You may remember we promised to hit the stores and weed through the ski gadgets to tell you which ones really work. Well, here's a good one. Mike Thorpe shows us a great way to carry water when you are out in the mountains.

[See Encoded Video for this Weeks Cutting Edge Tip on Carrying Water]

Mike Thorpe: (("For those of you who own ski jackets, after some wear and tear you may notice the water doesn't repell off of the materials as well and your ski clothes can get wet. Even if you have gortex. The water isn't beading away. Thats what this NikWax is for. It keep the repellency on your clothing. You can buy nix wax spray or wash. The spray just goes right on your coat or pants and the wash is something that you use in the washing machine, you pour it in when you wash your ski clothes. NikWax works like scotchgard, to re-waterproof. I prefer the spray on myself, because you just spray it right on your coat and you're off. This is the best thing to use when you're getting wet."))

(("Its amazing how many people struggle getting their boot on and off. Here are a couple hints to get your boot on and off and make it a little easier when youre taking the boot off, twist the buckles so they dont fall back on the grabbers. Sometimes your trying to getht e boot off and the buckle grabvs, so if you have these micro adjustments you can turen them so they dont fall back on. Now a lot of people are pulling their tongue straight down, to get in and out of the boot. The best thing to sdo if you have a front entry ski boot, rear entrys are pretty self explanatory, but with front entires which are getting more popular you want to take the boot and spread it. And this is a racing boot which is a lot harder to get on and off but see how easy it was for her to get out. And now we'll get her right back in. Step in, and it only takes a second. Its just much easier to get your boot off and on by spreading it. "))

Mike Thorpe, Sports Den

(("Ski racks are a great accessory to skiers. There easy to use and convenient. All you have to do, is pop open the rack, grab your skis and place them inside the rack. This is a lot better than when you put them inside your car, where they can be a hazard. You don't want them sliding around your car when you put on the brakes they hit your stick shift or they're getting in the way. Its also nice when you're done skiing and your skis are all snowy, they dont get your seats dirty. This is so nice to be able to throw it on your rack and lock it if you need to. Now they make a couple different price points. This rack is here is expensive because its customized right to the top of your car. They also make racks that are pretty inexpensive. All you do, because its magnetized, is throw it on top of your car and you're ready to go, you lock down your skis. Now, ski racks are just a great way to go, they're awesome to use, thats all you need to know about racks."))

[See encoded video for this week's "Cutting Edge"]

The right gear includes a pack with clothes and food, a shovel and an avalanche transmitter. This week's tip on gear gives us the basics on those transmitters. The Cutting Edge is made possible by the Sports Den.

Mike Thorpe, Sports Den:

(("There are a few things you need to know about transmitters and beacons.I'm going to give you a demonstration of how you find the other person with a transmitter.The transmitter is always sending out a signal as long as its in this position, when I turn it I can zero in on where the other transmitter is and find the other person that is buried in the snow. Just by zeroing it in, you can find the other transmitter. Its very important that you know this: Older transmitters do not have the same frequency as the new transmitters. So you could be in trouble if you have a friend that has an older transmitter frequency. They had different frequencies back with the older models. The new transmitters are all on the same frequency so as long as you have something new from the past year, everyone will have the same frequency. Its important not to get that mixed up, or you won't be able to find your friend, or your friend won't be able to find you if you get buried in an avalanche. And that's what you need to know about peeps and beacons."))

Mike Thorpe Sports Den:

(("A great way to keep your feet warm is get the right pair of socks. Dont wear socks you wear around town, but socks specifically made for skiing. They keep your feet warm and wick away moisture. Another tip is always wear just one pair of socks, that helps your circulation throughout the day. If that doesn't work, another way to keep your feet warm is to use boot warmers. You can use a package and crickle it up and it'll be warm for a while. My favorite is the boot heater. I have low circulatorion and my feet always get cold. You turn it on and it electronically heats and keeps your feet warm all day. Thats really nice. Another tip is to unbuckle your boots before you get on the lift. When you get back to the top, you buckle them back down and you're ready to go again. Those are some great ways to keep your feet warm and enjoy your day a lot more."))

((" Here are some great ways to keep warm. The first item is just a traditional hat. You lose a lot of heat from your head . Throw one of these on and it keeps that heat in your body. Hats used to be kind of itchy. There were made of wool. Now you have fleece and cotton and silk and its comfortable and a nice way to stay warm. There are also neck gators. They go inside your jacket around your neck. That keeps the wind out and keeps your face and chin warm. We have masks they keep your face warm and you don't have any problems with frostbite. We also have these nice fuzzy warmers that cover your neck and head, its fleece so it doesn't bother you and you can see out your goggles. Theres also a nice piece that is attached to the goggle. You just add this piece onto your goggle and it keeps your nose warm. Its great when you're riding up a tram to a colder area, it keeps your nose from getting cold or frostbite. Those are some ways to keep warm when you're out on a cold day."))

(("A lot of people out there don't know much about wax, how to use it, or what the purpose is. Some people even pull their skis out of the garage with cobwebs on them. You need wax to help your skis slide on the snow. Here's what its all about, with some good tips on how to use wax. There are different waxes for different temperatures.For instance there are different colors of wax for the different temperatures. If you can't remember which wax goes with cold days or warm days, its really easy, you can just look on the box and it tells you right there. There is also an all purpose wax, Its flourinated wax. All you have to do is rub it on your ski and you're ready to go. Wax helps you get more speed on the cat tracks and you don't have to push with your arms and you slide all the way down. So now, you know the importance of using wax on your skis."))

[See encoded video for this week's "Cutting Edge"]

[See encoded video for this week's "Cutting Edge"]

Mark Gardner/Sports Den: (("When you bring your skis to a ski shop to have your bindings inspected, they'll get your weight and height. They can calibrate the binding for you. This is not something you should do on your own or on the ski slope. This should only be done by a certified ski shop. Its too important to have it done right. and you'll be skiing safe."))

Belinda Edwards / Bolle: (( "You look for something comfortable on the face." "Make sure it fits to your head." "Target your price range." "Look for sunglasses that block out infared light."))

In case you are getting ready to go out and make that big purchase, here are a few things you should know before you walk into the store.

Corbet Hoover, Gart Bros. ((CORBET: "LOTS OF TIMES YEAH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND ITS REALLY OUR JOB TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND TRY TO BEST GUESS WHAT SKI IS GOING TO WORK OUT BEST FOR THEM."))

Okay, you go to the store and what do you see? Wide skis and short skis. Bright red skis, skis with ridges, skis with gimicks, and skis which look really fast. Almost sounds like a Dr. Sues rhyme. But which ski is for you? For the sake of being too technical, lets say you're like most. An intermediate skier with an average budget who skis every now and then.

((CORBET: "GENERALLY SPEAKING IF YOU WANT AN ALL MOUNTAIN SKI THATS THE TOUGHEST. YOU GOT TO FIND A SKI THAT SUITS YOUR HEIGHT YOUR WEIGHT. HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU ARE AND IF YOU'RE SKIING EVERYWHERE ITS REALLY HARD TO PICK A SKI THAT DOES IT ALL WELL FOR YOU."))

Usually when purchasing a ski we are told to test "the flex" in a ski, so what does that accomplish?

Mark Gardner, Owner, Sports Den ((MARK: "AND THAT WHEN YOU FLEX A SKI YOU CAN KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR IF THE TIP'S STIFF THROUGH THE MIDBODY OF THE SKI IF THATS STIFFER OR SOFTER. IF THE TAIL'S STIFFER OR SOFTER. YOU KNOW THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE ON HOW THE SKI IS GOING TO TURN."))

But will the intermediate skier notice this flex?

((CORBET: "GENERALLY SPEAKING AN INTERMEDIATE SKIER WHO SKIS EVERYWHERE THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THE DIFFERNECE BY FEEL YET BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT SKIS, SO A NEW SKI ALWAYS FEELS BETTER THAN AN OLD SKI AND THAT WILL GENERALLY WORK OUT PRETTY GOOD."))

So if we can't tell simply by flex, what do we look for? Advice--Look for the ski which accomplishes what you want to it do. If you want better turns, the parabolic ski. Suppose you want to go fast? Look for a stiffer, GS type ski. If you want to do moguls...

((CORBET: "A SKI LIKE THIS DYNASTAR IS A MOGUL SKI. ITS GOING TO HAVE A FAIRLY SOFT SHOVEL, THE TIP OR THE TAIL EXCUSE ME WILL BE A LITTLE BIT STIFFER THAN THE TIP. A SKI LIKE THAT VIPER X FROM ROSSIGNOL IS MORE OF GS BACKGROUND ITS GOING TO HAVE A UNIFORM FLEX ACROSS THE ENTIRE SKI, ITS GOING TO MAKE FOR A REAL EVEN TURN ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN."))

The ski *has* to match the skier. And all those other bells and whistles you see are for added performance. Now knowing all this, would you believe there those who choose skis based on fashion alone.

((CORBET: "UH DEFINATELY, ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW YOU GET, AND ITS NOT JUST WOMEN THERES GUYS WHO COME IN AND SAY I JUST BOUGHT THIS NEW NORTH FACE JACKET, ITS BLACK AND YELLOW. SHOW ME A BLACK AND YELLOW SKI AND THIS YEAR ITS PRETTY HARD TO DO, WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY BLACK AND YELLOW SKIS."))

So matching the ski with your latest outfit is probably not the best idea. We found everywhere we looked that the best way to get the ski you need is to honestly answer all the salesperson's questions.

((CORBET: "GENERALLY AN HONEST CUSTOMER IS THE BEST. SOMEONE WHO SITS THERE AND JUST KIND OF NODS IS NOT A LOT OF HELP."))

We also discovered its hard to choose a bad ski. ((MARK: "WITH QUALITY OF SKI I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO WRONG. WHAT IT WOULD COME DOWN TO IS IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT WITH YOUR ABILITY AND THE KIND OF CONDITIONS YOU WOULD SKI ON."))

Thats right, no matter which ski it is; bright red, wide or with ridges, today's skiers can't go wrong. The specific ski you buy will depend on your own individual taste and preference...even if it is black and yellow.

(Susan:) I always like to demo different high end skis, I try them out, then I know exactly what I want to buy.

Here's a good tip for people who get cold hands... A Grandoe glove expert from Colorado tells us, its not necessarily just what's on your hands.. but what's on your head and the rest of you that can help you keep your hands warm when you're out skiing. The Cutting Edge is made possible by Sports Den.

Tom Bachewiig, Grandoe Gloves:

(("There are two components to keep your hands warm. One is the kind of gloves or mitten you wear, the other thing to remember is , you are the other half of theat formula. You are the heat generator. If you let that heat escape, you wont be as warm as a skier. So remember when you're skiing , one thing you can do is keep your body warmer, put more insulation on your body, more insulation on your head, that will allow that body heat to be forced into your extremities more and therefore keep you warmer. So that might help keep you warm on those really cold days."))

In this weeks Cutting Edge segment, we have a tip on layering. More and more skiers are learning cotton just doesnt cut it anymore. There are some high tech fabircs out on the market that work much better to keep you warm and dry.

Layering is the way to go these days. You can pile it on, or peel it off as the weather gets warmer or cooler... If you get too hot or too cold on the slopes, here's a great tip for you ... its brought to you by the folks at Sports Den:

Mark Gardner: (("You want to layer with garments that are functional to keep you dry and warm. There are three diffferent wasy. There's a lightweight type of layering garment, a medium weight and a heavy weight. They are all fully functional. All have a lycra stretch into them, if youre a cold person or condistoins are cold, you can choose those three differrent weights. They are fully functional, you'll be dry , you'll be warm and have a great day skiing."))

George Gardner, Sports Den:

(("One of the most important things you can do for your safety before you start your winter ski season, is to make sure your bindings are calibrated, function as they should be, whether you have new skis or old ones, make sure you have the bindings checked to prevent injuries to your legs."))

Thanks George! You know, this is the time of year to get out all of your ski stuff, and check everything!

Once you actually find your hat, gloves, goggles, no fog cloth, and everything else.. and you get it all together, if you keep it together all season it'll be easy to get ready every time you want to go skiing.