Skiing for the first time! Accepting all fashion tips (esp if you know of Black Friday deals on gear)

You don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars for gear if it’s your first time. You may not enjoy skiing.

I got my first round of ski gear from the outlet mall. Columbia is a great place to get quality ski pants, jacket, thermal leggings and top all for under $250. Black Friday sale online is currently 50% everything, highly recommend Columbia for the first timers.

Fashion tips— Skip looking cute when skiing and focus on layers and warmth! Grab a cute sweater and beanie to throw on for Apres Ski but for the love of god buy nothing with “Apres Ski” on it.

If it’s your first time all you need is ski pants and a waterproof shell over whatever jacket you already own. Do not go spend a ton of money on ski clothes before you know if you like it

Agree with these tips above! It’s about function over fashion, especially when you’re learning. You want warmth and high quality wool layers. For fit tips, I like to make sure my pants and coats are longer than normal clothes so they will almost touch the ground over my boots and I can tuck half of my gloves in. I don’t want snow/water sneaking in anywhere. Make sure your clothing is loose enough to comfortably bend over, move in and add layers under. Bigger/more pockets are a plus. And wear a helmet.

Meh I don’t really agree with some of the comments here about form over function - why pick? Have both?

Local ski shops will sell pretty sweet gear that you can’t find online as easily so I’d shop in person if you can. Look on marketplace too but you wanna try and find new gear. Make sure you can move around comfortably in it.

I ski in a one piece which is awesome for being cute and it’s good if you fall because you don’t get snow up your back. You can also get one piece warm layers if you like.

Invest in a cute and colourful helmet. I’d avoid black. You also want to make sure your goggles fit the helmet you buy or you’ll look like a gapper (someone with a gap between the goggles and the helmet - for some reason it looks really silly?).

Spend the money on the helmet for safety and the goggles for comfort - if you can’t see in a whiteout then skiing sucks but you probably won’t be doing much whiteout skiing when you’re a beginner.

Gloves are important (you’ll be on the floor a lot) - get good ones which are waterproof and fit your hand well. I like mittens myself.

Fleece neckie is a must for me too!

Try and pick a colour and get everything in that colour or matching colours if you can. I’d avoid black because a bright colour is safer/more visible and way more fun?

You can always sell your gear later if you don’t keep skiing. If you’re skiing you’re probably ready to drop some cash anyway - might as well get stuff you like. My first coat lasted me 10 years.

You’ll need a lot fewer clothes if the temp is over 25 and sunny vs colder and snowy.

More important than clothes, where are you going and when? Also who is teaching you?

Take a lesson or two with an adult group or take a private lesson, preferably a woman. Men balance differently and learn differently.

PS - I STRONGLY recommend not having a friend - especially a male friend - teach you how to ski unless either they are extraordinarily patient, or they are a certified instructor and offered to do this for you.

I also suggest renting equipment the day before and practice getting equipment on and off indoors. This can take up to an hour of valuable lesson time, and you’ll have a bit of a head start.