First day 10-point checklist for ski season
The clock is ticking! Just days until the ski season starts again, and it's never too early to start getting ready.
While mountain staff scramble to get the slopes ready for opening day, take the time to check out your ski gear and make sure you're ready too. Nothing worse than a mad dash the morning of your first day of skiing or riding.
This ski and snowboard pre-season checklist will dial you in and help you start the season right.
Put in a little advance prep so you can click in and ski away on your first day of the season.
First day ski or snowboard checklist
Try these 10 tips to be ready for your first day of skiing or riding.
1. Pick up your season pass, savings card or RFID pre-load card before opening day. Lineups can be madness in the ticketing office, and you may encounter new staff who need a little extra time.
2. Inspect your gear.
Get all your gear out and arrange it on the floor. This allows you to inspect your gear while also giving your stuff an opportunity to breathe and air out. Extra points for putting it all on and practising your butter/manual in the living room.
3. Scrape off storage wax and/or get a fresh wax suitable for early season conditions. Get more tips for tuning and waxing here.
score better snow days with SnowSeekers
sign up for the FREE newsletter that gets you into the snow
4. Take the liners out of your boots to make sure the foot bed and liners are dry and still in good shape.
5. Wash and dry any soft goods that don't smell nice – the last thing you want is a musty, crusty neck tube against your face all day.
6. Make sure you change out your goggle lens if you need to adjust the tint for November riding.
7. Pack a small rubber-backed mat (welcome mat or bath mat) in your vehicle to rest your foot down on while getting your boots on in the parking lot. Check out this story on more hacks every SnowSeeker should know.
8. Do a warm up before you get on the lift.
Here's a really handy, simple ski warm up from Warren Miller Ski Academy.
9. Invite your friends to join you. Share this checklist with them so they're on the same page when you get out for your first trip together.
10. Have FUN and take it easy. Early season, many get caught up in the excitement and make bad decisions that have repercussions for the whole season. Obey mountain signage, keep your speed in check (with limited terrain, runs are more crowded) and stay on opened runs only (there is a reason they didn't open that tree run).
Happy first day! Please share this with your crew and make sure everyone's dialled in for their first day on the mountain.
And be sure to sign up for SnowSeekers enews for the latest updates on snow, skiing and snowboarding, and stoke in Western Canada.
More tips to prep your season
Make this your best season yet.
