Anybody carry and ski?

[jamz]

I can't figure out how to carry a 1911 or G19 while skiing. \

I'm a skiing n00b, and as such, I fall a lot, on my side mostly, with occaisional random crashes every which way. IWB is out, because of the ski bib, and anything around my waist I am afraid I'll get hurt on when I fall on it. Same goes for shoulder holster. Ankle is obviously out.

I've been carrying a little Colt pony pocketlite ina pocket, but I'd prefer my normal bigger gun.

Skiiers, what and where do YOU carry?

-James

 

[BAE984]

Mmm. I think the best idea is probably not carry while skiing. Seems like an injury waiting to happen, and I'm an 'above average' skiier. I SERIOUSLY doubt you'd ever have any altercation on a ski slope requiring a handgun...maybe leave it in the car while skiing. I'd think the chances of being injured by falling on the gun are way higher than using the gun to defend your life.

 

[Old Dog]

S&W 642 in left inside chest pocket of jacket or right front pocket of ski pants (zipper pockets). I carry while skiing only because (1) It's a three-hour, at best, drive to the ski areas I frequent, and I just can't bring myself to go anywhere without at least a pocket gun, and (2) I don't like leaving anything of value, especially handguns, in my vehicle in ski resort parking lots, and wouldn't leave one in a locker in the lodge either.

Best compromise I've yet to figure out. Don't fall much anymore as I'm not as crazy a skier as I once was ... but I'd feel a little strange trying to pack anything full size ...

 

[Dienekes]

OD's idea is good. I don't ski but have had some falls with holstered pistols--it is usually fairly painful and occasionally not good for the gun either. A J frame in an upper front pocket should work as you are unlikely to fall directly on it and it is also somewhat protected by your body.

 

[Dog]

I live in Oklahoma we don't have snow so if I was sking it would be on water. I suppose I would carry a Glock 26 or 27 in swin trunks pocket. They are supposed to be water resistant right?

(I assume you are talking about snow sking but I had to be a smart butt)

 

[KriegHund]

A) Get better
B) Carry, but dont have a round in the camber

And when you ski, please dont make real long back and forth loops then suddenly turn the other direction mid loop.

I crashed into a guy whe he did this (i turned to avoid him, but my skis slipped out from under me and i slid forward) and he started blabbering about "Your lucky im a good skier, otherwise that coulve been terrible, you have to pay attention to right of way..." Hmm, well, if you hadnt turned out of the blue without any signal while going real slow...

er...rant mode off. Sorry.

 

[rustymaggot]

once a holster and gun saved me a bit of skin when i laid my dirtbike down on a camping/trailriding trip. saved my hip from some road rash. i had a bit of a bruise from impact but id have had that same bruise and have missing skin if i hadnt landed on my six shooter and used it like a skid plate. lucky it was a cheep gun, the skid went thru the 6oz leather and scuffed my gun.

id be worried about dropping it out in the snow. maybe a flap holster that completely covers the gun and a buckle clasp to make sure it doesnt come undone.

 

[jamz]

Well I tried it with a G19 in a shoulder holster, and it was okay, but then again, I didn't crash either. I was with my 6 year old son, and all my attention was on him (he's just beginning) and I have to say I didn't even notice the gun at all.

 

[thatguy]

Is there a real good chance you'll need to defend yourself while skiing?

A pretty good chance?

Any chance at all?

I'll file your question along with those about packing at children's birthday parties, funerals and carrying 24/7 in one's own home. Do it if it makes you happy but do we really need to talk about it?

 

[aufevermike]

Is there a real good chance you'll need to defend yourself while skiing?

A pretty good chance?

Any chance at all?

Answers..........YES, YES, and YES

depending on where you live I guess.

I wear my shoulder holstered Anaconda while XC skiing in AK. you never know what lies around the bend. There are few brown furry mammals that one needs to be aware of.

 

[jamz]

Partially I posted this as a devil's advocate post for those who say that they carry 100% of the time, I've always thought that that is a very difficult thing to do if you lead any kind of a physically active lifestyle.

However, most who do carry do so to protect themselfves on road trips, among oter reasons. Ski areas, as Old Dog as said, can be far away, on small roads, etc etc. I would carry for that reason alone, and logically, one can be principled against leaving a gun in the car in a parking lot.


-James

 

[thatguy]

OK, in remote Alaska I can see being armed. But really, if I thought there was a good chance of encountering bears I would find another place to recreate.

Everywhere else, sure, yeah, right. It's a well known fact that the gangbangers prowl the ski resorts looking for victims.

 

[BAE984]

I'd bet on skis (of the alpine variety, anyhow), you could outrun any furry mammals you encounter (or non-furry, two legged ones, for that matter). On XC skis, then I could understand.

 

[KriegHund]

Theres stupid, angry people everywhere willing to cross the line from vocal to physical attacks. Just a matter of if your at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Always carry where you can.

 

[rocky]

How bout a Strider chest rig? It should provide some padding and retention.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Whervever you carry, make sure you won't injure yourself falling on your gun.

I have a close friend who carried his cell phone in the inside chest pocket of his coat. He took a nasty spill and landed with all of his weight on that phone. It broke two ribs. This sort of injury is far more likely than the risk of injury from criminal attackers. Especially if you're new and expect to do a lot of your skiing on your stomach and arse.

A small backpack would be a reasonably good place to carry a gun while downhill skiing. Not as quickly accesible as carrying on your person, but also not nearly as likely to cause an injury. Make sure it's well padded, and be certain that hard impacts won't make it fire.

 

[Old Dog]

It's a well known fact that the gangbangers prowl the ski resorts looking for victims.

Well, maybe not but I have run into some real jerkface intoxicated snowboarders at Mt. Baker and Steven's Pass.

I sense a bit of ... skepticism ... from a couple members, regarding this idea of packing while skiing.

I will attempt to explain my reasoning again for the more cynical or slower members:

1. The three ski areas I frequent in Washington are all between three and five hours drive from my humble abode. My return trips from the ski areas, if I'm not sleeping in a nearby motel or lodge, are almost always later at night. I am a believer in having at least one firearm in my vehicle when I travel; even (perhaps some of you cannot understand this now) during day trips. Always the likelihood of natural disaster around here -- or even as happened yesterday, having the interstate closed due to an avalanche -- and I don't want to be stuck anywhere without even a 5-shot J-frame.

2. Vehicles in ski area parking lots around here are frequently broken into; so, as well, may be the lockers in the ski lodges. I just don't like leaving a handgun in my vehicle, especially when thieves know once parked, the car is likely to be unattended for several hours.

3. I'm under no illusion that a snubby will keep me safe from a determined cougar (we have had several cougar attacks in this state over the past few years) or that a cougar would even attack a skier on a mountainside.

Obviously, the chances of needing a handgun while skiing are infinitesmal, however, and call me strange, but I simply would rather have it with me than not.

 

[Three Man]

Practice falling on the side that you do not have your pistol on.

Or learn to ski better.

Your probably old enouph to have heard the saying "NO PAIN, NO GAIN!"

PS: stop watching those James Bond movies.

 

[esheato]

I think the best option would be a small chest pack similar to the ones ski patrol use to hold their radios and other equipment. Attach a small Motorola GMRS radio to the outside front to look inconspicuous if you like.

Personally I don't carry. There are plenty of long pointy metal things (ski poles) to inflict damage or you could always just ski away from the conflict.

Ed

 

[buck00]

I like the enthusiasm for self defense, but I would be pretty amazed if you had to defend yourself with lethal force on a ski slope. The biggest danger on a ski slope is hitting a tree after too many drinks at the lodge.


I love skiing and I love guns but I wouldn't combine the two.

 

[BAE984]

Old Dog, I understand the need for having the weapon on the trip...I guess I was thinking the original poster wanted to 'carry' (easy access). I think if I were in a situation where I just wanted the weapon secure, I'd throw it in a backpack.

Ski better? You guys ever looked down a double black....in Utah?
Seriously, though, I'd bet your side would come in contact with the ground just so you WOULDN'T fall.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I love skiing and I love guns but I wouldn't combine the two.

You've obviously never participated in a biathlon!

Shooting in the snow rocks. There's nothing like a thick blanket of heavy snow to help you get into a rock-solid stable prone position. Imagine a giant, full body benchrest, custom formed to your body shape and shooting position.

 

[buck00]

Headless, you have to be pretty hard core to do a biathlon. I would be sucking wind too hard to get a decent grouping.


Hey, you can always grab yourself a M31 Suomi submachine gun and re-enact the Winter War in Finland. The Fins skiied rings around the "glorious" Red Army and shot them to sh-- as they struggled waist deep in snow. Not sure the ski patrol would approve.

 

[Richard.Howe]

Yes...

...but not at the same time!

 

[Manedwolf]

Is there a real good chance you'll need to defend yourself while skiing?

A pretty good chance?

Any chance at all?

I'll file your question along with those about packing at children's birthday parties, funerals and carrying 24/7 in one's own home. Do it if it makes you happy but do we really need to talk about it?

Well, you never know, a Bond-like situation might arise of hundreds of ninjas dropping from black helicopters, all over the slope...

Seriously, I think it'd depend where you live, and what the area is like. There's robberies at ski resorts, too, if you have to walk a distance back to the lifts or such, or alone on the grounds at night...but otherwise, yeah, falling on most guns when one of those phantom trees pops up in front of you would...hurt.