Ski equipment - what will you need?Mums and Dads, when it comes to ski equipment, you’re going to need the same essential items as your child, only yours will be larger and heavier! If you’ve skied before, then you’ll know exactly what we mean. If you’re planning your first family ski holidays don’t worry - we’re here to guide you through what you’ll need.
As you can see from this picture, the main items which you're going to need are skis, ski boots and poles. As with all things on family ski vacations, the trick is to get ahead and get organised. If this will be your first holiday, we’d recommend that you hire everything when you arrive in resort. You can hire skis, ski boots and ski poles as a package. Some hire shops do an excellent rental option whereby you can change your gear as often as you want. Perfect for trying out different items to really get a feel for what gear suits you best. Where do you start? The first thing to sort out is your ski boots. These will feel cumbersome and awkward the first time you walk in them. This thing is, of course that you won’t be walking that much in them. They’re supposed to be strong, supportive and responsive when you’re out on the slopes. Now for something to slide down the mountain The next thing to sort out is your skis. If you’re a complete beginner you’ll probably be kitted out with some termed as 'forgiving'. All that means is that they'll be soft in terms of being easier to flex than ones designed for more experienced skiers. You’ll find it easier to turn and find your skiing legs. After all, you wouldn’t learn to drive using a sports car, would you? So you don’t need those top of the range skis to master the basics of skiing. To complete your ski equipment, you’ll need a pair of poles. You might not use these for the first few days or even the first week of your holiday. Don’t worry, that’s quite usual. Best to gain your confidence and competence with the basics first (like stopping!) before trying to manage poles as well. Anything else? There's one other piece of gear that you might consider. That’s a ski helmet, and it’s entirely your choice whether you use one. For children they’re compulsory in many resorts, but for us adults, we can decide ourselves whether to wear one. We’ve noticed that far more adult skiers in America and Canada wear them compared to Europe. For your own safety, remember to take advice from staff in the rental shop. All your ski equipment should fit you and have been adjusted if necessary for you. Keep safe! Now you’ve got all your gear, you’re only left with one thing to sort out - get everything from the rental shop to your locker! To return from the ski equipment page to the homepage, please click here.
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