How to Ski: 7 Must-Know Tips for Beginners

If you’ve never put on a pair of skis before, entering the winter sports world can be daunting. Skiing and snowboarding bring a feeling of exhilaration unlike any other winter activity, but unfortunately, the barrier to entry can feel quite high for those just starting—especially adults.

But luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. So what can you do to make your first day on the ski slopes as seamless as possible? Well, in this video, we’ll break down the fundamentals to ensure you have a successful first day on the slopes, as well as the key decisions you’ll have to make along the way, and how to approach them. Let’s jump in.

Making sure you’re in shape, like this skier here, will help you progress as a skier or rider, and lessen the risk for serious injury.

Arrive in Shape

In order to prepare for your first day of winter sports, the first way to set yourself up for success is something you can start doing right now: staying in shape. Skiing and snowboarding are first and foremost strenuous, full-body physical activities, and you’ll get more out of your experience if your body is in good physical condition at the time of your visit. Having strong and flexible muscles will help you progress faster throughout day one—and in the process, will likely increase the chances you enjoy your time on the slopes.

If you’re watching this video and it’s already close to the winter season, we do recognize that during this time of year it’s easy to fall into winter hibernation mode. Don’t fret if you haven’t been exercising lately, but for the best experience, do give yourself a few weeks to do some leg and cardio exercises, some of which we’ve linked in the description below. Being in shape will also help you stay resilient against on-slope injuries.

One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is between skiing and snowboarding.

Skiing or Snowboarding: Which One Should You Try?

The next question you might be asking is: out of skiing and snowboarding, which one should I try? Of course, answering this question comes down to personal preference, but here are a few rules of thumb. Some argue that skiing is a bit easier to learn at the beginning but harder to master down the road, while snowboarding is harder to learn up front, but easier to progress in. One major consideration is that it is much easier to traverse on flat terrain on skis than on a snowboard. On skis, you can propel yourself forward by skating and pushing off on your poles. On a snowboard, you’ll have to release one foot from its binding to push along with. One last consideration: if you’re traveling with other friends and family, it may be more fun, and you might learn more, if you participate in the same discipline as them.

Gear such as helmets and goggles will not only make your day on the slopes more enjoyable, but they can save you from major injury as well.

Gear

Once you’ve figured out whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, the next thing you’ll want to figure out is gear. Unless you can borrow from a friend or family member, you will almost certainly be renting some gear for your first outing. If you’re not experienced with winter weather, you’ll probably have to buy some articles of clothing as well.

Typically, you’ll rent 1) boots, 2) skis/poles or a snowboard, and 3) a helmet. For your first outing, you will also need the following: a winter coat, snow pants, insulated top and bottom base layers, goggles, and waterproof gloves. If you’re skiing out west, you’ll definitely also want sunscreen for your face, which should be the only exposed area of your body. But under most circumstances, you’ll want to cover up part or all of your face too to shield it from the cold; a balaclava or neck gaiter like the one shown here should get the job done—just make sure that you get one that covers the forehead so it doesn’t roll off your face in the middle of your ski day. But before buying most or all of the above, check with your ski shop, as some more locally-oriented shops also rent winter coats and snow pants.

Some resorts and rental shops still offer helmets as optional equipment, but we cannot stress enough how important wearing one is. Even on the easiest slopes, helmets can be life-saving contraptions, and while you might save a few bucks by skimping on one, the investment might be the best one you make on your entire trip.

If you’re snowboarding for the first time, you may want to invest into some protective padded shorts and knee pads for your added comfort. One of the things you’ll quickly realize is that you’ll be spending more time falling than actually going down the hill, and if you don’t want to be achy and miserable at the end of the day, these knee and butt pads will do absolute wonders. Trust us, there’s an exponentially higher chance you’ll want to snowboard for the second time if you wear these padded pieces of gear on your first visit.

Technically, you can also get started on the slopes without goggles, and use sunglasses with a retaining strap instead. However, we’d highly advise against this too—if it’s snowing hard, very windy, or very sunny, you will be much more comfortable wearing goggles over any other eye protection. Snow, being white, reflects ultraviolet light very efficiently—both into your eyes and onto your skin. So even if the ground doesn’t look too bright on your drive up to the mountain, you’ll quickly realize that tinted lenses are a must-have on any ski day, even if it’s overcast. If you’re looking to buy any of these items before your trip, you can check out our recommendations in the links below.

Unless you can borrow from a friend that has similar sized feet, you’ll need to rent a few things from a ski shop or the resort itself.

Rent the Right Equipment

The process of securing your ski or snowboard rentals may look complicated and stressful at first, but there are a few ways you can set yourself up for the smoothest experience possible. The first way is easy with a bit of forethought: rather than waiting until the day of, book your rental equipment online in advance. Not only can you save money, but you can also save time in many rental shops by skipping the walk-in line. Make sure you rent the right size ski or snowboard equipment for your height, weight, and ability level. In today’s world, the best shops replace their rental skis, boards, bindings, boots, and poles as often as once per year. Plus, the equipment gets checked nightly, so you can rest knowing it’s kept in proper working condition. Even so, it’s always worth it to make sure the ski or snowboard equipment you rent is in good condition and fits properly.

There are a few ways to rent equipment. The most common options include either renting directly with the ski resort or renting from a nearby independent shop. In many cases, independent ski and snowboard shops offer better deals on rentals than the resorts themselves. If you didn’t book your equipment in advance, renting from these local shops can also allow you to avoid ski resort rental lines during peak times.

However, renting from the resorts typically takes less effort, and it’s often easy to pair lesson bookings with equipment rentals in the same transaction. Bundle deals at some resorts mean that the cost savings from renting locally can be negligible, especially for first timers. In addition, many resorts offer free day and overnight storage services for rental equipment—this benefit is difficult to come by at independent shops, which are nearly always located off the resort premises.

Some rental places, both local and resort-owned, allow you to drop your gear off outside the rental shop in the snow. This service is a great added convenience.

Ski and snowboard instructors are trained to make sure your learning experience is as enjoyable as possible.

Take a Lesson

You may have a friend, significant other, or relative who is excited to show you how to ski or ride, but even if they are expert on the slopes, we strongly recommend taking a lesson with a certified instructor for your first time out on the snow. There’s a difference between knowing how to ski and knowing how to teach skiing, and you’ll set yourself up for much greater success and enjoyment in the long term, not to mention managing your risk of injury, learning from a skilled teacher.

If you are fortunate enough to live within driving distance of a ski resort, likely the most cost-effective outing will be to make a day trip to take a lesson there—but if you happen to already be locked into a destination trip, you’ll have plenty of options as well. But if you have a choice between a destination or a local hill for your first day, you’ll probably want to go with the latter; at most resorts, learning zones are located at the bottom of the mountain, meaning that most beginners visiting a premier destination resort will not have access to most of the full mountain experience that they will be paying top dollar to travel to. The good news is that many of these massive mountains offer special beginner lift tickets that cost a fraction of the multi-hundred regular ticket prices.

Group lessons are much cheaper than private lessons, though private lessons can provide more tailored experiences.

Private vs. Group: What Kind of Lesson Is Right for You?

But before you actually book your lesson, you’ll have to make a big decision—should you opt for a private lesson, or should you go for a group lesson with strangers?

There are important distinctions between the two, but it’s not exactly a clear-cut decision on which to go for, even on your first day. Private lessons allow for more personalized instruction, more one-on-one attention, and a lesson that can be tailored to the individual’s needs, goals, and skill level. At many resorts, private lessons can be scheduled at any time. On the other hand, group lessons cost less than private lessons. They can also be more fun and social than private lessons.

If you’re planning to book a private lesson, you’ll almost certainly want to do so at a smaller, more local resort. Private lesson prices at most destination mountains are completely absurd, costing over $1,000 for a full-day lesson in several cases. A handful of destination ski resorts do offer much more reasonable one-on-one lessons for true first-timers, but outside of those exceptions, the group lessons will be the only financially palatable way to go for most individuals. It’s also worth noting that if you book a group lesson on an off-peak weekday, there’s a chance that nobody else will have signed up, and you’ll de facto get private instruction for the group lesson price.

The Day Of: How to Ensure the Best Possible Experience

Okay, so you’ve planned your trip out—and the big day has arrived. But while planning your trip in advance and finding the right type of instruction will put you in really good shape, there are still a few things to keep in mind to ensure you have the best possible experience on the slopes.

Even on sunny days, the temperature on ski slopes can get very cold. Make sure you have comfortable and properly sized clothes for the slopes, or your day could end early.

Dress Appropriately—And Ensure Adequate Equipment

The mountain will be cold. Since you’ll have your gear picked out already, be sure to pair it with warm, comfortable clothing that you can move in easily. Additionally, before leaving the lodge, you’ll want to make sure that your equipment is well-maintained, properly-sized and fitted. The last thing you’ll want to do is have to leave the slopes early or cut time out of your lesson to go change because you’re underdressed or uncomfortable.

Arrive Early

If you’re taking a lesson on your first day—which you definitely should—be sure to arrive early. At essentially every ski resort, you are expected to be on the slopes when the lesson time starts. As a result, it’s important to arrive early at your lesson with plenty of time to spare.

We recommend you leave yourself a substantial buffer to get to the lesson area if you’re not staying on-site—especially if your lesson is on a weekend or holiday. At several resorts, it can take quite awhile to get from the parking lots to the actual resort terrain; treks of half-an-hour aren’t even out of the ordinary, and at some resorts, the time-to-slopes can be even longer than that. In addition, finding the ski school zone may not be easy if you’ve never been to the resort before, so be sure to allot some time to find your way around the base area

In many cases, it’s also helpful to meet your instructor before the lesson starts. Arriving early can allow you to get to know the instructor before getting on the slopes, explain what you may be looking to work on, and—in the event you find a compatibility issue—ask for a different instructor.

It’s important to stay fed and hydrated on the slopes, as these are sports after all, and you’ll be burning more calories than you realize.

Stay Nourished on the Slopes

Skiing and snowboarding are not easy sports, and ensuring you’re well-nourished and hydrated is key to ensuring a productive lesson. To minimize breaks, we recommend you stash some snacks in your pocket, such as granola bars or trail mix, so you can eat on the chairlift if you get hungry. If you’re concerned about getting thirsty, several manufacturers offer hydration packs that allow you to conveniently drink water while skiing.

That being said, don’t be afraid to speak up if you get hungry or thirsty and want to stop in for a break—especially if you’re on a private lesson! Most ski resorts have conveniently-placed lodges, and it should be fairly easy for your instructor to plan breaks, especially if you communicate your needs well in advance. If you’re in a group lesson, most instructors will plan adequate rest and breaks throughout the program; however, don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel misaligned with the instructor’s plans.

Post-Slopes Activities

Finally, if you’re a first-time skier or rider, the excitement of skiing extends well beyond the slopes. Assuming there is one, make sure you leave some energy to explore your resort’s ski town or village. Ski resorts often boast a vibrant local culture steeped in long-standing tradition, where every shop, café, and restaurant has its own story. Taking time to stroll through the town, meet the locals, and soak in the atmosphere are must-dos to really get a sense of what the winter sports culture is like. Even if you’re not much of a partier, don’t skip out on après-ski either; these activities can include everything from cozy fireside gatherings to lively musical events, and they offer a fantastic way to unwind after a day of skiing or riding. By making sure to experience everything the resort has to offer, you not only enhance your trip but give yourself the opportunity to see what parts of the winter vacation experience you enjoy most. Who knows—even if skiing and riding aren’t for you, the town and activity vibes may be so much fun that you’ll turn into a regular visitor!

Final Thoughts

So while planning for your first day on the ski slopes certainly won’t be a piece of cake, there are a number of ways you can set yourself up to have an amazing first day on the slopes. Planning ahead by preparing your body for strenuous mountain activity, assembling the necessary winter gear, and booking a lesson will put you numerous steps ahead of the average first-timer. 

Need help selecting a resort for your first day? Check out the best destinations for beginner skiers and riders here. When you get back, let us know in the comments below how it went! And, as always, we also invite our experienced watchers to offer additional tips that we may missed for getting new skiers and riders off to a great start.