Skiing is among the most exhilarating and inspiring ways to spend a week or two in winter. But if you’ve never been on a skiing holiday, the first experience can be a little bit daunting. To get the best from your experience, it’s worth doing a little bit of preparation, and following a few key tips.
Let’s take a look at four of the best of them.
The Right Preparation: Indoor Slopes & Fitness
If you aren’t in good shape when you first hit the slopes, then you might find yourself aching by the end of the trip. Your performance, and your enjoyment of the holiday, might also be impacted. A sensible program of moderate weight-training and cardio might therefore be appropriate during the months leading up to your holiday.
As you learn the basics, you probably won’t be exerting yourself too much. However, a baseline level of fitness can often make the difference between an exhilarating week and an exhausting one.
The UK is home to a number of indoor snow centres, like Chill Factore in Manchester, and the Snowdome in Tamworth. If there’s one near you, then you might consider visiting.
Rent Smart: Gear & Insurance
During your first trip, you won’t yet have an idea of what to look for when investing in gear. As such, renting makes a great deal of sense when you’re planning your first ski holiday. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from the people in the shop. Make sure that your boots and helmet fit you snugly.
You’ll also need to make sure that your health insurance covers all of the activities you’ll be doing. If you’re skiing off-piste, and you suffer an accident, you might find that you aren’t covered. You might think that you aren’t going to be doing this during the first week, but remember that all of the smaller slopes and pathways around the typical Alpine resort might be considered off-piste, too.
Take Lessons Early & Stay Loose
Don’t try to learn to ski by yourself. Look for a qualified instructor, instead. Private lessons are ideal. Remember, you only have a limited time to get acquainted with the skills, and progressing quickly will allow you to get better value from the wider resort.
It’s easy to be intimidated when you get started. But be sure that you keep your muscles loose, and avoid tensing up. Be persistent, and the skill will come with practice.
Understand Safety, Speed & Etiquette
Done in the wrong way, skiing can be a very dangerous activity. It’s important to develop a simple means of controlling your speed, and changing direction. For the vast majority of new skiers, this means the ‘snowplough’ technique, which involves moving the tips of your skis closer together. Helmets are a necessity; every sensible skier wears them, and so should you.
You’ll want to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety. Pay attention to the signage on the piste, and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
