Skiers and snowboarders wait all year for winter so they can hit the slopes. Whether you’re a bunny hill beginner or a black diamond daredevil, skiing and snowboarding are both incredibly fun! However, getting your equipment to the ski resort can be a bit of a challenge. Here are some tips for transporting your skis and snowboards.
Use The Right Equipment
As an avid skier myself, I understand the work that goes into lugging your winter gear to the slopes. It’s enough of a task to fit the whole family’s skis and snowboards into the car. But even once you do, you may damage your gear or car interior because nothing is secured properly. My father’s pickup truck bed has countless dings and scratches after years of hauling the family’s skis and boots! Well, it is possible to safely transport your winter gear. You’ll need:
A Hitch
Hitches are automotive accessories installed on the back of your vehicle. They provide the connection between your vehicle and whatever you are towing or carrying. In order to carry skis and snowboards on your car, you’ll need to install a hitch on it if you haven’t already. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do this yourself! You can walk into a U-Haul location or schedule an installation online. If this step already sounds like too much work, remember that hitches have many other uses besides carrying your snow gear. You can also use a hitch to:
- Tow trailers during a move
- Attach a cargo carrier for camping
- Utilize a bike rack
- Tow other vehicles with auto transports, tow dollies, and motorcycle trailers
Because a hitch has multiple uses, you won’t be installing one just to use it for a small window of the year. You’ll be able to use it during every season for your camping, towing, biking and winter sports needs!
A Ski and Snowboard Carrier
Once you have your hitch installed, you can attach equipment to it, like a ski and snowboard carrier in this case. This piece of equipment is every skier or snowboarder’s best friend. Two types of carriers safely transport your skis or snowboards on the back of your vehicle:
- Thule TRAM Hitch Snowsport Carrier. This carrier allows you to transform your bike rack into a ski and snowboard holder. The Thule carrier:
- Holds up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards on 2″ hitch receiver racks
- Holds up to 4 pairs of skis or 2 snowboards on 1 1/4″ hitch receiver racks
- Has soft rubber arms to protect gear and prevent scratching
- Includes locks to secure gear in the carrier
- Maximizes carrying capacity by transporting skis and boards upright
2. Yakima HitchSki Ski and Snowboard Carrier. This carrier:
- Carries up to 6 pairs of skis or 4 snowboards
- Has soft, flexible padding to protect your gear during the drive
- Requires only about 25 minutes to install
- Features two upper arms and adjustable lower arms to secure your gear to your vehicle
Now that you have what you need to transport your skis or snowboards, it’s time to hit the slopes! Not sure where you’d like to ski or snowboard this winter? Check out some ideas here.
How has a ski and snowboard carrier made your trip to the slopes easier? Tell us in the comments!
“Whitecap Alpine 2015” by Electronker is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
