The most superior winter hobby is no question skiing. No doubt quite costly, but it’s all worth it in the end. Thankfully, my dad taught me when I was three/four years old, so I don’t have to suffer through the pizza & spaghetti learning process. However, if you’ve never clicked into long wooden sticks and gone flying down the mountain, I highly recommend a lesson to get started. Another requirement for a first ski trip is correct attire. Renting skis & boots can be quite easy from REI or other such outdoor stores, but mittens, helmets, jackets, bibs, and goggles might be harder to acquire. Furthermore, wool socks and non-cotton leggings & long sleeves are a must to stay warm and dry even during a storm. Once you get the hang of it, skiing is the best hobby ever, and the only problem is you can’t do it year-round.
Ski knowledge for beginners
- The runs are labeled by difficulty, green circle: easy, blue square: moderate, black diamond: difficult, double black diamond: expert only
- A fall where you lose poles and skis (& other equipment) is known as a “yard sale”
- Lodge food is extremely expensive (and sometimes not very good), so bringing your own snacks can sometimes be a smart idea
- Skiing on the weekends and holidays is more expensive. Try a Tuesday or Wednesday ski day if you can take a day off
- If lift lines are excessively long, try the singles line. It’s faster and sometimes you meet interesting people on the lift
- Driving before the best ski days is sometimes extremely difficult and even impossible sometimes because of poor road conditions. Check ahead of time or be ready to sit through immense traffic and potentially be turned around
- Skiing can be extremely unpleasant if you are not dressed for the weather. A 30-degree sunny day and a 5-degree snowstorm with wind are extremely fun in their own ways, but only if you have the right gear.
