Son sking in Austria in spring with school, first time for anyone in the family. Apart from the obvious stuff jacket, trousers etc Any advice on kit as starting to buy now. Gloves or Mitts?. Goggles or glasses?. what apres ski stuff (snow boots) We are going to send him on a few lessons before the trip at Chillfactore. So hopefully reasonable confident before he goes. We havent had a kit list, just wanted to buy the right stuff. Cheers

Mr Grumpy here wouod prefer this in the ski thread … that being said

What can he borrow ? Try and borrow ski hear or buy second hand maybe ? March can be warm.
Gloves / mits yes, if snowboarding get ones with reinforcement / protection in the wrists. Googles most versatile (required for boarding). My eyes are quite sensitive so I have £40 top grade mountain sun glasses (plastic frames) from snow and rock
No need for anything apres ski aside from a pair of outdoor shoes.

had no idea there was a ski thread

He will be skiing not snowboarding.

send him out on roller blades for 20 mins every dry day before you go.

We went through this last year, but with us grownups.

Walking boots are fine for après.

I wore a standard walking/climbing goretex shell jacket with multiple layers underneath, soft shell walking trousers with fleece leggings underneath, all of which I already owned, and worked perfectly (will probably buy some salopettes this year though). The missus bought £40 salopettes from Go Outdoors which were bob on, and wore a thinish primaloft jacket with a thick baselayer- not waterproof but warm when damp (she runs a lot hotter than I do).

Goggles for sure – we both used our biking/DH/MX ones. I wore contacts, but the other shortsighted guys in the group who had glasses on under goggles had no end of problem with steaming up, so worth considering that if he’s doubleglazed.

Gloves or mitts is personal preference. By the time you get properly warm gloves, they’re too bulky to do much with anyway when you’re wearing them.

A couple of pairs of proper ski socks and well worth the cost.

(essentially what I’m saying is you can get away without much specific ski kit, if you have some decent foul weather outdoors kit to hand)

No problem.

Lessons before he goes is a very good idea. To be honest imo you need less specialist kit than people think. As a beginner proper ski trousers / jacket as you fall a lot and will otherwise get wet. Couple of pairs of ski socks. Does he have any base layers for biking ? I wear just base layer long johns or nothing under ski trousers in March as its typically warm. Multiple top layers for flexibility, no need for expensive kit there.

Spring in Austria (assuming Saalbach or similar) shouldn’t be too cold, and learning he’ll build up a sweat.
He’ll probably be ok in a long sleeved T shirt and a ski jacket.
If you want to keep costs down try TK Maxx for good gear cheap.
Goggles are a must, persimmon (orange) lenses will be best.

Decathlon do good gear at a good price. Yes to goggles and decent socks, but the school should be able to give you a list.

he has loads of baselayers, doesnt wear glasses so goggles will be OK, I am about to buy a North face triclimate jacket as he needs a new waterproof and didnt want to buy a specific insulated coat he will grow out of next summer.
Interesting about the rollerblades. will try that.

Normal jackets don’t have snow skirts, so he might get a bit of snow up his back when he crashes, but I can understand your logic.

Aldi are doing ski stuff currently as are LIDL….get stuff like socks, helmets, gloves from them.

good socks are a great investment because you’ll get loads of use out of them later.

I haven’t been skiing for years but every winter I wheel my big ski socks out whenever I’m bike-commuting in sub-zero temperatures, and I feel impossibly pleased with myself 😀

Roller blades will strengthen his legs very nicely although at 15 if he’s sporty he should be in decent enough shape. You can look up a few specific excersizes, as I have two broken knees now I can say that things like one legged squats or just standing on one leg and crouching a bit up/down with a few gentle twists really strengthen the right bits. If he MTB’s then get him descending crouched working the bike with his legs as much as possible. All good.

The Triclimate will be fine, he will get snow up his back so try and buy salopette trousers ie with braces that look a bit like dungarees.

It’s March so make sure he wears sunscreen, factor 50 and some decent lip protection

You don’t really need much specific ski stuff, layer up with thermal base layer, tracksuit / fleece layer, down jacket, water / windproof layer. That’s pretty much does me for European skiing conditions. I find most salopettes & ski jackets too heavy and bulky anyway.

I’d get decent long ski socks though, otherwise boots can chafe. Goggles if you want or some close fitting wrap around sunglasses.

All sound advice. I def go salopettes of some sort though. Last thing you want is a wet arse. Almost everyone seemed to be dressed snowboard style last year regardless of board or ski’s. I only mention this as, at 15, these things will, no doubt, be of incredible importance! I’d also say goggles AND glasses. If it snows then goggles are much better. If it’s more spring like conditions then he may prefer glasses. I run hot so never need much in terms of layering.

If you’re lucky enough to know anyone who can lend him some boots I’d recommend it. The hire ones always used to be the bain of my holidays when I was a kid as they’re generally very basic and, I found, not often comfortable or adjustable enough to get a good, controlled, fit.

Top fun though. Hope he enjoys it. Lots of kids don’t get the opportunity.

Like the guys have said, first year is hot work as lessons are hard when you have no idea what you are doing, I wore an insulated coat year 1, never did again, long sleeve base was enough with a ski coat (no insulation).

Sun screen is a good shout as is a lid, already tested mine as has my wife. Decathlon and Aldi/Lidl are your friends for cheap gear as it TK Maxx.

Only slight problem is you shouldn’t pay out for the kids to do it without getting involved yourselves, it’s bloody brilliant!

Lipsalve, Sun Tan Cream ( high SPF ) , Buff, base layers, several pairs of socks, gloves, Scooby snacks, beanie , hoody , few T shirts , Jeans , walking boots, Airbag , transponder , shovel , probe , spare bateries for transponder , 2 way radio .
Good training is the chair position , 1 legged squats , 1 legged squats with eyes shut ( ankles and ligamnets ) stretching .

Sports Direct will sort you out most stuff , as will TK max and Decathlon or Go Outdoors. No need to spend loads. IN fact I wouldnt go near a 3 figure NF jacket . 50m on his front on a worn piste will shred that. UV rated safety specs will probably last longer than branded sunnies too, as he sit on them, drop them , loose them on the second day anyway.

As others have said, definitely go for goggles with orange or brown lenses; work fine in sun and poor visibility whereas sunglasses in a white are no fun at all. Get cheap base layers and socks from Lidl. I’d also recommend a helmet too, Decathlon or similar do them at a good price, or good bargains to be had online too.

Beer tokens?

APF

Good jacket.

10K waterproof, was £160+, Austria could still be cold if you get a bad week.
Buy the best you can get, a cold and wet kid is going o have an awful holiday, a dry and warm kid is going to be addicted forever, good gloves are an absolute must,tee shirts and hoodies or tracksuits will leave him damp underneath, only my opinion and looking at all the above not the right one, sent my kids away with the above in mind and they`ve all had a blast!

Everyone has already covered this

I went on the ski trip a few times, a few years ago, (also to Austria) and can I just say it is, without any exaggeration, some of the best memories of my life. I remember every second of it. Even the god awful coach journey over there was an adventure. It will be with them forever.

Sun cream important. Goggles needed (cheap ones are fine) in case it’s crap weather – same as cycling, clear lenses or if the same price go for persimmon kind of tint to add contrast so you can see snow vs ice. Definitely not too dark tinted – a snow storm can get **** dark with tints. I’d say (sport-y) sunglasses better in all other situations (way better peripheral vision, way more comfortable etc – think about cycling in ski goggles… it’s exactly the same… you only would in really crap muddy conditions). I took goggles and ended up buying a cheap (like 5 eur) pair of normal sport sunglasses over there on the lunch of day one, couldn’t stand wearing the goggles full time. Only needed them one day. Kept them in my pocket / round my neck the rest of the time.

You do get hot if the forecast is sun. Really don’t need specialist clothing underneath a ski coat – complete waste of money. Cheapo long sleeve tshirts and maybe a couple of warm thermal base layers (ie matalan thermal £6 jobbies)

edit: oh yes…. thick socks!

Assuming his fashion sense/peer pressure will allow, I’m going with:

Thin shell top and some layers, I’d suggest – we were in Saalbach/Legoland last year at Feb half term and I didn’t wear my “proper” jacket after day 1. Most of Austria ain’t that high

Waterproof trousers a godsend if he’s learnng (even skiing but deffo if he’s likely to try a board too), and agreed about snow going up his jacket being umpleasant although deep snow on pistes in spring is pretty unlikely so maybe overstated. Again, if they’re too well-insulated he might boil

biking, running, whatever – if he’s already fit he’ll go fine, especially if he’s relatively light (all that picking yourself back up … happy days !)

(and SUNSCREEN and decent, dark, wrappy sunglasses plus some goggles suitable for low light: I went with the school once years ago and we had a kid snowblind for 2 days – agony, and hourly eye drops day & night ! His peely face was an afterthought by comparison but that was pretty nasty too)

Condoms

Airbag , transponder , shovel , probe , spare bateries for transponder , 2 way radio .

It’s a beginners ski trip 😯

Helmet

A helmet will be part of the ski pack for a school group.

Googles are a better bet for kids, they are attached to the helmet so less easily lost, much harder to break and cover more of the face.

I suggested roller blading because it’s good for balance as well as fitness. The ability to skate around is quite useful on skis. If he does exercises I suggest dynamic rather than static things at 15 – he needs bounce not injured knees.

Edit: roller blading is the only specific training I do myself for skiing.

Cheers for allthis, he is a small 15 yr old. Quite a brand snob unfortunately (i wonder where he gets that from) He is pretty fit as cycles everyday and plays hockey. plus rollerblades. So far he has gone TNF Triclimate ski coat and TNF ski trousers both bought yesterday on cyber monday extra 20% off. plus Aldi socks

As many have said above, beginners fall over a lot. Spring skiing could be quite warm and hence the snow could be a bit slushy in the afternoon. It *could* be warm enough for t-shirt only or it *could* be bitterly cold and windy, so layers and options are a must; take a rucksack.

With all the picking yourself off the floor you will get wet bottom, knees and hands, so get something that’s good at keeping water out. When you’re a better skier – and falling less – absolute waterproofness is less important. For years I’ve skied in the same windproof shell I used for mountain biking and it wasn’t remotely waterproof, but having taken my 7 year old earlier this year in Spring I was reminded how much time is spent by beginners getting damp and, for that matter, hot and bothered. It was Easter and very warm though.

As a 15 year old, none of this will matter to your son as long as he looks cool 8)

If it were me I’d be getting lessons at an indoor slope before I went, then I could spend the holiday actually skiing rather than waddling about like a plum.

Cougar – Moderator
If it were me I’d be getting lessons at an indoor slope before I went, then I could spend the holiday actually skiing rather than waddling about like a plum.

this

makes much sense

will enjoy the holiday a lot more if hes already got the basics (and he will be able to show off to the girls, which is what its all about)

Lessons will be organised in the new year at chillfactore , they do a 3 day course for beginners then a 3 day course for intermediates if you pass the beginners so the plan is to do both.

Short, cycles, plays hockey and rollerblades. He might not even fall over till he picks up speed.

His own helmet.

A weeks supply of Ibuprofen and sensible instruction on when to take them.

Pain masking products are never a good idea IMO. If it hurts there’s a reason, listen to your body.

I’ve done the two days at the chill factor, the beginner all day lesson was great. If it had just been a few hours. I was only ‘getting it’ by after lunch on the first day, if it’d been a shorter lesson I think i might have been a bit disheartened. I’d suggest booking him in for a whole dayer at the weekend (and have a go yourself!) The beginners lessons are all on the nursery slope so they’re not too busy at a weekend.

The intermediate lesson was a bit shite, very mixed ability group and once we’d been taken to the top of the slope there wasn’t really any tuition other than a few tips when we got to the bottom (the beginners was very hands on, constant guidance etc).

If I were to do it again i’d do the day beginners session then as many intermediates as it takes to get to the top of the main slope the first time. It’s pretty daunting the first time but once you’re over the fear just book some lift passes and crack on.

Seriously though, have a go yourself – even just at the chill factor i’m REALLY enjoying it. Off to the Alps in Jan!

I’m assuming that you’ve got the kit covered (I haven’t read the entire thread).

When I went with my in-laws on my rifts ski holiday I’d made the mistake of having a few lessons at the M62 snow-place (XScape?). I could link snow-plough turns well enough that we thought I’d be ok to join the family for a bit and do a bit with the Mrs.

I then got a few hrs private lessons while out there.

I’d have been much better off joining a week’s ski school – both for my own enjoyment and progression – and for the rest of the family who spent more time on blue runs that they’d have liked.

Even if it’s a school/uni group there might be others doing the ski school thing so they won’t be o their own.

Lessons before could well spoil the trip, if all his friends are non-skiers then they will all be in the same group due to their ability, if he becomes fairly competent he may be up a group with those who have been before and if they are really good they can end up with a group of 2 or so with an instructor and miss all the laughs.
A good set of gloves and a cheaper pair in the pocket is always a good idea if they get wet before lunch.
Best holidays ever he will love it.