Strap on Your Skis and Get Ready to Shred, Safely

For first-time skiers and snowboarders, the prospect of heading to the slopes can be equal parts thrilling and intimidating.

Images of gracefully carving down a pristine mountain or effortlessly navigating terrain parks can seem utterly impossible when you can barely stand upright in your rigid boots. But with some preparation and knowledge, your inaugural ski trip can be more epic than painful.

To ensure your beginner’s debut goes more smoothly than an Olympic halfpipe run, avoid these 10 common mistakes that most rookie snow riders make .

Before you hit the bunny slopes and begin piecing together the skills that can eventually have you gliding like Lindsey Vonn one day, bone up on these vital tips and tricks for first-timer success.

Not Reading Rules of the Resort

Eager to sprint straight toward the slopes, pausing to scrutinize resort rules and trail maps likely falls low on your new skier priority list.

But neglecting these resources spells trouble reaching far past merely getting lost on your way to the bunny hills. “Every mountain has unique protocols around everything from helmet rules, food policies, dangerous areas, skill level designations, and more,” ski safety officer Tom Wilson warns. “Not knowing the lay of the land leads to nasty collisions or bad accidents.”

Before even parking your car, thoroughly examine the provided resort literature and trail guides to absorb critical need-to-know specifics at your new playground. Different mountains enact distinct regulations concerning things like helmet requirements for kids 12 and under or specially marked slow zones.

Look for specially designated routes called “traverse trails” that cut laterally across slopes to access other pod areas. Wilson recounts numerous emergency dispatches to save reckless novices ignoring clearly marked cliff edges dangerously attempting shortcuts.

Additionally, don’t randomly ditch gear anywhere or snack on handheld foods lest you break costly rules. Reports Wilson, “We rescued a lost snowboarder once facing hundreds in municipal fines for removing his helmet after hitting the bar mid-mountain in violation of safety codes.”

Save yourself painful penalties and scary blundering into hazardous forbidden regions. Start your first day off informed, not puzzled trying to decipher where you are amid unfamiliar terrain.

Ignoring Ski Lessons

While your friend who has skied yearly since toddlerhood might offer to show you the ropes, taking at least one formal beginner ski or snowboard lesson is crucial when you’re just starting out. “Taking a lesson helps you learn the fundamentals properly so you don’t develop bad habits that are hard to correct later,” explains longtime ski instructor, Hannah Kearney.

From learning how to walk with stiff ski boots on to properly securing your equipment, professional instruction covers all the baseline techniques that are second nature to experienced skiers.

Don’t be embarrassed about needing to master skills that six year olds excel at – even the best skiers had to learn the basics at one time. Taking a lesson sets you up for success rather than frustration your first time out.

Choosing Ski Boots That Don’t Fit Properly

Lacing into stiff, unforgiving ski boots for the first time feels akin to squeezing your feet into medieval torture devices. So when the rental shop attendant hands you a pair that finally seems remotely bearable after trying countless alternatives, the temptation is declaring defeat and making do.

But experienced instructors strongly advise against settling for ski boots that don’t fit properly, no matter how desperate your feet feel imprisoned in ski vices.

“Ill-fitting boots that pinch certain pressure points excessively will cut your ski day short faster than the icy black diamond advanced skiers brave,” says 20-year teaching pro Mike Lewis. Avoiding lackluster boots requires understanding key fitting nuances however.

Unlike street shoes, downhill options need to grip feet very firmly to enable edging control. So don’t expect thick sock cushiness and instead seek snugness around the heels and shins with buckled tightness that still allows toe wiggling.

Rental shops often rush newbies who are uncomfortable with the foreign sensation of rigid boots, but patient persistence pays off in the long term. Mike recounts guiding one uncomfortable first-timer through nearly a dozen rounds of buckling into different boots until discovering the “just right fit.”

While initially skeptical of spending so much time on equipment, the student ultimately lasted on the learning slopes far longer than classmates saddled with floppy fits. Her properly fitted boots made controlling her skis infinitely easier. Don’t settle with your feet!

Forgetting to Wear Helmets

When you’re worried about just not falling every 10 seconds, essential safety measures like helmets can easily slip your mind. But particularly as a beginner still working on balance and control, wearing a helmet is absolutely non-negotiable.

No matter how slowly you think you’ll be skiing, beginners lose control – and when that leads to a head hitting packed snow or even ice, the consequences can be severe or fatal without a helmet.

“I’ve seen far too many new skiers resist helmets only to deeply regret it after a serious accident,” Lewis reflects. “No ego boost or hairstyle is worth risking your life over. Helmet up!” Protect your head so falling remains merely painful, not catastrophic.

Neglecting Proper Attire

Beyond helmets guarding your gray matter, dressing properly for a day hitting the slopes involves much more than just bundling up.

Without moisture-wicking under-layers to keep your skin dry, bulky yet breathable insulating mid-layers, wind and water-proof outer shell jackets and pants, and heat-trapping gloves or mittens, your freezing first day will become unbearable mighty fast.

As ski instructor Hannah Kearney warns her students regularly, “If you’re cold in the lodge while taking a hot cocoa break, you won’t last long actually skiing.”

Don’t forget the accessories either, like goggles to shield your eyes from stark glare and neck gaiters to protect your face from brutal winds. Without proper ski gear head to toe, enjoying your maiden voyage will prove impossible when you’re wet and shivering or can’t see.

Expecting to Pick Up Skiing Instantly

Watching experienced skiers magically transform slippery planks strapped to their feet into a flying magic carpet ride, beginners naturally presume they’ll quickly get the drift.

But in reality, learning to ski requires mastering countless techniques, muscle movements, and balancing acts that feel entirely unnatural at first. Students often expect to pick up skiing immediately because they consider themselves athletic.

But skiing uses new muscles and skills unlike any other sport – it just takes time and patience. Give yourself ample practice repetition without judging your initial awkwardness too harshly. Even the world’s greatest eventually tumbled constantly in the beginning too.

Forgetting to Stay Hydrated

High-altitude mountain air feels refreshing yet deceivingly dries out your body without proper hydration. And between aerobic exertion maneuvering down slopes plus baking sun exposure, new skiers often underestimate how quickly they’ll become parched.

“Dehydration causes fatigue which makes concentration difficult. That’s problematic when you’re still developing muscle memory to ski properly,” Mike Lewis explains. Sipping frequently from an insulated water bottle you refill liberally means you’ll still have the mental clarity to keep practicing technique all day rather than zoning out drained.

Don’t guzzle alcohol during apres-ski until completing your lessons sober either. Maintenance drinking only hampers progress for beginners.

Not Knowing Your Limits

Ego can dangerously interfere with common sense on the slopes when you finally start getting the hang of skiing. But knowing and respecting your physical boundaries remains critical to avoid overexerting yourself as a novice.

Adrenaline is great but can disguise fatigue, which is very dangerous. Check in with your body and don’t push past reasonable muscle tiredness. Learning your limits prevents nasty spills caused by exhaustion.

Judge when to call it a day rather than careening uncontrollably into trees because your legs simply give out after too many runs.

Skipping Meals

Running solely on adrenaline and eagerness rather than proper nutrition is another rookie error that rapidly backfires. Skiing demands tremendous energy output, so failing to refuel spells disaster quickly. “Eat regularly even if not hungry – calories mean stamina,” instructs Mike Lewis.

Don’t impatiently zoom past lunch in favor of extra slope time or you won’t have the strength needed to properly turn. Pack high protein trail mix snacks too for instant energy injections when you start flagging mid-morning or afternoon to power through the entire day.

It is a great idea to always keep chocolate handy for instant sugar boosts too!

Attempting Difficult Runs Before Mastering Basics

Watching experts effortlessly launch themselves off kickers in terrain parks can spark overzealous dreams in new riders envisioning themselves catching big air straightaway too.

But seasoned skiers earn the right to shred terrain parks only after years spent mastering edges, turns, speed control and more. Don’t make the painful mistake of attempting inverted aerials the first week before you’ve even learned how to stop safely.

Reminds Mike Lewis, “I broke both my legs trying a terrain park jump too early. Build your ski skills slowly.” Newbies should perfect turning both left and right on greens first before advancing cautiously to moderate blues, then finally tougher black diamonds actually ready for that air time every new skier secretly fantasizes about from day one.

Conclusion

The journey toward transforming yourself into the next Lindsey Vonn or Gus Kenworthy may start off awkwardly. But resist comparing your initial hesitant pizza wedge turns to a seasoned snowboarder effortlessly zipping switch between rails.

Focus instead on your own learning timeline without getting either discouraged or ahead of yourself. Take your inaugural ski lesson seriously, layer up fully, don’t forget to hydrate and stretch, and respect your still-developing abilities.

Oh, and smile uncontrollably whenever those skis finally do start cooperating for a few fleeting moments!

Before you know it, you too will have graduated past the bunny hill and might even feel ready to catch some air – safely, of course.