Things to Remember for Your First Skiing Trip

I will soon be going on my first big skiing trip, though the husband has been several times. I’m not saying that I am an expert by any means, but using some of his know-how, I can share a little about what I am to expect. Like so many sports, there’s an initial learning curve that seems steep. But then, after a little while, things get easier. And then much, MUCH, more fun.

If you’re completely new to skiing, the amount of things to remember can seem quite daunting. If you’re a young person about to go with school or a group of friends, there are a million things on your checklist. Or at least there should be. But I don’t think any of this should worry you. Your first day will be quite intense, especially if you have had no dry-slope training at all. But after a week or so you’ll have improved a lot. Nothing, in my opinion, quite captures what it’s like to go from complete novice to quite good in the space of a week or two. But as you’ll soon discover, it’s quite a trip. So here are some oft-forgotten ski essentials.

The Snood

You won’t believe how often this little chap comes in handy. The snood: a scarf-like thing that you wrap around your face to protect you from the cold. If you’re doing ski runs in Meribel, for example, temperatures can get down to minus twenty. And when you’re careering down the hill at thirty miles an hour or more, the wind hurts. Don’t be the hero: pack your snood.

Sun Cream

The first time my husband went skiing, he came back with worse burns under his eyes than when he went on a beach holiday. It seems strange at first, but you need to think about the sun. First of all, you’re higher up in the atmosphere, which means there is less of it above you to protect you from the sun’s rays. But more importantly, you’re effectively cruising on top of a giant mirror; the snow. When the sun’s light hits it, it reflects and bounces right back at your face, almost as if you were facing the sun directly. Want my advice? Pack the factor 30. Have sensitive skin? Make it factor 50. And waterproof.

Thermal Baselayer

Conditions on the mountainside can change fast, wherever you are in the world. At the bottom of the run you’ll feel warm with all those layers, hot even, but at the top you’ll be glad you put them on. There can sometimes be a 20 degree temperature difference between the top of the mountain and the base. You can always take outside layers off if you feel too hot, and then put them back on once you reach the top of the ski lift.

Travel Plug Adaptor

This one doesn’t have anything to do with skiing in particular. But if you’re living in the UK taking things like cameras and mobiles phones abroad can be a real hassle. Make sure you pick up an adapter that’s appropriate for where you’re going. You’re almost certainly going to need it.

Have you been on a ski trip before? What are your essentials?

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