Help! need advice/tips for 1st ski trip (title edited by MNHQ at request of the OP)

[Springishere2025]

I'm going on a ski trip with my school (i work there). Ive never been skiing before and have 5 weeks until I leave. We are hiring skis, poles and helmet out there but I need to get everything else.
I already have some base layers, mittens and snoods.
What else do i need?
Any tips when I'm on the slopes too? I've had basic lessons here on a dry slope a few years ago.
Should I take a bump bag on the slope?
Should I take ski googles or will sunglasses be enough?
Will I need a mid layer in April or not?
Do I need snow boots?
What kinds of things do people wear when they are not on the slopes?
Sorry so many questions! Just want to be prepared!

Anyone? Pleeeease :)

Bumping for you. Didn't the school send out an equipment note? Just follow that!

Can't help with the ski tips but I'd maybe ask mn to change your title to be clearer and you might get more replies!

They are still organising staff so I've not received any info atm

Thanks I have now

Any tother advise for the slopes? What to bring on them?
Should I take sunglasses?
Anything that could be helpful:)

Long underwear to keep your legs warm. Salopettes if separates eg jacket trousers. Gloves, sunglasses, sun block, lip balm/vaseline, hat or headband to cover your ears. If you get hot, undo zips on jacket or remove hat. More you have on you more you have to carry. Skipass in a good pocket and leave it in there and pocket fastened so you don't lose it. Money or bankcard also in a secure pocket. Off slope just regular clothes but maybe layers. If posh ski resort eg Courchevel 1850 Megeve, Don't start comparing clothes. You might be amongst people who can afford them. No one cares what you wear. Maybe v.cold at night so hat, gloves again. Can you get some practice on an indoor slope?

You need a ski jacket & trousers
Personally I prefer goggles over sunglasses, but sunglasses will be fine. Do make sure they are decent sunglasses though, if it’s sunny the glare off the snow can really damage your eyes.
Some sort of bag might be useful, a small rucksack to put a water bottle in.
In April with a bit of luck it will be warm, you probably won’t need snow boots but some sort of walking shoe for round the resort might be sensible. I’d take a couple of fleeces to wear over base layers and under your jacket.
Evenings tend to be casual, jeans & jumpers.
Are you having lessons?

Take at least 2 pairs of sunglasses and more than one SPF lip balm.

Sunglasses should be plastic framed. Googles are more for skiing while it's actively snowing. Defo wear one or other to protect your eyes from snow glare though.

A few pairs of ski socks, they get pretty manky. I'd recommend bringing some hydrocolloid or blister plasters. Boots can rub, especially if you've never skied before.

Do your mittens have elastics for your wrists? If not, get some clips to attach to jacket sleeves.it can be a pain taking them off to rummage for something and losing a glove, especially on the chair lift!

Decathlon for ski socks, £7.99 a pair, ski pants and jacket are on sale at the mo in Mountain Warehouse. A woolly hat to keep your hair out of your eyes. Sunglasses.

Some smart jeans and a sweater for the evening. I didn't need much more. Have a fab time 🎿

A couple of pairs of ski socks, decent thick ones. The boots fit tightly around your legs so you need nice padded socks. Things tend to get wet so a spare couple of pairs is helpful.
Some ski jackets have a thin elasticated layer underneath at the bottom that stretch down over the top of your trousers, these are good because it protects you from freezing cold snow going up your back when you fall over!
Thick waterproof gloves. Dont be tempted to take normal thin woolly ones.
In the daytime layers are best, you can get really hot so a thin sports tshirt , a fleece zip up jacket and then a warm ski jacket is fine. Although you get warm skiing, you’ll still get cold fingers, your nose runs and so will your eyes. So take some tissues and mascara isn’t great as it runs or smears on the inside of your glasses, if that’s important to you then maybe consider getting them dyed.
Take pack of ibuprofen too as the first few days give you achy muscles!!
Evenings are casual, flat shoes.

have a great time!

If you’re going in April you won’t need thermal bottoms, just ski pants. I usually have googles sitting on my helmet and sunnies in my jacket so I can wear both. I use my googles when it’s cold regardless of whether it’s bright or low light/snowing. I tend to use my sunglasses only when it’s warmer (and not snowing or overcast). I always have a 30 or 50 sunscreen stick in one of my jacket pockets, plus a good lip balm to hydrate (I like the lanolips brand but you have to keep them in a side pocket or they become too hard in the cold). I personally hate mittens and only wear gloves so make sure you feel comfortable manoeuvring in them first.

Unlikely you need snow boots in April, waterproof walking boots or similar are fine. Look at decathlon, tk maxx or similar for basics waterproof jacket, trousers, goggles to wear over helmet and sunglasses for on the cafe terraces, waterproof gloves, probably just one layer under jacket so base layer or light fleece, or even just tshirt, long ski socks.

And avoid a bag with lots of zip up pockets in jacket for wallet, lift pass, sunscreen/lip-balm, phone. Will you be in lessons or just supervising?

Oh and also, sports bras, and suncream for your face. The sun reflects off the snow and you end up with goggle marks if you don’t!

No to a rucksack for skiing. They are dangerous as they can get caught on the ski lift.

You will need something non slip on ice/snow like walking boots or snow boots for walking around the resort even in April. If you are supervising a school trip, I would guess there may be some non skiing snow activities too eg sledding or breaking up snowball fights 😂 so snow boots might be useful.

Don’t wear red. I did in Austria. People thought I was an instructor and kept asking me questions. Never skied before in my life 🤣

I always preferred to wear goggles, because in the cold, and especially if there's any wind, my eyes water a lot - not a good thing when you're wearing contact lenses!

I wear leggings or proper long underwear, merino wool base layer, fleece, then either a ski jacket, a coat or my preference is a 3 in 1 jacket (basically a second fleece plus waterproof jacket) I wear waterproof trousers rather than salopetes as I find them a bit too warm but take jogging bottoms to wear over my leggings under my waterproofs if needed.

I wear proper hiking socks rather than ski socks, I take hiking boots to wear when not skiing, (I have crampons which I take to Scotland as I often go walking rather than skiing).

For gloves I've got ski gloves from Lidl. I own goggles but prefer my prescription sunglasses with a sports strap. I take a backpack and carry emergency supplies in it including a water bottle, foil blanket, compass, poncho, waterproof matches, long life snacks. I take a roll of plastic bags, that just might be for nicking lunch off the breakfast buffet

Wise advice about rucksacks! Fond memory of DH’s rucksack strap getting caught in the chairlift and him being stuck and whisked round ready to descend hanging by the strap. Vigilant lift man spotted him and stopped the lift.

Your DH was lucky, @TrickyD! A child died on a school ski trip about 15 years ago after their rucksack got caught on a chairlift and choked them. No rucksacks, no scarves or anything else that could get caught.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-12783644.amp

Yes he was indeed lucky. Humiliated but uninjured.

For April skiing in Europe which will be quite warm I would wear:
Ski socks (pack enough to change every other day)
Ski trousers (no base layer)
T shirt (normal one, no need for thermals, clean each day)
Mid layer top (like a quarter zip thing, nothing too heavy for April, I’d pack 2 if going for a week)
Ski jacket
Ski gloves
Goggles (essential in case it snows)
Buff neck warmer (maybe, would probably only wear snowy or unusually cold)

In pockets I would keep spf lip balm, small tube of spf 50 suncream to reapply every couple of hours, sunglasses and non ski gloves to swap to when sat outside a restaurant. Ski jackets and trousers have a lot of pockets so you shouldn’t need a bag.

Evenings you want jeans and jumper type outfits. With jacket, hat and gloves when you go out. There’s unlikely to be a lot of snow on the ground that time of year but on a school trip snow boots might prove useful if you’re going to be supervising things like sledding sessions.

Ibuprofen for aches and pains!

I think that just about covers it. Hope you have fun!

We find these brilliant for keeping gloved hands warm.