By Hilary Connelly
Winter is rapidly approaching and it is time to think about that long-procrastinated goal to learn how to ski.
Fear of the unknown can sometimes be overwhelming, but there are many resources offered in the Utah area to give beginning skiers the tools to be successful.
Before you hit the slopes, it is important that you brave the cold weather properly by being prepared for all weather conditions.
'Waterproof pants are a must,' said Peter Rane, human resource director at Outdoors Unlimited. 'It is always better to rent the equipment needed for your first time so that you can get comfortable with the sizes you need.'
BYU Outdoors Unlimited is a convenient resource on campus to rent ski clothing and equipment at a low cost. They provide a variety of brands and sizes for all types of outdoor ventures.
'The brand of equipment you rent doesn''t matter,' said Gary Howard in a news release. Howard is director of Brigham Young University''s ski school who also teaches beginning skiing at BYU. 'Just remember you get what you pay for.'
Buying clothing or ski equipment can be an expensive and drawn-out process.
'If you are a beginner, you do not need to buy anything just yet,' said Rose Dilts, Outdoors Unlimited employee, 'We have ski techs that will set you up in skis that fit you.'
If you decide to buy skis on your own, some resorts like The Canyons, offer ski demo programs for a fee. This allows skiers to try on the latest brands and trade skis as many times as they want until they find the brand they like most.
'When renting or buying skis', said Rane in a press release, 'to make sure the ski, when standing on the floor, reaches between your chin and nose - this will ensure that you will get one that is the right length.'
Ski lessons may seem extravagant, but is an important step if you are going alone for your first time.
'You should absolutely take a lesson your first time skiing,' Howard said. 'One ski lesson will reduce your chance of being injured by 75 percent.'
He advises taking a lesson from a certified instructor rather than from a friend. 'Instructors will be able to identify the slopes you should be on, while friends will not,' Howard said.
Rane also suggests taking a ski class offered at BYU, because the instruction is cheaper and it is a great way to learn how to ski in a short amount of time.
Now that you are all equipped and ready to go, where should you go to find the greatest snow?
There are 14 different ski resorts in Utah, which cover the state from Cedar City to Ogden.
Rane said The Canyons ski resort, in Park City, is his favorite place to ski.
'The Canyons is the biggest resort in Utah. They have a wide range of stuff to do.'
Howard said he doesn''t favor one ski resort over any other. 'All of the ski resorts in Utah have beginning runs.' He did say, however, that Sundance ski resort is a good place to start because it is close to BYU.
Most importantly, Howard advised, 'Don''t get discouraged if you fall a lot on your first time.'
In addition, he suggested skiing in the morning because less people are on the slopes.
'You won''t know how valuable your first lesson was until you go back a second time,' Howard said. 'You will see a 50 percent increase in your abilities the second time you go.'