If you’ve heard all about the mountain and are finally keen to see for yourself what the slopes are like, check out these top 10 tips for your first day at the snow.

1.  Don’t forget your lift pass. It’s not ideal when you finally get to the top of the mountain, get all geared up and realise you’ve forgotten your lift pass.

2.  The lines for hire gear at the mountain can be really big, so be prepared to wait. Give yourself an hour or so to get hire gear and make sure that it’s the RIGHT hire gear. Make sure that the equipment is the right size for you and that everything fits properly.

3.  There are two things that could ruin your day; sore feet and cold hands. If you’re renting boots or have brought them, make sure they are as comfortable as possible. As for gloves, make sure you have proper waterproof gloves. A snowball fight won’t be much fun if your hands are wet and cold.

4.  You are going to fall over, a lot. If you’re learning to snowboard it’s a great idea to wear wrist guards (pictured below) to protect your wrists, as you often put out your hands to stop yourself from getting a face full of snow. A snow helmet is also a must. Not only does it protect your head but it keeps you toasty warm too.

5.  Don’t wear cotton at all, especially not as a base layer. If snow gets under your jacket, cotton stays wet and can get heavy but most of all it stays cold. If you wear merino and it does get wet, you will still stay warm. Merino also breathes more than cotton, so after you realise your getting a workout on the mountain, your jacket will breathe a lot better with the help of the merino.

6.  Learn the tracks and understand what skill level they are best suited to. Being familiar with the learner tracks will help you get the most out of your day.

7.  If you really want to master the sport and turn it into a regular hobby, get a ski or snowboard lesson. If it’s first thing in the morning the instructors will give you the right techniques to use, and after that you can get all the advice and help from your friends. But it does pay to get an instructed lesson first.

8.  Eat lots of food, starting with a big breakfast. You’re burning lots of energy at the mountain so make sure your body stays fuelled. Snacks in your backpack or even Chomps are ideal.

9.  Take a scenic tour of the mountain. If you’re down in the learner slopes all day, go for a ride on the chairlifts right to the top. You’ll be amazed at how big the mountain is and there’s so much of the mountain you can’t see from the bottom.

10.  Most of all have fun! Everyone is at the mountain to have a good time and shred the slopes, so enjoy yourself. Learning a new sport with friends is heaps of fun and involves a lot of laughs. You’re also never too old to make a snowman or have a snowball fight, so make the most of your day at the snow and hopefully you’ll go back for more.