About to head out for your first day of skiing or snowboarding?
Congratulations! You have a chance to gain a hobby that will get you outside and active for years to come.
Unless you wear the wrong clothes for your first day on the slope.
Learning to ski and snowboard is already hard enough, but if you’re wearing the wrong clothes then it could turn into a literal slog. We don’t want that for you, so the ASO Mammoth team has put together a basic guide to what to wear on your first day of skiing or snowboarding.
Check it out below, then stop by the ASO Mammoth shop for the best ski and snowboard rentals near Mammoth Mountain!
A Helmet
Skiing and snowboarding require a lot of gear, so much so that you might think you can get away with not adding an extra piece of gear with a helmet.
We’re here to tell you that a helmet is the most important piece of skiing or snowboarding gear you’ll ever use. Everyone from beginners to the best skiers and snowboarders in the world fall. Protect the most important part of your body by wearing a helmet.
Snow Pants
This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people think they can get away with wearing active pants like leggings or even jeans while on the slope.
No matter how quickly you pick up skiing or snowboarding, you’re going to end up sitting on the snow. If you don’t have snow pants that will stay dry in the snow then your legs are not only going to be wet, but they will be freezing cold while you try to learn.
A Moisture Wicking Base Layer
One of the most common ways people get cold on the ski slope is by sweating. That might surprise you, but it happens because people wear warm clothes that don’t breathe well, work up a sweat while on the slope, and then that sweat makes their base layers wet and cold.
You can avoid that by wearing a moisture wicking base layer like merino wool on your legs and torso.
Down Mid-Layer
If it is severely cold, then you can add a thin down jacket to your wardrobe for an extra layer of insulation. Make sure it is thin enough to move easily in though, and be prepared to shed it if you get warm on the slope.
Waterproof Shell or Coat
Just like with your pants, the main goal of your jacket should be to keep water and wind out and your body heat in. Even if your coat isn’t specifically designed for skiing or snowboarding, then you can wear it until you can invest in ski specific gear if it does those things.
Do not wear fleece as an outer layer. Fleece will not only absorb water if you fall in the snow but falling snow will also stick to it and soak you once it melts.