Going skiing guide

At Mountainfeet we are experienced in kitting out groups and individuals for ski trips and are privileged to have customers taking on trust our advice as to what they might need on holiday. But just what should you be taking with you and how can you get the most out your next trip? Here are some tips from Si Taylor, a ski instructor in Italy for nine years.

This guide is really aimed at first timers and covers many of the questions we get asked in the shop. It's not a definitive guide by any means but we hope it'll be of some help...

Booking a ski trip always raises questions...

Where and when to go?

What kind of accommodation to book?

Do we need to buy skis and boots?

What about ski lessons?

What clothing will we need on the mountain?

What about sun protection and eyewear?

Can we prepare for skiing at home?

Where and when to go?
The ski season in Europe tends to start around the middle of December but booking a holiday this early can be a gamble – particularly in the lower resorts, as there may not have been much snowfall. However, there are some great deals to be had and an Alpine resort is a magical place to be in during Christmas and New Year, particularly if you've got kids. If you are worried about lack of snow this early then look for a high level resort such as Val Thorens (France) or one with access to some permanent glacier skiing such as Obergurgl (Austria) or Tignes (France). Because I've never skied in the US I'm not going to pass on second hand information – instead, visit SkiGuide.com which has all the information you need to plan a trip to North America or Canada.

To be as sure as you can be that there'll be a good depth of snow, book a high altitude resort between late January and mid March. Don't necessarily be put off going as late as April as there are often late season falls of snow and the days are long and often pleasantly warm in the valleys after skiing. Bear in mind that although snow conditions for expert skiers are often great in January because of sub zero temperatures, this is not necessarily conducive to learning, particularly for young kids. Warmer temperatures from mid February to early April are better for less hardy 'non mountain' folk.

Check that the resort you're interested in has plenty of the kind of skiing that you are into. No point going to Argentiere in Chamonix if you're a complete beginner – save it for a few years later when you'll get more out the challenging runs and off piste conditions! Check out the Ski Club of Great Britain website which has resort information or buy the latest ski resort guide from the shop.

The levels of pisted (prepared) runs in all European resorts are graded as follows:

What kind of accommodation to book?
Accommodation is very much a personal choice. Many of us Brits love to socialise in the informal atmosphere of a chalet where staff often live in and provide not only meals and cleaning but good company too. Many staff are avid skiers and boarders and will know how to get the best out of a resort. The downside can be sharing a chalet with folk you don't get on with and being in close proximity to them whether you like it or not! If your own group of friends can take sole occupancy of a small chalet then this won't be a problem but just remember that if you have to share then it's down to pot luck! If you value your peace and privacy then try a hotel instead...

If you are taking kids then you may prefer the self catering option in an apartment. This can work out a lot cheaper and give massive flexibility. Try to get somewhere close to the pistes and then you can avoid expensive lunches by skiing back to eat if necessary.

If you are looking at accommodation that's more than a few minutes walk away from a piste or lift then make sure transport is available to get you to the skiing. Buses in good resorts operate every few minutes and should be free on production of a valid lift pass.

Do we need to buy skis and boots?
Most emphatically NO! As a first time skier then you want to make sure you are really going to enjoy the sport before buying hardware and even an expert skier can often find it's only necessary to buy just boots as there is such a high standard of skis available to hire.

Just check that the holiday package includes a ski hire package – if not then try to get one booked through the travel agent so there's no faffing around once you get to the resort. Most hire kit these days is clean, well maintained and comfortable. It's rarely more than a season or two old – if you are holidaying in December you may well get brand new kit!

The first bit of kit you'd want to consider buying would be ski boots as the comfort and precision fit of a good boot is crucial to both enjoyment and performance when skiing. In a good resort there'll usually be an excellent English speaking shop where boots can be expertly fitted and customised if necessary. Consider custom insoles/orthotics if you wish to maximise the support and control a ski boot can give you. You may be surprised to know that orthotics are advisable in all footwear for many people – see our article on the subject here.

What about ski lessons?
This is a very important point and one which can make or break a holiday. Ski lessons are crucial if you're going for the first time and highly advisable for anyone else who only manages to ski on an occasional basis. Contrary to what some people might think, this is not a sport to pick up by yourself. Good solid tuition in the beginning will build the foundations of a potential champion – you might think that skiing around in a simple snow plough is not what it's all about but even racers use a similar shape to develop their technique. Don't succumb to the 'my mates going to teach me' scenario. Your mate might be really good but unless he himself is trained and aware of the physiology of the sport, he could get you into more bother and lead you up a blind alley. Many people who train to be instructors first have their own 'flawed' technique dissected and then rebuilt by expert coaches before they can go on to teach even beginners!

The other cause of friction is boyfriend/husband teaching girlfriend/wife (or vice versa!). This is rarely a good idea and I used to run classes for disillusioned partners who'd had the confidence knocked out of them by a well meaning spouse!

Lessons can often be booked as part of the holiday deal and will be great value. First timers would be well advised to sign up for lessons for at least 5 of a 6 day holiday and for 4 hours a day. 2 hours can be enough for some – try to get them in the morning and use the afternoon to have fun and practise at your own rate. These prebooked package lessons are often with a local ski school and the instructors will be highly qualified. The only down side might be that their English is limited and explanations of technique could be difficult. If you want the best lessons then find the internationally qualified British ski instructors that operate in many of the top resorts. They will offer group lessons at affordable prices and will certainly provide superb value for money because of the levels of attention given.

For those who already ski – don't give up on the lessons as you are always learning. Try a private one to one lesson with a British Ski School and get what YOU want out of it. Maybe your mogul technique needs honing or you want to improve your off-piste experience – there'll be a clinic for you that'll make your skiing even better than it is now!

What clothing will we need on the mountain?
This is where we can definitely help! We think the trick to clothing yourself for skiing is in 'layering'. Because of the diverse temperatures encountered when you ski, it's advisable to take a clothing system that you can alter as the conditions change. Also, what you might need to wear in the icy conditions of January in Val Thorens (a high altitude resort) could differ significantly from those in April at La Clusaz (a much lower resort) where air temperatures could be in the twenties in the afternoon!

A traditional ski suit would have comprised of an insulated padded anorak and salopettes or even a 'one piece' in the same material. Admittedly, this type of garment feels warm and snug from the word go but that's only half the story. The work rate in skiing ranges from standing around doing nothing to serious anaerobic activity and everything in between! Ironically, the better the skier, the less effort they'll probably be making unless they're operating at the limit of their performance. Also, by default, a better skier will probably spend less time on their bum in the snow!

So unlike a lot of sports where beginners can use very basic clothing and equipment, it could almost be argued that the reverse is true! Well not quite, but beginners will spend some time working hard and probably generating loads of heat and sweat, and some time stood listening or watching an instructor. Add to this a few spills into the snow (which is all good fun!) and you can see that the clothing needs to be:

1) Waterproof (or at least water resistant)

2) Windproof (if it's waterproof it will be windproof too...)

3) Breathable – to clear perspiration which can chill on the body

4) Well fitting – cut for active movement in all directions!

5) Warm (it almost goes without saying doesn't it?)

6) Versatile – wouldn't it be good if you could use it for other things too?

You may well have heard the term 'shell' when talking about jackets or outdoor clothing. It refers to an article of clothing that provides a protective 'shell' to the wearer against wind and rain. A typical example would be a simple cagoule or rain coat. These don't necessarily provide much warmth but if you add a thermal shirt and a fleece to the equation you've got the basics of a very effective cold weather clothing set up that can be altered to suit the conditions.

For skiing we ideally want a jacket that's styled and cut for active movement and has room to add the insulating fleece and thermal base layers. A hood is useful for really foul weather but ideally it should fold or zip away so as not to flap around at speed. A snow skirt is of some benefit for stopping snow entering the bottom of the garment in a fall or blizzard but is not completely necessary in my opinion. If you really suffer in the cold then buy a ski jacket and salopettes (ski pants) that are moderately insulated but I think it's better sense to buy an un-insulated jacket that could be used for walking or mountaineering (or even wet weather shopping) all year round. Some jackets will also have vents for getting rid of excess heat after exertion – these are a really good idea for skiing AND walking.

Luckily, even if you're the most style conscious character, you'll quickly see that mountaineering type shell jackets suitable for all mountain use are all the rage for skiing and you'll look right in vogue! The materials used for construction range from hardwearing laminated fabrics such as GoreTex and eVent which have great breathability down to the cheaper but brilliantly functional coated fabrics such as HyVent, Aquastop and Hydrodry. The thing they have in common is that they are waterproof, breathable and windproof – perfect really, since windchill is one of the biggest causes of heat loss!

Going back to layering – all this means is putting on layers of insulative, breathable and wicking clothing underneath the shell jacket. In reality this is less complicated than it sounds – you probably already have fleece jackets or pullovers. The important thing is to wear something wicking against the skin that won't retain moisture (sweat) as this will chill you very quickly. The term wicking means something that will pull moisture off you and either store it away from the skin long enough to dry or to transport it through the rest of your clothing system to the outside world. The classic no-no is to wear cotton T shirts or sweatshirts as these just absorb water but don't dry quickly. DON'T WEAR COTTON if you can help it!

So, to summarise on clothing for cold conditions:

• Base thermal wear, ie long sleeve shirt and long johns
• Microfleece top and bottoms if really cold
• 200 weight fleece jacket or pullover
• Shell jacket and salopettes

Add to this a decent pair of gloves and liners, a hat, proper ski socks and maybe a neck warmer to pull up around the face and you're sorted! For tremendously cold conditions or skiing in deep snow a neoprene 'powder mask' is an intelligent extra item.

In warmer conditions just lose a layer or two or if you're confident of good weather, try a windproof fleece instead of your shell jacket. (The sensible would still carry the jacket in a rucsac though...) By the way, if you carry a rucsac make it small capacity and slim otherwise you'll be taking it off on every chairlift and balancing it on your knee!

What we are finding on our ski touring courses is that an extra insulative article of clothing is worthwhile carrying for putting on either in harsh conditions or when stopping to rest or eat. An ideal product is a lightweight 'belay' style jacket such as Patagonia's Micro Puff Jacket or Montane's ultralight Prism Jacket. If you buy these big enough they can be put on OVER everything else and with them being synthetic instead of down they still insulate when wet.

What about sun protection and eyewear?
And should I wear a helmet?
Skin and eye protection is crucial as the sun is not only stronger at altitude but the reflective power of the snow can cause problems with sunburn and snow blindness. Sun burn needs no explanation but snow blindness is something many mountaineers will be familiar with and although usually temporary is incredibly unpleasant and debilitating.

Factor 25 should be ample protection for most people provided they keep reapplying it frequently. A protective lip balm should also be carried and used. If like me you're a gent short on hair than wear a hat or use cream on your bonce! The pain of sunburn on the head is not good...

Ideally, you'd have both sunglasses and goggles. The sunglasses should provide 100% UV protection and have fairly dark lens (at least Category 3 out of 1 to 4). Try and avoid wire/metal frames as they can mash into your face if you have a bad fall and also can freeze to skin in sub zero conditions! A good plastic wrap around model can look cool and protect. You don't have to spend a fortune as Bloc make some great eyewear around the £25 - £35 mark.

Goggles come into their own when the weather is less than perfect. Bad weather shouldn't stop you skiing but bad visibility makes for a serious challenge. Goggles stop driving snow getting to your eyes and with the right lens (generally a rose or orange tint) can enhance vision in 'flat' or bad light. Flat light occurs on cloudy days and often on a clear sunny day in the late afternoon when the sun starts setting. Features in the terrain such as bumps and hollows become almost invisible but a good goggle can define the features for you. They also provide 100% UV protection because the sun's power is hardly diminished just because you can't see it through cloud. Always buy double lensed googles if possible – they prevent steaming up and condensation problems.

Ten years ago you'd have stood out like a sore thumb in a helmet. That's definitely not the case nowadays. Just like helmets have become a totally accepted part of mountain biking, so they are becoming in skiing. It makes sense too. Speeds of 40+ miles per hour can easily be reached on skis and snowboards and impacts can happen. Helmets are so light you can hardly feel you're wearing them and they provide great weather protection too. At least kit the kids out in them if nothing else...

Can we prepare for skiing at home?
You certainly can! Lessons on a artificial ski slope will save loads of work during the first days on holiday and ensure you start travelling almost straight away. A course of 4 lessons should usually get you gliding, slowing down and turning with confidence.

The other thing that will enhance your holiday is to be fit. If you belong to a gym then start using the apparatus for building the legs up – leg raises with or without weights will also help. Skiing can put extra load on the knees so if you have problems in this area then have a word with a trainer or physio. It may be advisable to wear a light neoprene knee support to warm and support the knee but exercising to strengthen them should be looked at too.

I find cycling incredibly beneficial to skiing – particularly mountain biking where you're constantly changing pace and loading. Good fun too... The more preparation you do, the more you'll get out of your holiday.

Happy skiing!!

Si