From Lodge to Lift: An Intro Into Snow Sports

By Nolan Karlitz

Skiing and Snow Boarding sucks if you don’t do it right, so in an embrace to all of the Jerrys on the mountain, I’m going to help you out to not look like a baby taking their first steps. Let’s start where the day begins; typically, on a gondola up to mid-mountain, so let’s go over carrying your equipment.

For Skiers, you’ll want to carry your skis in an almost vertical angle against your shoulder like a soldier holding their weapon. When you distance out from others, you can relax that angle to allow less strain on your arm for long distance walks. For boarders, it’s a lot easier to carry using your hip as a brace, just like you see surfers holding their boards.

Entering the gondola is your next step of the journey. If the liftie does not put your skis on the rack outside of the gondola, it is sometimes easier to take your skis apart and put the skis in different slots on the rack individually, for snowboards it is easy having only one object, so put your snowboard in the longer slot designated for snowboards. If the gondola does not have racks, bring your skis in, split your legs and hold your skis or board in between your legs. Exiting the gondola, grab your skis or board and walk ALL the way to the lift line. As a beginner, it will be difficult to traverse to the lift if there is an uphill grade.

When you get to your lift of choice, whether that be a magic carpet, an large conveyor belt that brings you up a small grade, or you’re feeling confident and choosing to do a real lift, make sure you raise your tips when you’re coming up to the top of the lift, though while on the magic carpet make sure your knees are not locked out in case the carpet stops so you don’t hyperextend your knees. Also, bend your knees a bit while sliding off the magic carpet. Those are the best tips I can give you to get to the top of the mountain in one piece.

Learning how to ski and going through the motions of skiing or snowboarding is a different story for the first three times or so. It’s all about failing and just learning to go slow and wide turns. After three times or whenever you feel comfortable doing wide slow turns.

For the majority of us, the first time you’re most likely going to suck and you just have to embrace that fact, though the best tip for not enraging the local ski bums is staying aware of your surroundings so you don’t cut anyone off. Although for your sake, the downhill skier always has the right of way and the uphill skier should give them space.

Checklist for Gear and Recommendations for Gear

Ski pass. In the Tahoe region some good beginner spots with cheaper passes are Donner Ski Ranch,Sierra-at-Tahoe and outside of the Tahoe region Dodge Ridge has some cheaper passes.
Skis or Snowboard. The best place to rent in California is Sports Basement, the two closest stores to us are In Walnut Creek and Berkely. I would recommend not buying skis or a board for the first time but some good spots to look for deals are Play it Again Sports for a used gear and Sports Basement for new gear.
Big side note: If you get a board or skis make sure they come with compatible bindings to your boots, working at Sports Basement we never mind questions about the compatibility of gear.
Boots for skis or snowboarding boots. I also recommend renting boots but like before make sure they are compatible.
Poles. They may or may not make it harder for your first time but I recommend getting some in case.
Clothes depending on the weather. Might be worth buying if you don’t have the gear, but at Sports Basement we do have apparel rentals.
Helmet. If you’re over the age of 18 years of age it is up to you if you wear one or not but I can’t promise people won’t throw snowballs at you.
Goggles or glasses. Good Idea to have googles or glasses so you don’t go snow blind from all the light reflection of the snow.
Ski strap. A ski strap will prevent your skis from falling apart during transit.
Sun block. The sun is being reflected off the snow and you will get sun damage no matter your shade of skin.
Bring some snacks. Ski resorts mark up prices so if you can’t justify $24 dollar chicken nuggets, stuff some snacks in a pack or your pockets.