Fun from the start: Tips for skiing beginners

The right equipment - borrow it for now

Good ski equipment costs money. For beginners, it makes sense to rent the equipment - skis, poles, boots, and helmet - instead of buying it right away. In the specialty stores that are found in every ski resort, you can get professional advice and the right gear for your first turns in the snow. And if a boot pinches or the ski doesn't cooperate, you can easily exchange everything. The length of the skis is crucial. As a rule of thumb for modern carving skis: body height minus 15 cm for advanced skiers, minus 30 cm or even shorter for beginners. But many other factors, such as weight and fitness, also play a role in the exact calculation of ski length. The salesperson in the specialty store will definitely know the ideal ski length according to your skill level.

The clothing also needs to be well chosen. In the mountains, temperatures in winter can drop quite low, minus degrees are normal and not the exception. And even if you sweat while skiing, you quickly cool down while riding the lift. Functional sports underwear and special ski socks prove themselves under these conditions, and it's not advisable to skimp on them. Otherwise, the layering principle is recommended: with several layers, of which you can remove one or the other as needed, the clothing can be perfectly adapted to the changing conditions.

Skiing is a sport, and a certain level of fitness, strength, and conditioning is generally an advantage. Those who are in good shape will have better control of the skis and more fun while skiing. And as with any sport, it is also advisable to warm up before starting skiing. A few gymnastics exercises before the start work wonders and prevent injuries. If you get tired, take a break or end your ski day. No need for excessive ambition, which has prematurely ended many a ski vacation.

The slopes are internationally marked according to difficulty: blue means easy, red is medium, and black is difficult! It is self-evident that as a beginner, you should stick to the blue slopes and avoid the black ones. In almost all ski areas, there are easy practice slopes in the valley, which are ideal for the first attempts. The lifts at these slopes usually run at a lower speed. Since you are rarely alone on the ski slope, there are rules of conduct to ensure smooth skiing. All participants must adhere to the rules set by the FIS, the International Ski Federation, which should be learned and followed. These rules can be obtained in the ski resorts, as well as easily on the internet.

Ski schools for young and old

Naturally, it is best to learn to ski from a professional. The ski instructors at the ski schools in Tyrol and South Tyrol are all professionally trained and methodically schooled. Even foreign languages are not a problem nowadays, given an increasingly international guest crowd. The ski school is the ideal place for children to learn to ski. In groups with peers or in individual lessons, on magic carpets and in fairy-tale forests, even the little ones have a lot of fun. Ski courses are possible from the age of 2, and there is no upper age limit. So skiing fun is guaranteed from the start.

A tip from ski instructor Vroni from South Tyrol. She loves the sun, the snow, loud laughter, and children.