The first skiing holiday: 15 tips for beginners

13/06/2019 - SnowTrex

Does it even make sense to learn skiing as a late starter, or do you have to have made your first turns in the snow already as a child? Not every beginning has to be difficult. It does not matter if you are a child or an adult – everybody can learn skiing or snowboarding and fully enjoy it. If you go on your first skiing holiday, good preparation and certain basic knowledge are essential. SnowTrex has 15 tips for ski beginners.

These tips for beginners will help you get started on the slopes!

1. Choosing the right ski area

The fun factor of a skiing holiday has a significant relation to the choice of the ski area. Smaller, comprehensive ski areas are particularly suitable for beginners. Good choices for beginners are the German ski areas in the Bavarian Alps, in Winterberg, the Harz Mountains or in the Black Forest. Especially in the beginning, an indoor ski hall can also be recommendable. If you are not dependant on holiday periods you should avoid the heavily frequented school holidays as well as the half term break.

2. Fitness makes getting started easier

A long day on skis can be quite exhausting. If you stay fit already before your skiing holiday, it is going to be a lot easier to start skiing or snowboarding. Strength, endurance and agility are a huge advantage. It also helps to prevent sore muscles, at least to some extent. Even though you have never been out and about in the snow, training throughout the whole year pays off! With the tips in our report “Fit for skiing” everybody will get into shape for the piste, beginners and experienced winter sports enthusiasts alike. A good way to prepare is, e.g. Nordic Walking, jogging, inline skating, skateboarding, cycling as well as ski gymnastics, strength training or yoga.

3. Should a beginner start off with skiing or snowboarding?

Many beginners ask themselves this question. For many, skiing is easier to learn, because you can move your legs independently of one another and because the bodily posture is more natural on skis than it is on a snowboard. However, if you already have experiences with sports like surfing or skating should have little difficulty getting started on a snowboard. Either way: do not hesitate to try out both and see what suits you better. Snowboard beginners should keep in mind that getting into and out of the lift can be difficult in the beginning and needs practise.

4. Learn from professionals

If you a looking for a sense of achievement in skiing or snowboarding, it is recommendable to participate in a course. Here, trained teachers, who quickly recognise individual sources of error, take care of the beginners. A good ski school allows a maximum group size of 8 participants for children up to the age of six, and ten participants for beginners from the age of six. According to the German Ski Association (DSV), a sign of quality in Germany is the “Profi-Schule” (professional school) seal of approval. In France, you do not have to choose between different ski schools: The teachers of ESF (école du ski français) all have a state diploma.

Only those who are reasonably certain should hold this position.

5. The basics for skiing

If you want to try skiing on your own, you should definitely know the following: if you bring both of your skis next to each other, you go straight ahead. If you bring the skis together at the front, you go in the so-called snow-plough and get slower. A turn is made by shifting the weight from the mountain ski to the valley ski. The mountain ski is the one that stands above when you stand sideways to the slope. This means that the valley ski is the lower ski. Also important: Never lean too far back in your ski boots. This accelerates, and inexperienced skiers usually end up on their backside.

6. Perfectly informed

If you want to venture on the piste it makes sense to first get familiar with the equipment, “technical vocabulary” and piste rules. Do not hesitate to ask at the sports shop or your friends who like winter sports: Which equipment do I need on the piste? What should I consider when choosing skis and boots? What types of lifts are there? How do I read a piste map? When it comes to equipment, SnowTrex already has a list available.

7. Clothes make people

The right winter sports clothing keeps you warm, dry and allows for enough freedom of movement. The materials should have a water column of at least 5,000 mm – the waterproofness of clothing is indicated as “water column” in millimetres. According to the European standard EN 343, a water column of 1,300 mm is considered waterproof. Layered clothing makes sense on the piste: in the warmer afternoon or after the first intense training, winter sports fans can take off a layer and prevent excessive sweating.

8. Renting or buying?

Especially beginners or occasional skiers benefit from rental equipment. If you are not so enthusiastic about winter sports after all, you have not spent too much money on the purchase. The ski resorts usually have several sports shops where you can rent everything from snowboards to skis to boots and helmets. The advantages: individual advice, the latest technology and the possibility of quickly exchanging equipment. Make sure to plan for enough time for the selection of the right and, above all, comfortable equipment.

Only with the right skis and fitting ski boots can you start heading out to the slopes.

9. The set of rules

The 10 FIS Rules apply on the piste. Everybody should have them internalised. Accidents on the piste can be avoided by showing consideration for others. Every winter sports enthusiast should not only adapt their skiing style to their own ability, but also to weather conditions and traffic density, i.e. the number of persons on the piste.

10. These things are easily forgotten

Wearing your ski clothes and taking your skis is easily remembered. The “accessories”, on the other hand, are easy to forget. Before you depart, make sure to check the following: do you have gloves, ski helmet and your lift pass with you?

11. Maps

In order to find your way in the ski area it makes sense to carry a piste map with you. Winter sports enthusiasts must know the piste markings: blue is for easy slopes, red for intermediate and black for difficult slopes. Beginners should use practise hills and wide, blue pistes for a start. Before you go on a piste it is essential that you have a good command of breaking.

12. Safety first!

In addition to ski suit, skis, poles and ski boots, there are a few things more that belong to the ski equipment. For a warm body you should definitely get some ski underwear. Depending on the temperatures, you can also put on a (fleece) sweater over your ski undershirt. Ski socks belong to the feet, proper ski gloves to the hands. You should definitely wear a helmet on your head – apart from safety reasons, this also means that you do not need a cap. Ideally, the ski helmet fits perfectly with the ski goggles. If you want to protect yourself particularly well, you can also use a back protector. In any case, sun protection and a small first-aid kit are part of the equipment. Dermatologists recommend a sun protection factor of at least 30.

13. Winter sports etiquette

If you do not want to come out as an absolute beginner on the slopes before you even get started, you should consider the following: Skis are carried on the shoulder in such a way that the ski tips point downwards. At the lift you keep your distance to the person waiting in line in front of your and do not put your skis over theirs. You may also earn nasty looks if you do not fill up the lift, but prefer going on your own.

14. Allow for some breaks

Especially beginners should not overstrain their bodies. Therefore: sleep in and start the day with some warm-up exercises. The first descents should be approached easily. Take a break regularly. Drink a lot, as your body loses more fluid in mountain air. In case of signs of fatigue, it is better to end the skiing day.

Don’t forget to take a break!

15. Have fun

Despite all the rules, winter sports enthusiasts should not forget one thing: Skiing is fun! And with these tip for the right preparation, your introduction to skiing or snowboarding will definitely be a success, and possibly just one of many.

Extra: our Trexpert’s Felix Neureuther’s tip for beginners

“Beginners should definitely take a ski instructor to learn the basic positions correctly. Most skiers are usually too upright and have too much supine position on their skis. With a professional ski instructor you will avoid misalignments that are difficult to correct later. This is especially true for children.”

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