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THE "HOW-TO" OF GETTING YOU ON THE SLOPE

When I first learned to ski, I was shown an old leather book, a ski with a binding that included a restraining strap and with that any further instruction was unnecessary
( or so I thought ).

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What I hope to do here in the "How-to" section is to show you the process of actually getting to the hill, getting the required gear, donning the gear, and getting you up the hill. I will also cover the beginner point of getting down the hill and back on the lift to do it all over again. 

THE GEAR

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Other Stuff to Consider:

  • Waterbottle, Lunch or Tupperware (fill at hotel free breakfast) , Lock for Skis, Sunscreen and/or Handwarmers.

5 Groupings of Gear

  1. Bottom:

    • Skis, Poles & Bags for both Skis & Gear

  2. Foot:

    • Boots, Socks (Boot gloves*)​

  3. Lower Half:

    • Base Layer / Long Underwear, Fuzzy Pants & Ski Pants (Suspenders*)​

  4. Upper Half:​

    • Base Layer / Long-sleeved Shirt, Fuzzy Vest, Ski Coat & Gloves (Long Sleeve Fuzzy*, Extra Gloves*​).

  5. Top:

    • Thin Balaklava, Helmet, Goggles (Face Mask*) ​.

 

* optional items in brackets

GETTING TICKETS

IF YOU ARE OVER 5 AND UNDER 80 YRS YOU NEED TO PAY TO PLAY

Purchase Options
(Highest to Lowest)
​​

  1. Ski Hill Window

  2. Online in Parking Lot (Signal Req'd)

  3. Online at Home

  4. Costco (if available)

  5. Pre-Season Purchase

  6. Multi Resort Ticket Pack

  7. Ski Pass (cheapest in long run)

BOOKING A LESSON
THERE ARE HARDER WAYS TO FIGURE IT OUT

Ski Lessons

(in order of bang for your buck)
​​

  1. Season Long Group Lessons - Skiing more means learning more, be prepared that you may learn faster than the rest of the Group. Great social activity for children.​

  2. Multi Day Individual Lessons - It takes more than an hour to learn the basics. Allows for time to practice but will help to correct your new styling moves before they need to be unlearned. Instruction will be personalized to you, not the group.

  3. Never-ever Intro Pack - Optimal for the first time skier. Usually includes: rentals, lift ticket, 1-2 hour lesson and are conducted in small groups of 1-3 pers. Some allow for continued skiing after the lessons so try to get one in the morning.

  4. Small Group (1-3) Lesson - Useful for a group of friends that ski at about the same level, may cost more per hour than individual lessons but end up being cheaper per person.

  5. Individual Lesson - Good for the person wanting 100% of an instructors attention or looking to  improve on something that is not working.​

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NOTES:

Lessons may require the purchase of a lift ticket.

You will need to contact the hill (or website) to see what is avail and when (not avail everyday).


It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to prebook your lesson in advance (did I emphasis that enough).

Rentals

(seasonal vs daily)
​

Depending on the number of lessons you plan to take you may be renting one or more times.

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Single Session Rental - This will be probably your best bet for your first time out. It will require sizing of the gear and the setting of the bindings. You should allow for at least an hour (or longer) to get your gear and put it on.

 

Seasonal (Hill) - The hill has already rented to you and knows your sizes / settings. Skis will be ready and waiting for you on your next lesson date (let them know you are coming). Allow 15-30 minutes to pickup. Good option if you don't want to haul it home.

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Seasonal (Off Hill)  - The shop rents you a complete ski package and you return it at the end of the season. Good option if you plan to ski outside of lesson times and possibly at other hills

 

You should as part of the package receive:

  1. Skis with Bindings,

  2. Boots,

  3. Poles (not really required)

  4. Helmet (rent one if it not included).
     

You will need to provide all you layers:

  1. Goggles/Sunglasses,

  2. Gloves / Mittens,

  3. Coat, Snow pants, Long Socks,

  4. Helmet Liner (thin hat or balaclava),

  5. Sense of Humour (it helps).
     

You or your guardian (18+) will need to provide:

  1. Identification,

  2. Credit Card /Bank Card for equipment deposit,

  3. Signature on rental agreement/liability waiver.

GETTING RENTALS
BUYING THE STUFF TAKES ABOUT AS LONG

CARRYING THE GEAR
(THERE IS AN EASY WAY AND YOUR WAY)

Put as much on as you can

(use the parts you were given)

​​

  1. Helmet -  Put it on your head and do it up because it works off the hill just as well as on, ​

  2. Boots - If you have your snow pants on, put the boots on and practice your Frankenstein walk (ankles don't bend). Be very careful on stairs, parking lot ice and just about everything else as everything just got more slippery. Make sure you know what is happening with your footwear (bring it with you),

  3. Skis - Ask the Rental team how to put the skies together for carrying. The skis can then be easily carried with one "gloved" hand between the bindings. Be aware of getting them pinched or cut by potentially sharp edges, hence the recommended gloved hand. 

  4. Poles - These can be carried  under the arm holding the skis as you will probably need a free arm to drag the rest of you gear, hold stair railings or to help a friend up after a spill.​

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Avoid looking and feeling like a "Nubbie" by put your poles and skis into the ski rack provided. Remember where you put them and what they look like as yours will not be the only ones there when you come back...

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NOTE: Ensure when you leave the rental shop that you take all your gear that you have yet to put on and make sure that your wallet / keys are safely stowed away in a zipped pocket.

PUTTING THE GEAR ON

(PANTS BEFORE BOOTS, ASK ME NOW MANY TIMES I GOT THIS WRONG)

Working from inside layer to outside layer , middle to outside.(assumes that you have long underwear top and bottom on).

 

  1. Prep - Pull your long under and any other pant legs above your sock line,

  2. Socks - Put on your long socks, ensure that you don't step in any puddles and that they remain dry,

  3. Lower Inslutation - If cold enough put on your inner fuzzy pants (or pants you came to the hill wearing),

  4. Pants - Put on your Ski (Waterproof) pants and pull up the bottoms as close to the knee as possible, don't close up the top of the pants yet, there is lots of bending still to do,

  5. Boots (Part 1) - Put on the boots, making sure that only the socks go into the boots and that there are no wrinkles because these will drive you crazy,

  6. Boots (Part 2) - Once the boots are done up, pull down the inmost layer over the top of the boot & repeat with each remaining layer. 

  7. Upper Insulation - Put back on the sweater that you have took off and do up your pants,

  8. Top - Put on your neck warmer, helmet liner, & helmet,

  9. Jacket - Only Put on your Jacket as you head for the door you don't want to overheat,

  10. Gloves - Put on your gloves / mittens as you exit the building.​​

PUTTING BOOTS ON

(if you have not completed the previous step you will be doing this step at least twice...)

Putting on boots is better explained by a video but the main things to consider are:​
 

  1. Go to the washroom before beginning,

  2. Open the boot before starting, make sure there is nothing in the boot toe taking a nap,

  3. Check right foot bed is in the right boot if you have taken them out to dry,

  4. Keep your shoes on until ready to put boot on,

  5. Only your foot and sock should go into the boot,

  6. Ask assistance getting into the boot, it helps lower frustration (yours and those around you),

  7. Start with middle buckle and work you way up, continue to adjust all buckles until it feels snug,

  8. Pull pant legs down over the boot tops to keep out snow,​​

 

Watch the video.

STOWING YOUR GEAR

(BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE IT IN WITH YOU)

There are a multitude of possibilities for stowing your remaining gear into:

  1. large bag with your lunch then move this bag to an out of the way location,

  2. rental locker that may cost you every time you need to open it,

  3. coat check (bin) type service (if available),

  4. your car if feasible, make sure it is out of sight if you like all of your windows. Ensure your car is locked (you will get fined in Quebec if its not).

​​​

Notes:

  • Do not Leave valuables in unsecured locations,

  • Wallet and Keys should be secured inside zipped pocket, preferable one that you cannot fall on,

  • Phone/Camera should be secured in another easy access (quick draw) zipped pocket,

  • Be aware that bags left where they are not supposed to be stowed tend to get up and wander about, best wishes finding them.​​

PUTTING
SKIS ON

This step should probably be done outside unless you want to be know as "special"...

Just like boots, putting on skis is better explained by a video but the main things to consider are:​
 

  1. Ensure that your boots are completely done up,​​

  2. Find your gear and move it away from the racks,

  3. Place skis about shoulder width apart,

  4. Ensure bindings are open,

  5. Clear snow off bottom of the boot,

  6. Put toe into front binding keeping foot flat,

  7. Lineup heel with rear binding and push down with back of the boot.

 

Watch the video.

TAKING
SKIS OFF

This can be easier than putting them on (emphasis on "can be").

Just like boots, putting on skis is better explained by a video but the main things to consider are:​
 

  1. Ensure that your boots are completely done up,​​

  2. Find your gear and move it away from the racks,

  3. Place skis about shoulder width apart,

  4. Ensure bindings are open,

  5. Clear snow off bottom of the boot,

  6. Put toe into front binding keeping foot flat,

  7. Lineup heel with rear binding and push down with back of the boot.

 

Watch the video.

SKIING: THE VERY BASICS

DID I MENTION BOOKING A LESSON ABOVE?

These are some basics to try out before attempting your first epic descent:​
 

  1. Sitting down and standing up with skis on,​​

  2. Getting in and out of ski bindings on hill,

  3. Proper use of Pole Straps,

  4. Sliding (one ski,two ski),

  5. Use of poles,

  6. Pizza and French Fries (not what's for lunch),

  7. Hill climbing,

  8. Body position on the descent,

  9. Stopping,

  10. Turning.

 

Watch the video(s).

RETURNING YOUR GEAR

YES, YOU HAVE TO RETURN ALL OF THE KIT THAT WAS ISSUED TO YOU AND ONLY TO YOU...

Returning of the gear is faster and simpler than getting it issued. Here are some tips to avoid the extra trip(s):

  1. Have all your gear (skis, boots, poles, helmet),

  2. Bring your footwear,

  3. Bring your keys, wallet and phone.
     

Nice to haves

  • gloves, coat & hat (remember its winter),

  • change of socks,

  • water bottle.

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NOTES:​

Only return the gear you were issued,

Process should take less than 5 min if its not busy,

Let the staff know if something went on walk-about (i.e. missing), it may have already been returned by someone else not as diligent with their gear as you.

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