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New Skier - DO's

Pete in Idaho

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There are many tips around for new skiers, so lets start off with a few of the most important. Remember, you don't and won't live long enough to make all your own mistakes, so take some tips from some of us who have been skiing for many, many years.

1. Do not take a lesson from a family member, friend, spouse etc., pay for a lst timers group lesson. Money well spent!

2, Try to go for the lst time on a decent weather day. Try and avoid those really bad weather days for you lst day on the snow.
You don't have the right clothes, equipment and knowledge to enjoy one of those really bad weather days.

3. Rent your equipment, preferably from where you live if a day trip and then you can avoid the crowds and hassle at the hill.
If you are at a destination resort then obviously you will rent there, get there (rental area) early and avoid the crowds.

4. A hat and gloves are very important to keep warm, avoid levi's if you can and if you can't go on a decent weather day and wear levi's, I did 40 yrs ago and am still skiing.

5. FUN, laughs, friends, good food and après are all part of skiing. Enjoy yourself.
 

Pat AKA mustski

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If you don't have goggles, sunglasses are an absolute necessity. If you try to ski without, you are likely to end up in the resort sports store buying an overpriced pair. Sunglasses will work fine on those decent weather days that Pete describes above.
 

Monique

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Tricia

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Great thread @Pete in Idaho
I will say this, we took our neighbor skiing for a first time and convinced her that she would be set up for success if she bought boot.
Her stance was great and she ended up getting a really good start. Not many first timers will invest in boots, though.
 

slowrider

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I'll throw my limited experience in. If you think you know, ask anyway. Get a trail map and read it. Nothing sounds like a local than knowing the trail names. ;-)
 

Jim McDonald

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If you're not having fun, stop for hot chocolate.
If you're not having fun after hot chocolate, go home and try another day.
 

oldschoolskier

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Just in case you have dumb friends or family, remember the local trail ranking system. For the most part,

GREEN is good,

BLUE sends iced fear up your spine and

BLACK (and blue) is what color you'll be after this run.

Ski with someone you trust to take you up and more importantly help you down safely in a fun manner. The entire hill will open up to you faster this way.
 

crgildart

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If you're renting gear at the resort get there extra early and have it before your lesson time starts,
 

LiquidFeet

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Boots should be snug. Set them next to your street shoes; same length? GOOD! Yes, you can get your foot in there. Keep trying. There's room. Don't fill it with clothing or socks; one pair of socks at a time, nothing else down in there with your feet. Feet should not move inside the boot. Why? ...so when you point your feet left and right, the skis point left and right, and when you point your feet straight ahead, the skis point straight ahead.

If you rent from the mountain (a good idea), you can go back and get snugger boots once you realize your feet are sliding around inside them.
If you have wobbly skis that turn left and right without your permission, your boots are either too wide or too long or both. Switch to a smaller pair.

If your feet are cold, buy a little packet of toe warmers (always for sale at the shops). Ignore the instructions, and stick them on top of your socks, over your toes.
These little packets will stay warm all day long and even for the drive home.
 

LiquidFeet

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If your fingers are unbelievably cold, you need better gloves, or mittens. It's worth the expense if you are miserable on day one from freezing fingers.

Mittens without glove liners inside are the warmest thing you can put on your hands. (If the mittens have your fingers separated from each other inside, your fingers won't get a chance to warm each other. Manufacturers are now marketing this feature as being warmer. It isn't.) If your hands run abnormally cold, get mittens without the finger separations. Buy a packet of hand warmers (similar ot toe warmers) and stuff those inside the mittens against your fingers. Your hands will never be cold again.

However, most people don't need this much warmth. Good ski gloves work just fine for most folks. They do need to be waterproof. So they are expensive for a reason.
 

oldschoolskier

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If your fingers are unbelievably cold, you need better gloves, or mittens. It's worth the expense if you are miserable on day one from freezing fingers.

Mittens without glove liners inside are the warmest thing you can put on your hands. (If the mittens have your fingers separated from each other inside, your fingers won't get a chance to warm each other. Manufacturers are now marketing this feature as being warmer. It isn't.) If your hands run abnormally cold, get mittens without the finger separations. Buy a packet of hand warmers (similar ot toe warmers) and stuff those inside the mittens against your fingers. Your hands will never be cold again.

However, most people don't need this much warmth. Good ski gloves work just fine for most folks. They do need to be waterproof. So they are expensive for a reason.

Very good advice, warm hands usually equals warm feet.

One other thing if after everything you still get cold hands and feet (on the good nice days), chances are you are dressed to lightly, a cold core means cold everything else.

Layer.
 

slowrider

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boss.jpg
Don't get discouraged when a small child blows by you. That can happen anytime in your ski carrer.
 

Pat AKA mustski

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First time? Midweek, not weekends. Chances of getting a smaller class with a higher level instructor are better.

This! It is also less scary learning to ski when everybody and their uncle isn't zooming down around you. Nothing will mess you up more that feeling like you have to look over your shoulder for what's coming down behind you.
 
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Pete in Idaho

Pete in Idaho

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If you are new to skiing bye all means go midweek if you can, as Phil says. Also to get acclimated to a new sport you don't really need to go to the Aspens, Squaw Valleys of the ski world. Pick a small area you will enjoy yourself and your time on the uncrowded snow much more. It will be less expensive, smaller classes and probably a lot friendlier.

I have never understood why beginner skiers spend all that big money to ski about 10% of a big mountain.
 

Monique

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I have never understood why beginner skiers spend all that big money to ski about 10% of a big mountain.

You have a point, but there's a lot to be said for the view and experience of a big mountain, independent of the skiing.
 

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