Downhill Skiing Tips for your First Time
February 17, 2008
Getting out and doing downhill skiing can quickly change you and your kids from waiting for winter to end to waiting for more snow to fall.
This year we took the challenge and bought a package for skiing. It contains 6 weeks of lessons and passes, plus three free passes to use whenever we want.
After the first trip, our 10 year old daughter was ready to quit. Luckily, we’d made the financial commitment and we were going back even if it killed us.
Now, 6 trips later, it is her favorite sport and we are thinking we should have bought a bigger package. To help you get through that first ski trip, here are some tips we learned the hard way.
- Boots go on and off much easier if you fully loosen them. I mean take off the binding so it is flapping around. We struggled the first couple of times because we did not know how loose they go.
- The first time skiing stinks. It does for everyone and you just have to go back and try it again. Once you start to get it, you will love it.
- Take lessons. They usually offer fairly inexpensive lessons and they really do help you get the basics down so you can start enjoying it.
- Don’t go someplace where they only have a tow rope. Probably the thing that made our first trip the most miserable was that we had to use the tow rope. It is a cable that has metal bars and you hang on as it drags you up the mountain.
- Make sure your books are tight. If you are not snug in those boots you have much less control.
- Keep turning. If you can keep turning, you will eventually be going up hill and slow down.
- Go regularly when you are learning and you really do pick it up fast. I can say I tried the black diamond once, and paid. But I feel great on the intermediate hills. Our first trip is a distant memory.
- Use Goggles - If it is at all windy and cold, using goggles keeps the ice and snow from blowing in your eyes. We bought a pair for $15 and it was a good investment.
If you are visiting us, I hope you have made a commitement to add more adventure to your life, and downhill skiing is a great and fun adventure.
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