Skiing is a pretty daring and adventurous hobby. You need to be physically fit and mentally prepared before you start hitting the slopes. While it looks downright amazing, skiing is actually a pretty tough hobby to learn. Maintaining your balance and knowing how to swerve on an angle is not easy. Depending upon the slope you are on, you also have to avoid the rocky regions in order to prevent injuries. Needless to say, first-time skiers often have to overcome a series of difficult physical battles and mental struggles.
First-time skiers are often advised to talk to an experienced skier and do some essential reading before embarking on their ski trip. Essential reading for first-time skiers is very important in the long run. Not only will it help you realise what it’s like up on the mountains, but you will also get an idea of what skiing is actually like. Many people are often attracted to skiing due to the dangerous nature of the sport and the rush of adrenaline that it provides. However, there are many other things that you should know about skiing in general before you embark on the trip. Here are a few important guidelines for first-time skiers.
There’s No Point Dressing Cool
Millions of people who go skiing often try to dress as cool as they can. Many expert skiers have said that beginners always tend to under-dress, thinking that the sun’s shining high above so it won’t be a problem. However, the cold in the mountains will leave you freezing in no time, which is why you must always dress appropriately. The bigger problem is that novices tend to use a lot more energy when skiing as compared to professionals. This is one of the main reasons why rookies often end up catching a chill (due to the sweat on their bodies) while they wait in the chairlift or the lift lines.
It is recommended that you put on a tight base layer made out of merino wool or polyester. This will keep your body warm and wick away moisture. Don’t wear a regular cotton T-shirt. On top of the bottom layer, put on a sweater, a shirt, or a vest that will allow unobstructed flow of air. Wearing a zippered garment is a great idea, since it will prevent you from excessive sweating.
Drink Lots of Water
Another common problem that most new skiers suffer from is that they don’t drink enough water. Millions who go skiing fail to realise that they do not live at such high altitudes. The cold air tends to go very dry up high on the mountains, which dramatically reduces the levels of oxygen. Ultimately, this increases the amount of fluid that you lose every time you breathe. Combined with the fact that beginners tend to sweat excessively, it doesn’t take very long for them to lose a considerable amount of bodily fluids in a very short span of time. Many first time skiers suffer from dehydration that leads to dizziness and severe headaches. It’s not uncommon to see first-time skiers just sitting on the sidelines and drinking water, or heading back to the resort in order to take the day off.
Try drinking at least a litre of water for every two hours that you stay outside. This is a lot of water, but you will be losing a lot more during skiing. If you are spending more than an hour out on the slopes, you should seriously consider carrying a rehydrating drink such as a Gatorade sports drink along with you. The Low Calorie Thirst Quencher from Gatorade provides the same amount of electrolytes as the standard Gatorade, but the number of calories is significantly lower.
Don’t Start Stiff
Skiing is an incredibly tough sport. You will need to be highly flexible in order to boost your performance and minimise the chances of injury. Many people who start skiing often jump on the slopes without any sort of preparation. They don’t realise that proper, active stretching is vitally important before you take to the slopes. Simply bending over and touching your toes twice isn’t going to cut it. When warming up, try to move as much as you can. Walking lunges are a great way to stretch your hamstrings and your hips.
Take Lessons
The best way to learn skiing is from a certified instructor. If you are staying at a ski resort, you will often come across experienced skiers who are willing to help you out. Skiing has a pretty steep learning curve, so you can’t just read a guide online and jump straight on the slopes. There are many things that you need to know about how to maintain your balance, the flow of air, and how to stop yourself. These are all important things that your instructor will teach you. Most instructors at the ski resort will charge a small fee for proper lessons. Or, if you find an experienced skier who is willing to impart some knowledge for free, you should just talk to them more about how you can handle yourself on the slopes.
Choose an Easy Slope
Another very important thing that you should keep in mind when selecting your first skiing slope is the difficulty. Some slopes are much more difficult to navigate than others. In fact, when booking a ski trip, browse through the different slopes and check the difficulty level. Make sure you choose the easiest possible slope in the beginning. These slopes are not as steep, and are self-guided, so you won’t have to worry about where you are going either. The steepness of the slope is also considerably lower, thus making it easy for you to ski without any assistance. Jumping onto a more difficult slope right in the beginning is a bad idea, to say the least.
