaser”. There is ski touring, heli ski and Cat Skiing.

Ski touring is arduous and time consuming. For those who aren’t familiar with it, you basically trek through the backcountry on remote alpine peaks, far from crowded resorts. You can then enjoy the powder as well as the peaceful nature of the uncrowded slopes.

Those who are willing to spend a bit of money to get the ultimate skiing experience can choose Heli Skiing. This type of skiing has been around for several years. It consists of hitching a ride aboard a helicopter to the top of the mountain where there is powder as far as the eyes can see. This however will run you around $1000 a day and is only available to proficient skiers. Also available are multiple day guided tours on huge, isolated slopes upon mountain tops.

This type of adventure does not come without its downsides. There are days when the helicopter cannot fly due to inclement weather conditions and there is always the inherent risk of avalanches. However, all reputable heli-operators provide qualified guides who know the safest routes down the slopes. When weather is unforgiving, guides will restrict skiing to the wooded areas; “skiing the trees”.

Tree skiing is usually associated with another type of mechanized skiing – cat skiing. This type of extreme skiing is fairly new. Basically, a snowcat (a large mechanized snow caterpillar) takes you up the mountain. This takes more time than by helicopter but some prefer its more cozy, relaxed and tranquil environment. Snowcats boast comfortable cabins than can accommodate up to 12 people, a guide and a driver. While you scale the mountain in this comfy coach, you can nibble on some snacks, warm up and even sit out the next run. Yes, even if snowcat skiing or snowcats are slower, most people get their money’s worth and wear themselves out.

Cat skiing is more affordable than its big brother, heli-skiing. It will run you approximately $600 a day, including transportation, lodging, meals and guiding. Plus, snowcats still run in inclement weather. This cuts down on “down days” you would get with a helicopter. This way, especially if your ski vacation is limited for time, you get the most amount of skiing possible.

Of course, like its big brother, cat skiing has its limitations. The snowcats can’t go everywhere a helicopter can so cat skiing is more limited geographically. However, cat-operators become very familiar with their “limited geography” and this limits unpredicted events.

NBA is today one of the most popular sports in the world and in the environment of the sports Wagering. The sport has evolve in an incredible way pushing competition between players to amazing levels of agility and skill, making the game look so entertainment.

You can find a NBA Wagering site anywhere in the internet today; they give correct odds on NBA games and different kinds of bets. An NBA Wagering sportsbook can offer you to bet against the spread, which is that you bet on how much points of difference your team will to win. On under/over bets you bet that the sum of both final scores will be over or under what the bookmaker has established as the possible result. Total bets are place wagering on the sum of both final scores and parlays bets are also available on any NBA Wagering site.

You might find useful to keep some advices for Wagering on NBA sportsbook. First of all know your team, don’t be Wagering on every game they play. You have to know what your team can and cannot win, if your favorite team is the Hornets, you can’t expect they will easily beat the Lakers. Know your court; we know that the probabilities of a team winning in their home are greater than winning as a guest team in another state. A NBA Wagering site might not recommend you wagering on the underdog, but let me tell you that when the spread is right you can win a lot of money by wagering on the underdog.

Sometimes a team will have a big amount of popularity making the odds favor the underdog. If you think the underdog can make it bet on them, you will have a good reward fore your decision. Sportsbook Betting Online offers sports betting in a convenient and secure environment, free weekly contests, huge bonsues, daily football scores and free sports scores on major pro and college sport events. For the latest and most comprehensive lottery results online, visit Lottery.com!

A NBA Wagering site must give you all you need. That is information, rules, wagering guides, a good signup bonus, easy going promotions and a good service. You are the one putting your money into it, so you must expect courteous attention and good information available in their website. Finding the right NBA Wagering site is an important decision you should research before get into any mediocre NBA Wagering website.

If you enjoy betting on sporting events you should consider entering the exciting world of internet sports gambling. More and more people are finding that with internet sports gambling you can place your bets quickly and easily. You can choose any sport you want from team sports such as football and baseball to individual sports like tennis and NASCAR racing free sports scores. The right internet sports betting site will make sure your account is 100% secure and that your privacy is fully protected.

With internet sports gambling you can do all of your betting from the convenience of your own home or any other location you choose. A good internet sports gambling site allows you to instantly access the latest betting lines and betting odds. It will also provide you with information about teams and players that you will want to know before placing your bets. For example you can look at overall records, individual stats, and get injury reports. These give you better insight into how the betting odds and lines are arrived at so you can place your bets with the best insider knowledge.

A good internet sportsbook gambling site will also have experts who have analyzed all of the available data and will make betting recommendations to you. You can choose to follow these recommendations or make the decisions on your own. Either way, you have complete freedom to control what you bet on and how much you bet. There are numerous advantages to placing your sports bets on the internet so find the right site for you and enjoy yourself.

Sports handicapping online services are made up of many professional handicappers online. Internet Handicappers are persons that make a living selling their picks to online sports bettors. But what are the sports betting picks? Sports Betting Picks are predictions of the results of future sports games like: NBA basketball, MLB baseball, soccer (MLS, World Cup or The UEFA Champions League), NHL hockey, rugby, NCAA basketball, NCAA football and much more; made out of deep analysis of many factors.

Many online sports bettors have choose to pay for sports handicapping. Internet bettors will do it because handicappers can provide well studied information for them to have a professional opinion in respect of a game. Some offshore sportsbook betting bettors will bet exactly as the online handicappers say and other bettors will take the advice and make up their own decisions.

Sports picks and sports handicapping articles brought to you by Johnny Detroit’s The Sports Gambler, quickly becoming one of the best free sports handicapping and professional sports betting picks service online, backed by one of the most expert sports handicapping teams in the world, featuring paid and free sports picks on hundreds of pro and college sports betting events.

It has been noticed that there are two types of handicappers on the internet: the honest online handicapper and the scamdicapper or moneycapper.

The legitimate online handicapper will be truthful and professional while making his betting sports picks. He will not trick his readers just make a profit out of it and will try to provide the best sports betting picks online he can while competing against other sports handicapping betting services.

A online scamdicapper is someone that makes picks in a way that will only benefit him and doesn’t care if his readers will receive a professional and honest pick, they will manage the factors and prediction just to suit his economic interests.

The popularity of internet sports betting continues to rise as more and more people enjoy being able to place their bets quickly and easily. However, not all internet sports betting sites are the same and you want to find the right one for you. First you should always do your betting on a site that can guarantee that your account is 100% secure and your privacy is fully protected. You also want to deal with a site that pays winning bets promptly. After all, why should you have to wait on your money?

In addition you want to find an internet sportsbook betting site that will give you the inside story behind the betting odds and betting lines. You probably won’t make any money in the long run just placing bets on your favorite team or on the long shot. You need all of the information you can get. For example in a football game an injury to a key player on one of the teams can change the betting odds and influence who you bet on and how much you decide to bet.

There are many other factors that can influence the outcome of sporting events and the experts on a good internet sports betting site like free sports scores, will figure all of those into their betting recommendations. So if you plan on doing internet sports betting then find the site that provides you with everything you need to bet smart. Then enjoy the thrill of placing your bets and the even greater thrill of taking home your winnings.

Football betting is a bit less of a gamble than other types of betting. It’s not quite the ?crap shoot? of, well, craps because the bettor has an opportunity to gauge the quality of each and every team. That being said, there are some football betting tips that can help you get the most out of the week’s games. While no betting system is foolproof, these football betting tips will help you come out ahead.

Sportsbook Betting Online offers sports betting in a convenient and secure environment, free weekly contests, huge bonsues, daily football scores and free sports scores on major pro and college sport events. For the latest and most comprehensive lottery results online, visit Lottery.com!

First, don’t get greedy. Gamblers all want to have the big win, but try not to put all your eggs in one basket. So long as you get a series of wins, you should come out ahead. It’s recommended that you put smaller bets on a wider variety of games, rather than put one huge bet on a single game?unless you think the game is a lock. Unfortunately, the spread set by odds makers for any game is rarely a lock.

A couple of other football betting tips: find a good online site and do your homework. You want to find that makes good on payouts in a timely manner. Often, gamblers are disappointed to find that they are not immediately credited to their bank account. This can be the case if you don’t make bets directly from your debit card. It can sometimes take weeks, or even months, to be credited if you don’t bet with a quality site. You need to research both online gambling sites as well as the teams you’ll be betting on.

Professional gamblers sometimes work full time researching the week’s games. This is not quite feasible for everybody, but try your best to research the game before you make a bet. One of the better football gambling tips is to subtract from the spread of the favorite, rather than adding to the total of the loser. More often than not, this will lead to a win for the bettor.

One or two hot months does not make a great sports handicapper. Look back on the past 5 years (or more) to get a better idea. If a handicapper’s records are not available, then you can bet that they aren’t that good.

Many sports services document themselves. In theory, there is nothing wrong with doing this. Many handicappers record would greatly improve if they could get credit for the lines when they release their plays, instead of the closing line like they get credited for at the monitors. However, the problem with this is that many services that track themselves often manipulate numbers, always taking the best possible line for their records. In reality, their customers don’t always get the best possible line every time.

I can’t say that every sports service that is self-documented is dishonest, but I would be willing to bet that at least 99% of them are! Therefore, I would suggest choosing a handicapper that has all of his selections monitored by an independent 3rd party.

Sports picks and sports handicapping articles brought to you by Johnny Detroit’s The Sports Gambler, quickly becoming one of the best free sports handicapping and professional sports betting picks service online, backed by one of the most expert sports handicapping teams in the world, featuring paid and free sports picks on hundreds of pro and college sports betting events.

Unfortunately there are almost as many dishonest monitoring services as there are sports services out there. Some of them are actually owned by sports services themselves, so before jumping into any conclusions, is better that you have your stories straight.

Before you choose a specific handicapper, remember that some may be strong in the NFL, others in College Football. Still others may excel in their Top Plays, while some find success in the “overall” picture. Regardless, you should always be provided with information about them, free samples of their work, and documented results of their performance, this way you can be the judge.

Backcountry skiers near Golden, British Columbia travel high into the Rocky Mountains in the warm comfort of snowcats. Traveling in groups of 12, lead by two qualified guides, skiers and snowboarders are carried to elevations of almost 10,000 ft., to ski and ride on a glacier or down great alpine bowls. The views across North America’s continental divide are spectacular. Soft powder snow and fresh tracks is the expected norm, every run, every day. The small group of 14 skiers and riders make a small mark on the vast landscape.

Intermediate and expert skiers wanting a very special powder snow holiday experience generally have three options: backcountry touring, snowcat skiing and heliskiing.

Backcountry touring is slow-paced and as relaxed as your want to make it. It usually requires quite a bit of time, a high level of physical fitness, considerable experience and specialized clothing and equipment.

Snow catskiing is adapted to short holidays and many operators offer 3-day and 4-day full-service tour packages. Snowcat skiing is not normally weather-dependent and there is no “down-time”. Every day is a good ski day. Good physical condition always makes a tour more enjoyable, but there is none of the climbing and walking of backcountry touring. Snowcat skiing provides a relaxed vacation that requires no prior experience or special equipment.

Heli-skiing is the “Cadillac” option for backcountry skiing. It is also the most expensive, being about twice the cost of snowcat skiing. It is also weather-dependent. To allow for “down-days”, tours tend to be a few days longer than cat skiing tours. Heli-operators usually offer a guaranteed minimum amount of skiing. Significant additional cost can result if guests exceed the minimum, which often occurs with good weather.

Efficient operation of helicopters is an economic necessity for operators and helicopters are usually shared among groups. This can result in a pace of skiing influenced by factors other than the individual needs of each group. Unless guests pay for a dedicated helicopter, there is little opportunity to “sit out” a run. Typically, skiing groups can be as small as 4 and as large as 12, depending on the type of helicopter used.

Snowcat skiers enjoy a dedicated cat that moves according to the needs and ability of the group. Snowcat rides are warm, quiet, relaxed and very sociable. They give guests an opportunity to converse with their companions, to rest for the next run, and to adjust clothing. Guests wanting a longer rest can sit out a run and visit with the cat driver on the ride back down the mountain. Lunch is grazed on over the course of the day. Guests can leave extra clothing in the cat and adjust what they wear each run. If a guest wishes to quit early for the day, a staff member will take them back to the lodge on a snowmobile.

heli skiing operators use vast tenures covering many hundreds of sq. kms. This permits great access to “good” alpine snow under a variety of conditions. Snowcat operators use much less terrain. However, in Western Canada there are a number of snowcat operators that have tenures as large as 130 sq. km. These operators make effective use of the land and have more than enough area to provide consistently good skiing and “fresh tracks”.

A number of operators have remote backcountry lodges. These offer a unique wilderness experience. Guests ride to the lodges in helicopters, by snowmobile or in snowcats. Lodges are very comfortable and typically offer double-occupancy bedrooms with private bathrooms, excellent cuisine, a games room, a well stocked bar, hot tubs and massage facilities. The first run of the day is nearby and guests often ski to the lodge door at the end of the day.

Remote lodges help guests relax and enjoy their vacation. Guests are isolated from telephones, TV and the bustle of civilization. Soaking in a hot tub, with refreshment in hand, guests watch the drifting snow or the last rays of sunlight leave the surrounding peaks. It’s a relaxing way to cap a full day of powder skiing. The problem of the day becomes whether to have a massage before or after the hot tub (or perhaps to do the hot tub twice). Lodge life is very informal and there are no decisions about what to wear to dinner. You only brought one pair of sweatpants!

Most snowcat operators cater to 12, 24 or 36 clients, who ski from independent snowcats. Skiing tenures are sufficiently large that groups often won’t see one another in the course of the skiing day, even at a distance. Each group determines its own pace. While keeping their group together, guides are expert at finding “lines” to challenge more competent skiers/riders while leading others on a more “mellow” path. Guides set the bounds on every run leaving guests ample opportunity to find “fresh tracks”. Safety is always the first priority.

Some guests organize their own group of 12 skiers, so they are ensured a compatible skiing group of people they know. Many operators offer group organizers a significant discount for their efforts. However, most clients arrive singly, or in pairs and operators work hard to find compatible skiing groups for everyone. New friends are made very quickly.

Most cat skiing operators recommend their clients be at least “strong intermediates”. However, depending on the nature of their terrain, some operators can accommodate less experienced intermediate skiers who are in good physical condition. Potential clients should discuss concerns with operators.

Backcountry skiing usually offers consistently soft powder snow. Sometimes, areas of “wind crust” or “sun crust” will develop, but guides try to avoid these and quickly find better snow. There is no tracked and “lumpy” snow to contend with, and “moguls” are unheard of. The short, fat “powder skis” rented by operators are forgiving and easy to turn. People having little “off-piste” experience find they learn very quickly. Again, fitness is a great asset.

“Tree skiing” is a fixture of all backcountry skiing. When the weather is stormy, snowcat skiers and boarders just head for the trees, where the protected snow is softest and deepest and the visibility is best. Skiers with little experience “in the trees” find that the consistent snow and the powder skis not only allow them to “do it”, but that it’s great fun. Many cat skiers prefer tree skiing to the open alpine slopes.

Snowcat skiers in North America tend to ski between mid-January and the end of March. However, excellent skiing and reduced rates can often be found in December and in April (when longer spring days can mean more skiing). While a few cat operators offer day-trips, most provide multi-day full-service packages. These require a booking at least a year in advance, although shoulder-season tours can be booked on much shorter notice. Cancellations also accommodate short-notice bookings, sometimes at a reduced rate.

The amount of skiing done in a day depends on the group. Typically, 9 to 15 runs will be skied for a “total vertical” between 9,000ft. and 16,000 ft. Individual runs vary in vertical drop between about 800 ft and 2000ft. Long cat rides are usually broken up into a number of short “hops” that provide short rests between runs but keep guests active. The lack of any skiing “minimums” allows guides to focus on the needs of their group and on finding the best skiing. There is no need to “rack up the vertical”.