Beginners Tips for Skiing and Snowboarding: How to be Prepared for Your First Day

Tip #1- Rent, Don't Buy

If it's your first time heading up to the mountain, do not buy a pair of skis or a snowboard, let alone buy gear along with it. If you're testing out the waters, it's best to rent most of the essentials, such as a helmet, boots, skis/snowboard. However, you will likely need to buy some relatively inexpensive snow clothes. Refer to our layering advice for help, or look on Amazon for some cheap snow clothes and accessories for your first trip up.

This ensures that you aren't spending too much money on something you might not potentially enjoy; it's all about testing the waters for your first time. This also lets you figure out whether or not you prefer skiing or snowboarding. As you may want to test which one you prefer without weighing yourself down financially.

The same can also be said about season passes. It is recommended that you do not purchase a season pass unless you know that skiing or snowboarding is something that you enjoy, and you're willing to do it often enough to get your money's worth. So, generally, the idea is for at least the first few trips up to the powder, you try to minimize any impulsive financial decisions before actually knowing whether or not skiing or snowboarding is for you.

Tip #2- Arrive Early

On your first few days, you are considering renting your gear and equipment. Ensure that you arrive at the resort early to beat rental lines and make sure you get what you need. It also gives you ample time to try on boots to see what feels best and get used to putting on or removing your gear. The idea is to give yourself plenty of time to feel prepared, so when it's time to ski or board, you feel completely prepared and ready to go.

This will also allow you to purchase your lift ticket for the day (If you don't plan on buying online for whatever reason) before the crowds arrive. However, it's recommended to buy your ticket online beforehand because lift tickets are typically cheaper online than at the window. Arriving early just gives you a more relaxed day at the resort without unnecessary stress.

Tip #3- Take a Lesson

If you are considering skiing and snowboarding for the first time, or even after a long period off from the sport. It is highly recommended that you take a lesson, despite the added cost. Most resorts offer lessons catered to specific skill levels, meaning even if you've skied or boarded before, but you feel a bit rusty, you'll likely have a lesson available that's specialized to you. Lessons can teach correct form and give you the fundamentals needed to properly progress. I personally took a lesson my first time skiing, and it was extremely useful, and I feel like I learned more by taking it than I would have without it.

If lessons for whatever reason aren't in the budget, or you're very adamant about not taking one. Have a friend or family member teach you the basics, as it can really give you a solid head start. If, for whatever reason, that's not possible, you can at the very least look at some YouTube tutorials on basic skills such as snow plough turns, stopping, and sidestepping (gliding, stopping, and turning if you're a snowboarder). You're not completely clueless about what to do on your first day. Here is a good beginner video for skiers, and here is another for snowboarders. Both videos are by REI.

Tip #4- Stay on Greens

Skiing and snowboarding are both difficult sports to master, and both have steep learning curves for people who have never done similar activities such as skateboarding, surfing, or ice skating. Even if you've done those activities, it's still a wise idea to take progression relatively slow your first day. You may not even get to an actual green run on your first day, which means staying on the bunny hill. That is completely fine.

But if you do wish to progress, it's best to stay on green runs, as you'll want to master these slopes before moving onto blues. This gives you plenty of time to work on correct form and technique on easier runs, where poor form and technique are less costly than intermediate and advanced runs. It also allows you to become more comfortable with easier runs, so that you aren't so timid when you finally arrive at blue runs later down the road.

Tip #5- Don't Dehydrate!

While it may sound weird to newcomers, skiing and snowboarding can make you extremely sweaty despite the cold, inclement weather associated with winter sports. This means you will be very thirsty even after just an hour or two of skiing or boarding. It is important that you bring water or some kind of electrolytes to make sure you don't dehydrate while up on the mountain. If you don't pay attention to this, you could put yourself at serious risk.

When you're dehydrated, you are more likely to exhibit fatigue, poor balance, and reduced muscle strength. All of these factors can be a recipe for disaster while skiing or snowboarding, as it significantly increases your risk of injury. That is why it's important to avoid this risk by simply drinking some water. Ruining a ski day, or even a whole season, is not worth it. Just make sure you're hydrating with proper fluids to prevent this risk altogether.