Skiing is a great way to get outdoors and have fun with your friends and family. You can bond with your loved ones while you reconnect with nature at the same time. You can also instill healthy habits in your family by embracing exercise and recreation. If you’ve never been skiing before, there are several things you should know before you start. Below are four ways to have a memorable and fun ski trip.

Enjoy the Easy Runs

When you’re skiing, there are variety of runs based on your skill level. The runs are generally classified as green, blue, or black. Greens are easy runs for novices, blues for intermediate skiers and boarders, and the black runs are for experts. Stay within your comfort level the first time on the slopes. You may even try several runs down the bunny hill (the children’s hill) to get in the groove. Nothing ruins a great time faster than losing control on a run that is above your experience level and injuring yourself. The goal is to have fun, not be stressed out.

Be Safe

This may sound like common sense, but don’t go through the trees, into off-limit areas, be courteous, and wear a helmet. Every year people cause avalanches going off course and get killed running into trees. Don’t be one of these people. Also, always stay in control and be aware of others on the slope. Ski resorts are busy places, and it can be easy to run into somebody else when you’re not paying attention. Check out NSAA.org for more information on ski and snowboarding safety, and follow all local regulations in order to stay safe on your lovely vacation!

Get Rentals

Skiing can be very expensive and there is no need to invest in all the bells and whistles that go along with it. You don’t even need to buy skis or a snowboard, as you can rent these items. Ski Butlers is great for renting skis online before your trip and getting everything fitted and ready to go for you. The delivery service they add is fantastic as well. Decide whether you want to buy or rent, then do your research to maximize your savings.

Take a Lesson

We all start somewhere. Taking a lesson makes skiing and snowboarding a lot more fun as you learn what to do and how to avoid accidents. The great part about lessons is that they can be taken for half a day or a full day depending on your schedule or preference. A big part of having fun on the slopes is knowing what you’re doing on the mountain.

Having a fun and memorable ski trip is easy to do if you follow the steps above and be sure to be safe and follow the rules of the mountain.