Top Tips For Doing A Ski Season: Advice For First Time Seasonaires
- Rebecca Taylor
- Nov 2, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 9, 2024
About to embark on your first ski season? No idea what to expect? Find some top tips and advice below...
I'll admit that some of these tips and tricks are super random, but hopefully they will help you be better equipped for the winter season ahead, particulary if you are doing your first season.
I cover a range of topics, from the gloves and goggles I'd recommend buying, to a few chalet hosting tips and just some general life tips. I've also added links to some of my favourite things, just in case you want to shop.
Let me know what your best ski season hacks are in the comments (for those who have been skiing before), or let me know which ones you're looking forward to trying out.
Bex's Ski Season Top tips:
When you get your lift pass from your company, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT STRAIGHT AWAY. I can't stress that enough. If you loose it you'll need the number on the card so you don't have to buy a new pass. A replacement card is usually 2 or 3 Euros.
Pack a hip flask if you want to save ££
Be open minded - if this is your first season and you are a bit older, don't overthink having to share a room or that you'll be 'too old', it will be grand
Pack a good pair of ear plugs (I lived in my chalet on my second season and sometimes guests were SO noisy, so this is a must)
Make the most of every day on the slopes, because it is epic
If you can afford it, buy ski boots (I bought mine during the first week of my first season and I have never looked back. They were moulded to my feet and I've had them for five years now. At the time I think I spent 700 Euros on a Nordica pair, but worth every penny)
If you are a coffee snob, bring your own from the UK. I found the coffee in France sucked (sorry to any coffee loving frenchies out there)
Bring lots of hoodies / layers - in the warmer months I often just wore a hoodie as my jacket was too hot
Get a good pair of goggles, skiing in sunglasses is just not the one. These are the ones I have and I love them (they don't steam up and the lens is awesome). Brands I'd recommend are Oakley, Smith, Salomon, Bolle, Dragon, Giro, Shred Optics. There are also some cheaper alternatives available, but the price range for a decent pair is around £80-150+
Get a helmet. You don't see many people not wearing helmets anymore. I had a huge fall last winter and smacked the back of my head so hard I cracked my helmet and had to buy a new one. My neck was sore for days! It's really not worth it.
Practice cooking before you get to resort - if you get provided a menu before you go, definitely practice, it will save you a lot of time and stress when you start
If you are hosting, practice making Christmas Dinner, it will be the most stressful day of your life and then the rest of the season will feel like light work
You can make a cake using one yoghurt pot (empty yoghurt into bowl, add 2x pots of flour, 1x pot of oil, 1 sachet of baking powder, 1x pot of sugar, 3x eggs, vanilla essence) - IT SAVES SO MUCH TIME
It doesn't hurt to do a few squats before you hit the slopes. I promise the leg burn does eventually ease after the first few weeks (my legs were on actual fire keeping up with my co-host during the first week as I hadn't skiied in years, omg I couldn't sit down to pee for weeks!)
Dont judge anyone - my best mate was 19 and I was 30 - age doesn't matter honestly. She is a legend and was the best skiier I've ever seen - I had my best days skiing with her
Try to eat well - if you're hosting you'll be able to cook food for yourself. Maximise this to save ££ and make a lunch if you can. Eating brownies every morning wares off quite fast
If you're learning to ski or board, don't skip on the lessons (I would strongly advise not using your new best mate to teach you either)
Pack wired headphones - the amount of people who lost airpods on the mountain last year was silly, wired all the way when you are skiing
Invest in good socks - I had some good ones from Helly Hansen which I wore multiple times a week because they were so much better than my other 'cheap' ones - the higher the merino wool content the warmer they'll be
Keep a journal or a record of what you get up to. Some people were tracking their runs every day on Slopes or Strava. It tells you how much piste you cover, how many runs you do and your top speeds. You can also add notes and pictures which is fun to look back on.
Get a good magnesium supplement - it helps with sore muscles and is just a supplement powerhouse - I would recommend this one or one from Pure. If you have the funds, get some good electrolytes too, I like this brand (but appreciate they are expensive. A cheaper alternative is to buy some Celtic Sea Salt and spike your water every morning with it)
Invest in a solid pair of gloves especially if you are going further afield than France. These are mine which I bought in resort (someone stole my old ones). Try not to buy anything in resort, it is so much more expensive than online. Also check out vinted.
Never put your leather gloves on a hot radiator to dry - they will melt and ruin the radiator and your gloves.
Okay this list is a little longer than expected. Here are just a few more ski season tips and a bit of advice I couldn't leave out...
Do not leave your things unattended at apres!!! this sounds so basic, but I have been burned many many times at apres. In my first season someone took my goggles off my helmet (it was under the table with all our other things) and last year my gloves were stolen out of my coat pocket (they were SO expensive and new that season, I very nearly cried). I've seen boys take off their ski boots to put on sliders and then their boots were taken by another drunk person... honestly guys take a backpack or just wear old gloves or goggles if you know you are going to apres that day. The scenes at Happy's in Morzine after a Wednesday ARE HORRENDOUS... ski's end up in the river, that's all I say.
You can turn horrible whiskey into fireball if you add cinnamon sticks and homemade sugar syrup and leave for a few days
Have some family friendly playlists ready for when you are cooking in the kitchen (if allowed) - cooking in my NYC apartment is a good one on Spotify
Mug cakes are life savers if you only have 1x gluten person or forget to make dessert - they're so quick and when paired with ice-cream / custard are very tasty
See if your resort has a second hand shop - Morzine has a great one that is filled with high quality sallies, jackets and everything else. We gave so much away during the season as guests left things they no longer wanted (which had often only been used for one week). If you're on a budget, it's a great way to buff up your wardrobe at a fraction of the cost
Facebook marketplace in France is very good for buying secondhand ski's and random bits and bobs - you might need a car to pick up anything though
If a company doesn't feel right, you don't have to take the job. I got loads of rejections on my season, it's fine. Don't forget to ask companies questions during the interview too (a few good ones are - 'do you have staff activities / social events', 'what percentage of people return', 'what are the most important things you look for in a employee', 'what is your favourite run in XX'.
Don't be a dick! Respect people on the piste. There are always a lot of people learning and although you may be a total shredder, always respect the people around you, it is already super scary for people learning
Pick up a new skill. Loads of ski schools offer free lessons for seasonaires, pick up a snowboard and take a few lessons at the beginning of the season - it's a really good way to learn a new skill and meet like-minded people
If you're single, download Hinge! Dating on the mountains is super fun and you have the perfect date lined up. Although be careful, seasonaires may not be the most loyal of companions ;)
Have fun, don't take it too seriously and don't get offended if guests are rude, it's not a reflection of you!
I'll be pulling together a guide with absolutely everything you'll need to know, but in the meantime I hope this helps.
Happy skiing.
Bex
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