Ski virgin - need help!

[Jux]

My brother is an experienced skier, and is taking dd (13) off skiing for half term in Feb.

Brother says he'll hire equipment there, but she will need to bring togs - cheaper to buy here apparently.

Neither dh nor I have ever skied, so know nothing.

What does she need? Where do I get it? We can't afford (and don't want) to spend too much, as this is likely to be dd's only time, though I'm sure the outer wear will be useful on UK camping trips (our normal holiday!).

[trixymalixy]

my kids have tgese

[LIZS]

Maybe a selection of these would be more to her taste!

[trixymalixy]

Oh Primark had cheap thermals last year, they may have them again.

[trixymalixy]

I would take one set of thermals, sports direct are very cheap for them. I've never not worn thermals apart from once in Whistler when they had a tropical weather system. it can get quite chilly if you're standing about in lessons or sitting on a chairlift. It's better to take a cheap set and not need them rather than needing them and having to spend a fortune in resort.

Also tell her not to ski wearing a scarf, as danger of it getting caught up in something. That's why people wear neck gaiters, no long trailing ends.

[LIZS]

Relatively inexpensive thermals here

[LIZS]

Lucky girl , not many hotels are ski to the door there though and if she has never skied before it might be stretch for her to make the home run. Very scenic though and make sure he takes her to the café by the Wengernalp stop on the train for hot chocolate ! There is a hairy toboggan ride back to the village form there if she is brave. Walking boots should be fine , the resort is usually clear of snow and paths up the mountain well prepared

[Jux]

Wengen! They're going to Wengen. Don't know the hotel, so no idea if it's ski in\ski out. I know he's booked her into a ski school though.

I hope I'll be well enough next week to go into the city and look at/buy all this stuff.

Ski trousers
Goggles
Buff
Gloves
Hoody or fleece (she scorns such things at home)
Wicking t-shirts (??? will look it up)
Ski socks
Thermals, perhaps

[cavell]

"Oh dear, this is involving so much more than I thought when dear bro made the offer last year!"

Don't worry - she really doesn't need all this stuff which is being mentioned. I've been skiing about 7-8 times, my dh about 25-30 times, dd1 5 times and dd2 once. Almost always in high resorts (for snow-sureness) in December or January. So I think I can say we are a reasonably experinced family.

Your dd needs (IMO):

1. ski jacket
   
2. ski trousers
   
3. ski mittens (or gloves) - 1 pair is enough. If they get wet, she can dry them overnight.
   
4. ski socks - 2 pairs should last a week
   
5. goggles or sunglasses (goggles are better, but sunglasses will do. Lots of people wear sunglasses - she won't look "weird".)
   
6. sunscreen (for face) and lip salve
   
7. boots for walking around resport - waterproof walking boots will be fine
   

"Nice to haves":
Spare "ordinary" gloves for walking around resort
Wooly hat (or similar) and scarf for walking around resort. Can also use the scarf when skiing if the weather is particularly cold.
"Wicking " sports t-shirts are better than cotton t-shirts, which can get a bit clammy if your dd works up a sweat and then cools down

Take plenty t-shirts plus a couple of hoodies/fleeces to wear under her ski jacket. (T-shirt, hoody and ski jacket is probably enough - it's all any of us wore over New Year in Val Thorens. No-one was cold, not even the 6-year-old.) If you are still worried about your dd being cold, pack some ordinary leggings which she coud wear under her ski trousers if necessary. And remind her that if she gets cold, to wear an extra layer - e.g. a short-sleeved t-shirt under a long-sleeved one.

Bear in mind that beginners skiing is surprisingly strenuous exercise - your daughter is more likely to be too hot than too cold.

[trixymalixy]

I would say Buff or neck gaiter in the same way I would say hoover and vacuum cleaner, Buff is the brand name.

[trixymalixy]

Ski in ski out just means that you can ski right up to/out of the hotel/chalet boot room, you don't have to walk or get on a bus carrying your skis to get to the slopes. It's preferable as its not easy walking in ski boots.

[Jux]

Ski in/ski out?????????????? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! Wtf?

Hearts, I'll have to look at your thread tomorrow as I got waylaid today and didn't get as much MNing done as I would have liked to Have only just had a chance to check back here. Thanks for the link.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

"Dickie" is probably a Canadian-ism

Jux, we went skiing last year for the first time with the DDs. I've been skiing all my life and I still found it stressful to sort all their kit! So keep your eye on the prize, console yourself with thoughts of how much she will enjoy herself and what a great experience it is for her.

Here is my thread from last year in case it's of any use - has some names of suppliers, websites etc.

[massistar]

Do you know what the setup is Jux? Is it ski in/ski out? Mine are pretty much in ski boots from when they step out of the chalet till they get back in the evening. Only my toddler really got use out of snow boots. I think the walking boots will be fine.

[Jux]

She got a pair of Northwest waterproof walking boots (they look like heavy duty trainer-type things). Would they do for walking around? What are snowboots?

Oh dear, this is involving so much more than I thought when dear bro made the offer last year!

[clam]

Don't forget sunscreen and lipsalve.
Oh, and there's an outlet centre near us and I went on Friday. There were hundreds of snowboots there this year - previous years when it's snowed in December has meant they've been wiped out, just when I needed to replace the dc's. I got dd (14) a nice pair for 20 quid. If your dd is small for her age and can get away with kiddie sizes they're even cheaper.

[clam]

See, I'd call it a neck gaiter. But they're really useful anyway - scarves just get in the way.
We always go to France at Feb half term, and I wouldn't risk not wearing thermals. Easter maybe, but not February. It can be chuffin' cold in shady valleys and up the top of the mountain, even if it's sunny and pleasant on a cafe terrace at village level. My kids wear a thermal base layer (Sports Direct has some on sale at the moment) a thinnish fleece and then jacket/salopettes. I also just re-stocked ski socks for dd in SportsDirect - got 7 pairs for £9. You can get away with fewer if she takes some Travel Wash and rinses them out overnight.
Two pairs of gloves are advisable - they can get very wet and if she loses one she's stuffed.
Is there anyone who could lend you any of this stuff?

[Jux]

Hearts, I always thought a dickie was a false shirt front ( frightfully infra dig, like having a clip on tie).

I shall have a look at buffs/dickies/clip on ties

There are thin gloves, which I think go under proper mittens - seems like a good idea to me. But, MrsBlackcar, you think she'd need more pairs?

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

hearts funny the different terms! I thought a dickie was a hat, beanie style.

this is what I mean by buff, but other suppliers do the same thing only cheaper

Maybe I havent described it very well wouldn't be the first time

[trixymalixy]

I always wear thermals under my ski stuff and sometimes a fleece. A buff is a good idea as if it's really cold it can be worn balaclava like under her helmet. So covering her ears and neck.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Now see Squirted that is what I would call a dickie.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Get her a really thin hat that she can wear under her helmet if its really cold.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

A buff is a tube of material pulled over the head and worn round the throat like a scarf.
It can be pulled up at the back over the back of the head so it's covering you from your forehead down the back of your neck and can be pulled up over your mouth at the front if it's cold like a balaclava style.

[Mrsblackcar]

Leggings work well under salopettes and pack a couple of pair of non waterproof gloves, when you are falling over quite regularly even waterproof ones get wet then cold! Good to have dry ones to swap into for the rest of the day.

We went to the alps last year and it was def cold

She may want a "cool" hat for off the slopes but that would be her choice

I'll second the suggestion for sensible shoes off the slopes it can be really slippery

Really jealous, we can't afford to go this year (plus ttc)

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

We all wear thermal tops and bottoms underneath our Salopettes and jackets and we usually ski in France.

I would get her a couple of sets of thermals.

[cavell]

She won't need a wooly hat (at least not for skiing) because she'll have to wear a helmet.

Lidl ski trousers should be fine. Don't worry about thermals (unless you are going to Scandinavia).

As another poster has said, if anything, you can end up too hot when skiing.