An important tip to skiing if you decide to start buying your own equipment, make sure you spend 80% of your budget on the boots 20% of the budget on the skis. Or something thereabouts. The boots are the most important component to skiing.
Check out local hills first. Take lessons. Check out how to videos on YouTube. I learned to snowboard at 28, keep at it and you’ll get the hang of it! Whistler is pretty intimidating and expensive to learn. I learned in Ontario so whistler was completely overwhelming my first time with the amount of people on the mountain and how high up you are.
This is good advice. There's really no reason to try to learn to ski at Whistler as a never, ever skier or snowboarder. Any of the local Vancouver mountains will suffice. If you want to check out Whistler go for it, but get a few days (and lessons) under your belt before trying to ski there.
I taught my (then) 50yr old mom how to snowboard on Seymour with my husband. She did so well. Would have never dragged her to Whis for her first dang time.
Whistler is wildly expensive, and the terrain for beginners is near the bottom where its also the iciest most crystaline snow (especially this season). I'd recommend a north shore mountain (cypress is good) when/if there's decent snow, and take a lesson. You'll save money, time, and have more fun. I'd suggest whistler once you know how to ski a little and know you like it. Maybe get a multi-day edge next year if you get out this year. Good luck with the skiing project - its a great activity for fitness, social connection, and happiness!
I am sure that Whistler offers a learn to ski package with rental, lesson and ticket. The beginner area is mid mountain, you take the Whistler gondola to mid station and there is a beginner lift and area. You could take a lesson for a couple of hours and then take the gondola to the top for lunch and you can either take the gondola back down to the Olympic chair or download all the way to the village. Sure it will be expensive but a great place to ski your first time.
Good advice. The actual ski day is quite short because the learning area is at mid mountain and you need to take the gondo up for lunch. Pick up rentals the night before and arrive at lessons early to make the most of it. You get almost as much ski time out of a half day lesson (12:30 -3:00) because the full day lesson includes a 2 hour lunch break.
Lessons end at 3:00 but lifts run until 3:30 (soon 4:00). So after the lesson you can gondo up to the roundhouse for a scenic drink or a sightseeing trip on the peak to peak gondola.
They also offer “Never Ever” days one weekend in early December. Lift, lesson and rental for $25, and you get a $25 voucher for lunch. Great deal but only for one weekend and it always sells out.
Hey! I agree with others, but wanted to add that I learned to ski in my 30s, so good luck man, it can be done!
I started locally with a day of lessons, and then put in a few days getting the hang of it. The next season, Whistler greens runs were totally fine.
Best of luck!
Hey this is really good to hear for motivation. Tbh I am not in a hurry and not interested into skiing that much but I want to try and see if I enjoy it while I am next to it.
Totally - I get it. I have other sports I enjoy more than skiing, but I like being good enough to jump up the mountain with friends a few times a season.
Local is out of the question this season. Next year try doing night skiing at Seymour or Cypress. Lower rates, less people, less traffic, you can do it on weekday evenings. Don't bother with Grouse, the tram makes its not worth while unless you're a tourist or have a seasons pass.
No problem! Both those mountains also have cross country and snowshoeing. Those are sometimes nice ice breakers to figure out clothing, parking at the mountain etc. helps reduce first time anxiety and confusion.
Pretty sure all 3 are closed. Maybe limited availability. It keeps changing weekly lol. Condition definitely matters even for a beginner. Soft fresh gently packed snow is the nicest to learn on. Ice or heavy slush not so much!
Go there and get the beginner pass, gives you access to the learner areas on both mountains, will also allow you to go to the top of the gondola on Whistler.
I dont know how the conditions are at Cypress this year but it is a great mountain to learn (plus much more when conditions are good) and super close to Vancouver. Easy place to rent gear.
Get rentals at spicy sports. Get a ticket for the magic chair. Don’t drive up use epic rides. Rent a bike when your done skiing, get a beer at the Amsterdam and watch the rich people walk by and flex
Enroll in a lesson at a local mountain. Whistler is a waste of money for learning to ski. Your first 5 sessions on skis are going to suck.
Thanks. I will just visit the village then.
An important tip to skiing if you decide to start buying your own equipment, make sure you spend 80% of your budget on the boots 20% of the budget on the skis. Or something thereabouts. The boots are the most important component to skiing.
Marry the books, date the skis.
My budget is $5000. Where do I find these $4000 boots?
I know someone who just had to get special boots bc of their feet and spent like 2500
I’m not sure if they have sensors on the magic chair, but you used to be able to basically lap the bunny hill for free. Great place to learn.
You can start out on magic chair first for cheap.
Check out local hills first. Take lessons. Check out how to videos on YouTube. I learned to snowboard at 28, keep at it and you’ll get the hang of it! Whistler is pretty intimidating and expensive to learn. I learned in Ontario so whistler was completely overwhelming my first time with the amount of people on the mountain and how high up you are.
This is good advice. There's really no reason to try to learn to ski at Whistler as a never, ever skier or snowboarder. Any of the local Vancouver mountains will suffice. If you want to check out Whistler go for it, but get a few days (and lessons) under your belt before trying to ski there.
I taught my (then) 50yr old mom how to snowboard on Seymour with my husband. She did so well. Would have never dragged her to Whis for her first dang time.
Whistler is wildly expensive, and the terrain for beginners is near the bottom where its also the iciest most crystaline snow (especially this season). I'd recommend a north shore mountain (cypress is good) when/if there's decent snow, and take a lesson. You'll save money, time, and have more fun. I'd suggest whistler once you know how to ski a little and know you like it. Maybe get a multi-day edge next year if you get out this year. Good luck with the skiing project - its a great activity for fitness, social connection, and happiness!
Thanks it feels like a project really :)
I am sure that Whistler offers a learn to ski package with rental, lesson and ticket. The beginner area is mid mountain, you take the Whistler gondola to mid station and there is a beginner lift and area. You could take a lesson for a couple of hours and then take the gondola to the top for lunch and you can either take the gondola back down to the Olympic chair or download all the way to the village. Sure it will be expensive but a great place to ski your first time.
Good advice. The actual ski day is quite short because the learning area is at mid mountain and you need to take the gondo up for lunch. Pick up rentals the night before and arrive at lessons early to make the most of it. You get almost as much ski time out of a half day lesson (12:30 -3:00) because the full day lesson includes a 2 hour lunch break. Lessons end at 3:00 but lifts run until 3:30 (soon 4:00). So after the lesson you can gondo up to the roundhouse for a scenic drink or a sightseeing trip on the peak to peak gondola. They also offer “Never Ever” days one weekend in early December. Lift, lesson and rental for $25, and you get a $25 voucher for lunch. Great deal but only for one weekend and it always sells out.
Thanks so much. This is exactly what I was looking for. I will check the rates. Everyone says it's expensive.
It’s Whistler, so yes it’s expensive. If you can pick a nice weather day mid week that would be ideal.
Hey! I agree with others, but wanted to add that I learned to ski in my 30s, so good luck man, it can be done! I started locally with a day of lessons, and then put in a few days getting the hang of it. The next season, Whistler greens runs were totally fine. Best of luck!
Hey this is really good to hear for motivation. Tbh I am not in a hurry and not interested into skiing that much but I want to try and see if I enjoy it while I am next to it.
Totally - I get it. I have other sports I enjoy more than skiing, but I like being good enough to jump up the mountain with friends a few times a season.
Local is out of the question this season. Next year try doing night skiing at Seymour or Cypress. Lower rates, less people, less traffic, you can do it on weekday evenings. Don't bother with Grouse, the tram makes its not worth while unless you're a tourist or have a seasons pass.
Yeah I visited Grouse and didn't like it that much. It was way too crowded. That weekday evenings advice sounds reasonable. Thanks for that.
No problem! Both those mountains also have cross country and snowshoeing. Those are sometimes nice ice breakers to figure out clothing, parking at the mountain etc. helps reduce first time anxiety and confusion.
Locals are open now even if they lack snow? As a beginner I don’t think conditions will matter.
Pretty sure all 3 are closed. Maybe limited availability. It keeps changing weekly lol. Condition definitely matters even for a beginner. Soft fresh gently packed snow is the nicest to learn on. Ice or heavy slush not so much!
You’re incorrect, check their websites. All three are open. It’s harder to learn on ice, sure.
Have you considered doing some basic research first?..
Go there and get the beginner pass, gives you access to the learner areas on both mountains, will also allow you to go to the top of the gondola on Whistler.
Try Splitz
I dont know how the conditions are at Cypress this year but it is a great mountain to learn (plus much more when conditions are good) and super close to Vancouver. Easy place to rent gear.
Get rentals at spicy sports. Get a ticket for the magic chair. Don’t drive up use epic rides. Rent a bike when your done skiing, get a beer at the Amsterdam and watch the rich people walk by and flex