If you’ve just booked or are thinking of booking your first ever skiing or snowboarding holiday, there might be a chance you’re feeling a little apprehensive – and that’s absolutely fine.
Sure, gliding down a slippery mountain strapped to a board or two does sound a little daunting. Trust us though; in practice skiing is huge amounts of fun and is easier than you might think. And like most things in life, it’s made even easier with a little forward planning. Follow our guide on skiing for beginners to make your first foray onto the slopes as fun as possible.
Unless you are an experienced skiier, let’s face it you will end up falling if you’re doing it for the first time. A tip we can give you is to manage your expectation, this will help you prepare yourself mentally and not get stress out when you’re up on the slopes. The key is to always tell yourself that ‘falling’ is part of the fun of learning!
If you are taking your little kids along for your ski holiday, Club Med is the best place to be. The resort includes an International certified ski trainer on-board that will assist your children with lessons and ensure they are on safe hands so you can enjoy your holiday worry-free!
Just like the kids, Club Med also provides on ground ski lessons for all ages with a great variety of slopes for you to begin with.
Additionally, our resort in Sahoro Hokkaido, Japan has newly added an indoor ski simulator that is perfect for beginners!
Our packing list below has everything you’ll need. It is important to note that Club Med packages does not include ski gears and you will have to pack your own.
As a beginner, you will end up sitting in snow quite often and we would like to ensure you pick practicality over style. Get a comfortable, warm and waterproof ski jacket and stock up on ski socks and gloves.
Your packing list:
THERMAL LAYERS
WATERPROOF AND WINDPROOF JACKET AND TROUSERS
HELMET
SKI GOGGLES OR SUNGLASSES
SUN SCREEN
NECK WARMER
GLOVES
SKI SOCKS
Guests will not have to worry on bringing along any ski equipment during your ski holiday as we provide a ski equipment rental service at the resort.
Our dedicated staff at the resort will ensure you head out with the right gear. At Club Med, we carry only the best brands and all equipment is rented out and stored right at the resort to make your holiday more convenient.
While skiing and snowboarding might look fun but it is good to note that it is also a sport and your experience will be a lot easier if you are in shape.
Preparing your body with cardio such as jogging, running and swimming will help you stay on the slopes longer.
As a first timer, you’re going to need help from a professional to learn the basics and thankfully ski school is included on a Club Med holiday. Watching tutorials online can help you before you get there, but there’s no substitute for being out on a real slope, guided by a ski instructor. Club Med ski and snowboard schools run from Monday to Friday, starting at 9am, breaking for lunch and then heading out again in the afternoon. Lessons cater for everyone from beginners to black runs, so you can keep learning as your skills progress.
If you’re a parent who’s taking children for the first time, we’d recommend sending them to ski school so that they start off learning from accredited instructors. Our internationally qualified ski and snowboard instructors will give your children a fantastic introduction to snow sports. They will quickly develop good skiing or boarding technique in a safe and fun learning environment.