How to Learn to Ski as an Adult

So you’ve finally decided to go for it, huh? After years of dreaming about cruising through alpine vistas with billows of white snow jetting from behind your skis, this year is the year you’re really going to try skiing! Well, you’ve made an excellent choice and you won’t regret it. Skiing provides lifelong opportunities to have thrilling adventures, get great exercise, be close to nature, and develop fine technical skills. Almost everyone who sticks with it loves it, but some first-time skiers get turned off before they really have a chance to get to know it. There are a few common mistakes that can prevent adult learners from really making the most of their first experience on the mountain. Today I want to share some tips for learning to ski as an adult to help you have an awesome experience as you begin your skiing journey!

1. Get in Shape

For most of us, it’s just a fact of life that as we get older, it gets harder and harder to stay in shape. If you’re already doing what you have to do to stay fit, then power to you! But for a lot of adult beginners, skiing winds up being a lot more physically taxing than they are expecting. But fear not, you don’t need to become some fitness guru or gym rat to have fun out on the slopes—in the months leading up to your ski season, just make sure to get a bit of cardio most days and try to implement a moderate core and lower-body regimen. Check out this great article from fellow expert Matt Wood on 9 Exercises to Get You Ready for the Slopes.

2. Limber Up

If you ignore that first tip, please at least heed this one. Make sure to stretch your muscles before your first run, and ideally, before you even have your boots on. I generally start with some gentle ankle rolls, then try to touch my toes. I follow that with some lunges to loosen up my knees and thighs and then do some twists to loosen up my core. Then I’ll do some arm circles and other arm stretches to warm up my triceps and forearms. Finally, I’ll finish off with some gentle neck rolls. There are some kids out there who seem to be made from rubber bands, but for us grown-ups, a regimen like this will save you from lots of frustrating injuries and get you warmed up before that chilly first lift ride. And it really only needs to take 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Trust Your Gear Advice

Shelling out hundreds of dollars on ski gear before you know what you’re doing is a bad idea. Picking the right skis and ski boots is the obvious focus for most people when they first start, and while these are extremely important components to a good gear set up, it’s important not to overlook your other pieces of equipment like ski poles, goggles, helmet, gloves/mittens, a ski jacket, wool socks, Merino base layers, and pants/bibs. Poles need to be the right height, goggles should be targeted toward the type of sky conditions common in your area, helmets need to be trustworthy and warm—the list goes on and on. Consult a trusted expert to make sure you’re warm and safe out there.

For skis, boots, and bindings, whether you’re renting or buying, you’ll want an experienced fitter well-versed in winter sports to get you set up. Make sure the fitter asks you what your experience level is and what your skiing goals are, otherwise they might not really find you the perfect ski. If you aren’t sure who to trust, start with a Curated Expert. And if you aren’t sure whether rentals or buying equipment is the way to go, check out A Guide to Renting Skis vs. Buying Your Own!

4. Budget for a Ski Lesson

If you have to make the choice between a more expensive piece of gear or a lesson, spend the money on the lesson. There are lots of great entry level gear options in just about every category that will get the job done as you’re starting out. Instruction from a professional ski instructor and proper ski school will get you on the right track so much faster then trying to figure it out on your own, and as a result, you’ll have a lot more fun. You'll be transitioning from a pizza wedge to french fries in no time.

If you’re going to learn from a friend make sure they are really an expert and they really know what they’re talking about. Even very good skiers don’t always know the best ways to instruct beginners or don't know the unique challenges that come with learning to ski as an adult. Private lessons are an awesome option, but group lessons are very effective as well!

5. Choose the Right Mountain

There are two major things to consider when choosing ski resorts to learn on. The first thing is connected to the last point I made—travel cost. Don’t spend a fortune to travel across the country to some legendary ski mountain before you can really appreciate what makes it great. That money will be better spent in the future when you’re good enough to get around the hill.

The second thing to consider is the variety of beginner terrain. Some ski areas, even some legendary ones, are steep almost all the way down, and beginner skiers are forced to ski the same three or four short bunny slopes or trails all day. Killington and Mt. Snow are great hills on the East Coast with a variety of beginner terrain and greens accessible from the peaks. In the Rockies, Aspen Buttermilk has a great reputation as a learners’ hill, Vail and Park City offer tremendous variety and beginner hills, and Sun Valley is a wonderfully scenic mountain with great gentle terrain as well. Look for mountains that have multiple beginner chairlifts or magic carpets, beginner rental packages, and cheaper rates for lower mountain lift tickets.

6. Ignore the Toddlers Whizzing by You

Kids are fearless and seemingly made of rubber—and they pick stuff up really fast. Plus some young skiers and riders like me start when they’re as young as two years old, so they may be toddlers with years of experience. First-timers, don’t let it get you down, and don’t feel discouraged. And don’t be embarrassed to fall. Usually, when people see new skiers wipe out on the hill, they respond with cheers and encouragement!

7. Give It a Few Days

There’s a really good chance your first day learning to ski as an adult is going to be rough. Don’t sweat it! Lots of people struggle for two or three days and think skiing isn’t for them. Then it suddenly clicks and they never look back. So don't wait till next winter—stick with it through the initial growing pains, and I promise you it’ll be worth it!

If you have any questions on gearing up for your first time out on the mountain, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or one of my fellow Ski Experts for free advice and recommendations.