🇯🇵| Tips for first-timers on a budget💡(ski too!)

Snowboarding is sooo fun!!🏂 When you first start, the question is always to ski or to snowboard? For me, the answer has always been snowboarding!! Simply because I think it’s cooler than skiing HAHAHAHAH. It is also more challenging and difficult to learn.

After my first experience, I realised that there are many things that I could have done differently to make the learning of this winter sport easier. And I did not take their lessons provided as I didn’t want to pay extra 😹 I learned by watching youtube tutorials!

Tip 1:

💡GET A CUSHION FOR YOUR BUTT. It will save your ass, literally. As a beginner, you will expect to fall A LOT. I swear I fell way more than I have ever my entire life. Sometimes the snow can be quite hard. So if you fall butt first, your butt ans tailbone will really hurt. There is also the risk of fracturing your tailbone (it has been 3 months and I can still feel my tailbone hurting hahaha). But with the cushion, it softens the impact.

Tip 2:

💡You can substitute ski goggles with sunglasses (imo). Ski goggles rental can be pretty expensive. And it is usually by per day. So if you are skiing/snowboarding for more than a day, you may end up spending a lot on JUST the ski goggles. For me, bringing my own pair sunglasses worked just fine, as I only needed it to reduce the sun’s glare and to prevent snow from going into my eyes. ⚠️However, if you are VERY concerned about safety, this tip might not be for you⚠️

Tip 3:

💡You can totally use your own puffer jacket, or any waterproof jacket instead of renting the ski jackets. Ski jacket rentals are also very expensive, so if you have a waterproof jacket that you can use, use it! Being up on the mountains sound cold and all but trust me, it’s not that cold bc your body is burning a lot of energy while skiing/snowboarding. Just make sure you wear a sweater beneath your waterproof jacket and tuck it into your pants!

Tip 4:

💡AVOID COURSES THAT ARE NOT YOUR LEVEL. Intermediate and advance courses can be very very steep. It makes going down the mountain super intimidating and get stuck on top. You may also accidentally obstruct other snowboarders or skiers if you happen to fall in the middle of the slope. This is very dangerous ⚠️ As a first-timer, I would personally go for courses that are easier. This is to help you gain your confidence and also have a more enjoyable time skiing/snowboarding!

I know many people will be too fixated on trying to get a grasp of the winter sport. But don’t forget to look up and take in the breathtaking scenery. The mountain views are SO CALMING 🌄 I can’t wait to go snowboarding again when the next winter comes!!!