I’ve tried to incorporate travel and holiday type posts on my blog a lot more recently because holidays, trips and even short weekends away mean an awful lot to me. They leave us with some of the best memories and photos to look back on and by writing about it, I get to reminisce all over again! My most recent trip was a weekend away in Shropshire on the Severn Valley Railway, which I’ve done twice now and thoroughly enjoy and back in March, I also wrote a post about some of my favourite holidays. You’ll see that one of the holidays I included in that post was skiing, which is what I’m chatting about today!

Skiing was one of my most memorable holidays and something I think everyone should try once. I think with skiing, there’s a little something for everyone and for all types of people. From the adrenaline junkies hitting the super big slopes to those that just want to relax in a beautiful setting, perhaps in a luxury ski chalet in France (where I went on my ski trip!) there’s so much to offer on a skiing trip.

I went skiing back in 2009, with my school. It wasn’t your typical school trip as only around 50 of us were asked to go so I got to spend valuable time with my friends, learn some new skills, see the beautiful scenery and make memories which will last forever. All whilst trying a new sport. I feel like I took a lot away from that trip and like I said, skiing is something I think everyone should try at least once, if you’re able. If you have the budget to do so, you might want to go from Geneva to Val Thorens – the highest ski resort in Europe!

There’s lots to think about when it comes to a skiing holiday, from ability to your hotel, Ski Transfers and more. But if you’re organized with your planning, you can have a really amazing skiing holiday!

So here is my advice for first time skiers!

Be open minded

Skiing probably won’t feel how you expect it to feel. Even if you go and practice on a dry ski slope before you go (which I did), the actual feeling of skiing on snow is vastly different. You might take to it quicker than you expected or you might find it harder than you expected. When we were at the dry ski slopes practicing, I was in the most advanced group but when we got on the snow, I actually moved down a few groups.

If you have an instructor or are given any advice by a professional, listen to it

It’s so important to listen to advice you’re given when it comes to skiing, especially if you haven’t done it before. There’s absolutely no need for heroics. The way to stop, the way to turn, what to wear – you’re being told for your own good and safety. Which leads me onto my next point…

Safety first

Skiing can be a dangerous sport. As with any sport or physical activity, accidents can happen and when you’re up a mountain in the snow, you want to be as safe as possible. So make sure you wear all the safety gear you have, look out for each other when you’re on the slopes and put you and your parties safety first.

Know your limits

If you’re going skiing for the first time, there’s literally no point heading straight for the biggest, fastest, scariest slope. Skiing is supposed to be a fun holiday for most people who do it and there’s absolutely no shame in always hitting the little slopes. In fact, when I went, my absolute favourite slope was one that gently wound through the trees down towards the town. It wasn’t fast, it wasn’t scary but it was beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed it every time we used it. So if you’re not comfortable with a certain slope, don’t use it. It’s that simple!

If your feet start hurting, get it sorted ASAP

Your feet are a crucial part of skiing, obviously and yes, the boots can be quite uncomfortable especially as they’ll be attached to your skis all day and you can’t bend your ankles but you should get used to them pretty quickly. However, if your feet start hurting for whatever reason, get it sorted as soon as you can. Maybe TMI but I get really bad hard skin on my feet and whilst I was skiing, it got so bad that I could barely stand up and had to sit out for a whole afternoon and sit with my feet in a bucket of hot water! Fun, eh?

Sun cream, sun cream, sun cream!

Snow? Sun cream? No way. Yes way. My friends face got so burnt when we went skiing. You’re higher up, the UV is probably high and the sun is always reflecting off of the snow. You definitely don’t want to deal with a painful, burnt face whilst trying to enjoy your holiday so slap a bit of factor 30 on a couple of times a day!

Eat enough and take snacks

Skiing makes you huuuuungry. You’re on your feet all day long so a big, hearty breakfast, a solid lunch and a nice dinner to finish up the day is crucial for you to keep your strength up whilst you’re having fun hitting the slopes! Also, most skiing jackets have pockets, so it’s a good idea to take a few snacks with you which will help keep your energy up between meals. Preferably no chocolate, which will probably melt all over your lovely new jacket but something packed full of good, energy boosting ingredients!

If you’re planning a skiing holiday, I hope you found this post helpful! If you’ve been skiing before then I’d love to hear about your experience. Where did you go? Did you enjoy it? Do you have anything else to add to this list?

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