Learning to ski or snowboard can be a daunting thought. Some people are just up for it, but many of us have questions.
Will I enjoy it? Will I be any good? Is it worth the cost? What do I need to wear? Might I hurt myself when learning to ski? What’s the equipment like? Will people laugh at my attempts? Is it fun?
Well the good news is that for most people it is great fun – so much so that it leads to a life long addiction! Which means, therefore, that it is fantastic fun and it is definitely worth the cost!
There are a few people it’s true who, for one reason or another, find that winter sports are not for them. But they are in the minority and like people who don’t like chocolate or cheese, to be honest it’s just a pity for them.
Being honest, there is a chance that we could hurt ourselves, and if you do a particularly embarrassing fall you may get applauds from anyone nearby (although hopefully if you don’t bounce back up instantly they’ll first check you’re OK), but even the most accomplished skiers take a tumble sometime.
This short guide aims to give an overview to someone who has never skied or snowboarded before through the basics so you at least have an idea of what to expect.
There is quite a lot to take in but don’t worry, it all comes together and happens naturally once you get started on your road to becoming a skier or boarder!
When you are new to anything, we all know it is best to seek advice from the experts. Choosing your first ski holiday is no different. Where to go, when to go, what type of accommodation, how you travel from the airport and so many other questions spring to mind, so a trusted tour operator can take the hassle out of organising your first ski trip.
Choosing the right time to go skiing is becoming a bit more finger in the air. One things is for sure, the busy times are school holidays and early season skiing (November and December Skiing) and late season skiing (skiing in April and May) can offer fantastic conditions at unbeatable prices. So the more flexible you are, the better!
This question has been asked a thousand times, and can be driven by many factors. Our advice would be, if you’re going with a group or have friends that take winter sports holidays that you may join at some point in the future then go with the crowd, as later they might be able to offer you some tips. If you aren’t sure then read more about the options here or take a look at our section on trying out skiing before you go.
Skiing and snowboarding holidays do tend to cost more than a European beach holiday, but don’t let that put you off, there are ways to save money and there are some amazing deals to be had out there, it’s about being flexible and keeping your eyes and options open.
It is a great idea to try skiing and/or snowboarding on your nearest dry slope or indoor ski slope before you go away. Even just getting the chance to put the gear on, feel what its like to be so slippery and in the case of indoor slopes in the UK, feel what kind of temperature it is and how quickly you heat up, can all be very useful before you get away to the mountains.
As with most aspects of any holiday, it’s very easy to get carried away spending lots of money on buying ski clothing and ski equipment…but you can do it much more cheaply especially if it’s not that important to you to be wearing the latest fashions from the most prestigious brands…and hiring ski equipment is a great way to go with much of the gear!
There are some things like goggles, thermals, gloves and socks that you will need to buy, but choosing whether to buy skis and boots on your first ski trip is a no brainer – don’t do it. Our advice is get your first trip under your belt first then think about buying after that.
Taking ski lessons is essential, the worse thing to do is go with your pals or scare yourself before you even get going, so book in for some group lessons or 1-2-1 ski lessons if the budget allows and try to get the early morning slot, then practice what you have learned after lunch.
To guarantee a great ski holiday, it’s important to have a responsible attitude on the slopes, so understanding some mountain etiquette and other useful tips and advice for a great ski holiday is really useful.
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