Your First Time
Both skiing and snowboarding require strength, flexibility and good cardiovascular health. The better shape you’re in, the better your experience will be. A healthy regimen of walking, jogging or bicycling—along with stretching and strengthening exercises—can prepare you for your big day. If you have any concerns about your fitness level, consult your doctor before hitting the slopes.
RENT YOUR EQUIPMENT
Tempted to borrow your friend’s boots, skis or board? Don’t. You’re better off renting from us. Our beginner equipment is specially designed by our product partners to meet your unique needs. Beginner equipment is engineered to turn more easily and be more forgiving than upper level or budget equipment. A proper fit is important, too—in order to maximize performance and minimize your chance of injury. Our rental shop crew is trained to get you into the right gear with the right fit.
DRESS SMART
Layering. It’s the key to staying warm and comfortable in the cold. While many product manufacturers sell gear specifically for skiing and snowboarding, it’s not necessary to spend a fortune getting dressed for your first adventure on the mountain. What you have in your closet now will work just fine—if you use it the right way:
Wear nylon wind or rain pants over sweatpants and/or long underwear to approximate insulated ski pants. On top, wear a long-sleeved shirt, turtleneck or long underwear with a sweater and a medium weight jacket.
80% of your body heat escapes through your head, so put on a warm wool or fleece hat.
Wear just one pair of light to medium weight socks, preferably wool or a material that wicks moisture. Wearing more than one pair can actually restrict blood circulation and make your feet colder.
Mittens or gloves? Mittens are warmer but provide you with less dexterity. Gloves can be colder, but give you more freedom when holding poles or adjusting binding straps.
Bring goggles to protect your eyes from the sun and wind. Sunglasses are helpful, but don’t block the wind.
Sunscreen and lip balm are always recommended.
Avoid wearing blue jeans, cotton t-shirts and cotton socks. Cotton traps moisture next to your skin, which ultimately makes you colder.
Of course if you want to go all out, buying new gear never hurts! We offer a complete line of ski and snowboard apparel in our Wy’East Store here in the Timberline Day Lodge. We can also recommend REI as a fantastic retail store in Portland – where you’ll find everything you need for a great experience on the mountain.
Are you regular or goofy?
In snowboarding, you’re “regular foot” if you keep your left foot forward. You’re “goofy foot” if you keep your right foot forward. Either is perfectly fine—you just need to choose the direction that is most comfortable to you. If you skateboard, you already know the answer. If not, try this simple test at home: Run and slide on a hardwood or linoleum floor in your socks. Whichever foot you naturally put forward is the foot you should put forward on your snowboard.
It’s all about edge control.
During your first lesson, we’ll teach you some basic exercises that develop your sense of balance and get you accustomed to sliding. We’ll help you focus on feeling the ski or snowboard’s “edge.” Once you learn edge control, you’ll be able to stop or change directions whenever you want.
It’s okay to be nervous.
Feeling nervous is a normal reaction to circumstances that are new or intimidating. At Timberline, we do our best to create a fun, safe and supportive learning environment for you. You’ll learn at a comfortable pace and will be encouraged to ask questions. Any nervousness you feel will likely be replaced by exhilaration and a sense of accomplishment once you achieve your first turn or descent.
It will probably take three lessons to reach a point where you can explore the mountain on your own. Just be patient. Stay focused. And enjoy the snow. Your instructor will help you determine when you’re ready to move on from the beginner hill.
