I’m proof you really can learn to ski in a few focused days, even in your early 40s. I was 41 when I first successfully skied down a hill in St. Moritz, Switzerland. I’m the most surprised of anyone that it actually happened.
There were plenty of bumps and falls along the way, and there are a few things I wish I had known when I first set out to learn to ski.
My Backstory
My first couple of attempts at skiing did not go well. There almost wasn’t a third try, but in January at the age of 41, I gave skiing one more shot with three days of small group lessons in St. Moritz, Switzerland. I fell more than a few times, but by the end of that trip, I was starting to get the hang of it. I was even enjoying myself.
My first time skiing was in glamorous Round Top, Penn when I was in my late 20s. It was on the way there from Washington, D.C., where I lived at the time, that I learned we’d be skiing on artificial snow. I took a group class but struggled the whole way through. I fell my way down a beginner hill, relegated myself to the beginner bunny slopes for the rest of the day and never expected to try skiing again.
Never Say Never
Then came early 2022. On a road trip to Wisconsin, I gave skiing a second try on a hill I later learned was basically a giant landfill. I now know I wasn’t dressed well for the occasion. My skis were just a little too tall for me, and I should have brought a lighter jacket.
When I got to St. Moritz in early 2023, I was skeptical that the Swiss Ski School could teach me how to ski. Tourism Switzerland, which had invited me to experience St. Moritz, was more optimistic. And it was right.
After three days of group lessons with a Swiss ski instructor, a former school teacher, and I was skiing down the bunny slopes. I even skied from the resort to the train station. Full disclosure: I wiped out on the way. But I got back up and kept going, and that’s what matters.
By the time I got to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada in April 2023, I wasn’t petrified by the idea of skiing anymore. I didn’t expect to find myself skiing down a real mountain within a couple of hours, but I did, and it was spectacular.
Before Your First Ski Trip
Be prepared to spend more on a ski trip than you might on a normal trip. You’ll need to account for ski rentals, clothing, lessons, lift tickets and the higher-than-average prices that are common in mountain resort towns.
You can spend a lot of money on ski gear or you can not. I opted to not and went with these Arctix bib overalls I got for around $60 on Amazon. I picked up ski goggles, which you really do need, for about $30. I already had the jacket from Marine Layer, which I bought at a deep discount, in my closet.
I bought a pair of $100 snow pants and $30 ski gloves the first time I attempted skiing. I still have them, and they’ve turned out to be great investments.
You’ll get sweaty skiing, so plan to dress in layers and leave your heaviest coats at home. If you’re tight on cash or not ready to commit to skiwear, consider borrowing gear from friends, especially if that means freeing up your budget enough to hire a skilled instructor.
If you’re not accustomed to high altitudes, give yourself at least a day or two to adjust before hitting the slopes. In St. Moritz, I hit the slopes on my second, third and fourth day in town. The first few days I struggled to stay hydrated and felt some nausea. By day four, all of that was just a distant, unpleasant memory.
When I went to Banff, I waited until my third day in town to put on my skis and never felt queasy at all.
Ski Lessons Are Worth It
There are a lot of things you can learn on YouTube, but it helps to have an instructor by your side when the thing you’re trying to learn is skiing. I don’t think I’d be skiing if it weren’t for the one-on-one or coaching I got from my instructors in Banff and St. Moritz.
I still wasn’t ready to take on skiing by myself in Banff, so I took a lesson with an instructor at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. We started on the bunny slopes, which is where I expected to spend most of my time.
I started the lesson by telling my instructor I struggled to get back up when I fell, which is something I expected to happen. It never did. After a few runs down the more advanced beginner hills, my instructor suggested we try the mountaintop.
With him and a hefty dose of additional confidence by my side, I skied back down to the lodge. I stayed upright on my skis the entire time, and I had a blast.
