A weeks skiing. What do I need.

[OverlyFragrant]

I'm a complete beginner, have never been skiing before and am currently saying yes to everything.
This yes to everything seems to have booked me a week in Austria on a group skiing holiday 😬

I will be booking at least 2 days of lessons. The resort is skiwelt. And the skipasses look bloody expensive.

So please, tell me, what I do I need to pack? What do I need to know about skiing? Any hints and tips?

As a beginner, I'd strongly recommend half day lessons every day. You won't learn enough in 2 days to do anything fun/safe with your friends. Yes, lift passes are expensive. Skiing as a whole is very expensive. Do you know what type of catering you're getting? You'll need to budget for lunches on the mountain (or lugging a packed lunch about) at the very least.

Kit-wise, you need at least:

• ski jacket and trousers/salopettes
• waterproof ski gloves
• ski socks
• goggles and/or sunglasses
• layers to go underneath - this doesn't have to be dedicated ski wear, depending on what you already have.
• warm casual clothes for evenings, including some kind of snow-safe footwear.

Places like Decathlon are your best best for cheap and cheerful, or you could take your chances with Vinted. You can hire a helmet and boots in resort with your skis, but buying anything else will cost you a huge premium.

Buy a pack of those sponge cloth things you use to wipe kitchen surfaces - often Spontex. Cut in half, they are brilliant for padding the front of your ski boots, otherwise they are liable to rub and/or hurt.

We were given this tip before DDs’ first school ski trip.

Go to a snow dome for learn to ski in a day sessions and book ski class every day .

Another one saying lessons every day. My first ski holiday was as a young adult and I've probably spent about 10 weeks in total on the snow. I had daily lessons for at least the first three or four weeks, and then adhoc private lessons for another few trips at least. As a non skier it is absolutely not your fault, but if your friends are telling you that two days of lessons are enough then personally I think they are incredibly irresponsible. Skiing is a brilliant but dangerous sport and as a novice you will be a risk to yourself and to other people unless you're being supervised by an instructor.

It is SO much fun though, get yourself booked into a good ski school and have a blast!

And yes, getting the total basics out the way first in a snow dome is a good idea.

Vinted for your ski gear!

Two days won’t be enough to learn control, stopping and turning, let alone lift etiquette to enable you to safely go it alone. When are you going? Layers are the key and long comfortable seamless socks, windproof, waterproof and breathable jacket, gloves, trousers with long sleeved top and leggings, plus a fleece if chilly. Neck gaiter and sunglasses/goggles, hat and boots for non ski time. If you buy secondhand use a reproofing wash on the jacket and trousers. Helmet should be hired with skis, boots and poles. Worth booking a beginner session on an indoor slope to get used to the equipment, moving around and stance. Also do some exercises so your muscles are not overworked and stiff, typically day 3 is when you feel it most and are stiff.

You won’t need a full lift pass as a begnner, many resorts do more limited ones for the nursery area and some blue runs. Ask ski-school for advice.

There's lots of good advice already on this thread. I'd add:

As you're going with friends, see what you can borrow in the way of a ski jacket and salopettes. There are wardrobes full of ski gear that has only been used once or twice - it seems to magically shrink for every year that it hangs in a wardrobe.

Ski lessons are a must - either lessons for a couple of hours every day, which is likely to be very expensive if they are private lessons, or a week-long course of group lessons, which will work out much cheaper. Some ski schools offer equipment rental and tuition as a discounted package. Ask at the ski school which lift pass you need to buy - as others have said, some ski schools and resorts have beginner areas so that you might not require a lift pass for the first few days. Unless one of your friends is a qualified instructor do not let them "teach" you - it will only end in tears, bad technique or injury

Get fit before you go. Walk, jog, swim, bike, gym - anything that improves your general level of fitness will be rewarded once you get on the slopes.

Take a pack of Ibuprofen tablets and a pack of Paracetamol - for headaches and general aches and pains. Both cost pennies in the UK but are only available from a pharmacy in Austria and cost a small fortune. Suncreme and lip balm are also musts, even on cloudy days, as it is the UV light that causes most damage. Again, buy in the UK as these are very expensive in resort.

As it is your first week, consider it an investment in the future adventures you'll have on skis. You probably won't ski much with your friends (because you'll listen to us and go to ski school) except perhaps at the end of the week. Don't be pressured into joining them on slopes that are steeper than you can manage. Don't drink too much alcohol - skiing with a hangover is horrible (and dangerous) - and drink lots of water at meal times, with wine, and before you go to bed.

Most of all - approach it with a positive attitude. The first two days can be hard work, but once you "get it" it's possibly the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Start doing some ski specific leg strengthening exercises right now. (Google them, you can do them at home.) Your calves, knees and thighs will thank you for it!

This. Above all, this.