Learning to ski is not your everyday thing to do. Stick your feet into clunky boots, click them onto two long slippy planks, and then set off down a hill with no brakes! It might sound like a nightmare to a first-timer. However, all of these obstacles have been thought out over the years by ski resorts, ski schools, and ski manufacturers. A number of improvements have been made to the slopes, equipment, and tuition to improve the beginner experience. And there has truly never a better time to learn to ski, whatever your age. On the fence about wondering if you should learn how to ski? Here’s why you should.
Why Learning to Ski Has Never Been Easier
Beginner areas are more accessible than before
In many resorts, beginner areas are a long way from what they once were. Comical pictures of people being dragged up drag lifts on their side are becoming a thing of the past. Many resorts have invested in magic carpet-like escalators where you stand on a moving rubber mat like the ones at the airport. It used to be a choice between a physical clamber back up or doing battle with a mechanical monster of a drag lift with a nasty jolt at the start. With the moving carpets, as long as you can stand up, you will get back to the top of where you want to go. This is a markedly more tranquil way to start your skiing campaign.
Choppy slopes are mostly a thing of the past
Ski slope grooming has also come on leaps and bounds. The almost universal end to the day a few decades ago where every slope became a mogul run after 3 pm is no longer the case much to the dismay of a few die-hards and old-schoolers. New grooming techniques and improvements to the snow grooming machines as well as snow cannons have made reliable surfaces that often are in great condition from the start of the day until the end.
Not sure where to learn to ski? These are the best ski resorts for beginners.
Ski schools have evolved tremendously
The idea of you standing in a long line of 15-20 folk waiting your turn to wobble out your initial manoeuvres in front of an instructor isn’t often the case. Ski schools have realised that the massive groups of varying ages and capabilities aren’t always what people want. Now, there are various tailored products in most resorts whether it be small group sizes, guaranteed language skills, or short, intensive packages to help you have an effective and enjoyable experience.
Learning to ski at your own pace is an important factor in learning to love the sensations of skiing. So the big lines of learners following a few barked instructions isn’t often the norm in 2019. You can learn to ski in our level 1 adult group ski lessons. These run for 2hrs each day, giving you a little bit of tuition each day along with plenty of time to ski with family and friends in your free time.
The equipment is no longer medieval
Ski boots aren’t running shoes but they are no longer the medieval torture devices they once were. Much work has gone into ski boot design in the last 20 or 30 years. Now there are special women’s boots designed for their morphology, heat moulded boots, boot fitting, and boot fitters who guarantee comfort should you want to invest in your own ski boots [that is not a bad idea and probably the first bit of hardware to buy if you like it].
Skis have also vastly improved or more specifically tailored to all types and tastes of skiing. Whereas there was little to obviously tell between skis in the 1980s apart from their length, contemporary skis now vary massively in their length, weight, stiffness, width, and shape. A beginner will usually have a ski that is relatively short, light and soft with a fair degree of curve or shape making it very easy to turn.
Wrestling with ill-fitting boots, fiddly bindings, and cumbersome skis was all part of the skiing of yesteryear. You will be surprised how the advances in equipment genuinely complement the activity nowadays. Make your first experience on skis a good one with these six tips.
Ready to learn to ski? Check out our top tips for first-time skiers and boarders.
Skiing is accessible to everyone
Learning to ski is well within the grasp of most reasonably active adults of any age. Despite the famous myths and often hilarious mishaps associated with learning to ski, it’s actually relatively common to not fall at all in your first lesson or even your first week of lessons. If you are deliberating or wondering whether you should do it, we’d unreservedly say give it a go. There has never been a better time to learn to ski. Find out more about our adult group ski lessons where you can learn in a social environment with skiers of the same ability.
Ready to give skiing a go? Get 10% off your Level 1 Group Lessons with New Generation.
