《Understand Piste / Trail Ratings & Study The Map》

 

As mentioned previously, a variety of easy pistes is the main thing that makes a ski resort beginner friendly. The best way of checking to see if that is true, is to take a look at the piste map, also known in North America as trail map. A piste / trail map shows the various pistes / trails of the resort along with a classification of their difficulty level. It also shows ski lift routes as well as other notable locations of the resort.

A piste is a marked path down a mountain for skiing & snowboarding. This is a French term used throughout Europe; its North American equivalent  is ‘trail’, ‘slope’ or ‘run’. Pistes are color coded according to their level of difficulty (symbols may also be used). 

Piste classification may vary from country to country. 

The latest version of a ski resort’s piste map can be found at the ski resort’s official website and phone app (if they have one). It usually presented in downloadable .pdf format and it is worth saving on your phone for your upcoming trip -you will definitely use it when you are there. Most popular ski resorts also have interactive 3D maps where you can apply filters and switch layers of information on and off.

Your ski instructor will talk you through the system of the resort as well, but there is no harm in being informed beforehand, for your safety and for understanding what your skier friends are talking about.

Lastly, it is worth spending two minutes of your time on the Alpine Responsibility Code. This is a set of universal rules for skiing and snowboarding endorsed and used by most ski areas around the world (with occasional minor variations or additions). At its core, it’s about being sensible and using your common sense and awareness, for yourself and others, in order to reduce risk. It is very short and easy to digest, so make sure to read it.

《Amp Up Fitness Levels Prior To Ski Trip》

Prior to your first ski trips, it will be helpful to enhance your fitness levels a little bit.

This is especially true, if you are one of us busy bees whose job requires sitting on a chair for 8 hours a day and getting more than 1-2h of exercise per week is the exception rather than the rule.

Experienced skiers can compensate for any potential lack of physical fitness with their technique. However, when you are an adult beginner skier being fit helps. As a beginner, you are being taught the ‘Snowplough’ technique which is tough on the adult body. On the contrary, children can go on for hours; this is one of the reasons why learning to ski as a child is easier. Thankfully, as you progress and gain confidence in stopping and controlling your speed, you transition into ‘parallel turning’ which is more suitable for the adult body. The more you progress, the more effortless the movements become and you can ski happily ever after.

Skiing involves physical activity even when you are not actually going down the slopes. There could be long walks or stairs to climb, all while carrying skis and wearing stiff and heavy ski boots. Some (including yours truly) might also say that getting into and out of the ski boots is an exercise by itself! Additionally, lower oxygen levels due to the high altitude mean that everything requires extra effort.

Skiing is a full body workout. However, emphasis on core and leg strength, endurance and cardio will make more of a difference. Happily, these can be achieved through many forms of exercise that you can practice in the city, indoors or outdoors. Classic gym sessions, yoga, pilates, running, spinning, swimming or tennis are some of the many ways that you can build up your fitness levels in a way that will help you while learning how to ski.

《Make A Mindful Investment In Your Ski Gear》

Most people hesitate to learn how to ski because of the initial monetary investment that it requires, and that is totally reasonable. The expenditure for the trip and the cost for the lessons do amount to a significant sum. In addition to that, there is the cost for all the gear you will need. There are ways to mitigate that.

There are three ways you can deal with the cost of all the new gear you will need: 

The principle for buying skiwear is shifting your mindset away from the fast fashion mentality that most of us succumb to. Skiwear is expensive but (hopefully) of very high quality. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will destroy these clothes in the short period of time most of us spend on the mountains each year. Also, skiwear design does not change that much over the years. So, this is indeed a justifiable investment because the ski gear you buy today will be coming with you to many mountain adventures over the years to come. 

In our current world of fast fashion where we wear something a couple of times and then throw it away, isn’t this a refreshing idea? Owning items that are bound to remind you of many happy moments created over the course of many years?

All these ideas of mindful but very costly purchases are wonderful. However, spending all that money in expensive gear is not an option for you. Especially since you are a beginner and do not even know whether you will like skiing or whether you are likely to keep going on ski holidays to eventually justify the initial expense. Fair enough. Luckily, skiing is not that much of an exclusive sport anymore. Nowadays, along with cheap flights and an increase in accommodation options, affordable skiwear is also available. 

The majority of beginners rent their helmet, boots, skis and ski poles so the original expenditure is a bit more manageable. After your first ski trip and if you are absolutely thrilled with the sport (which you will be), consider buying your own ski boots and helmet; this will save you precious time in the resort and, eventually, money. Regarding skis, given the luggage fares that most airlines impose, buying your own skis is indeed a luxury, a nice thing to have but quite unnecessary.

In any case, there is a bit of a learning curve into technical gear and weather resistant clothing, especially if these are your first purchases of outdoor gear intended for cold weather. So, allow yourself enough time to do some research and browse the shops before committing. If you are skiing in the northern hemisphere, Black Friday sales might be a good time for getting ready; just in time for the first heavy snowfalls.

《Arrange For Lessons With A Professional Ski Instructor》

This is probably the No1 reason why people have had bad experiences while learning how to ski or why they struggle to become good skiers. From all of my tips for planning your first ski trip, this might be the most important.

Faced with the expenses of a ski trip, it is indeed tempting to skimp on the lessons, especially since they sound like something meant for children. It is even more tempting to omit them, if your friends insist that they can show you the ropes. Resist these temptations. If you want to learn how to ski (and have fun in the process), get lessons from a professional.

When Is The Right Time To Book Ski Lessons?

Part of planning your first ski trip is booking your first ski lessons. In other words, I would recommend NOT leaving booking lessons (private or group) to when you are at the resort, especially if:

• You are visiting a popular ski resort,
• There are not many ski schools at the resort, or
• Your ski trip takes place during school holidays

As a rule of thumb, take advantage of the momentum built from planning your first ski trip and book lessons right after making the rest of the bookings for the trip. This way, not only will you be certain of availability but you have also made the commitment! Trust me, once you are at the ski resort, there can be plenty of distractions to keep you away from the ski school!

《Choose Ski Buddies Wisely》

Your travel companions can make or break any holiday but even more so when it comes to learning how to ski as an adult. There is a lot that your ski buddies can contribute to your progression or frustration!.

In addition to your lessons with a ski instructor (more on that next), you will need your ski buddies to join you on the easy runs after your lesson. The more hours of practice you clock in, the quicker your progress will be! Furthermore, as I mentioned previously, one your buddies may need to adjust their route between the ski resort and your accommodation, especially if it’s not beginner friendly or just for a morale boost.

Therefore, I would recommend going on a ski trip with people you feel close to. Naturally, everyone’s comfort levels are different. Some of you would be happy to learn to ski on a company trip, others would be more comfortable on a family holiday.

Ideally, you will have a mix of skiers joining you on your first ski trips. The better skiers will correct you and give you tips. The intermediates will happily join you on the easy runs. If there is another beginner, even better. You can share the pain and split the cost of private lessons, if group lessons is not your thing.

There is one last thing I’d like to stress. Whoever joins you on the trip needs to be ok with the fact that there will be a beginner skier in the group. They will also need to be ready for some compromise so that you don’t end up skiing alone all day.

All in all, learning how to ski as an adult will make you feel a bit like a child. This is more than just a feeling; your group will need to take care of you. On the upside, learning how to ski is a very rewarding experience in so many ways and, as you progress, you will feel a childlike enthusiasm that you haven’t felt in a long time!

《Planning Our First Ski Trip》

There are many ski resorts which are better suited to beginners than others; if possible, book a trip there. If you manage to be at a beginner friendly resort at the right time of the season, you are set for success.

While planning for your first ski trip, the choice of resort is likely outside your pay grade as a beginner. I imagine that your friends, family, partner or colleagues encouraging you to learn to ski will be in charge of the booking arrangements. To be honest, that is fine, all ski resorts will have easy pistes for you to learn on. Nevertheless, it’s good to know a thing or two about ski resorts and snow conditions and how they may affect you as an adult beginner skier.

Anyway, pistes are formed on the basis of natural topography which doesn’t always contribute to the perfect balance between easy and hard runs, even in large resorts. So, browse a bit online before booking. Ski resorts share tons of useful information on their official websites, including the ski schools they host, the number of pistes and difficulty level. Once you browse and compare a few resorts, you will be able to tell which one is best for you. 

One last thing I would add to the mix for a perfect trip for beginners would be snow conditions. To be fair, the weather can make or break a ski holiday for any skier. But even though fresh powdery snow is a delight for everyone, I believe that it will enhance a beginner’s learning experience considerably. Practicing those first turns on icy snow is bound to increase the level of difficulty for a beginner skier. Fresh snow is more forgiving on your turns as it naturally slows you down. It even makes falling enjoyable!

《5 Reasons for everyone to learn how to ski》

I simply cannot stop talking about all the excitement that skiing entails! More than just the excitement though, I am all about embracing the steep learning curve of this illustrious sport, at an age when falling down is not second nature! However, you might be unsure as to why you should devote a considerable amount of money and time in order to take up skiing.

Here are 5 very good reasons why you should learn how to ski, at any age.

1 Becoming A Lifetime Winter Lover & Learner

Managing to pick up a new sport while being a busy adult, gave me the confidence and willingness to try out new things. By learning how to ski, I did not just learn how to ski. I learnt to explore other activities and experiences even if they don’t initially seem up my street.

2 Resting The Mind & Exercising The Body

Skiing is a great form of exercise. Physical activity combined with the vast and beautiful mountain landscape is a balm for the soul. It is also the best way to clear your head. Skiing offers a number of health benefits especially concerning heart and circulation, as well as peripheral muscles -predominately legs. It also challenges your balance and core as a mix of endurance and resistance training. It can also be considered as a form of interval training; after pushing yourself while going down the slope, riding back up the hill is a nice break.

Most importantly, a day spent skiing doesn’t feel like an intense work out. We enjoy the stunning landscape and crisp air while knowing that afterwards, we will return to our cosy accommodation. 

3 Being Surrounded By Stunning Natural Scenery

Letting the eyes wander over the mountain tops is as close to a meditative state as those of us who don’t meditate will ever get. That sense of infinity and awe is strangely overwhelming and calming at the same time. A welcoming break for our eyes and brains which are overstimulated by the incessant exposure to unsolicited information flow through a screen and burdened by constant busyness.

4 Spending Quality Time With Family & Friends

Skiing and being in the mountains is a multi-generational experience. There is something about spending time in the wilderness that definitely bonds people together, setting the scene for everlasting memories. 

5 Having A Thrilling Time

Whether a daredevil or a calm-as-a-Hindu-cow kind of a person, the list of fun things to do seems to be getting smaller as we get older. Life only seems to get busier and responsibilities only seem to multiply. So, we should not be letting opportunities to have pure, simple fun pass us by!

There is so much more to skiing than parallel turns and snow plough, especially for those of us who have never veered towards the mountains or cold climates before; so much useful life knowledge to acquire and so many wonderful experiences to be had. You will be truly inspired towards not only skiing, but towards a life in the great outdoors no matter the weather or location. And that alone sure makes it worth your while.

《The Alps: Europe’s Cherished ‘White Towers’》

 

Skiing the Alps is like nothing else you’ve ever experienced.

There are currently more than 1,100 ski resorts throughout the Alps with France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy taking the lead in ski resort quantity, size and prestige. Many ski resorts are interlinked, forming immense ski areas (known in France as Grands Domaines). Some of them spread across two countries! Access is granted through all-in-one ski passes for skiing from one resort to another at one’s leisure.

The Alps are an extensive mountain system located in south-central Europe. Its mountain ranges comprise numerous peaks and valleys of various heights and depths which extend for about 1,200km / 750miles in a crescent shape across eight countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland.

The highest peak of the Alps is Mont Blanc (The White Mountain) which rises to an elevation of 4,808m on the border of France and Italy. The equally famous, pyramid shaped, Matterhorn rises to a height of 4,478m at the border of Switzerland and Italy. Overall, there are about 100 peaks higher than 4,000m in the Alps.

A staggering 120million tourists from all over the world visit the Alps on a typical year, most of them to enjoy their favorite winter sport.