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In my quest to do more for me, i am taking flying lessons (YAY!) and have an itch to try skiing.

I tried to ski a few years ago. Was AWFUL

Would like to try again.

Any tips?? I will be getting a private lesson

I can only do cross country. Damn good workout.

Downhill never again. I fell shortly after i began, took off my skiis and walked the rest of the way down.

Good for you. Flying lessons i dream about.

Do you already own skis or have any intention of buying?
Get carving-skis (I think that’s the correct name): the type that look like an elongated hourglass. Stick to the lower recommended length because they a) go slower and b) are easier to manage. These skis are the best and easiest to manage.
Place the financial emphasis on boots – bindings – ski’s – poles. In that order. Bad boots can ruin your day and are key to safe skiing. Bindings are what can make the difference between a tumble and a broken foot. Have a professional install AND adjust the bindings. If they don’t ask you your weight go elsewhere!
This might sound strange, but IMHO both boots and bindings are more important than the skis. As a beginner the difference between $$ skis and $$$ isn’t noticeable.

Ill just be renting the gear. I will get ski pants but thats it.

I could not get it down the first time i tried, but my kids did.

In my quest to do more for me, i am taking flying lessons (YAY!)

My hero!! Don’t know much about skiing, it scares me actually. I would love to go back and finish getting my pilots license. I stopped in the 90’s when we started having kids. I never lost the aviation bug.

I LOVE snow skiing - didn’t do it for >20 yrs bc WH can’t… and have gone a couple of times since dday, loving every minute (but haven’t tried again since covid).

I try to rent away from the mountain - it’s cheaper and but a risk if you aren’t happy / something goes wrong. I also love that it’s usually a MUCH more relaxed situation, so the folks can actually spend some TIME with you to get fitted (vs rushing to help the line of customers that I always seem to encounter at on the mountain outfits). Depending on where you will be, there are often places "in town" that will rent and also have a store on the mountain so if there’s a problem you can exchange.

Personally, the BOOTS are the thing I cared most about. An ill-fitting boot will ruin the entire experience.

You can also reach out to the person giving you the private lesson - they may have some tips. Where are you going?

I love skiing, and try to do it every chance I get (which admittedly, isn't all that much right now with a 1 and 3 year old).

What was it that you struggled with the first time around? That might be a good starting point for tips.

Lesson is a great idea.

I struggled with just moving period! I was not very good… my kids got the hang of it much faster.

I am going Friday with the middle kiddo! We will get a lesson and hopefully have some fun!!

Haha... kids always seem to pick things up more quickly than adults don't they.

Good luck at your lesson Friday! Have fun and enjoy the apres (I think we can all agree on that part, right?)

1. Always wear a helmet.
2. Poles are for moving on flat areas and are not used much on the downhill portion. But do use your poles to push forward on flat parts or if the snow is thick or slow and you are not moving much.
3. Keep your skiis parallel to move quickly down the hill, but turn the tips inward in front of you and make a wedge shape if you are moving too fast, bending your knees and digging in a little (feels a little like sitting) to slow yourself down. When I was learning, I went down the entire bunny hill with my skiis in a wedge shape, terrified of going out of control.
4. If you do feel yourself going out of control, try to ski away from other people or yell out a warning. Crashing into other unknowing skiiers can be quite dangerous. You are the one responsible for avoiding those in front of you.
5. There are always signs that say, "Stay in control," so remember that this is very important--a cardinal rule. Too slow is better than too fast. Always.
6. YouTube videos can be super helpful for learning. There are a lot of great skiiers/teachers, and their lessons are FREE! Take advantage. Practice in your living room in your shoes by moving your feet and legs as they say. It helps when learning. My kids got better at snowboarding this way.
7. Have fun!!!!

Start small like maybe cross country. I say that because I have no grace as I get older. Downhill skiing for me would equal an emergency room visit. I used to be a gymnast, so it’s kind of funny that I have no grace anymore.

We went. I sucked. I fell on the carpet lift. I FELL ON THE CARPET LIFT

I couldnt get up!!!

My kid on the other hand was awesome, graduated from bunny to next level (still carpet lift but a longer/ higher) carpet lift) He wants to go again ASAP so I made him a reservation for tomorrow and I will be sitting in the ski cafe with a hot coco ready for him when hes done

I might try again one day. That day is not tomorrow!

Congratulations on trying. I hope you had fun. You could try cross country of snowshoeing. Not as glamorous, but might be easier. Having hot coco at the ready in the lodge sounds like me cup of tea.

Lots of laughs!!! My kid was not embarrassed when i was sprawled out on the carpet lift, , so it was all good!

I think. CC skiing is more my jam, i might try that. But for today, cafe and coco!

You’ve received some great suggestions above. I’ll echo the relative importance of good, correct fitting boots. If you’re planning to go skiing a few times this season, it may be cheaper to get a season rental package at a place away from the mountain as opposed to several rentals at the mountain. Also, if you go to a rental place away from the mountain during a slow period for them during the week, they will have more time to give you for properly fitting the boots for you and selecting the most appropriate ski available for you. In addition to the skiing tips given above, I’ll add when on the ski lift, don’t have your hands through the loop on the poles (rather hold both pole shafts in one of your hands) and never take your gloves off on the lift. When you’re skiing downhill, if you cross your ski tips, you’re very likely going to fall, so prepare yourself.

..so...it's Monday...? looking for some fresh powder? Look out your window.. this is more snow in one dump than we've seen in 20 years!!

Haven't skied in 20 years... but highly recommend learning to do either or both downhill and cross country. healthy outdoor sport that keeps you 'OFF' your friggin' phone..

Hope my snow blower has plenty of gas. There is a foot of the stuff in my driveway..100 feet of it..

For those with only a shovel, take your time, especially if you're old like me!!

smy

SMY- my 12 year old who I was worried about playing too many video games in past posts on here… not only is he the one who skied on Friday then again Sunday… but he shoveled the driveway, then played with baby brother outside, then a neighbor kid outside.

5 hours later hes inside. But yeah! For lots of fresh air this weekend!!!

So glad you went. Your fall on the lift -and kid NOT being embarrassed -reminded me of an old trip.

When I was maybe 15-16, siblings & I went to Co with our dad. 1st time we had a ski in/out condo on the mountain. He got a bad tooth ache and had to see a dentist (maybe a root canal?). But, he was determined to get his $$ worth and ski after seeing the dentist (we kids skied all day). So, we are on the lift for his 1st run and he says he's not feeling so good. By the time we reached the top of the hill, he got about 15-20 feet off the lift and then collapsed into the snow, vomiting like nobody's beeswax. Turns out he was allergic to the opioid pain meds.

What did his loving children do when faced with their dad laying on the ground (still in the way of skiers trying to exit the lift) and wretching quite loudly? Why, we pretended we didn't know him, skied about 30ft away and tried to look cool whilst adjusting our sunglasses and hair and gloves and whatnot. What awful teens we were. That story came up last time I was with my dad. Thankfully, we all laugh about it.

So - glad you are able to laugh about your lift foibles, and you have a very compassionate kid :) It's pretty cool that your kid took to it (so did I - one sibling never really liked it and the other was meh, but my dad and I both took to it and had planned a trip just the 2 of us that was cancelled when Covid hit).