Booking your first ski trip can be exhilarating. And overwhelming.
A lot of beginners arrive poorly prepared, on the wrong mountain with zero idea of where to begin. Before they know it, they’re tearing down bunny slopes on their butt wishing they’d stayed home.
There’s a lot to figure out before stepping foot on the mountain. But it doesn’t have to ruin a first ski trip.
When you choose the right resort, understand easy ski slopes for beginners, and tackle the mountain with a plan — skiing as a beginner is one of the best times you’ll ever have.
Here’s how to do it.
What you’ll learn:
- What Makes a Slope Beginner-Friendly?
- How to Pick the Right Resort
- What to Expect From Your First Lesson
- Gear: What Do Beginners Actually Need?
- Tips for Making the Most of Day One
What Makes a Slope Beginner-Friendly?
Let’s start with slope terrain. When new to skiing, not all runs are created equal. In fact, according to industry research, beginners account for 58% of all ski injuries around the world. Most are beginners skiing outside of their abilities.
So where should beginners actually be skiing?
Beginner, intermediate, and expert slopes are separated by a colour-coded ski icon. Green runs are wide, low gradient, beginner-friendly slopes. Blue runs are medium difficulty. Red runs and black diamond runs are advanced and expert slopes.
Easy ski slopes for beginners are green. As simple as that.
Beginner-friendly slopes tend to be well-groomed, extremely wide, and far away from high-speed trails.
The size of a resort’s beginner area matters too. When looking at maps, try to find resorts with at least 25% beginner terrain. Nothing will make a first-timer feel more out of place than landing at a mountain that only caters to experts.
How to Pick the Right Resort
This may come as a shock — but price and photos aren’t the most important factors when selecting a resort.
The goal is to find a mountain with good beginner terrain, a beginner-friendly attitude, and, most importantly… facilities that help first-timers learn how to ski. The best ski resorts for beginners share these qualities, along with easy ski slopes for beginners that are separate from the rest of the mountain.
Here’s what else to look for when choosing a first ski resort:
- Large beginner-specific zone
- A reputable ski school
- Good lifts from the base of the mountain
- Equipment rentals available on-site
- Lift ticket, lesson, and rental packages for beginners
Hit up smaller ski areas in the chosen region too. The biggest resorts get all the hype, but they aren’t always the best for beginners.
Many smaller and mid-sized ski areas invest more in their beginner setups to lure new skiers to their region. Smart business sense.
What to Expect From Your First Lesson
You cannot learn to ski without a lesson.
Don’t be shy. Walking into a ski lesson as an adult feels strange, but it’s completely normal. Signing up for even just one group lesson will cut the learning curve in half. Instructors are taught how to teach absolute beginners.
Lesson focus is on:
- How to stop
- How to turn
- How to fall correctly
- How to get on and off a chairlift
Different resorts offer various lesson types:
- Group lessons
- Private lessons
- Multi-day ski lessons
It’s worth knowing that only 7% of skier visits in the US are by people who started skiing after the age of 35. The US ski industry doesn’t grow because adults are taking up skiing left and right. Learning as an adult takes dedication. Lessons make the learning process easier.
Book lessons ahead of time. Better yet, book lessons before even booking the resort. All lifts sell out during peak season — don’t be the person that has to settle for a resort they didn’t initially consider.
And book morning sessions. Energy levels are higher in the AM. Snow quality is typically better too.
Gear: What Do Beginners Actually Need?
Short answer? Nothing.
Rent, rent, and rent some more. All gear should be rented from ski resorts. Beginner gear is designed to help with learning, plus ski resorts ensure equipment is up-to-date and correctly fitted.
Here’s what to rent:
- Skis (found at the resort)
- Ski boots (found at the resort)
- Poles (found at the resort)
- Helmet — Don’t ski without a helmet.
Purchase items before arriving:
- Ski jacket and trousers — insulated and waterproof
- Base layers — Thermal wear that wicks away moisture. No cotton.
- Ski socks — Thick socks made specifically for skiing.
- Gloves/mittens — insulated and waterproof
- Goggles — super important for sun protection
- Sunscreen — Sun exposure on the mountain is real.
Do beginners need wrist guards?
If you’re asking — probably.
Wrist injuries are some of the most common skiing injuries, especially for beginners. Falling isn’t uncommon on beginner slopes. It’s worth considering.
Tips for Making the Most of Day One
Slow and steady wins the race.
After the first lesson, take time warming up on the nursery slope. It feels too easy skiing down a flat surface. But knowing how to stop is half the battle.
Give the body regular breaks — skiing takes a lot out of a person. Stay hydrated and take a seat every chance available. The legs will thank you later.
And most importantly, stay in the beginner area. It’s okay to want to push limits. But once fatigue sets in is never the time to test out that blue run.
One more tip…
Have fun. Enjoy every second on the mountain. Take in the views, enjoy the après-ski, and relax. Skiing improves every day out there. Everything else is just bonus fun.
That’s a Wrap.
Booking a first ski trip doesn’t have to feel stressful. Choosing an appropriate resort and knowing what beginner slopes to ski will make the first experience a good one.
Before booking that trip, keep these tips in mind:
- Find resorts with large beginner zones and established ski schools
- Ski exclusively on green runs until confident
- Book lessons ahead of time — they’re worth every penny
- Rent equipment and only purchase personal layers and goggles
- Take time, rest often, and stay in the beginner zone
Keep things simple on the first time around and hitting the slopes really can be a breeze.