A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SKIING

‘Tis the season for skiing!

My first time skiing was with friends and family at Jiminy Peak earlier this year. Learning a new sport that was both challenging and sometimes terrifying was a thrilling experience for me. The adrenaline rush was real! But with all things considered (a couple of falls and mediocre form), I think I picked it up pretty well. After just two days, I was hooked.

As I get excited about planning our next trip, I feel so much more prepared. From beginner to beginner, here’s what to expect for your first ski adventure.

1. TAKE A LESSON

Regardless of the experience level of the people you’re with, take a lesson. It’s worth it. During your lesson you’ll learn the basics like proper form and how to turn and stop. You’ll get used to the feeling of wearing skis, including how to balance, and even how to ride the ski lift. Every mountain’s first-timer lesson may differ slightly. If you can get your instructor to teach you the correct way to fall, that would be helpful, because trust me, you’ll probably fall at least once.

You won’t become an expert skier during your lesson, but the time is valuable. There’s no shame in skiing down the Bunny Hill.

2. DRESS APPROPRIATELY

This is a tricky one because it really depends on the weather. Either way though, you’ll be around snow, so it’s probably best to pack a waterproof jacket, pair of pants, and gloves. I wore my regular winter jacket, Adidas swishy pants (you know which ones I’m talking about), and winter gloves.

Underneath my jacket, I wore a long-sleeved Under Armour and a thermal.

Underneath my pants, I wore knee-high socks and thermals. Knee-high socks are preferred to protect your shins from rubbing against your boots. When you put your ski boots on, you want to make sure there’s no bunching of clothing and that your socks, thermals, leggings, etc. are as smooth to your skin as possible.

Around my neck I wore a tube scarf. You’ll notice that a lot of people wear buffs.

In my opinion, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on professional ski clothing to prepare for your first time skiing. If you have basic snow and/or winter gear, you’ll be fine. With that being said, make sure you have at least one zippered pocket in your jacket or pants to hold your phone, lift tickets, and other necessary valuables. You can secure the rest up in a locker. Also, personally I didn’t wear or need goggles, but they’re common on the slopes.

3. RENT GEAR

Skiing can be an expensive sport. Before going all in and purchasing your own gear, take advantage of renting. The basics are skis, boots, and a helmet. Poles are optional. since I wasn’t taught to use poles during my lesson, I never tried using them. They would’ve been helpful to use to get up from the couple of falls I took, though.

I had a great experience with renting equipment at Jiminy Peak. With the help of staff, I got fitted nicely and didn’t have any issues the whole weekend. When we went to the mountain on the second day, the rental staff were able to match the equipment I had the previous day, which I was really appreciative of, especially as a first-time skier.

4. DON’T OVERDO IT.

Skiing is fun, but it can also take a toll on your body, just like a workout. On our first day, we skied for eight hours, which was probably a mistake. We were so in the groove and determined to get the hang of the mountain that we just kept going.

My advice would be to take some breaks to avoid fatigue. Being tired or sore on the mountain can be a scary thing.

Hot chocolate is a great incentive to take a break!

5. SKI WITH AN EXPERIENCED SKIER

It’s super beneficial to learn from an experienced skier, beyond your lesson. If you know someone who skis, I highly suggest bringing them along on your first trip. In our group, we had a mix of beginners and experienced skiers, like my sister. She really helped me correct my form and reach a blue-level trail in just my second day. I definitely felt more confident and safer with her there.

6. BE CAREFUL

It’s no secret that skiing is a dangerous sport. It’s important to ski on trails that are appropriate for your skill level. You can locate each trail and identify their difficulty on a map of the mountain before riding the lift. The trails are also labeled before skiing down.

Just a heads up, the Bunny Hill is much easier than any other slope on the mountain.

Green: Beginner
Blue: Intermediate
Black: Expert

While on the trail, focus on you and what’s ahead, not the skiers behind you. You’re responsible for avoiding obstacles ahead. If you fall, it happens. Take your time getting up to avoid jumping back in too soon and colliding with another skier. If you feel like you’re losing control, try to stay calm!

7. HAVE FUN!

Skiing is exciting! It’s not easy and can be scary, but it’s a lot of fun. I’m no expert, but I’m looking forward to skiing again and getting better.

Don’t forget to take in the beautiful views at the top of the mountain and on the ski lift, and of course, capture a lot of photos. Because after all, you’ll want to remember the memories.

Happy skiing!