Random Tips for Beginners

Everything I mention here has usually been mentioned here in one place or another but Id like to get down a few things I learnt on my first trip some years ago. This post doesnt give any advice for the skiing itself funnily enough.

1. Check your boots are on and closed properly! On my first day I was daft enough to have one side of the tongue outside part of the the plastic of the boot, so when the boots were tightened the hard plastic ended up digging into my shin! Newbie error which never happened again. Also check you boots at regular intervals, occasionally if you wipe out one or more of your boot clips may partially open.

2. Dont tuck anything into your boots. The bottom of your pants/salopettes have an elasticated part to stop snow going up your leg, the button on this can cause discomfort if placed inside the boot with the pressures you apply throughout a day of skiing.

3. After walking on snow remember to clear the build up of snow on the sole of the boot before trying to engage it into the bindings. You see many beginners on slopes trying to force their boot into the bindings with snow on the sole and the more force they try to put in, the further the ski slides down the slope. A quick tap on the boot with a pole or scraping the sole on the front/back of your binding and it should clear then engage without unnecessary force.

4. Dont let anyone else in your group take your skis! They are setup just for you but unfortunately many hire skis from one hire shop are of the same design and people can easily mix them up if they dont pay attention and read the identifying number. If something doesnt feel right when stepping into the binding this may be why. (Someone did take mine in my first hol and got on the chiar lift, it wasnt fun waiting for it to come back down. (And dont worry if people start talking about the L and R ski ;) they are the same.)

5. We were lucky enough to pick up our ski equipment the day before the lift passes. USE THIS SPARE TIME IF YOU CAN!(NB Not everyone will have people in their group who already have this knowledge to share.)This can be done on a small area close to the slopes and without the use of lifts. For me personally I found it useful to learn and practice:

-putting on and removing ski's on a slope without sliding 24 feet downhill!

-turning on the spot again without moving 24 feet downhill
e.g. http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/learn-skiing/kick-turn.asp

-walking up the slope - useful if you are practising or you drop a pole etc. and dont want to be removing your skis for a sake of 5 yards.
e.g. http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/learn-skiing/side-stepping.asp
e.g. http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/learn-skiing/herringbone.asp

-side slipping (i wasnt going to mention this but found an animation for it whilst looking for a good herringbone example)
e.g. http://www.abc-of-skiing.com/learn-skiing/sideslipping.asp

-skating, invaluable when you find yourself on a flat piece of terrain so you dont use up all your energy pushing yourself around with your poles.
e.g. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cxhskdKlIDs

6. Dress with the ability to add/remove layers throughout the day. I get quite hot skiing, my first trip i had thermal base layer, tshirt, thick fleece and jacket. This was far too much, made me sweat and overheat loads and end up steaming up my goggles which freezes and is a nightmare to clear on the mountain. These days I ski with a good wicking ski "tshirt" and jacket, with a thin fleece in a backpack for those cold periods on the exposed lifts :) which i can take on and off when needed. (Layers are dependant on the individual, the weather and the current activity. One setup does not suit everyone all the time so be prepared.) Also many jackets and pants vents which can be opened to allow a flow of cool air. Remember to close them too if you need to.

7. If possible carry goggles AND sunglasses, use both and see what you prefer. As your skiing changes your preference may also change. Polarized sunglasses in my experience are invaluable, especially when your resting at a bar or restaurant outside. Best way I found to clear goggles that have begun to steam up is with the hot air from a hand drier in the closest toilet.

8. Loosen the clips on your boots when walking. Most people find it easier and more comfortable. It will also help when trying to negotiate stairs etc.

9. If your accommodation is a long way from where you are skiing/lift and your usual method of getting there is walking. Enquire about ski lockers close to the ski area. Carrying your skis half a mile around the resort can take a lot of energy which you may not have at the end of a day! Especially as your walking round in your ski boots as well.

10. Steepness is all relative, what seems steep at the beginning of the week may not seem steep at all by the end. This wont be the best idea for everyone but for our group we were skiing from the top of the Oberjoch ski area quite quickly on many of the (fairly tame) red runs. Maybe risky for some learners but it soon makes those beginner blues look fairly flat and dare i say it - easy.

All of these things will be simple and second nature to you after a while and when you look back can seem quite silly, but if noone ever mentions things you will never know as a beginner unless you find out the hard ways! These are from my personal experience and hopefully may make you think of something you never realised or thought about before.

Please feel free to add or contradict me! :D Its taken me that long to write this and watching reruns of winter x games 08 ski super half pipe, im pretty distracted so might have forgotten some of the things i intended to mention! or just talking complete rubbish <-disclaimer :)

Your nose will probably run when skiing. Take some tissues : )

VinnieKalcut wrote:Your nose will probably run when skiing. Take some tissues : )

Haha, make sure you zip up your fly after using the little boys room.

Suntan lotion!
Lip balm.

A bar of chocolate solves everything, but do be careful where you put it (if you sit on it, it will be very mis-shapen!). For instance when learning to ski, when the rest of your class can do it and you can't, so it is a comfort (aahh!) and for those sessions when you are the championy of your class and it all comes right - then celebrate and reward yourself! Either way, never ski without a mars bar somewhere on you - and also if you are starving and cannot afford the restaurant prices - at least you can have a hot drink and have something to chomp on!

Dont eat yellow snow.

A bit boring I know but if you're not told these you wont know :)!

Rules of the Road/Slope.

1. Respect for other skiers
You are responsible for your own safety and that of other skiers and snow boarders. Be aware of people around you and take necessary action to avoid skiing dangerously or causing a hazard to yourself or others.

2. Control of speed and manner of skiing
Control your direction and speed of travel, taking account of the terrain, snow, weather and traffic conditions.

3. Choice of path
Select an appropriate path. If you are skiing behind someone it’s your responsibility to ski around them without causing any danger to them.

4. Overtaking
You can over-take from either left or right but you must leave enough distance between yourself and other skiers to allow them to manoeuvre properly.

5. Joining and starting
Before starting off or pulling out you must look up and down the slope and choose an appropriate moment to execute your manoeuvre, so as not to endanger yourself or other skiers.

6. Stopping
Avoid stopping at blind corners or narrow or enclosed places unless you have to i.e. you’re injured. In the case of an injury you must vacate the spot as soon as practicable, to avoid further danger (to yourself or others). You should always stop at the side of the slope.

7. Ascending and descending
You must always use the side of the slope to walk up or down, whether wearing skis or not.

8. Observing the signs
Pay attention to and follow the signs, markings and notices on the slope.

9. Offering assistance
You are obliged by law to offer help and assistance in the event of any accident.

10. Duty to identify yourself
You are also obliged by law to give your personal details in the event of an accident, whether you caused it, witnessed it or assisted at it.

These are from an Austrian Ski area so the legal bits may not be true everywhere but I would suggest you are morally obliged to 9 & 10.

Tony_H wrote:Dont eat yellow snow.

Those lemon snow cones at the local restaurant never sold very well. Wonder why?

Excellent post, 82ross
As you say, after a short time many of these things become obvious but they are not when you are starting out.

82ross wrote: On my first day I was daft enough to have one side of the tongue outside part of the the plastic of the boot, so when the boots were tightened the hard plastic ended up digging into my shin! Newbie error which never happened again.

Not always a 'newbie' mistake :D I have seen a number of intermediates who ask me why their boots hurt at the shin. I get them to put them on and do them up and its often that the tongue isnt seated right.

82ross wrote:
Loosen the clips on your boots when walking. Most people find it easier and more comfortable. It will also help when trying to negotiate stairs etc.

Loosen but don't undo completely would be my advice. I see some people walking in boots with all the buckles undone. As you walk your feet come half out of the boot and slide back in with each step - a quick way to get blisters and really tired feet.