It is starting to snow (and rain) in the Northern Hemisphere. This is a sign that the ski season is coming around the corner! This is a list I have done quickly of what you should think of getting, if you are planning to go skiing.
If you are a seasoned skier or boarder, you must have all your equipment, even though sometimes you want to upgrade something. If you are starting, this is a good guide of what to think to be warm in the mountains. And how to keep your family happy and warm…. Nothing is worst than having a crying kid because is cold!
I am putting all items you can find on Amazon, for a fast easy shop.
And here is a link for some coupons on Amazon, on the Capital One Shopping site.
Nothing helps you better to stay warm than a thermal layer. I love merino as it keeps you warm and dry, and it does not stink as quickly as other materials. It is also cool for summer, so a great material!
Another thing to think, to keep happy feet, is to get at least two or three pairs of ski socks – so you can alternate during the week (more if you do not have a washing machine!)
You also want to have a warm head. Heat leaves you fast through your head and your extremities (feet and hands). So here is a selection of beanies – I prefer wool to synthetic ones, but that goes with taste. A beanie is also useful if you wear a ski helmet (it is obligatory for kids to wear helmets while skiing). If it is very cold, you can add the beanie under the helmet.
To keep your hands warm, nothing better to get a good pair of ski gloves and mittens – Mittens are great for kids, as they tend to be warmer. My trick is to use a bigger pair of gloves (I use Male XL gloves and could use a pair of women gloves in medium I reckon). But as I have to keep on taking my glove on and off on the chairlift to give something to the kids, I can do it easily. Still, I do not recommend you taking your gloves off while on the chairlift, as they can fall and then you have to go to pick them up, or lose them!
For those that suffer in the cold, maybe a good idea is to get some hand warmers – these are pouches you put inside your gloves and they activate and give you heat for up to 8 or 12 hours (check on the ones you buy)… and keep your hands warm… it can be a case of make or brake with kids on ski lessons!
Visibility in the snow can be a big thing. As all is white, you need a good pair of
ski goggles to help you see the different obstacles you might encounter. You need some with good lenses to see when there is flat light (when you cannot distinguish where the piste (trail) ends and the sky starts!)
I personally like to ski with ski sunglasses – when the weather is fine. I do change to goggles end of the day or when it snows.
If you are like me, I need to drink water all the time. I find that it is great to carry a thin backpack with a water bladder that you can use and still sit on the chairlift with no problem. These hydration backpacks and hydration bladders are very thin so they are comfortable to ski with.
I am not going to dwelve into adults skis and boots, maybe on another post. But you do need to get some snow boots to walk around, if the base area has snow!
If you ski with young kids, maybe is a good idea to invest in some ear muffs if they don’t like wearing hats…
I like layering in winter, so on top of my merino base layer, I tend to use a ski turtle-neck. See here for a selection of ski turtlenecks
When super cold, or if you are in a resort with lots of chairlifts with no bubble to protect you from the wind, sometimes is good to have a
mid-layer jacket. mid-layer jacket. Another time that is also good is when you are using a shell jacket, as those do not have any padding and you can get really cold!
You will always need a good ski jacket -that will keep you warm all day.
I also like to cover my neck and my kids’ necks with snoods
You want to have a good pair of ski pants, that will be warm, and waterproof. This is even more important if you are planning to be a lot on the snow!!
In most ski resorts they request kids to use ski helmets , but nowadays, you see more and more adults using them too.
A thing that really helped me out when starting to take my kids skiing, is investing in a skis sling carrier per kid and for each of us, as it liberates your hands and you can make your kids take their own skis!
Roces ski kids boots Both of my kids got a pair of these. This brand, which specialises in in-line skating has created these amazing ski boots that grow with your kids’ feet! We used them for years. The good thing is that the heal is always the same, so if you have some mounted skis for them, you do not need to change their binding settings to admit a bigger ski boot.
When kids start skiing and they are little, they do not have the strength to open the snowplough (or pizza, as ski instructors like to call it!) This is when you push your heels out to allow the ski’s edge to stop you while going down. This is the first thing you learn when skiing. These little clips, allow the two skis not to get tangled and keep them where they need to be. Many ski instructors have them and let your kid use them when starting, but you want to have your own if you plan to ski the rest of the day!
It is imperative to have a warm and dry kid to be able to enjoy the slopes. One that is wet and cold can ruin everyone’s day.. so plan accordingly. Here are some kids ski suits to choose from.
Start planning your next trip!
You can search for your own accommodation in the snow for your next ski holiday through our Accommodation Search tab. Or if looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check the direct booking for Il Coure della Valdigne here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using.
Il Cuore della Valdigne. Book your lodging directly with me here.Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.Featured Image: Maier Sports Ski Pants Review- Ski Apparel Review. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
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Featured Image: Going up the gondola, one happy child – Photo by The-Ski-Guru – Pila, Aosta Valley.
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