Ah, your first time on skis! Fond, fond memories. After squeezing into those uncomfortable ski boots and strapping into the bindings, it sounded like child’s play to ski a few metres and pull off a perfect snowplough. Alas, for most of us, it wasn’t that easy. Whether you got dragged onto a black slope by some sadistic older member of your family or whether you refused to even take a go on the nursery slope, the first few days of skiing were probably torture. Here are ten mistakes we wish we’d known before we had to go through this gruelling trial!
Skiing looks like a piece of cake, and the money you save on ski lessons can be put straight towards après-ski drinks, so many skiers and snowboarders figure that lessons aren’t worth the investment. Wrong! No matter how pro you think you are, you need lessons, for your safety and that of everybody around you. See our tips on booking ski lessons >
Even for seasoned skiers and snowboarders, it can be tough to predict how cold or warm the weather will be at the top of the mountain. Dressing in layers is key, because you’ll be sweating profusely after spending 15 minutes trying to get up after a fall, but you’ll find yourself shivering shortly afterwards when your chairlift stops randomly and the wind howls around your ears. Don’t forget to check the weather report before you head out.
In the chilly winter weather, mulled wine and hot cocoa with a splash of rum sound like exceedingly attractive options. But try to cut back on the alcohol, because overconfidence + beginner skier = disaster. Save that frothy pint of beer for après-ski.
Every skier without fail has made this mistake: ending up on a red or black slope that’s way above your ability level! Grab a piste map first thing in the morning and check it obsessively throughout the day if you’re moving around the mountain. Before you take a lift, make sure there’s an easy option down.
Eh? Sunburn? In the middle of winter? Believe it or not, ski slopes are an excellent place to get burnt. The altitude plus the effect of the sun reflecting off the white snow combine to give hard-core skiers a lovely goggle tan. This is a risk even on cloudy days! If you want to avoid burning yourself to a crisp, wear sunscreen and SPF lip balm.
It's hard enough getting up as a beginner skier – the double whammy is that you fall more, and you’re not as good at getting back on your feet. This is made even harder on days when the snow sticks and you find your bindings caked in crunchy snow, leaving no room for your ski boot. Put your skis perpendicular to the slope so you don’t slide down the hill, clean out the bindings and with a little bit of patience you should be able to maneouvre yourself back on your feet and attack your friend, who’s been taping the whole thing.
We strongly recommend against skiing with a backpack as a novice skier or snowboarder, especially if you plan on taking the chairlift. If you’re not careful, the bag can get stuck on the chair, leading to some unfortunate and painful scenarios. Make your friends carry your stuff for you, or rent a locker.
After a day of putting up with random pressure points and the heavy weight of your ski boots, you were only too glad to pull them off and leave them in the car. Good riddance! But karma always wins, because the next morning, when you fetch them from the car, your boots are ice-cold and even more uncomfortable. Bring your ski boots inside so they’re easier to put on in the morning.
Nobody is a fan of T-bars, but it seems like especially cruel and unusual punishment to have installed so many of them on nursery slopes! It’s bad enough as a skier, trying to keep your tips from crossing, but with a snowboard it’s completely impossible!
You don’t even know if you like this sport yet, so you decided to cobble some odds and ends together instead of investing in your own material. Ankle socks, sunglasses instead of goggles and some old skis you found in the attic – what could go wrong? By the end of the morning, your feet and shins will be aching. When the wind picks up, you’ll regret not having goggles. And is it just you, or are these old skis impossible to turn? Do yourself a favour and at least rent proper gear if you don’t want to buy it!
Which beginner mistakes were you guilty of when you first started skiing or snowboarding?
Ah, your first time on skis! Fond, fond memories. After squeezing into those uncomfortable ski boots and strapping into the bindings, it sounded like child’s play to ski a few metres and pull off a perfect snowplough. Alas, for most of us, it wasn’t that easy. Whether you got dragged onto a black slope by some sadistic older member of your family or whether you refused to even take a go on the nursery slope, the first few days of skiing were probably torture. Here are ten mistakes we wish we’d known before we had to go through this gruelling trial!
Skiing looks like a piece of cake, and the money you save on ski lessons can be put straight towards après-ski drinks, so many skiers and snowboarders figure that lessons aren’t worth the investment. Wrong! No matter how pro you think you are, you need lessons, for your safety and that of everybody around you. See our tips on booking ski lessons >
Even for seasoned skiers and snowboarders, it can be tough to predict how cold or warm the weather will be at the top of the mountain. Dressing in layers is key, because you’ll be sweating profusely after spending 15 minutes trying to get up after a fall, but you’ll find yourself shivering shortly afterwards when your chairlift stops randomly and the wind howls around your ears. Don’t forget to check the weather report before you head out.
In the chilly winter weather, mulled wine and hot cocoa with a splash of rum sound like exceedingly attractive options. But try to cut back on the alcohol, because overconfidence + beginner skier = disaster. Save that frothy pint of beer for après-ski.
Every skier without fail has made this mistake: ending up on a red or black slope that’s way above your ability level! Grab a piste map first thing in the morning and check it obsessively throughout the day if you’re moving around the mountain. Before you take a lift, make sure there’s an easy option down.
Eh? Sunburn? In the middle of winter? Believe it or not, ski slopes are an excellent place to get burnt. The altitude plus the effect of the sun reflecting off the white snow combine to give hard-core skiers a lovely goggle tan. This is a risk even on cloudy days! If you want to avoid burning yourself to a crisp, wear sunscreen and SPF lip balm.
It's hard enough getting up as a beginner skier – the double whammy is that you fall more, and you’re not as good at getting back on your feet. This is made even harder on days when the snow sticks and you find your bindings caked in crunchy snow, leaving no room for your ski boot. Put your skis perpendicular to the slope so you don’t slide down the hill, clean out the bindings and with a little bit of patience you should be able to maneouvre yourself back on your feet and attack your friend, who’s been taping the whole thing.
We strongly recommend against skiing with a backpack as a novice skier or snowboarder, especially if you plan on taking the chairlift. If you’re not careful, the bag can get stuck on the chair, leading to some unfortunate and painful scenarios. Make your friends carry your stuff for you, or rent a locker.
After a day of putting up with random pressure points and the heavy weight of your ski boots, you were only too glad to pull them off and leave them in the car. Good riddance! But karma always wins, because the next morning, when you fetch them from the car, your boots are ice-cold and even more uncomfortable. Bring your ski boots inside so they’re easier to put on in the morning.
Nobody is a fan of T-bars, but it seems like especially cruel and unusual punishment to have installed so many of them on nursery slopes! It’s bad enough as a skier, trying to keep your tips from crossing, but with a snowboard it’s completely impossible!
You don’t even know if you like this sport yet, so you decided to cobble some odds and ends together instead of investing in your own material. Ankle socks, sunglasses instead of goggles and some old skis you found in the attic – what could go wrong? By the end of the morning, your feet and shins will be aching. When the wind picks up, you’ll regret not having goggles. And is it just you, or are these old skis impossible to turn? Do yourself a favour and at least rent proper gear if you don’t want to buy it!
Which beginner mistakes were you guilty of when you first started skiing or snowboarding?
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
