What to Prepare for Your First Skiing Trip and Ski Resorts Suitable for Beginners

In recent years, winter skiing has become increasingly popular, and many people are eager to try it. Some people may be a little afraid of trying skiing for the first time, but as long as you prepare well and plan your trip, skiing can be a very easy activity. Let’s take a look at what you need to know and what to prepare for as a beginner skier, and which ski resorts are suitable for beginners.

How to Choose a Ski Slope

For beginners, it is already a great achievement to learn how to stand and walk on the snow. It will take some time to be able to ski on the snow like what you see on TV. So, just like driving, beginners should never try to go on highways. Short, low-gradient beginner slopes are your best choice. Ski resorts usually mark the difficulty level of the slopes with different colors, and beginner slopes are usually green. However, many beginner slopes have different gradients, ranging from 4 degrees to 50 degrees. Be sure to pay attention to the differences.

If you are a real beginner, indoor ski resorts may be a good choice. The slopes in indoor ski resorts are usually short and not very steep, and they are not affected by weather conditions. You can go there whenever you have time, which is convenient for you to improve your skills.

Skiing for the First Time

Ski Jacket

A comfortable ski jacket can help you ski freely. How to prepare a ski jacket? Of course, you should choose a jacket that is loose and comfortable, so that you won’t feel restricted when you move. You should choose a jacket that is windproof, waterproof, and breathable. The same goes for the pants. The color of the ski jacket should be bright, so that you will be more visible on the snow.

Gloves, Ski Goggles

Gloves here are not only for warmth but also for waterproofing. The bowl of the gloves should be a little longer. You can bring a scarf if you are cold. Skiing is a speed sport, so you need to prepare ski goggles to prevent your eyes from being blown by the wind and from being hurt by the snow. Choose goggles with a larger frame for a wider field of vision. The goggles should fit your face well.

Helmet, Knee Pads

While skiing is a fun activity, it can also be dangerous. You must take precautions. We mainly protect the head and knees, so we need to use helmets and knee pads. Make sure you wear these two when skiing. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Ski Boots

Skiing mainly relies on balance, but the feet play the biggest role. The fit of the ski boots should be good. They shouldn’t be too big or too small, they should fit perfectly. Don’t be lazy and skip trying them on. You must try them on first to feel the fit and comfort of the ski boots.

Skis

Now let’s talk about ski equipment. Since we’re skiing, choosing the right skis will help you learn to ski faster. When you stand upright, the ski should be at the height of your mouth. This means that this is the right length of ski for you. If it’s your first time skiing, you can go with a slightly longer ski, which can reach your nose. Longer skis will make your skiing process more stable, which is suitable for beginners.

Ski Poles

Ski poles play a supporting role in skiing. When choosing ski poles, pay attention to their length. With your hands holding the poles, your upper arm and forearm should form a 90-degree angle. This angle is the best proportion for skiing. However, beginners can start without using ski poles during practice.

Ski Resorts Suitable for Beginners

1. Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort

Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort has unique natural advantages, combining mountains and forests, and is located in the same latitude 41° golden skiing zone as Davos and Whistler, with snow quality that is not inferior to that of foreign countries.

It has a snow season of up to 6 months, with a snow depth of over 1 meter. The snow is loose and granular, which is very suitable for skiing. With long sunshine hours, it has a unique winter sunny climate. Combined with the fact that the ski resort does not have strong winds, it has become a rare ski resort in the world.

The ski resort was designed by Ecosign, a Canadian company that has designed 5 Winter Olympics venues. It currently has 43 ski slopes with a total length of about 30 kilometers, including 9 advanced slopes that meet the requirements of the Winter Olympics, as well as 14 intermediate slopes and 20 beginner slopes, which can meet the needs of skiers of different levels.

In addition to being a famous ski resort in all of Asia, it is also an outdoor paradise for playing, enjoying, and battling with snow. There are drifting mini trains, banana boats, UTV off-road cross-country driving, and more. You can have fun skiing and playing.

2. Beidahu Ski Resort

Beidahu Ski Resort is located in Beidahu Development Zone, Jilin, 53 kilometers from Jilin City. Because of its dry and powdery snow, it is also known as “Skiing Paradise, Powder Snow Paradise”. You can also enjoy the beauty of Jilin’s rime, one of China’s four great wonders.

The ski resort is located in a world-class golden skiing zone, with the largest ski mountain in Asia, with an elevation difference of 870 meters. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the snow lasts for 160 days. It has the characteristics of good slopes, deep snow, good snow quality, and long snow season. Every year, it attracts a large number of ski enthusiasts from all over the country.

There are currently 27 ski slopes, including 5 advanced slopes, 13 intermediate slopes, 8 beginner slopes, and 1 cross-country skiing slope. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran, you can find the right slope for you here.

3. Vanke Song Hua Lake Ski Resort

Vanke Song Hua Lake Ski Resort is located at 43 degrees north latitude, in the same “ice and snow golden latitude zone” as the European Alps and the North American Rockies, and is one of the three major powder snow bases in the world.

The ski resort has built 34 high-quality ski slopes, covering an area of 175 hectares, with 5 International Ski Federation certified slopes, 6 imported high-speed cable cars, and 8 magic carpets.

The slope design is reasonable and evenly distributed. Skiers of different levels do not interfere with each other, and everyone can find their own fun.

Moreover, Song Hua Lake Ski Resort has also held a music festival on the snow this year. This is also the first snow music festival in Asia. You can experience Tomorrowland Winter without leaving the country. Ski during the day and dance at night. It’s a great time.

4. Yabuli Ski Resort

Yabuli Ski Resort generally refers to Yabuli Ski Tourism Resort, which is composed of Sunshine Ski Resort, State Sports Commission, Traffic Mountain Villa, Daqingshan Ski Resort, Communication Mountain Villa, Power Mountain Villa, Yun Ding Mountain Villa, Yawans, Hao Han Bo Snowfield, and farmhouses.

Among them, Sunshine Ski Resort is the most recommended. It is very popular, the facilities are updated and complete, and there are more ski slope options. Clubmed Resort also uses Sunshine Ski Resort.

The ski resort has 17 ski slopes of various levels, with a total length of about 32 kilometers, a drop of 540 meters, and a gradient of 50°-60°, which can meet the needs of skiers of different levels. In addition to skiing, there are also snowmobiling, mountain biking, Dream Water World, and other activities to play in Yabuli.

5. Chongli Ski Resort

It takes about 3 hours to drive from Beijing to Chongli Ski Resort. It also has many ski resorts, the most famous of which are Wanlong Ski Resort, Taiwu Ski Town, and Miyuan Yun Ding Paradise Ski Resort. Each ski resort has its own unique characteristics. You can choose based on your own needs.

Wanlong Ski Resort has a superior geographical location and natural snowfall. It is one of the earliest and most famous ski resorts in the country. It has 4 beginner slopes, 6 intermediate slopes, and 22 advanced slopes. It also has a forest wild snow area that retains its natural landform characteristics.

Taiwu Ski Town was the main venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The area has an average annual temperature of 4.2 degrees and a snow season of 150 days. It is located in the same 40-50 degrees north latitude as the world-famous ski resorts of the Rocky Mountains and the Alps, and is recognized as the “mountain resort” golden zone in the world. It has currently built 31 ski slopes, with a ratio of 3:4:3 for beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes, and a snowmaking area of about 80 hectares.

Miyuan Yun Ding Paradise opened in 2012. So far, it has built 41 ski slopes, including 13 advanced slopes, 20 intermediate slopes, 2 beginner slopes, 6 wild snow slopes, and snow parks. It is also equipped with 5 world-class high-speed cable cars with full-seat heating functions. It is also the only ski resort in China with heated seats on all cable cars.

6. Silk Road Ski Resort

The Silk Road International Ski Resort is located in the Tianshan Mountains, with a unique geographical location. The snow season is from November to April of the following year, lasting for 6 months, with a snow depth of over 1 meter. The snow is loose and granular, which has been loved by many skiers.

It has 8 beginner, intermediate, and advanced ski slopes (excluding the magic carpet area). It is generally divided into alpine and ordinary areas. The alpine area includes 3 black slopes: Aiwendadao, Feichangdao, and Xuanzangdadao, as well as 2 blue slopes: Xingfudadao and Huanlegu. The ordinary area includes 3 green slopes reached by cable cars No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5.

Among them, Aiwendadao and Xuanzangdadao, these two black slopes, are more difficult and require skiers with solid skills to go there. However, the slopes reached by cable cars No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 are more gentle and suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers.

7. Shenlongjia Ski Resort

Although the ski resorts in the south are not as advantageous as those in the north, there are still good ski resorts worth visiting. Shenlongjia Ski Resort has beautiful scenery, a large area, a high altitude, good snow quality, and complete functions. It is suitable for ski enthusiasts of different levels.

It has 10 beginner, intermediate, and advanced ski slopes, with a gradient of 5 degrees to 15 degrees. It also has advanced slopes with a gradient of over 30 degrees for ski enthusiasts to challenge higher difficulty. It is a large alpine natural ski resort in Central China with ski slopes of different difficulty levels.

In addition to skiing, there are also snowmobile, snowmobile, snow boat, snow saucer, snow tube, and other activities.