Are you a beginner skier planning your first ski holiday? Good news: Val Thorens is an excellent resort to learn in. Wide, gentle runs, ski schools in the heart of the resort and quality snow thanks to the altitude: everything is there to make your first turns a success. Here are our 7 tips, drawn from almost 30 years of welcoming holidaymakers, to get off to a good start.
1. Choose a Resort That Suits a Beginner Skier
For a beginner skier, the ideal resort combines easy-to-reach learning areas, plenty of green and blue runs and well-known ski schools. Val Thorens ticks all three boxes. The beginner areas offer wide, gentle slopes close to the centre of the resort, and the ski area has many easy runs to progress on during the week.
2. Stay as Close to the Slopes as Possible
When you are starting out, every minute spent walking in ski boots counts. Staying at the foot of the slopes means you can easily come back at lunchtime, take a break when your legs are tired and head out again in the afternoon without stress. Our two apartments in the Silveralp residence are right across from the slopes: Silveralp 329 and Silveralp 330 each sleep 6, with a ski locker in the residence.
3. Take Lessons, Even for a Few Hours
The best investment a beginner skier can make is lessons. A few hours with an instructor are enough to learn the right reflexes: snowplough, turns, stopping and using the lifts. The ESF ski school is at the foot of our residence, and other schools offer group or private lessons. Book ahead during school holidays: places go quickly.
4. Choose the Right Equipment
There is no need to buy when you are starting: hiring is the easiest option. As a beginner skier, ask for short, soft skis that are easy to turn, and take time to try on your boots: they should hold your foot firmly without hurting. Our partner Goitschel Ski Set, across the street from the residence, gives our guests a discount and advises every customer according to their level.
5. Pick the Right Lift Pass
You do not need the 3 Valleys pass to start: the Val Thorens pass, or even a pass limited to the beginner areas for the first days, is more than enough. You will find all our advice in our guide to ski passes.
6. Gear Up Against Cold and Sun
At 2,300 m, the sun is strong and the cold can bite. A beginner skier spends more time standing still and falls more often: bring waterproof clothing, several layers, warm gloves, a helmet, sunglasses or goggles and sunscreen. Good gear means a more pleasant and longer day on the slopes.
7. Progress at Your Own Pace
The first day is often the hardest. Do not try to go too fast: a few successful runs are better than one long run you did not enjoy. Take breaks, drink water and stop before you are exhausted. Usually, after three or four days, a beginner skier is already linking green runs and trying their first blues.
Beginner Skiers as a Family: Our Tips
If the whole family is starting out, enrol the children in group lessons suited to their age and book a private or small-group lesson for the adults. Children often progress faster than their parents! Meet up at the apartment for lunch: that is one of the big advantages of staying at the foot of the slopes. And if a child is not ready to ski yet, Val Thorens also has childcare facilities for the youngest.
A Typical Day for a Beginner Skier
In the morning, a lesson with an instructor from 9 am to noon, when the snow is at its best. Lunch at the apartment and an hour’s break, then back on the easy runs to practise what you learned in the morning. Around 3:30 pm, when the light fades and tiredness sets in, it is time for a snack and some rest. This rhythm lets a beginner skier progress every day without wearing themselves out.
Mistakes to Avoid as a Beginner
- Following confident friends onto runs that are too hard on day one.
- Skipping lessons in the hope of learning faster alone.
- Heading out without drinking or eating: skiing at altitude is tiring.
- Underestimating the sun: sunburn and glare are a risk even on cool days.
- Staying on the slopes until closing time: you are most likely to fall at the end of the day, when you are tired.
Preparing Your Trip as a Beginner Skier
Before you leave, check our Val Thorens webcam to see the snow, and read our tips on driving on the snow. For information on ski schools and beginner areas, the Val Thorens tourist office website is an excellent resource. And to book your apartment at the foot of the slopes, head to our booking page, from €204 per night.
A well-prepared, well-equipped and well-housed beginner skier is the recipe for a successful first ski holiday… and for wanting to come back next winter.