As a rule, the best snow at any ski resort isn't served by a chairlift. You gotta hike. Here's a cheap, easy way to carry your skis without killing your shoulders or thwacking your buddy: Make your own ski sling. Start by taking 12 feet of 1.5-inch flat webbing and tying it into a loop with a water knot. Feed the loop twice around your skis–above and below the bindings–and sling them diagonally across your back. (Make it three wraps for a closer fit.) Be sure to quiet your breathing as you cruise past the competition; you don't want to look like you're trying.