If you skied once when you were under the age of 10 and it’s been over 10 years since then, you’ve never skied before. Skiing is a whole new game when you know the consequences of falling. The kids on the slopes fall, get up, and eat more snow just for fun. The adults on the slopes know the pain of a fall and the struggle of getting back up.
Before my first ski trip, I asked all the skiers I knew for advice. I wanted to know exactly what I was getting myself into. They gave me great advice, but as lifelong skiers, they thought some tips went without saying; it just so happened I needed them said. So, as a twenty-something-year-old beginner, here is what wasn’t obvious to me.
Be Ready For
- Chances are you’ve heard the phrases “French fry” and “Pizza”. Ski instructors teach beginners straight skis to go and wedge to stop. Well, pizza doesn’t actually stop you when you are flying full speed down a mountain. To actually slow down, you need to make turns across the mountain
- Ski school is worth every cent. A half day teaches the basics, but if you actually want to feel comfortable going down the mountain, I recommend having an instructor for the full day (or the full week)
- You may think it goes without saying, but if you go to the top of the mountain, the only way down is skiing down, so be ready
- If you fall and can’t stand back up, don’t keep fighting your skis. Step out of your ski, stand up, and put them back on. In the struggle, the thought may not come naturally
- Expect expensive food that is just okay at the ski resorts. If you want something better, plan to eat lunch elsewhere
Pack Better Than I Did
- Long underwear and leggings are not the same thing, so wear traditional ski clothes as your base layer. The seams of leggings may dig into your skin
- Only wear ski socks inside your boots. Make sure your underlayer can be pulled above your sock
- If you are skiing when it’s unseasonably warm, don’t wear too many warm layers. Shorts and a tank might be enough under your bib, but you’ll still want a ski jacket to protect against snow, wind, sun, and falls
- Wear gloves no matter the temperature to keep your hands protected
- Pack slip-on shoes or boots to wear when you are not in ski boots; nothing is worse than having to squeeze into sneakers after a long day on the mountain
- Buy or borrow a jacket with lots of zippers. I kept water, sunscreen, my phone, and a snack with me all day
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