Whether you’ve planned for a ski trip to be with your family or just want to check out what a ski trip is like due to your curiosity, you might be reading this article to prepare for your very first ski trip.
You’ve heard how amazing it is so you probably want to know what it’s like for yourself. However, there are things that you need to know before you go on ahead and plan your ski trip. Here are some of them.
Choose the Right Destination
Of course, picking the right destination is paramount if you want to experience the complete package of a ski trip. With that in mind, not all ski resorts are created equal, and it’s not only because of the difference in difficulty when it comes to the terrain. That said, many people who mostly just want to enjoy the joys of skiing pick their resort based on the terrain.
But as a beginner, that should not be your only concern because there’s a lot more to a ski trip than just skiing. Along with the terrain, there should also be other factors that you need to consider before picking a destination.
For example, how is your budget? Do you like Alpine architecture? How about fine dining or the view? As mentioned earlier, not all ski resorts are created equal, and some of them are more luxurious than others.
You also need to consider the safety measures, permits, and certifications that the ski resorts have for their business, like safety permits, business permits, iso/iec 27001 for their security, etc., which should be on their websites. If they’re not showing any certificates, it’s best to avoid that resort.
Budget for Ski Lessons
Skiing for the first time can be a struggle, and it can take you a lot of time to learn to ski properly. If you have a friend who knows how to ski, you’re lucky since they can teach you when you get to the resort. But what if you’re all novices in skiing? Hence, getting a professional to teach you how to ski should be on your budget.
However, they don’t come cheap. Even if you get discounts or use points on your travel card, skiing lessons can still be pretty expensive. So if you want to learn how to ski fast and in the right way, it will be in your best interest to budget for a professional to teach you how to ski and board safely and adequately across the terrain.
Prepare Your Gear
Before you can ski, of course, you need to have the proper gear with you. Without them, you can put yourself in danger, or the staff won’t allow you to ski.
There are shops in the resort that rent out soft goods like jackets, pants, gloves, etc. You also have to consider your ski helmet, goggles, and other gear that you need for skiing. Most of the gear you need can be rented at the resort, but they can be expensive.
Mind the Layers
Skiing is all about layers. Before you go and ski, you need to think about what the weather is like and the temperature. You don’t want to ski shivering cold now, do you? In general, your base should be warm and lightweight, one that absorbs sweat. Over that, you can have a thicker layer to keep you warmer.
And then add on a waterproof jacket to keep you dry no matter how many times you tumble on the snow. For the pants, you can go for something warm and waterproof. Depending on the ski pants you might be wearing, you can go for something lightweight and warm.
Prepare to Get Physical
Since you’re a beginner, we’ll forgive you for thinking that skiing isn’t all that physical. After all, you’ll just glide through the snow while feeling the cold winter breeze in your hair. But you’re wrong. It’s all about physicality, and if you’re not at least physically active in your daily life, then you’re going to have a hard time skiing.
Keeping yourself in control, stopping, turning yourself around- all of those maneuvers require physical exertion. And the worst thing about it all is that they will require you to use muscles that you don’t usually use in your everyday life.
That said, it isn’t exactly a marathon but showing up with a decent physical shape is optimal if you don’t want to go home after a ski trip having an aching body.
Final Thoughts
A ski trip is a fun and exciting experience, especially if it’s your first time. This experience holds an exceptional place in every skier’s heart, so planning it thoroughly should be necessary. There are a lot of factors you need to prepare for, and there are a lot of aspects that you need to consider. Hence, researching your ski trip is essential if you want to have your first trip become a grand experience.
