Race morning comes early. The car leaves in the dark, the mountain is cold, and there's no time to go back for the goggles you left on the kitchen counter. The best way to have a good race day is to pack the night before, using the same list every time.
Here's a simple race day packing list for ski racers, plus a few habits that help you get better over a season.
The Night Before: Pack Your Bag
On the hill
- Race skis and training skis
- Ski boots, plus a spare set of buckles if you have them
- Helmet, goggles, and a spare lens for flat light
- Poles, and gate guards or shin guards if you use them
- Race suit or speed suit
- Gloves, plus a spare pair
For staying warm
- Base layers and ski socks, with an extra pair of socks
- Warm-up jacket and pants to wear over your suit
- Neck warmer and hand warmers
- A dry layer for the ride home
The small stuff that gets forgotten
- Lift pass and race bib (or the paperwork to pick one up)
- Snacks: granola bars, fruit, or something you know sits well before a run
- Water. Cold days make it easy to forget to drink.
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- A small tool kit or ski strap
Tip: put a tag on your ski bag and boot bag. At a race, dozens of bags look exactly the same. Our Ski Race Crew bag tag has a contact card on the back, so a lost bag can find its way back to you.
Race Morning
- Eat breakfast. Even if you're nervous, you need fuel for a long, cold day.
- Get there early. Give yourself time to pick up your bib, warm up, and inspect the course without rushing.
- Inspect with a plan. Look for the rhythm changes, the turns that come up fast, and where the light gets flat. Picture your line through each section.
- Stay warm between runs. Keep your warm-ups on until right before your start.
- Drink water. Bring a bottle and keep it in your bag. Our One More Run water bottle is stainless steel and holds 18 oz.
After the Race: Write It Down
The fastest way to improve over a season is to remember what happened. Right after your race, while it's still fresh, write down a few notes:
- Date, mountain, and discipline (slalom, GS, super-G)
- Snow and weather conditions
- What your coach told you
- What went well
- One thing to work on before the next race
After a few months, you'll have a record of your whole season. You can see what you're getting better at and what keeps coming up. The One More Run ski racer journal is made for this. It's a 6" × 8" spiral notebook that fits in a boot bag, with 118 lined pages for training notes, goals, and race-day reflections.
Set Goals for the Season
At the start of the season, write down a few goals. Keep them specific and in your control. "Win every race" isn't a great goal. "Stay on my line in the steep section," "make it through every gate in both runs," and "keep my hands forward" are. Check in on them every few weeks.
Gear for Ski Racers
We made a collection just for racers: a bag tag, a training journal, a water bottle, helmet stickers, and an ornament to remember the season. Shop For Ski Racers, or see all of our Ski Racing Gifts for parents, fans, and coaches.
See you at the start.