Top 10 Tips for Ski Trip Beginners

Ski with your kids and create memories for a lifetime

Ski vacations evoke images of people gliding effortlessly down snow-capped mountains, or sipping a hot chocolate at 10,000 feet, or throwing snowballs with your kids.  Now you have decided to take the leap and introduce the family to skiing - with these 10 tips you can short-cut your way to success.

Here’s our top ten tips:

1. Choose a family friendly ski resort. If the kids are happy, the parents are happy.  Our Tip: Steamboat Springs, CO - voted #1 Family Resort in the West by Ski Magazine readers.  Check out Kids-Ski-Free and Kids-Rent-Free programs. (steamboat.com)
2. Take Lessons.  Learning to ski properly cannot be figured out by just doing it.  Your ski instructors will also show you round the mountain. Our Tip:  Group Ski Lessons - great value, you ski with people of similar ability, and they are frequently under-filled so it’s often like a private lesson.
3. Sunblock.  Keep your skin protected from UV rays at all times.  The sun is strong in the mountains and the exercise alone will give you a healthy glow. Our Tip: No-Ad Brand 30+ - from Walmart is great value and comes in all strengths. (no-ad.com)
4. Footwarmers and handwarmers are worth their weight in gold for kids and those with circulation issues.  They really work!  Our Tip: Buy Online Before you Go - they are available in ski shops but they are typically more expensive. (amazon.com).
5. Rent Ski Equipment. Eliminate the expense and hassle of taking ski gear on airplanes and get new interchangeable gear.  Our Tip: Black Tie Ski Rentals - they will deliver and fit skis at your ski lodging. (www.blacktieskis.com)
6. Stay in a Vacation Rental Home.  They are  private and offer more for your money. Families like homes better than condos as there is more space to spread out. Our Tip: Moving Mountains Chalets - offers a great selection of rental homes for 8 - 24 guests in Steamboat Springs, CO (MovingMountains.com).
7. Look for a Catered Ski Chalet. Very popular in Europe and gaining increased awareness and appreciation in the states.  A catered vacation offers tremendous value and allows you to enjoy your vacation time 100%.  Meals are prepared by a personal chef while you ski with your family. Our Tip: Moving Mountains Chalets - pioneers of this concept in the Colorado Rocky Mountains with full-service and economy catered options. (MovingMountains.com).
8. Don’t buy ski gear in high season. Beginning in late February, the ski stores start marking everything down.  You frequently have a better selection to choose from in resort locations. Our Tip: E-bay - if you know what you want, you can always get a deal on e-bay.
9. Buy the best clothing you can.  Waterproof, breathable ski clothing will keep you warm and dry.  Good gloves and a helmet (rent for kids) are highly recommended. Our Tip: Look for Gore-tex Fabric - one of the best active clothing materials ever developed.
10. Take a Day Off. There are many fun things to do in the mountains. Don’t forget to get the complete experience of where you are visiting.  Our Tip: Dog Sledding - it’s a unique and fun experience to drive a team of dogs across a high mountain landscape. (www.grizzlet.com)
    

    Drive your own dog-sledding team!