Goinggg Skiing

My boyfriend bought me brand new skis/snowboats/poles...everything.. for my birthday in August. I have snowboarded before a few times (DIDN'T go well for a few reasons!) but I have never been skiing! He and his family have been skiing their whole lives, so I am determined to be good at this! I want to be good at it.

We are going to Lake Tahoe, California next week to visit his brother who lives there(and who is a professional skiier BTW!).. and I will be taking on skiing for my first time (on bunny hills!)

Any suggestions for first timers???

Layering is a smart idea, especially considering how warm it will be. Even if it feels really cold when you get on the hills, you warm up quickly. Hats and gloves are always smart, but a thin layer on top may be all you end up needing.

i am so jealous it's going to be 50 where you're going. where i'm going tomorrow, we're looking at a balmy 17 degrees! but at least it isn't gonna be windy :p

Take a couple of lessons, that way you won't be humiliated.

I learned to ski at you age, I am now 40ish and have become an expert skier over the years, enjoy!

I love skiing and I am just about the most non-athletic person I know....and I was 36 the first time I got on skiis. It is great fun. I would highly recommend taking lessons it will be well worth it.

In my opinion, the whole skiing experience is enhanced by having the right gear on. Look into microfleece shirt, synthetic under shirt and under pants, ski gloves, waterproof ski jacket and ski pants...and DO NOT forget nice merino wool socks. You will be so glad to make the investment in this gear and layer it up when you are on the mountain. You don't need any of this but I really don't like being wet and cold so for me....it was required.

One more thing: on the days when you have class, you should rent the short skis. It is SOOOOO much easier to ski with SHORT skis! I had made the bad choice of renting beginner skis in the town I live in and taking them with us because it was so much cheaper to do that and we were driving/had the space. When I got there, I did the first hour with these longer beginner skis and ended up ditching the rest of the class and getting a rental of really short skis. It was SOOOOOOOO much easier to learn with the little skis. After a couple of classes, I was able to ski and enjoy the longer skis.

I wish you luck and I hope you have tons of fun....Wish I were going to Lake Tahoe too!!!!

Original Post by larienkoci:

I love skiing and I am just about the most non-athletic person I know....and I was 36 the first time I got on skiis. It is great fun. I would highly recommend taking lessons it will be well worth it.

In my opinion, the whole skiing experience is enhanced by having the right gear on. Look into microfleece shirt, synthetic under shirt and under pants, ski gloves, waterproof ski jacket and ski pants...and DO NOT forget nice merino wool socks. You will be so glad to make the investment in this gear and layer it up when you are on the mountain. You don't need any of this but I really don't like being wet and cold so for me....it was required.

One more thing: on the days when you have class, you should rent the short skis. It is SOOOOO much easier to ski with SHORT skis! I had made the bad choice of renting beginner skis in the town I live in and taking them with us because it was so much cheaper to do that and we were driving/had the space. When I got there, I did the first hour with these longer beginner skis and ended up ditching the rest of the class and getting a rental of really short skis. It was SOOOOOOOO much easier to learn with the little skis. After a couple of classes, I was able to ski and enjoy the longer skis.

I wish you luck and I hope you have tons of fun....Wish I were going to Lake Tahoe too!!!!

 Thank you soo much for the confidence!! It's nice to know people started out at my age and that I'm not alone in this! haha.... I will try to rent a pair of shorter skiis there, but I think I am going to be skiing with the one's I got for my birthday! Here's a picture of them and my boots..

http://www.sunandski.com/ProductDetails.asp?P roductCode=3419059140805

http://store.christysports.com/catalog/ski_sh op/boots/womens_performance_boots/lange_exclu sive_80_fr_ski_boot_womens

As someone who has skied in the California Mountains many times I want to emphasize not wearing too much.  You will get hot!  You need to make sure that your clothing will keep you dry, but not too warm.  Forget heavy jackets, scarves and heavy gloves.  You do need gloves, but make them medium to light and waterproof.  A windbreaker like jacket is ideal.  Have a shirt and sweater on underneath.  Ski pants or bibs are really important because you will fall a lot and get wet.  Hats are completely optional.  Also sunglasses or goggles are very important.  Snow in the sunlight creates a lot of glare.

And yes, warm socks are important.  Your feet will get cold.

It sucks the first time (mostly snowboarding) you try it but after you get the hang of it you will have a awesome time!!!!