Beginner's Guide to Skiing - Day 2 - Take the Lesson

I've never been skiing a day in my life, until yesterday. That's what makes this a beginner's guide to skiing. I'm going to start slow and show you the things that long-time skiers forget to tell you. They've become used to it, they don't notice it anymore, or they just don't even think about it.

I'm a beginner.

Here's what you need to know about skiing before you go..

The Significant Other

If you are a first-time skier, it's likely that you have been cajoled into trying skiing by someone important to you. We'll call that person the Significant Other. The S.O. has likely been skiing before and is probably quite advanced, or at least that was the case in my situation, and I heard the same story from many of the newbies I spoke with today. Your S.O. will offer to teach you.

"You don't need to pay for a lesson," they'll say. "I can teach you," they'll say.

Take. The. Lesson.

Seriously. Unless your S.O. also happens to be a trained ski instructor, he or she will forget to tell you many of the basic moves - the moves so basic and vital to skiing that they come as naturally as breathing to the experienced skier. Without these basics, you'll spend your first day as I did - running like a cartoon character up tiny inclines, making no progress, and exhausting yourself only to require a pull or a push to even get up to the lift. You'll fall more than you'll ski, and you'll spend so much energy getting up from a fall that you have nothing left to push off with.

Whew - I'm tired just thinking about it. Give me a minute, I'm going to take a quick break here.

Ok, so now that we are well rested, let's get back to that lesson. Every resort is going to be different, but when you go in to rent your gear (more about that in another post) be sure to let them know that you are a beginner and inquire about lessons. Here at Mount Hood Meadows they offer a three day beginner's package. It includes 3 lessons which do not have to be on consecutive days, 3 lift tickets which will only give you access to the beginner slopes, and 3 days of gear rental. Skiing can be quite expensive, but this package came in under $200 USD. Considering that daily gear rental is $55 USD daily without the package, that's a great deal!

See that tunnel that kind of looks like a train? That's the first lift you'll want to get on. As you can see, it's not very steep, so for a beginner it is a perfect place to get used to being on skates. Whichever resort you find yourself at, find their version of Mount Hood's Ballroom Carpet. They call it the carpet because it is similar to a magic carpet: inside the tunnel is a conveyor belt which will slowly and easily pull you up to the top of that gentle slope.

Pro Tip: The first time you get on it you WILL lose your balance. You can mitigate that somewhat by bending your knees and leaning forward. It's the same way at the end - bend your knees and lean forward - you'll slide right off.

Another nice aspect of taking a lesson is that you will be surrounded by other people taking lessons. That makes your inevitable clumsiness, crashing, and struggling more of a group effort. You won't be the only one. Instead, as you try to figure out the exact right angle at which to duck-walk up the tiny hill, you'll hear an instructor give advice on how best to break or balance. Everyone is there to help you when you take a lesson. You'll also have immediate feedback as to if you are 'doing it right' which is extremely helpful. Your S.O. may be a drill sergeant, or a cheer leader, but if they aren't a trained ski instructor you'll be missing out on a lot of valuable information.

Pro Tip: To duck-walk, spread your feet out wide like a duck, but keep your knees together so that the inside edge of your ski digs into the snow. This will let you climb little inclines easily - without looking like a cartoon character stuck on ice.

By the end of your first lesson (about 2 hours of instruction and practice) you might be ready to tackle the giant slope you see above. Here at Mount Hood they call it Buttercup. Have your S.O. meet you at the bottom of the lift. They'll be pleasantly tired from a day full of careening full speed down the mountain instead of holding your hand as you take baby steps across the snow and will be excited to see you show off your new skills.

Just try not to face plant at the end like I did. Stay tuned for more about the gear, the falls, and the whole body soreness.

Happy Travels!

Jennifer

Did you miss Day 1? Find it here: It's Snowy Up There!

Ready for Day 3? Find it here: How Not to Freeze to Death

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