Few tips which you will probably hear at some time anyway:
- Get some socks that are made for skiing, otherwise your feet will get very cold.
- Make sure you ski boots are very snug, otherwise you're going to break an ankle
- Get something to cover your head and ears if you want to keep your ears from falling off.
- Get some protection for your eyes because it can get BRIGHT, but don't take expensive sunglasses because they will just get broken.
-
WEAR SUNSCREEN on your face and anything that is exposed. Trust me on this one. If you leave your ears uncovered make sure you get them too.
- If you take ski school they will teach you all about the wedge and how it will help you stop. Well, don't rely on it too much. The wedge alone will do little for you going down a steep slope. What you want to do is go down the slopes in a wide zig-zag pattern and keep your skis horizontal with the slope.
- Turning seems difficult at first, but it's actually very easy. First you should always look in the direction you want to turn because it actually helps you involuntarily move in that direction. If you want to turn left you should put weight on your RIGHT foot.
Most important thing: Have fun! Your first day you will likely be busting your ass quite a lot, but the only beginners who don't wipeout frequently are also the ones who rarely have any fun on the slopes. Stick with your friends (as long as they aren't going down blacks or something) so that they can help you and laugh at you.
As long as you don't get frustrated when you fall you will have a BLAST.
Oh, and by the way I hate you. I had hoped to go skiing over Christmas break but the weather was lousy. I'm just extremely jealous.
Have fun!
Edit: As for snowboarding... don't even attempt it unless you want to take a class. My friends may just be slow, but everyone I know who has tried to snowboard without going through a class had a horrible time.