We checked in with Majesty Skis USA athlete and Alaskan ski guide Elias Holt to tell us about how he preps his equipment for the upcoming ski season. Here's what he had to tell us:

I am pretty excited. I can aggressively turn my office chair and check on the current snow report right through the window. I'm happy to say I am watching very large chicken feather size flakes coming down as we speak! This leaves me oozing with energy, just thinking, soon I will be fortunate enough to slide around on snow with friends and clients.

I’m looking forward to the next step in the progression towards ski season though it can be a bit daunting. This is called “dusting off the cobwebs”. I've broken it down into categories for you below so read on!

Skis

Let's face it, we love our skis. We love the topsheet, the length and every little detail about them. I would be lying if I said that the look of the ski (graphics) didn't really matter to me. Yes, a ski guide should look at his ski as more of a tool than a cosmetic. However, when my ski is not only a really good driving tool AND looks sexy- then it's a win-win for me.

I was very pleased to say this when I was doing my check list on my Majesty Superpatrol Touring Skis before my recent ski trip to Argentina and Antarctica, they passed with flying colors. Things I am looking for are:

• Base - and gouges through the ptex?
• Edges - any rust or burrs? Probably worth a tune no matter what!
• Wax needed? (most definitely)
• Tip/Tail - any cracks or splits?
• Bindings, you know- the thing that connects you to the sks. These need to be working… Check for cracks around the screws and for any cracks in plastic.
• Skins - glue still ok? Plush not destroyed? Tip/tail connectors functional?

Boots

The most important tool. YOUR FEET!! We’ve gotta take care of those bad dogs. So making sure your boots are in tip top working order is key. Things to inspect:

• Buckles - check the screws on these (and the ankle pivot) for any play and have spares in your repair kit.
• Toe pin holes - check for extra wear or play when the binding is engaged.
• Heel - make sure no chips or cracks and that the tech insert isn’t loose.
• Entire shell - inspect for cracks

Outwear

This is pretty basic. I like to check if any of my jackets, pants have any tears in them and if they need another coating of Gore-Tex spray applied. It can be wet up here in Alaska sometimes and I know my BC and California friends know what I’m taking about! Make sure all the zippers close thing up. 

Avalanche safety gear

Very important that this gear needs to be all functional for yourself AND your ski group!

• I like to run the popular DBEAST system once through my beacon and for my first tour of the season.
• D - Display: working? Scratches? Cracks?
• B - Battery: make sure I have alkaline in my beacon and not lithium. What is my % at? Industry standard and recommendation is to change at 50% but start the season off at 100%!
• E - Electronics: making sure when I start my ski tour that I have a good distance from all other electronics to prevent any interference.
• A - Airbag: is it charged? Is my canister filled?
• S - Check search function and range test.
• T - Check transmit function.
• Probe - Be sure there it works, fits together well and practice deploying it quickly!
• Shove - Same as your probe, practice putting it together super fast and make sure it's in good condition. 

Make sure you have your local avalanche center website bookmarked:

 

Northwest Avalanche Center

Wallowa Avalanche Center

Central Oregon Avalanche Center

Sierra Avalanche Center

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Utah Avalanche Center

Know Before You Go

National Avalanche Center 

Avalanche Canada

Chugach Avalanche Center

Backpack

Ah yes the main attraction. My office. My mobile toolkit. Things that live in the backpack and they don't come out until the end of the season are:

• Emergency Sled/Tarp 
• Trauma Kit
• Repair Kit 
• Comms: InReach & Sat Phone (only come out to charge) 
• Extra light emergency puffy
• Extra mittens

Well that's the quick and dirty for you. This is my go-to check list before my season starts of hopefully a long (sometimes through May) ski guide season. I hope you have a safe season yourself full of long slogs, great lines and deep power.

Follow along more of Elias’ Alaskan adventures on Instagram or book him for a day of touring at his website for Red Raven Guides!