OT- who skis?

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Definitely do a lesson/rental to start with. A single day (or even half day) will give you the basics to get out there.

If you like it, invest in helmets. Some old-school peeps still avoid them but, speaking from experience, they're worth every penny you'll pay for them.
 
Wow... I could have quoted half the posts here, especially OZO on age and Martial Arts.
I'm 49, ~9 years of martial arts, and started skiing when I was 20 (family didn't ski so it never came up until I started with some friends). First place I ever skied... Wildcat! Wildcat has always been a favorite for it's old-time feel, the views and great terrain.

Anyway... I started my sons at age 4 and 6. we thought we'd put them on snowboards but read that kids were not yet developed in the leg muscles for that stance so we put them on skis and figured if they wanted to switch later they would. They stuck with skis and both have twin tips (me too). They are big on moguls and glades, the steeper/gnarlier the better! it keeps me "young" trying to keep up with them. (they are 13 and 15 now) I actually started Martial Arts as I was starting to feel my age (I thought 40 was old at the time!) and it is a great help with flexibility and overall body strength and control, especially as age tries to rob you of just those 2 things.

advice on starting... either ski or snowboard will have it's learning curve so it probably doesn't matter (I've never boarded so I can't speak to it). Being good at skating helps but there's no avoiding the clumsy stage of having skis/snowboard strapped to your feet so be ready to fall a lot at first. Myself and a lot of first timers make the big mistake of dressing all wrong. Jeans and cotten thermals. You end up soaked and freezing! if you don't already have the right kind of cold/snow pants, gloves, coats then get them.

Don't get frustrated and give up (an issue you have to watch with little kids) as you will catch on eventually, and it is a great way to make use of Winter, where too many folks stay inside and veg.

you can rent to start but it you think you are going to stick with it, find a ski shop that will set you up with a package that's right for your ability, possibly used equipment (save a lot of $) which will be fine for the early stages of learning. If you stick with it and get better you can then move into gear that fits what you most like to ski (moguls, freestyle for the kids, race/slalom, etc)

Did I leave anything out? :)
 
Dwight Schrute said:
Bike helmets work too.
Click to expand...

This reminded me that when I first started no one wore helmets except little kids. now it seems everyone does (I do). A bike helmet would be better then nothing but buy/rent a ski helmet no matter what your ability. folks have gotten hurt/killed even on bunny slopes because they fell or hit something in just the "Wrong" way.
I can tell you I've had some wild high speed or steep wipe outs and just brushed myself off and was fine [knock on wood] while I've known people who have lost their balance standing in the lift line, fell over and broke a leg or blew out a knee! you never know, so just play it as safe as you can.
 
The first time I took my son skiing he was about 9. We were at Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid and the rental shop put us on ski blades, which are wicked easy to control but have a weird binding I was working to figure out. Just outside the lodge there is a little hill that gives you a boost to ski down to the bunny slope lift.

I put my sons skis on and told him to wait while I got mine snapped in.

I struggled with the binding for a minute or so and look up. My son was skiing down the little hill and walking back up and skiing down and walking back up.

Fast forward 11 years and he's enrolled at UVM at least half so he can ski up there. He rips triple blacks and I mostly stick to the cruisers.

He's pretty much been a better skier than me since day one, but I'm glad he got me into it. I have had a lot of great days on the mountain since then.
 
I would recommend going to a rental shop highly. Make sure it's perfectly clear your new. Helmets are usually part of the package or a cheap enough throw in.

Go shorter on the skis. Easier to control.

Start bunny slope or greens, if you aren't taking the lesson. I'd do a half day lesson to start.

Everyone's different, but athleticism does play a part. If you're quick to pick up the basics of other sports you probably will with skiing too. Just start slow.

And have a freakin blast!
 
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