Among the many things to love about skiing and snowboarding is the fact that new fans can get involved at just about any time during the season. As long as there is snow on the ground, resorts are giving lessons and selling lift tickets. If you are planning a visit to Utah in the near future, it’s not too late to sign your family up for that very first ski lesson.
Ski lessons are pretty common among Utah visitors. Having so many great ski resorts and welcoming resort towns makes our state one of the premier destinations for new skiers. And of course, there is no shortage of shops like Canyon Sports offering affordable ski rentals and snowboard rentals.
Whether it is sometime this season, or you wait until the 2024-2025 season, we hope you will bring your family to Utah in anticipation of trying skiing for the first time. And to get you pointed in that direction, we have some helpful tips for getting ready. Yes, there are things you can do to prepare for your first family ski lesson.
Research Your Rental Options
A lot of families fail to plan and then wind up having an incredibly stressful experience during that first lesson. We encourage reducing the stress as much as possible by planning ahead of time. Planning begins with researching your rental options.
Renting equipment once you arrive in Utah will make getting here easier. You will not have to pack your car with gear or try to lug it around an airport. You bring yourself and your clothes and let a shop like Canyon Sports supply the equipment.
As you research your rental options, inquire about brands and equipment features. You are going to want high quality equipment for that first lesson.
Plan on a Day of Rest
Next, we recommend planning for a day of rest after you arrive in Utah. Those of us who live here are accustomed to the altitude and air. But out of town visitors, especially those who live in locales closer to sea level, can find that first day on the mountain difficult. If you give yourself a full day to rest after arriving in Utah, you will be more prepared for the physical challenge of your first lesson.
Probably the last thing you want to do is arrive in Utah the night before your lesson and then get up first thing in the morning and head to the resort. The chances are pretty good that you won’t have a pleasant day.
Condition Yourself in the Weeks Before
Another thing you can do to make sure you are physically ready for your first ski lesson is to condition yourself in the weeks prior to travel. Get the whole family out for daily walks in the neighborhood. Make sure you are all eating right and getting plenty of rest. If you live in a place where cold temperatures are the norm during the winter, spend some extra time outdoors to get acclimated.
Check Out Online Resources
Finally, check out online resources – like videos and blog posts – offering basic tips for beginners. What you find online shouldn’t necessarily be taken as gospel, but it can give you a basic idea of what to expect as a new skier or snowboarder. That could really help take the pressure off your first lesson.
Canyon Sports is here to help with your Utah ski rental. If you are planning a visit to Utah either this season or next, we’d be happy to outfit you and your family with everything you need for that first ski lesson.