It’s the most wonderful time of the year: ski trip season! This is the month in which fraternities work out incredible deals so you can experience all the fun snow has to offer for three days for only a hundred-some bucks. While these trips don’t have the hype that surrounds road trips, they’re equally as fun. There is the same alcohol-saturated bus ride you’ve experienced on any NOLA or Alabama road trip, but once you get off the bus, you get to experience skiing, tubing, snowball fights, and more (that shall remain undiscussed). It can be difficult for those of us Floridians who have either never seen snow or have yet to become comfortable with such low temperatures and frigid conditions.
Whether you identify with the former or the latter, or have just never attended a fraternity-subsidized ski shitshow, the following should be all the guidance you need to avoid the plethora of rookie mistakes we’re all prone to AND have the time of your life:
1. Pace yourself! You’re most likely going to be on the bus for at least eight hours and this means you have plenty of time to get trashed. There is absolutely no need to rush. Sometimes people like to be the go-hard-or-go-home person, but those are typically the people who end up going-to-the-bathroom-and-puking-the-whole-damn-time. Don’t be that person. Bring water and snacks to keep yourself conscious, and bring a comfy jacket and pillow for the point you become unconscious.
2. Bring snow-appropriate clothing. Leggings may do the job in Gainesville but what you’ll need on a ski trip are ski pants. If you don’t wanna spend the cash on those, double up on leggings. And if you’re a guy: tough shit. Buy yourself ski pants. Nobody likes meggings. Invest in a pair of gloves because once your hands are cold, they don’t warm up. High socks that you wore to be a nerd at a social will work with any type of snowboard or ski boot. Bring lots of long sleeved shirts for layering.
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3. Stop taking yourself so seriously and just wear a helmet! They look a little lame but they’re safe, and we all know the saying, “safety first.”
4. Skiing is easier to learn but harder to master than snowboarding. Take your pick.
5. Drunk skiing is a nay. If you really need me to explain why, you have bigger problems that an upcoming ski trip. Drink when you’re off the slopes and need a pick-me-up to keep yourself going through the night.
6. Afraid to ski or snowboard? No problem. There are still plenty of fun things to do around town. Sugar Mountain in North Carolina, for example, is one of the more popular ski resorts for college students. It has ice-skating and tubing and shops you can browse during the day. These activities don’t cost much and they’re a good way to still enjoy the snow!
Miscellaneous tip: Some mountains have rules against listening to music while skiing/snowboarding so if you really really want to listen to tunes while shredding (or falling), hide headphones in your hat or helmet. You may want to turn it down from full blast so the person running the lift doesn’t suspect something and kick you off the mountain.
Ski trips are a blast, but they can be go array if you’re unprepared. Refer to this guide when packing and I guarantee all will go well. Keep warm and stay safe, snowbody can ruin this for you!
