Skiing for Beginners

From your first enquiry we can guide you to the most suitable resort for your family or party, the accommodation to suit your budget and then all the extras you will need to think about and plan for your first ski holiday ie lift pass, ski hire and ski school/lessons. We also can advise what you need to take with you, the equipment you will need and what you will need to do when you arrive in the resort. Our Just Skiing Rep will be in the resort to point you in the right direction for not only the ski lifts but also actually hiring skis and boots and taking you to ski school.

When you are beginning you will not necessarily want to ski all day and our resorts therefore offer accommodation with swimming pools and spa facilities for relaxing and the towns offer other activities such as sports centre with indoor ice rink, curling, tennis, squash, golf and climbing wall. Courmayeur offers a wealth of shops to browse and elegant café bars to enjoy a cappuccino and watch the world go by! There are a number of mountain restaurants that are accessible on foot via the cable car from the town so you can meet up for lunch with your friends or family. (See About the Resort for Courmayeur and La Thuile for town facilities, activities and excursions.)

When embarking on a snow sports holiday you will need to be prepared for every type of weather. Layering is the key as the temperature often fluctuates throughout the day, and our bodies warm up and cool down as we alternate skiing and riding on the lifts. You will need plenty of layered clothing for staying warm and for shedding once you warm up. Wherever possible it is best to choose moisture-wicking fabrics. Cotton is not ideal as it absorbs the moisture resulting in your skin being next to a cool layer, which over time can drop your body temperature significantly.
In general ski resorts are fairly casual so for the evenings we suggest you pack jeans or trousers (cords are warmer), some tops or shirts, and perhaps a coat other than your ski jacket which might be damp. Sensible shoes or boots with non-slip soles are also advisable as sometimes surfaces can be slippery and some streets are cobbled.

Group lessons start on a Monday morning and therefore we advise beginners to arrive in the resort on a Sunday. Alternatively private lessons are available (call our reservations team on 01202 479988 or email holidays@justskiing.co.uk for prices). For details please see our Ski School information for Courmayeur and La Thuile.
Please note that it is advisable to hire your ski equipment either on your day of arrival or early on your first day of ski school as the group lessons leave promptly on Monday morning and although the Just Skiing Rep will be able to assist you with this, it can be busy!
If you have pre-booked Ski School through Just Skiing you will receive a voucher in your ticket wallet that you will need to present at the Ski School office before your first lesson. This will detail the time of your lessons, the group you have been allocated, the meeting point and the name of your instructor. If you pre-book your lift pass through us in the UK you will receive a voucher in your ticket wallet as proof of purchase and Just Skiing will have your lift pass either delivered to your accommodation or the voucher can be exchanged at the Lift Pass Office in the resort. For further information regarding lift passes, please see Resort Information/ski passes. NB: We will require a photocopy of passports for both children and seniors as proof of age for this service. If you choose to purchase your lift pass direct once you arrive in your chosen resort, you will need to take a passport to the lift pass office as proof of age for either children or seniors. (No photographs are required for lift passes.) If you have pre-booked ski hire through Just Skiing you will receive a voucher in your ticket wallet that you will need to present at the Ski Hire shop. For further information please see Resort Information/ski hire Please be aware that children under the age of 14 years have to wear helmets when participating in snow sports which are available at all the ski hire shops (see Resort Information/Ski Hire ).

The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable and change very quickly. A beautiful sunny day can soon become overcast and foggy combined with heavy snowfall. Alternatively the sun may be shining but the wind at high altitude can be biting due to extremely low wind chill factor. As a result it is always advisable to wear an extra layer and go out prepared for the worst. It is much easier to remove clothing when warm than it is to recover once your body is cold.
If the weather changes and closes in when you are on the mountain, it is easy to become disorientated and lose your way. Coloured piste markers mark the edge of most runs and the safest option is to follow the path of these markers until you reach the bottom of the mountain or the safety of a restaurant. Do not go out in weather conditions for which you are unprepared.