Not everyone has skied before, and if you’ve never been on a ski holiday before it can be daunting to know where to start. But with the right motivation and determination, anyone can learn the required skills to ski or snowboard. The concept of trying to grasp a new sport may be overwhelming at first, but if you get the finer details sorted, you’ll be ready and confident to hit the slopes (the nursery slopes, that is!). If you’re a first time skier, listen up!
Top Tips for First Timers
Get the right clothing
Nothing ruins a good ski more than being uncomfortable or cold.
It’s important that you choose what to wear carefully, always choose a ski/snowboard outfit with warmth in mind. Take some old fleeces and jumpers, trying to avoid cotton or jean fabrics as you’ll find they absorb water and will end up very wet.
Wearing thermals next to your skin and a nylon windbreaker on top of all your layers is highly recommended for a more comfortable experience. Special ski gloves, ski goggles, and a hat or helmet should be worn for protection.
An important tip if you’re a first timer, don’t buy – borrow! It will save you loads of money.
Everything you need to know about learning how to ski.
Get fit
Learning to ski/snowboard involves a lot of mental and physical fitness. Your leg muscles need to be up for the job as your quads and glutes will be doing most of the work. Train your legs with exercises such as lunges, squats, step ups, and cycling. You’ll need to be able to pick yourself up off the floor numerous times (it’s normal) – so be prepared and the experience will be much more enjoyable if you’re a first time skier!
Top Tip for a first timer skier: Take a look at this handy information guide from the Telegraph which shows you what exercises are best and how to do them.
Take a practice round
It is down to your preference, but if you’ve never step foot on a slope before, it would be worthwhile visiting one of the UK’s indoor real snow centres. You’ll have the opportunity to practice being on a slope, your turns and stopping!
This will save you a lot of time on your holiday and you will be able to have more fun as a first time skier. You could even book a few lessons with teachers and experts at the indoor snow centres if you’d like to get a head start.
Don’t slack getting travel insurance
Although unlikely, accidents do happen. So, it’s important to have travel insurance before you go on holiday. Make sure that the insurance covers winter sports. You can get cover for around £10 for a 10 day trip
Top tip: Find the best price for your travel insurance at Money Supermarket which compares the deals across the market.
Protect your skin
Snow reflects the sun. So strangely enough, there is a good chance you’ll get sunburnt on the slopes, especially when you’re at altitude meaning more UV rays will reach your skin. Make sure you are covered and all exposed skin should be coated in SPF cream, which will also add a protective layer on the skin from the wind.
Top tip: It’s important that you take a lip balm with SPF which you need to constantly apply throughout the day. It’s very easy for your lips to become burnt which could lead to blistering and swelling. It also increases your risk of getting skin cancer.
Bring your lunch
Packing your own food for each ski day can save you lots of money! Make a sandwich, bring a packet of crisps, a cereal bar maybe, and a drink – you can carry it in a rucksack to eat at a picnic bench on the mountain, or store it in the base lodge.
Stay on top of the snow forecast
It’s handy to keep up to date with the snow reports and you can do this using your Smartphone. There’s an app called “On the Snow – Ski & Snow Report’ which brings you all the information you need to know.
- For piste maps in your pocket, download the individual resort app for example. Tignes App
- For weather resorts across the Alps – Snow Forecast tells you a week long forecast and you can change the resort and altitude.
- Avalanche Safety – White Risk App
For more information on avalanche safety, check out Henry’s page with tips, tricks and advise. These can be downloaded off the App Store for both Apple and Android phones for free.
And most importantly…
Ski holidays don’t have to be just about the sport. They are a time to have fun and spend time with your family, friends, children, or other half.
You’ll experience what it’s like to be part of a resort and get to enjoy all the extras that come with it. Such as:
- Ice skating
- Swimming pools
- Spas
- Cinemas
- Walking and snowshoeing
- Shopping
- Dog sledding and sledging
You’ll meet new people and you can get involved in the après-ski, which is the time for socialising after skiing which takes place in the bars and restaurants around the resorts.
Everyone is a first time skier at some point and everyone gets nervous about their first time skiing. You will fall, and it might hurt. But get back up and keep going!
Visit skiline.co.uk to find the perfect hand-picked accommodation for your ski holiday. Whether you’re looking for a weekend break with your partner, a fun getaway with friends, or an action packed family holiday, you will find all the information you could possibly need to select your ideal accommodation for the holiday of a lifetime.
Guest blog post by Beth Meakin at Ski Apartments.
