17 super useful skiing tips for first time skiers
First time skier heading out on your maiden ski trip?! Awesome! From what to buy and what to rent to whether ski lessons are necessary and how to stay standing, these skiing tips for beginners have you covered.
My parents have this story that they’ve dined out on for years and years. I was four, and we took a family ski trip to Mt Buller, about 3 hours from our hometown of Melbourne.
By all accounts, everything was going well; I loved the snow, took ski lessons like a champ, and was generally just having a blast. That is, until a snowstorm hit while we were on a chairlift going up the mountain.
Turns out I didn’t love being stuck in white fog and snow while my little legs dangled over a mountain, and the meltdown that followed was so inconsolable that my grandparents eventually had to drive the three hours to collect me. Oops.
Mark didn’t have quite the same dramatic introduction to the world of winter sports, but that’s mostly because our Australian-ness means skiing holidays just weren’t a thing we did growing up. In fact, save for some country skiing here and there, neither of us had really ever been to the snow properly.
Now that we’re into our thirties (shh…!), we decided it was time we finally took a proper winter holiday and master this skiing thing - which is exactly how we ended up back in Vorarlberg recently, learning to ski on the picture-perfect slopes of Kleinwalsertal and Großes Walsertal. And oooh boy, was it epic!
We’re now total skiing converts, but we’d be lying if we said our trip didn’t come with some pre-trip nerves! While we’re certainly not experts yet, we totally understand that your first time skiing is a bit of a learning curve — which is why we’ve put together this guide with all the things we wish we’d known prior to our trip.
From booking ski lessons to whether you should rent or buy your gear, how to stay standing to how to stop, these are our super useful skiing tips for the first time skiers amongst you!
17 USEFUL SKIING TIPS FOR FIRST TIME SKIERS
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#1 YOU NEED PROPER TRAVEL INSURANCE
On our very first day of skiing, Mark’s phone beeped as we were arriving at the slopes.
It was a message from family in the UK with some horrible news: his cousin had broken her leg the previous day skiing in Switzerland. As you might imagine, the costs of her onsite treatment, Swiss hospital stay, flight back to the UK, and future rehab would be insanely high if it wasn't for travel insurance.
We always say don’t leave home without travel insurance - but in this case particularly, don’t even think about heading off for your winter adventures without it. Heavy snow, slippery landscapes, increased risk of injury from skis or snowshoes - anything can go wrong without warning.
BOOK | Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider.
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#2 CHOOSE YOUR SKI AREA ACCORDINGLY
There’s no point in taking a ski trip to a ski resort that only has advanced runs when you’re just a beginner, so do some research ahead of time on whether your chosen destination has decent ski school slopes and blue runs for beginners.
We learnt to ski at Ifen Ski Resort and Faschina ski area in Vorarlberg and highly recommend them both! Ifen is great for beginners and advanced skiers alike, while Faschina was best for beginners to intermediate (black runs and off-piste for advanced skiers are available at Damüls, 10 minutes away).
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#3 TAKE PROPER LESSONS
Even if your best bud or partner has been skiing all their lives and has offered to teach you, take formal lessons with a ski instructor.
Ski instructors are extremely experienced and have also gone through formal training to be able to teach you, step-by-step, how to nail down the right skiing technique.
Basically, they’re there to pick up all the little technical things you might not quite be getting right, along with making sure you’re fully equipped with the knowledge you need to stay safe on the mountain.
Plus learning can be a frustrating time, and you’re far less likely to get annoyed or angry with a ski teacher the same way you might with a close friend or relative!
We had lessons in Vorarlberg with both Skischule Riezlern and Faschina Ski School and our teachers (Mike and Nico) were wonderful, patient, and had us feeling confident in no time.
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#4 DON’T BE AFRAID TO FALL
The saying goes “if you’re not falling, you’re not learning” when it comes to skiing, and one thing’s for sure: falling over is pretty much par for the course when you’re first starting out, no matter how well you’re doing.
We’re both pretty old and creaky these days, so falling and injuring ourselves was a pretty big worry for us - until we realised that as a beginner, you’re never really travelling at enough speed to really injure yourself, and that when you do have a stack, it’s a lot more like falling into a pile of soft pillows than it is epic bone-breaking wipeout.
Seriously, even if you do fall, you’ll probably be too busy laughing at yourself to actually let it worry you.
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#5 REIGN IN YOUR EXPECTATIONS…
We both played a lot of sport growing up and continue to live pretty active lives... so if we're honest, we kind of expected to pick up skiing straight away.
Turns out that learning to ski as an adult comes with its own unique challenges, from falling over to struggling to stand up, overthinking what you're doing to being lapped by youngsters, and having to repeat the same movement over and over, generally badly, until you finally get it.
No one is very good at skiing when they first begin, so managing your expectations about how quickly you'll progress is key. Focus on having fun while you’re learning instead!
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#6 …AND ALWAYS UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ABILITY
The general consensus seems to be that accidents most often happen when people overestimate their skills and experience, and commit to a run slightly beyond their reach.
Until you’re super confident that you’ve got your skills nailed down, always think you’re worse than you are (and don’t get dragged onto runs you’re not ready for, even if your friends are taking them!).
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#7 HAVE FUN!
The ultimate goal of any skiing holiday, no matter whether you’re chugging along on the baby slopes or whizzing past everyone on a black run… have fun!
Being out in nature, learning something new, and experiencing winter mountain culture is awesome, and we’re fairly certain you won’t be able to wipe the grin off your face (even when you’re feeling a little frustrated!).
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#8 YOU DO NEED PROPER SKI CLOTHING
SKI PANTS
Given that we were first-time skiers, we obviously didn’t want to invest in a bunch of ski gear just for one trip. But when we casually mentioned to some friends who ski regularly that we might try to get away with just wearing leggings or hiking pants (with waterproof pants over), they were horrified.
If there was one thing we had to do, they said, it was to go and get ourselves some proper ski pants. So we ended up going to Decathlon and purchasing a pretty cheap (£30) pair of ski pants each, and honestly, we can’t tell you what a huge difference they made to our overall trip.
Waterproof and snuggly warm, they kept our butts and legs warm and dry on our many outdoor adventures, through endless tumbles both skiing and snowshoeing, and during a long winter hike to a mountain chalet in Sonntag-Stein.
So now this is our tip to you: buy the damn ski pants!
SKI SOCKS + GLOVES
Your ski socks should be tall and thin(ish) -- too thick and you might find they cause blisters or pain on pressure points.
Proper ski socks will help pad your feet, shins, and any other place where it's needed, and sometimes even add compression to stop your muscles getting too tired too soon.
Likewise, proper ski gloves (make sure they’re waterproof!) are a must.
SKI JACKETS
Honestly, we didn’t need a proper ski jacket during our week in Vorarlberg, but we were prepared by having a good quality Gore-tex Kathmandu jacket that sat over our thermals and fleece (and to be honest, you really couldn’t tell the difference).
The caveat is that the weather was pretty good during our week there, and we didn’t venture further up the mountain. But if you’re in a pinch and a total rookie like us, this will probably do.
If you decide you need one, Decathlon has some super affordable options too.
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#9 YOU CAN RENT YOUR SKI GEAR THERE
You can rent pretty much all of the actual skiing gear you need (boots, skis, poles, and helmets) when you get there
There are ski rentals in almost every town in the alps, and the process of renting is super quick and easy. The staff will measure up your feet and choose your boots, check that they fit properly, then organise your skis and poles according to your height. They’ll also make sure your helmet fits snugly (without causing headaches), then send you on your way.
We'd definitely recommend renting your gear in the mountains for first time skiers rather than borrowing from friends or family, as nothing beats expert advice and gear that's suited perfectly to you and your skiing level.
If you're in Vorarlberg, we rented from both Kessler Sport and Rössle Ski Faschina who were brilliant.
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#10 …BUT YOU CAN’T HIRE GOGGLES
We didn’t bring goggles from home as we figured we’d be able to rent them there. Wrong!
As the ski shops explained to us, goggles are too easily scratched and damaged for them to be worth renting out, so they’re only available for purchase.
We found that the goggles were super expensive to buy in the mountains, so your best bet is to buy some at home (these goggles are a great budget option) before you go.
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#11 MAKE SURE YOUR BOOTS FIT
Your toes should just touch the end of your boot when you’re standing up straight and have room to wriggle around when you lean forward as you would when you’re skiing.
It’s really important that you’ve got wriggle room when leaning forward as this’ll prevent bruises, blisters, cold feet, and the like. Similarly, if you feel any uncomfortable pressure points while you’re in the rental shop, speak up so that the experts can assess and find you a new pair if necessary.
The good news is that if you’re on the slopes and discover that your boots (or any other gear, for that matter) really are way too uncomfortable, you can go back to your rental shop and swap them over for a new pair with no hassles!
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#12 WEAR YOUR HELMET
Most ski schools won’t actually allow you onto the slopes without a helmet anyway, but we hope that this one goes without saying: your helmet is your ultimate defence against head injury. Wear one.
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#13 TAKE IT EASY + GO SLOW
Obviously when you’re just starting out it’s not hard to go slow — but we don’t just mean on the slopes.
Learning to ski is a mental and physical challenge; it’s super mentally taxing, plus you’re using muscles you didn’t know you had (but you’ll really know you had them in a few days time!) and placing them in positions you really didn’t think you could.
We noticed that as our two ski lessons came to a close we were getting a little sloppy and making silly mistakes. Don’t be afraid to take it easy and rest when your body has had enough - it’ll put you in better stead for the days that follow!
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#14 DRESS IN LAYERS
The key to a successful day of skiing is as much about what you’re wearing (and how), as the actual exercise itself. Your body heats up very quickly as you start to move and it won’t take long before you’re feeling too warm, particularly if you’ve been graced with a sunny day!
Prepare by dressing in layers that you can peel off as needed, starting with a thermal base layer, mid layer, then a fleece or thin down jacket you can wear under a waterproof jacket or ski jacket.
On one colder day, we also wore thermal leggings under our ski pants but you could probably go without on a sunny day. Trust us, less is definitely more!
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#15 WEAR / PACK SUNSCREEN
No one wants a super uncool ski goggles tan!
Always, always, always make sure you’re wearing sunscreen and pack it in your bag if you’re spending a day outside in the snow. The UV light is much more easily reflected in the white snow, which increases your likelihood of burning dramatically.
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#16 GET IN SHAPE BEFORE YOU GO
If you think about it, skiing is kind of like sitting in a squat position from the top of a mountain to the bottom, over and over again.
You don’t need to be a marathon runner before your trip, but we’d suggest working up to a reasonable level of fitness, even if you’re a beginner! The fitter and more agile you are, the quicker you’ll pick up the exercises, and the faster you’ll progress.
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#17 PACK SOME EXTRA CASH
If you’ve booked a full day of lessons, you’ll have a scheduled lunch break at a nearby chalet in the middle of the day. Generally these aren’t covered by your lesson fee, so make sure you bring along some extra money to cover your hearty stew or tasty apple strudel.
Also - it’s our experience that cards aren’t always accepted, so be sure to carry cash instead!
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WHERE TO STAY IN VORARLBERG FOR FIRST TIME SKIERS
KLEINWALSERTAL
During our time in the Kleinwalsertal area of Vorarlberg, we stayed at the Genuss & Aktiv Hotel Sonnenburg in Riezlern, a beautifully designed, super comfortable wellness hotel with panoramic views over the surrounding mountains.
GROßES WALSERTAL
In Fontanella, we stayed at Das Schaefer, a family-operated and recently renovated hotel overlooking the gorgeous Sonntag-Stein mountains. It was super comfortable and made even better by the hospitality and warmth of the Schaefer family (and their delicious meals!!)
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EXPERIENCE MORE OF VORARLBERG WITH THESE ESSENTIAL POSTS
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SUMMER IN VORARLBERG | The stunning beauty of Austria’s Vorarlberg region in photos
HIKES, WELLNESS, AND FOOD | 10 of the best things to do in Vorarlberg during summer
EUROPE DREAMING | Discover more European adventures with our travel guides and tips
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world? Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is really important. Read our top responsible travel tips to help you travel better and more consciously around the globe
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PLAN YOUR OWN AUSTRIA TRIP WITH OUR USEFUL GUIDES
We visited Vorarlberg in partnership with Visit Vorarlberg. As always, musings and opinions are very much our own!
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