Make the Most of Your First Ski Lesson

So your spouse, significant other best friend or all of the above have been urging you to learn to ski. You're finally getting around to it. When it comes time for you first ski trip, you inquire about lessons. "Oh no, you don't need lessons!" says your friend. "I can teach you."

Stop right there! Being taught by a friend is a great way to ruin a friendship. Being taught by a lover will cause enough strife to ruin the dynamics of your relationship, and being taught by your spouse is the expressway to divorce. And teaching kids to ski is best farmed if you want to avoid a scene on the mountain. Here's an insider's secret: Even ski instructors ask another instructor to teach their girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse and children. 

Even the most well-meaning friend might bring you to terrain that is not within your range of skills. This is not vindictiveness.  If someone is not a trained professional, they simply can't evaluate another person's abilities.  Unfortunately, every day, ski patrols across North America have to take someone down in a sled. In many cases, the victim was brought to unsuitable terrain by an overzealous friend. So now that you understand the importance of taking ski lessons, let's talk about how you can prepare for your first one.

Before You Hit the Slopes

Get in Shape

Skiing is all about balance, so try to incorporate some stability ball and bosu exercises into your workout. In an ideal world, you'd be practicing this type of activity all along, but in case you haven't try to start your balance training at least a month prior to your ski trip. You can do this at a parties: stand on one foot while chatting about Doris' gall bladder.

Get the Right Ski Clothes

In most ski regions, there's no way around it. It's going to be cold. However, if you dress properly, you won't feel it.  There are certain items of clothing that must be avoided on the slopes at all costs. These include jeans, baseball jackets and anything made of cotton, Now, here's what you should wear. I've skied in temperatures anywhere from 30 below zero farenheit to 70 degrees. So though it's likely to be cold, having a layering strategy will help on those spring days when the sun comes out and the temperatures climb.

Start with a layer of thermal underwear. You will need long johns and a long-sleeved thermal shirt, preferably of either a modern, sweat-wicking synthetic or one of the wonderful new merino wool garments that are out there now. Next, you'll need an insulating layer, which will consist of a fleece or wool turtleneck. In extremely cold places, you might need to wear a pullover over the turtleneck. Your ski jacket should be water and wind resistant. Be sure to wear wool or synthetic ski socks. Believe it or not, if your socks are too heavy, your feet will be cold. Heavy socks, or heaven forbid double layers of socks will make your feet sweat. Sweat makes you wet and wet makes you cold. You will need water resistant gloves. If you tend to get really cold, purchase the ones that have a special pocket for hand warmers, which can be purchased at the ski shop. Helmets are important. If you're not sure that you want to commit to skiing, you can always rent one. In fact, in some areas of the country where people often don't own cold-weather gear, some outfitters will rent ski clothing. Speaking of renting, let's talk about ski gear.

All the Right Gear

Just about every ski resort has some sort of lift, lesson and gear package. Often, the Learn to Ski package is cheaper than a standard lift ticket alone. In any case, it will almost certainly be cheaper than a lift ticket, rental and lesson from your friend. These are usually an excellent value, and you should take advantage of them. However, the rental shop is often a madhouse, and quite often, people come away with gear that is not appropriate for them, simply because the ski tech is too bust to fit them properly. As such, you need to get to the shop as early as possible, even if that means that you will be sitting around for an hour before your class begins. It will give you time to get hydrated, and take care of any last minute bathroom trips. Speaking of which...

At the Hill

The Hydration Conundrum

When you go up into the mountains, there's a tendency to get dehydrated. As such, it's important to get hydrated before class, especially if you are skiing at high altitude venues where the air quickly carries away moisture with each breath. However, you should not save your hydration needs to the last minute, because you will invariably have to use the rest room right before a class starts. While a good instructor will periodically ask if anyone needs to use the rest room, your fellow students will not be happy if you hold up the start of the class to take care of last minute needs. And speaking of needs...

Talking to Your Instructor

If you have an injury, if you've just had surgery, or if you have any other special needs, you instructor needs to know about it. This is another reason to come early to class. It gives you time to communicate with your teacher. During the class, if there's something you don't understand, don't be afraid to speak up.

Ski Class Etiquette

Invariably, your instructor will have you practice a few skills. Then, you will regroup at certain sections of the slopes. When you regroup, always ski down to the bottom of the class. Remember, you're a skier, not a bowling ball. If you stop at the top, and you lose control of your speed, you can knock over an entire class. When getting off the lift, never, ever try to hang on to another person, especially your instructor. Warning: If you try to grab on to your instructor, he or she may push you away. This is their livelihood, and they can't afford to get hurt.

On a final note: Don't take yourself too seriously. Sure, you might fall and make a fool of yourself, but all in all, skiing should be fun!