Quick Tips for First Time Skies and Snowboarders

Dress for Success!
Part of the thrill of skiing and snowboarding is enjoying the refreshing winter weather. By dressing properly, you'll stay comfortable no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. We suggest:

• Dress in layers. A number of lighter layers allow you to adjust your clothing as the temperature changes.
• Wear a base layer of long underwear or tights.
• Warm collared shirt, sweater or fleece.
• Water and wind resistant pants. Snow or ski pants work best but jeans are OK as long as you bring an extra pair. Avoid sweat pants, they get wet very quickly! Be sure your pants are wide enough at the bottom of the legs to fit over large boots.
• Jacket or shell with a high collar, once again water and wind resistant is best.
• High socks. Bring a couple of extra pairs of socks - the higher, the better. Avoid socks with big, thick seams if possible.
• Gloves or mittens. Gloves allow more freedom of movement, but mittens are warmer. Avoid knit gloves, they get wet very quickly.
• Warm hat that covers you ears. The old saying "If your feet are cold, put on a hat" is true!
• Sunscreen and lip balm, SPF-15 or greater. Even on cloudy days it is very easy to get too much sun when on the snow.
• Eye protection. Either sunglasses or goggles.
• Be sure to bring extra clothes to change into for the ride home!
• You will also need a driver's license or credit card to rent skis. Please bring them with you to the ticket windows!

Understanding Your Rental Equipment
Getting to Know Your Equipment - Boots: The first equipment you are issued is your boots. The rental technician will need to know your street shoe size to assure that your boots fit properly. Your boots should feel snug around your foot, but not tight. Once buckled, you should be able to wiggle your toes, but your heel should not move when you pull up on it. If your boots feel too loose or too tight, please do not hesitate to ask for a different size!

Everything You Wanted to Know About Skis: Next, you will receive your skis. Most rental skis are expertly tuned and waxed. Your ski technician will explain the finer points of the equipment you have selected. On the top of your skis you will find complicated looking devices called bindings. These miracles of modern engineering not only hold your feet on the skis, but they also know when to let you go if you fall. A binding technician will set your bindings based on your weight, height, age, and ability level. Please be as accurate as possible to assure proper settings!

You will also be issued ski poles - which are used for balance and moving around. A good fit on ski poles is to grab the ski pole that puts your elbow at a 90 degree angle.

Once you are out on the snow, your instructor will show you how to use your bindings to attach your skis to your feet. It's actually quite simple - place the little ledge on the front of your boot under the front binding piece (called the toe piece), line up your heel and press down. To get out, you simply press down on the lever in the back with your ski pole. If you ski comes off during skiing, the ski brake will stop it from continuing down the hill without you!

Snowboard 101
Snowboards work pretty much like skis do. The big difference is that they are much wider, and you only get one. They have a sidecut just like skis, and turn the same way a ski turns.

Snowboard bindings have one big difference from ski bindings - they don't release! Once your feet are in, they should stay there. Getting in your snowboard bindings is easy, you basically line up the little rods on either side of your boot with the notches in the binding and step down. To get out, you pull the lever on the side and step out.

The First Lesson
You're properly dressed and your rental equipment is ready to go - now is when the fun really starts! Next you will learn all of the basic skills that you need to get started on a lifetime of skiing or snowboarding fun!

The first thing you will learn is how to put on your skis or snowboard and how to move around on the flat. This will give you a chance to get to know your equipment and get the feel for sliding around.

You will also learn how to climb up the hill and turn yourself around while standing still. All of these skills are presented in a very flat area with a "runout". A runout helps you stop yourself while you are learning.

Next you will learn to slide straight down the hill. Unless you are an ice skater or in-line skater, your brain has been programmed to believe that sliding across the ground while standing up is, as a rule, something to be avoided. It takes a few runs down the hill before your brain figures out that it is not only OK, but a lot of fun.

Once you have mastered "straight runs", you will be taught how to turn your skis. Turning offers two benefits - it allows you to avoid things you do not wish to meet up close, and it allows you to stop whenever you want - both commendable goals. Your rental skis were designed to turn easily so you'll be happily turning in no time. Once you get to the point that you can go where you want to go and stop yourself with confidence, it is time for your first lift ride.

The First Lift Ride
If you have ever sat on a porch swing, you have mastered the art of loading and riding a chairlift. As you slide out onto the loading area, the chair will come up behind you. When the chair touches the back of your legs, simply sit down and enjoy the ride. There is a restraint bar that you pull down in front of you for the ride, please use it. At the top of the lift, you will see signs instructing you to raise the restraint bar and prepare to unload. The snow will gradually come up to meet your skis.

When you get to the "Unload Here" sign, stand up, lean slightly forward and slide straight down the ramp. Your instructor will give you instructions on where to meet.

When you take your first look down the hill, you may feel like you have been deposited on the summit of the highest peak - don't worry. Your instructor will guide you down the most gentle terrain on the mountain and will help you fine-tune your turns all the way. By the time you reach the bottom of the hill, you'll feel like an old pro!