First-Time Skier? A Beginner’s Guide to Ski Lessons

Learning to ski is one of the best things you can ever do. Any skier will tell you there are few better things in life than sliding down a snowy slope, taking in spectacular scenery and stopping every now and then at a mountain restaurant to enjoy lovely food on a sunny terrace.

But what do you need to get started? Here’s the InTheSnow guide, with some extra advice from the experts at Maison Sport, the trusted ski and snowboard instructor booking platform.

What Do I Need to Go Skiing?

In terms of the main equipment, you can easily rent your skis, boots, helmet and ski poles. If you can, pick up your rentals the afternoon or evening before your first lesson to avoid any last-minute hold-ups and to give yourself a chance to get used to putting your boots and helmet on. There are guides to this online, including helpful videos showing how to fit ski boots and helmets correctly.

When you book your ski lessons on Maison Sport, it’s easy to add ski hire from their trusted partner SkiSet, who operate more than 800 shops in around 400 ski resorts. The friendly staff at your closest SkiSet shop will ensure your gear is correctly fitted and are also happy to make any changes if you find any problems during your lesson.

To keep warm and comfortable on the slopes you’ll need several other items, which you can buy, borrow from friends or rent from ski-clothing services. From the top down, that can include a hat or balaclava; goggles or sunglasses designed for snowsports; strong sun cream and lip salve; thermal tops and leggings; thin thermal shirts; and a breathable, water-resistant outer shell jacket and trousers designed for snowsports. Waterproof gloves or mittens and knee-length ski socks complete the essentials.

You will also need a ski pass to be able to use the lifts. But do check with your instructor before you buy one. In some cases you may start without using a lift on day one, or in a learning area where a few lifts run free of charge. Even if you do need to buy a ski pass, you may only need a cheaper version for initial lifts to start with, not the full-area pass.

Do I Need Lessons If I’ve Never Skied Before?

Yes. And ideally from a professionally trained instructor, not a family member or friend (unless they are professionally qualified). A trusted, verified instructor will tailor the lesson to your ability, confidence level and learning style, something informal teaching simply can’t match.

Should I Book Private or Group Ski Lessons?

Both are good for beginners. With private lessons, the one-to-one instruction means you get fully individual attention. In a group ski school lesson you’ll get a little less of that, but the fun and camaraderie of learning with others at the same level as you can be motivating.

The personalised ski lessons you book through Maison Sport really help first-time skiers. One-to-one lessons offer a tailored experience adapted to your pace, which helps to build confidence and accelerate progress.

What Is Maison Sport and Why Do We Recommend Them?

Maison Sport is an online snowsports lesson booking platform that directly connects skiers and snowboarders with over 1,000 verified instructors across 430+ resorts in Europe. So the chances are, wherever you want to go skiing, Maison Sport has highly rated instructors waiting to help you. It’s the genius idea of three ski instructors, all former members of the British national ski team, who established Maison Sport in 2015, and it has been going from strength to strength, growing its resort network and adding new services and lesson offerings ever since.

Today Maison Sport offers private lessons for adults and children across 10+ disciplines, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, freestyle, off-piste and adaptive snowsports for people with disabilities. You can search by resort, discipline and language, and choose an instructor based on detailed profiles showing their experience, teaching style and verified customer reviews – over 90% of which are rated 5 stars. Maison Sport also offers adult and children’s group ski lessons in selected resorts, with trusted ski school partners including Supreme Ski School.

Can I “Meet” My Ski Instructor Before My Lesson?

Yes. When booking an instructor on Maison Sport, you can contact them ahead of your lesson to introduce yourself, ask questions, check the meeting point and explain your goals. This will make the lesson much more effective and enjoyable, rather than arriving not knowing who or what to expect.

One of the great things about booking your ski instructor through Maison Sport is that you can choose your own instructor and book with them directly. You will know exactly who will be teaching you on the slopes. This means you can book your ski lessons with confidence, knowing you’ll get an instructor who matches your needs.

What Should I Do to Prepare for My First Ski Lesson?

Learning to ski is a thrilling milestone, and there’s plenty to be excited about. With a little preparation and a positive mindset, you’ll set yourself up for a smooth, enjoyable start to your journey on skis.

Your first day will inevitably be busy, so give yourself a calm, early start. Wake up with enough time to get ready, enjoy a filling breakfast and gather your gear. The first lessons can be surprisingly tiring.

With that in mind, you should also try to fit in some stretches and exercise before your lesson. Your instructor may well suggest more of these once your lesson begins, but the more limber you’re feeling, the better.

Allow extra time to put on your boots and collect your skis from wherever they’re stored, then aim to reach the meeting point ahead of schedule. It makes introductions easier, and walking in ski boots always takes longer than you expect.

What Will Happen in My First Ski Lesson?

Your instructor is likely to take things very easy and adapt the lesson to how quickly you’re picking things up and progressing. Don’t worry, fast or slow learners will all be catered for. You’ll usually start on a virtually flat surface to learn about the stance you need to get sliding safely and how to stop once you’ve started moving.

It does take some concentration and a little courage. At first some movements may seem counter-intuitive and there will be a lot to remember, but you will soon get the basics and things will start coming together. The main thing when learning to ski is to have a positive attitude, believe in yourself and the method, knowing it will work, and most of all, have fun.

When and Where Should I Learn to Ski?

Really, almost all ski areas are set up for beginners. The big, famous resorts such as Chamonix, Zermatt and Val d’Isère often have state-of-the-art learning facilities, but smaller areas you may never have heard of can have a small, friendly setup that is equally welcoming. It can be hard to go wrong.

Believe it or not, you can learn to ski at any time of the year. There’s always a ski area open somewhere, be it a high glacier, a southern hemisphere ski area or an indoor snow centre outside the main ski season in Europe. Between December and April, the best time to go skiing is often outside the main school holiday periods at Christmas, New Year, February half-term and Easter. With quieter slopes you’ll get a bigger choice of instructors available. Learning to ski in spring can be particularly enjoyable, with warmer days and softer snow.

Should I Practise on a Dry Slope or Indoor Snow in the UK Before My Holiday?

It is a good idea to try skiing on a local slope before you head to the mountains. For one thing, you can at least get used to the equipment. Of course, a short slope, especially with an artificial surface (dry slope), is very different to real snow in the mountains, but the basic movements are the same, so again you will have some idea of what you’ll be learning in resort.

It’s equally important to be as fit and flexible as you can before your ski holiday, as learning to ski does require you to put in as much energy as you can. That doesn’t mean you have to be super fit, just that the fitter you are, the better. There are plenty of ski-fitness videos online showing exercises particularly good for the muscles you’ll use most on the slopes.

How Long Does It Take to Learn to Ski?

Skiing is a sport where you never really stop learning. Most people begin to pick up the basics after 2–3 days, and you can expect to be making your way down easy green (the easiest grade on the French-speaking side of the Alps) or blue (the easiest on the German-speaking side) slopes by the end of your first week. You might book a week of morning lessons and use the afternoons to practise what you’ve been taught, or have three or more full days at the start of the week.

You’ll progress fastest if you book lessons with an instructor, keep a positive attitude and a smile on your face.