⛷️ Beginner's Guide to Skiing
Looking to save money beyond just the lift ticket? This guide walks you through the basics of what you need to know for beginners as well as more detailed sections for the experienced skiers.
Lessons & Training
Why Take Lessons?
Lessons are probably the single best investment you can make in skiing. I was first introduced to skiing by my girlfriend who is an excellent skier. I absolutely hated it, and it was a very stressful experience for both of us. I didn't try again for several years. The next time I tried, I took the Learn To Turn program at Lake Louise. It was 2 full day group lessons a few weeks apart with rentals. I found that in a group setting with an instructor I was much more comfortable with where I was starting off at and there was less pressure to get out on the real hill. After those two lessons I never looked back, and I've been skiing consistently ever since. My girlfriend (now wife) was also very happy to let someone else give me lessons and that was able to start getting out on the slopes with some confidence.
Types of Lessons
- Group Lessons: More affordable, my personal preference for beginners. I think it's very hard to beginners to really make use of a 1:1 private lesson unless they already have very strong fundamentals. It's a lot less stressful when you have a whole group of beginners to struggle with you
- Private Lessons: More useful for advanced skiers looking to improve specific techniques and terrains. I would avoid this until you have at least taken two or three group lessons and at least ten days on the slopes.
💡 Tip: A lot of hills offer package deals for lessons plus equipment and lift tickets. Lake Louise's Learn To Turn is the gold standard in my opinion. Another great option is
never ever days which is offered at several different resorts including Castle, Marmot, and Panorama. These kinds of deals are often variable though, and it's best to look up the hills near by (or check my deals section) before comitting to a specific program.
Finding Lessons in Calgary Area
All the major ski hills near Calgary offer lessons. I'll highlight a few of my thoughts
- Lake Louise: Learn To Turn program is fantastic for beginners and their terrain diversity can't be beat. My first choice for a lesson of any ability level (other than powder). Lake Louise's greens are the steepest I find on average though, and I often tell people who've taken the Learn to Turn program to spend the next day at Sunshine.
- Sunshine Village: Their dedicated beginner area is not as nice as Lake Louise's but they have an unbeatable selection of easy greens. I lapped Rock Isle Road an embarassing number of times before I moved onto Dell Valley and the greens off Standish. Definitely the place to practice powder skiing as well. I recommend Borderline off Standish for a beginner friendly pow day (just watch the signs).
- Banff Norquay: I've never been on the carpets at Norquay, but I can say I know many people who learned to ski on the Cascade chair. I would argue Cascade is the easiest chair that I know of. I think that's actually very valuable for beginners to get used to the chairlift as it's not intuitive for everyone and riding the carpet sucks. I think if you are a confidence beginner who wanted to go with a buddy, Norquay is a great option if you insist on not taking lessons.
- Nakiska: Calgary's closest mountain which is a big plus. Personally, I've found Nakiska to be very busy in the beginners areas. I actually like the runs, but I don't think it's the best hill to learn on due to crowding and the generally icier conditions.
Essential Gear
The Three Main Rentals
| Equipment |
Description |
Beginner Note |
| Skis |
Beginners are usually going to want shorter, skinner skis as they will be easier to get on edge. Past that height, weight and terrain will decide what skis you need in the future. |
Rent for the first few days, don't rush out to buy skis before your first lesson. The skis you want for those first few days on the snow are NOT what you will want after the first week. |
| Boots |
Boots must fit snugly, but they need to be comfortable. I've seen a lot of first timers being told they need a performance fit and that is simply not true for a first time. Ski boots, especially for your first few days do not have to be a performance fit. They need to be tight enough that your foot isn't slopping around, but chance are you won't be flexing the boot very hard in a beginner lesson so you can go a bit bigger than ideal without too much trouble. |
Your feet should not ache just standing in the boot with your shins against the front. They should feel snug, but not like you're in immediate pain. Again, I recommend renting for the first few days. Once you're confidently on the green slopes you will likely find that you're okay with more of a performance fit than you were before as you are flexing harder and going faster. |
| Poles |
Used to push yourself |
Very useful for flats until you know how to skate ski. There are plenty of techniques you can use with poles but at the beginner level, I think it's better to hold them in front of you almost like a bench press to cue you to stay forward vs letting them stay at your side. |
Clothing & Accessories
Dressing in layers is key to staying comfortable on the mountain:
- Base Layer: Anything that wicks, synthetic or merino are the most common. Personally, I find synthetic is cheaper, and I don't experience any downsides.
- Mid Layer: Fleece or wool are your best options here. Remember that you are going to warm up quickly once you start skiing and that you need to start a bit cold.
- Ski Jacket: There are two main ways you can go here: either a shell or an insulated jacket. Personally, I like a lightly insulated jacket with huge vents for Alberta skiing over a pure shell. It means I usually ski without a midlayer and that I can close all the vents at the start of the day and open them as I warm up. I find it easier as well to deal with truly cold days by adding a midlayer under that jacket vs multiple midlayers with a shell. That's all personal prefernce though. What matters is that it works for you. If you have a waterproof jacket already that you are okay with taking some abuse just use that for your first few days.
- Ski Pants: Again, you can choose insulated or shell pants here. I like insulated with a lot of vents. I also highly recommend picking up a pair of suspenders if you aren't doing a bib. At least for me, suspenders work way better than any belt. For a beginner, use any snow pants or windproof pants you already have and start looking after you've taken some lessons and know your preferences.
- Helmet: The fit is the #1 thing here. I think MIPS is worth it, and I use the SPY one Costco usually sells. There isn't enough third party crash test info out there for my liking, but please wear a helmet. A good helmet is warm, comfortable, and affordable. It also makes getting whacked in the head by someone else's skis far less unpleasant (from my own experience)
- Gloves/Mittens: I like mittens better than gloves. I find they are warmer and more durable. I only bring out the gloves on truly warm days. Costco is usally a good place for "good enough" gloves. For a beginner, just use whatever waterproof glove you have. You will likely spend a lot of time in the snow with them the first few days so the waterproof angle is really important at that point.
- Socks: Ski socks are not a gimmick. They actually do help and are completely worth it. Fit is the #1 thing, but I like to have a fun pattern as well. It just makes it feel like more of an event. My older Burton socks are my favourite, but I also have some from Mountain Warehouse that I really enjoy. Decathlon is hit or miss depending on your size.
- Goggles: Goggles are great. You will need them eventually, but everyone's face is different. When picking goggles, make sure you try them on with your helmet and see how they fit. For me, Oakley FlightDeck L is the ticket. I also prefer a darker lens than most due to photosensitivity. Depending on the temperature, if you're taking your first lesson I always advise people to bring sunglasses as well. A lot of the time, you will be working hard on the bunny hill and will fog even the best goggles. At that point, it's better to have sunglasses than nothing.
- Balaclava/Face Cover: Do not put a toque under your helmet. It can interfere with your helmet, and you'll look like a poser. Depending on how tight your helmet is, a balaclava is a great option. I liked the Bula one from Costco, but my new helmet is a bit tight with it so I've switched to face only covers. If you tend toward fogging, I've found that an over the helmet hood works best for very cold weather, and for warmer weather I like the Raider mask from Grace Folly. It's very high airflow and velcros at the back which is great for my face shape. I found it on Amazon.
💡 Tip: Start by renting skis, boots, and poles. Once you're hooked, you can invest in your own gear. I find that end of season and preseason sales are almost as good of a price for beginner / low intermediate gear as buying used unless you have an experienced skier you trust helping you.
Where to Rent
All ski hills have rental shops at the base. You can also rent from:
- UofC Outdoor centre
- SportsRent
- Friends and family who may have old gear they are happy to pass off on you
Skiing Basics
Safety Tips
- Always wear a helmet
- Start on the bunny hill
- Learn to stop and control your speed before trying steeper terrain
- Stay aware of other skiers around you, remember the downhill skier has right of way but you should still try to ski predictably to avoid collisions
- Follow the Alpine Responsibility Code
- Take breaks when tired and only stop in safe areas. Pull off to the side and never stop below the crest of a hill.
💡 Tip: Have fun, remember that skiing isn't super serious. It's meant to be fun and silly. Just take it easy, have a good time, and you'll be craving the slopes before you know it.
Getting Physically Ready
Skiing is a physically demanding sport, and it can be very humbling for people who already percieve themselves as fit. The muscles used and endurance required doesn't carry over very well from other sports. If you're already very fit, you might be surprised how often you need a break. That said, I'll make some recommendations that I personally find helpful.
Exercises to Build Strength
- Single leg squats and deadlifts: Skiing is all about single leg strength and control. I find single leg squats and bulgarian split squats work well together to build that strength and balance.
- Core Work: Skiing can be very core-intensive, expecially for the hip flexors. I've found the deadbug is the single best core exercise for skiing
- Shins and Calves: Your calves and shins do take a beating while skiing, and I don't know anyone who does shin exercises except skiers. Calf raises work. For the shins, I like to raise the ball of my foot off the ground and walk around on my heels. It's weird, but it works.
- Leg abductors and adductors:: Another odd one for skiing, I see a lot of people really struggle with their abductors and adductors. Personally, I like a banded lateral stride for abductor work and squeezing something like a pilates ball between the legs for adduction. Whatever works for you though.
- Cardio: Pick your favourite, if you don't do much cardio work skiing will definitely tax it.
Before Your First Day
- Getting in the gym for a few weeks before will help, but skip it for the two days immediately before your lesson
- Get plenty of sleep the night before
- Eat a good breakfast before heading to the hill, but don't go too heavy and avoid heartburn triggers
- Eat a lighter lunch on the day of your lesson. You'll probably be ravenous, but eating something too heavy can really put you to sleep for your afternoon lesson. I like to stick to mostly easily digestible carbs. If you're packing a lunch, a PB+J is a classic for good reason as is the almighty banana. If you're eating at the hill then fries, pasta, ramen, and the like are your friend today.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day
- Wear sunscreen and keep your skin covered. Being on the snow is like being on a boat, sunburn and windburn happen much faster than you think
- Bring lip balm, ideally with spf. You'll be glad you did.
- Have fun, don't be too hard on yourself. Building a positive association is more important than maximizing your skill for the first few days out of a lifetime of skiing.
Budget & Cost Estimates
Here's what you might expect to spend on your first ski trip:
| Item |
Typical Cost |
Notes |
| Lift Ticket (Day) |
$100-$150 |
Use our price comparison to find deals |
| Rental Package |
$40-$80 |
Includes skis, boots, poles |
| Lesson (Group, full day) |
$200-$250 |
Beginner packages often bundle this with lift ticket |
| Food & Drinks |
$20-$30 |
Bring snacks to save money |
| Total First Day |
$230-$510 |
Honestly, really look for a beginner package. Don't book all this stuff separately, it's way more expensive. |
💡 Tip: Many ski hills offer beginner packages at a very steep discount that include a lesson, lift ticket, and rentals. Check
our price comparison for current deals!
Final Tips for Beginners
- Start small: There's no shame in the bunny hill, and runs are rated for a reason. Don't be afraid to push yourself a little out of your comfort zone though.
- Go on weekdays if possible: Fewer people on the hill always makes it easier to focus on your learning, and the snow will be in better shape.
- Take it easy: Take it easy and move up to more difficult runs as your control increases. Ratings are relative to the hill itself and a black at one resort might be a blue somewhere else. Focus on control and having fun. You'll know when you are ready for a bigger challenge.
- Go with friends: Skiing is more fun with friends, and the best way to improve once you're out of the beginner phase is to ski with people better than you.
- Track the deals: Check back here for ways to save money on skiing!
- Have fun: It's all about the experience at the end of the day. This isn't the Olympics. The goal is to have fun and make memories not to hit arbitrary metrics.