Anyone ever taken their DSLR skiing?

[PaulStat]

For the first time in 7 years I'm off skiing to Chamonix!!!

Anyway I am a pretty good skier, but no doubt I'll fall over at least a few times, should I risk it? Has anyone done so and their camera has lived to tell the tale?

 

[D.P.]

I do it from time time, the main reasons I don't do it more often is I usually ski tour and usually with a speed and performance aspect in mind ( I have done ski mountaineering races before) so both the added weight (I spent around $3000 getting m ski gears lightweight, the weight of a DSLR + lens is probably around $1000 worth of weight savings) of the camera and the time to stop take to photos goes against my ethos. When I am in a resort skiing I am only doing that if there is powder and I wont stop skiing powder to take photos, and this is usually in a whiteout anyway.

So I usually just take my camera on the odd few days a year I ski at leisure, having a few beers and fondue for lunch etc.

If you are not hucking off cliffs then the camera wont come to much harm. Skiers typically don't fall in a way that will impact the backpack too much. I always ski with extra clothing, so this gets wraped around the camera.


Biggest problems are condensation and cold batteries.

Bring a polariser, and when metering add about 2/3 of a stop of EC to balance the white snow.

 

[Nexus]

I've done a number of seasons and find carrying a DSLR (plus bag) is usually a pain unless your intention is to shoot your friends, doing something like sessioning a jump or whatever.

A compact or decent phone is useful for the odd unplanned shot. Also, I personally think GoPro and similar cameras are one of the best things to take up the mountain these days.

 

[Razor-BladE]

I've done a number of seasons and find carrying a DSLR (plus bag) is usually a pain unless your intention is to shoot your friends, doing something like sessioning a jump or whatever.

A compact or decent phone is useful for the odd unplanned shot. Also, I personally think GoPro and similar cameras are one of the best things to take up the mountain these days.

This basically.
First time I went with my camera, I went with college and had lessons so I had time to stop and shoot friends skiing down etc.
Second time, December just gone was with uni and pretty much skied solo the whole time as I didn't really know anyone who went. Had my bag with me for 5 days (which was annoying to carry) and took about 30 photos.
However, I would have taken more but the weather was terrible for the whole week. Apart from the last half day where the sun was shining and nice blue skies..... guess what I decided not to take up to the mountain that day....

I took more photos on my Panny TZ8 (didn't even take on the last day either kicking myself for it).

I'll take it again next time I go, but don't think I'll take it up everyday.

 

[bam0]

I've taken mine the last two years, but I don't take it on the slopes everyday. Also I used a crumpler Jimmy Bo rather than a back pack so it was more accessible, but it does mean I only had the ones lens on me per day.

 

[bigredshark]

I've never taken it every day but I have gone out with the intention of shooting a few times. I have a Dakine Sequence bag I used for it, it's tough enough I never really worried about my gear and I could fit everything I wanted in without it feeling huge, access to the camera compartment is through the back however so it can take a while to get stuff in and out so it's not great for casual shots.

 

[Razor-BladE]

I've taken mine the last two years, but I don't take it on the slopes everyday. Also I used a crumpler Jimmy Bo rather than a back pack so it was more accessible, but it does mean I only had the ones lens on me per day.

I did have the Jimmy Bo with me as well, but found it wasn't that comfortable. But I did have a backpack on me as well haha. Did you have it over the shoulder or around the waist? And did you use the extra strap?

 

[D.P.]

When I do just ski in a resort on the slopes my backpack is so much lighter without the shovle/probe, rope, harness, crampons, skins etc that I don't notice the camera in my backpack at all really. I just don't want to carry in addition to the stuff mentioned above. And if there is powder I wont stop skiing until I collapse.

Skied thigh deep white smoke last weekend, another 30-40 inches fell this week so tomorrow should be epic (in oregon)

 

[bam0]

I did have the Jimmy Bo with me as well, but found it wasn't that comfortable. But I did have a backpack on me as well haha. Did you have it over the shoulder or around the waist? And did you use the extra strap?

Mostly over the shoulder although I wore it a lot higher than I would do if walking and used the extra strap to secure it to my belt as well.

 

[Razor-BladE]

Ah ok, that's interesting. Might have to try that next time.
I had it around the waist as you would normally and found it restricts leg movement when bending. And even if I moved it to the side/back of my body it would move to the front so I stopped using it after about 5 minutes.

 

[Amp34]

I take mine most days I'm skiing on the basis that the one day I don't take it will be the golden shot missed...

I just stick mine in my backpack covered in a spare fleece/other items of clothing. Piece of cake and I haven't damaged it yet. It it's particularly cold you may want to carry a second battery secreted on your person as the battery may get a bit low when stored in the camera (although we're looking at -20s rather than just below freezing).

I don't understand how people ski without a bag tbh, where do you put your spare clothing?

 

[Nexus]

I don't understand how people ski without a bag tbh, where do you put your spare clothing?

Do you need spare clothing?

I've done three winter seasons and hate resort riding with a backpack unless I actually have some reason to be carrying one.... backcountry or doing a shoot.

It can make chairlifts more awkward, it's no good for riding through the snow park and with anything expensive inside, there is always the risk of landing on it.

Ski and Snowboard clothing these days has so many pockets that you can still easily carry a sandwich, drink, wallet, compact camera etc...

 

[Amp34]

I think that's quite a telling post really. People often forget you are up the side of a mountain in minus temperatures. Maybe if you're skiing on a blue sky day it's not too bad but on a bad day it's a bit stupid to not take up spare clothing, if you get stuck up the mountain you could be in a **** load of trouble pretty quickly, even if you only ride on piste...

 

[D.P.]

Even within a resort I always carry spare clothing, sun glasses + goggles and use each as appropriate in the conditions (goggles only when storm skiing), first aid kit, water bottle snacks, shovel and probe, multi-tool, skins, spare gloves, lunch. When I was younger and more interested in racing I would also have some wax and edge sharpener.

 

[olv]

You forgot the kitchen sink.

 

[Nexus]

You would have to be seriously unlucky to die or become stuck with in a resort, especially given that Ski Patrol sweep runs at the end of the day, you've also got Groomers and maintence staff working on the mountain all night, finally buildings and lift stations are left unlocked in case you needed emergency shelter.

I worked for a year in mountain operations for a major North American resort, working closely with Ski Patrol. Deaths nearly always came from collisions with objects and head/neck injuries. In the two years I was there, there wasn't once a case of somebody getting stuck within the resort itself, or dying.

The majority of deaths tended to be where people had ventured into the backcountry unprepared. I remember one being that of a Japanese man who went completely off on his own, no equipment and walked into a lake, he was found dead just a few feet from it. That is venturing outside of the resort though, where you should have proper equipment and knowledge.

Having a pack full of everything really isn't necessary for resort riding. If clothing is a major concern then I'd say that you should be somewhat dressed for the conditions before you leave the house. If its really into the negative temperatures, then it usually isn't much fun to go Skiing anyway, that's certainly what I found when it drops to -26.

 

[olv]

Having a pack full of everything really isn't necessary for resort riding.

Don't be silly. You obviously need ten spare jumpers, 60 litres of water, a cuddly toy, a defibrillator, a spare set of skis, sunday roast, xbox, ski iron, portable generator, flares (not the trousers) and a hip flask. Anything less would be reckless.

 

[bigredshark]

It's your choice at the end of the day and it'll depend where you ski and how you view it. I take the same gear all the time, mainly so I know I'll always have what I need and if I change plans mid way through the day that's cool.

My view is also that it is always somewhat dangerous, even experienced guys get caught out and I'm not out enough to really accurately judge risk. So for the sake of carrying a small-ish bag I'd rather always have it with me.

As to the original subject, a DSLR will be fine, either in a purpose designed bag or wrapped in a fleece in whatever bag you have. As has been pointed out, it's fairly rare to fall in such a way you'll hurt something in your pack. Batteries will suffer a little in the cold but keeping a spare inside your jacket will fix that unless your shooting loads.

It's one of the few places a good superzoom like an 18-200 is worthwhile in my view, plenty of action at both ends of the focal length range, you may not want to be changing lenses and you won't be shooting wide open too much unless you have a ND filter (which may be one to consider bringing).

 

[D.P.]

You would have to be seriously unlucky to die or become stuck with in a resort, especially given that Ski Patrol sweep runs at the end of the day, you've also got Groomers and maintence staff working on the mountain all night, finally buildings and lift stations are left unlocked in case you needed emergency shelter.

I worked for a year in mountain operations for a major North American resort, working closely with Ski Patrol. Deaths nearly always came from collisions with objects and head/neck injuries. In the two years I was there, there wasn't once a case of somebody getting stuck within the resort itself, or dying.

The majority of deaths tended to be where people had ventured into the backcountry unprepared. I remember one being that of a Japanese man who went completely off on his own, no equipment and walked into a lake, he was found dead just a few feet from it. That is venturing outside of the resort though, where you should have proper equipment and knowledge.

Having a pack full of everything really isn't necessary for resort riding. If clothing is a major concern then I'd say that you should be somewhat dressed for the conditions before you leave the house. If its really into the negative temperatures, then it usually isn't much fun to go Skiing anyway, that's certainly what I found when it drops to -26.

It is all fun and games until one of your friends or acquaintances dies.
Deaths in ski resorts are pretty much a daily occurrence in the alps. I lived in Switzerland for 5 years and read the free paper in the metro each day, every few days there would be a reported death, and that was from the Swiss resorts only.

Relying on Ski patrol in any large area is foolish. As the sign clearly told me Sunday "Do not ski this area alone, Ski Patrol WILL NOT find you". And that was inbounds in a US resort (mt Bachelor). In the alps, well good luck. They may fin your body in the summer time.


I always check the temperatures before leaving home but having different clothing options only ever makes sense. The temperature at 1200m on a south facing slope in the sun at 3pm will not to be the same as at 3300m on a north facing slope at 9am with 50MPH winds and blowing snow. Maybe you like to freeze your balls off but I prefer to regulate my temperature.
Very handy 2 weekends ago when the base temperature started at 20*F without any wind and ended up at 3*F with a gale force wind. I got to ski thigh deep 4% blower while the chumps out in their hoodies defrosted themselves inside. I Pretty much had the mountain between me and 10 other well prepared people, several were ski patrol saying it was the best powder day they had in years. I didn't stop for 1 minute that day. Put on my emergency down under jacket and face mask at noon, glove liners at 1pm, and when the sun came out at 2:30 the yellow ski goggles were replaced with sun glasses and there was still enormous powder fields untouched with no one about since they were all in the bar warming up.


In many areas full avy gear is a legal requirement to ski certain zones and considering the avalanche related fatalities every year it would be damn foolish not to take any necessary precautions. Hundred of people die each year in ski related avalanches, including avalanches that occur on the piste.




Perhaps the only optional equipment I carry is my climbing skins. That just means come 1pm when all the easy access powder is skied out and the rest of the chumps are enjoying the mogul fest below I can make a quick skin into an open powder field and keep getting face shots to the lifts close.

 

[Nexus]

I've done four winter seasons, including two in the French Alps, I'm well aware that people die, but as I said before, most of those aren't a result of somebody not taking up an extra jumper with them when skiing on the piste.

If you are carrying skins every time you go up, you are clearly going up with the intention of going off-piste, which of course would be silly to do without a pack of the correct gear and a beeper.