Skiing can seem like a challenging sport. You’ve watched in awe as Olympic skiers go flying down steep slopes or launching themselves off huge jumps.

Learning to ski doesn’t need to be a difficult or intimidating process. Almost anyone can ski regardless of age or physical ability.

For those willing to put in the time and effort, skiing can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. If you’re just starting out, here are ten tips to help you get started on the right foot.

10 tips for learning how to ski for beginners

1. The Most Important Thing For New Skiers Is To Take Lessons.

Your chances of success at learning to ski greatly increase with lessons. Go to a ski resort and take a beginner lesson from a PSIA certified instructor. Most hills offer a beginner package that includes lessons, rentals, and lift tickets. It’s a great deal and everyone should do it for their first time skiing.

Can your friend, spouse, or friend’s friend teach you to ski? It’s possible but you are better off seeking professional help. I taught my wife to ski. It took a lot of effort and created a lot of stress and I would not advise anyone else to do it.

Your first ski lesson should give you enough to get down an easy slope safely. You can expect to learn the following things in your first ski lesson.

• How to put on a set of ski boots

• How to step in and out of ski bindings with ski boots on

• How to walk around on the snow with skis on

• How to get up if you fall

• How to stop on a gentle slope using your skis using the wedge/pizza/snowplow technique

• How to turn left and right on an easy hill using the wedge/pizza/snowplow technique

• How to ride a ski lift including getting on, getting off and using the safety bar

• Basic skiing etiquette such as stop on the edge of the slope, not the middle

2. When it comes to ski lessons, it’s important to find a reputable ski school.

Do some research to find a place that has good reviews and offers lessons for beginners. The best way to learn to ski is with consistency. Ski schools all have a set way they like to do things.

Going from an instructor at one mountain to an instructor at another mountain can sometimes result in some unlearning and relearning. It’s best to take your first several lessons at the same place if possible. Taking a 1 week ski trip somewhere and taking lessons every day is a great way to get a good head start and fast progression.

3. Use rental Equipment first.

You may want to consider renting equipment the first time you ski. This way, you can see if you like the sport before investing in your own gear. Ski equipment is expensive. Beginner equipment is beginner level. As you progress you will need better more advanced equipment. Rent your first few times until you know you really like it. After that it might be time to look into buying equipment.

If you do decide to buy gear, it’s best to go to a reputable ski shop that can help you pick out the correct boots and skis for your ability. Ski boot fit is critical and a lot of ski shops just don’t know how to fit ski boots. Ask your ski instructor or more advanced ski friends which shops they recommend for buying ski boots.

• Beginner skis should come up to your chin when you stand next to them. Longer skis make turning and stopping harder so you don’t want them.

• Don’t skip the helmet. Some places charge extra for a helmet rental. Don’t skimp here.

• You really don’t need poles for your first lesson. For a lot of people, they just get in the way. They are more of an advanced item you don’t need until you are learning to parallel turn.

• Ski boot fit is the most important thing about ski gear. If they are too loose you won’t have good control and you’ll bang your shins and toes in the boots. If they are too tight they also won’t be comfortable

4. Wear a helmet.

Skiing helmets are comfortable and will keep your head warm and safe. They aren’t just to protect your head from you falling. They also protect you from other skiers and hazards.

I have a friend who got a concussion standing at the bottom next to the chair lift when an out of control skier ran him over.

5. Dress for success!

When you’re first starting out, it’s important to dress in layers so you can stay warm and comfortable on the slopes. Wearing waterproof clothing is also a good idea in case you take a spill.

Don’t go out wearing jeans. Jeans are the most miserable, uncomfortable piece of clothing once they get wet and the water freezes. At a minimum pick up some snow pants and a winter coat. Wear some long underwear underneath. Get some warm wool ski socks or other winter socks. See this guide to what to wear skiing for some more helpful tips.

Some ski resorts rent clothing as well as skis and boots. It’s not that common outside of large destination ski resorts. Check with the ski resort if they rent clothes before planning on it.

There are a few online ski clothes rental places now that can set you up. Kitlender.com is one of the more popular ones.

6. In addition to clothing, there are a few other things you’ll need.

Some other things you will need for skiing include gloves, goggles, and sunscreen.

Waterproof gloves are really important. You will fall and you will be putting your hands into the snow a lot getting up.

Ski goggles help protect your face from the sun and wind. They make skiing more comfortable. You can pick up a cheap set of goggles for under $50 for your first few trips. You don’t need a set of $200 snow goggles if you are just learning.

Do you really need sunscreen in the winter? Yes, the sun is bright on the mountain and it also reflects off the snow onto your face. Sunscreen and Lipbalm with SPF protection can save you from getting sunburn on the slopes.

Some of your friends who ski may have extra goggles/gloves/ski locks/other accessories you can borrow if you ask.

7. Don’t be afraid of falling.

It doesn’t hurt that much. Everyone falls while learning. Sooner or later your pizza will turn into french fries, your ski tips will cross, and you’ll take a tumble.

The good news is that most ski falls don’t hurt much. You are just falling over on your side. Snow is softer than most other surfaces you could fall on. Don’t be too worried about falling because it will happen and it will be okay.

8. How long it takes to learn to ski depends on a variety of factors.

Most people can learn how to make it down beginner runs safely on their first day. After your first lesson you should be able to wedge turn and stop.

You won’t be flying down the hill parallel turning. It takes anywhere from 10 to 20 ski days to learn how to parallel turn on steep runs with proficiency. My wife who isn’t athletically gifted in any way was able to ski groomed black diamond runs in Vermont and out west by day 20. Your results may vary.

The below video shows my wife’s progression from Day 1 through Day 18 of skiing to give you some idea of what learning to ski looks like.

9. Get a season pass.

The cost of daily lift tickets adds up quick. If you really are serious about learning to ski you will need to go as often as possible. A season pass will quickly make sense once you see the cost of lift tickets each time.

Once you go to the same hill more than 4 or 5 times a season pass usually is cheaper. Once you have the season pass you have no excuse for not going to ski more because you already paid for it.

There are season passes like the Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, and Indy Pass that are good for a variety of mountains across the US and Canada (Europe, South America and Asia too) so you aren’t stuck skiing at just one mountain.

10. Once you’ve learned the basics of skiing, it’s important to practice regularly if you want to improve your skills.

There is really no substitute for skiing more vertical drop. The more you ski, the more you develop your turning and balance skills. Everyone wants to get to the intermediate and advanced stage where you are flying down the mountain parallel turning.

The only way to get there in your first season is to go skiing a lot. When my wife was learning to ski. We planned to go at least every other weekend for the whole winter.

Finally, remember to have fun! Skiing can be a challenging sport, but it’s also supposed to be enjoyable. So don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

Learning to ski FAQ

Q: Can I teach myself to ski?

A: Yes, but we recommend taking lessons from a certified ski instructor. They can help you learn proper technique and avoid bad habits that could make skiing more difficult or less enjoyable.

One of the worst things you can do is head off to a mountain and buy a ticket and go straight to the top with no lesson. You will not make it down without falling. You will likely lose control very quickly. You are very likely to hurt yourself and a few other people in the process. Don’t be one of those people. Take lessons.

Q: Can my friend teach me how to ski?

A: While your friend may be a great skier, they may not be the best person to teach you. A certified ski instructor will be able to provide you with the proper instruction and feedback to help you learn.

Q: Is it easy to learn to ski?

A: Learning the basics of skiing is relatively easy and most people can make it down a beginner hill after their first lesson. However, becoming a proficient skier takes time, practice, and patience.

Q: Can I learn to ski in a day?

A: Most beginner ski lessons are designed to get you to the point where you can ride a lift and make it down the mountain safely at the end of your first day. They are designed to teach you basic wedge turns and stops and how to ride lifts safely. You won’t be skiing black diamonds at the end of day 1. You should be able to ski the bunny slope. Some people need longer so don’t worry if you finish day 1 and you aren’t comfortable going down the hill yet.

Q: How long does it take to get good at skiing?

A: I’m going to make the assumption that by “good” you mean able to parallel turn, do hockey stops and be able to ski blue and black diamond runs. For most people it takes 10 to 20 ski days to get to this level. That is with good instruction and lots of practice.

Q: I’m over 40. Can I still learn to ski?

A: Yes! Age is not a barrier to learning how to ski. There are people out there over 100 that are still skiing every day all winter. My wife was in her late 30’s when she learned to ski. I’ve been in advanced ski lessons at Whistler BC where the best skier in our group was in their 60’s and 70’s more than once.

Q: Do I need to be in shape to ski?

A: Skiing can be a physically demanding sport but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to be in peak physical condition to learn or to ski groomed cruiser runs. Anyone in average shape with some extra lbs can learn to ski.

Q: Is it easier to learn to ski or snowboard?

A: The first day on skis is easier than a snowboard. It is easier to learn basic skiing than it is to learn basic snowboarding. Once you have learned to stop and turn on a snowboard, you are just refining the same technique on steeper runs. After you learn basic wedge turns and stopping with skis, you then have to learn to parallel turn and stop which are completely different skills. The initial learning curve is steeper for snowboards. Parallel turn skiing and carving takes longer and is harder to learn than carving turns on a snowboard.

Q: Can I learn to ski indoors?

A: If you are lucky enough to live near an indoor ski resort such as Big Snow in New Jersey, they are excellent places to learn to ski. They have excellent instructors and a very consistent snow surface.

Wrap up

Now that you have some of the basics, it’s time to get out there and hit the slopes. Skiing can be a challenging sport, but it’s also very enjoyable.

Take lessons from a certified ski instructor so you can learn proper technique and avoid bad habits. Don’t be afraid of falling because everyone does. Most importantly, have fun!