Random Tips for Beginners

Take 'sun block' full stop. Wear it at all times in the mountains, even when it is cloudy you could receive a pretty nasty burn. Remember to do under the tip of your nose.

Dont fall over.

Tony_H wrote:Dont fall over.

Unless you can fall with style face first into powder.

Some very good points overall. I wish I had all this information when I went on my first trip, but it was about a month ago an early in the season so perhaps peoples minds were not in ski mode.

Lynn_D wrote:One other thing that caught me out last year, was trying to put my skis back on after a fall and not realising that my bindings were still closed (not sure of the correct term...???)
So, if you can't get your skis back on, this could very well be the reason :D

Yes.

Notice when you clip into your skis, the back part of the binding pops up, to lock your boots in. When you take your boot off, you push this bit down.

After a fall, first make sure this back part is pushed down (it takes quite a push if your tired), if its not - push it down until it clicks (easiest acheived by standing on it in my experience).

If you dont do that the boot will never click into place. So, always check, it could save some time and energy.

I prefer to ski witha rucksack, well not coz the skiing is better but theres so many useful things to carry:

Water.
Fruit juice (sugar can ne nice but beware of carrying fizzy juice!)
Snickers (chocolate and peanuts for energy)
Cereal bars
A small flask with a hot drink / cuppa soup (stays hot/warm for hours!)
sandwiches (save a fortune on lunch)
goggles
sunglasses
extra layer of clothing / scarf / neck thing

cant think of anything else. seemed like more at the time

That all gets squashed if you fall over Sami!!!

Remember to stop, look around and take in the environment. Enjoy yourself when you ski. At the begining it's all technique this and equipment and lifts and scary steep bits. I seem to remember that once I stopped and just examined the place I was in I felt a lot calmer about trying to get the skiing right.

Oh yes and don't beat yourself up for how you ski. I don't think anyone skis "right" all the time. What you are looking for is control and as a beginner once you have that you're on your way.

sami_glasgow wrote:

I prefer to ski witha rucksack, well not coz the skiing is better but theres so many useful things to carry:

Water.
Fruit juice (sugar can ne nice but beware of carrying fizzy juice!)
Snickers (chocolate and peanuts for energy)
Cereal bars
A small flask with a hot drink / cuppa soup (stays hot/warm for hours!)
sandwiches (save a fortune on lunch)
goggles
sunglasses
extra layer of clothing / scarf / neck thing

cant think of anything else. seemed like more at the time

Is it just me, or does the list of stuff you have to remember before you head out for the day simply impossibly long?

It is impossibly long, I struggle despite packing bags every weekend. Always feel like I have forgotten something.

Oh yeh, I almost never ski with a backpack and would discourage every day resort skiers to avoid doing so.