Before your first trip or just to refine your technique, you might want to try indoor skiing if you do not live near a ski slope! You might be wondering what conditions are like in and indoor ski slope, how these differ from a dry ski slope, and what to wear if you are planning to go to one!
If you find yourself asking any of these questions, then keep reading for everything you need to know about what to wear to an indoor ski slope!
Remember to check with the specific ski slope you want to go to about what to wear before you go too, especially regarding hiring ski equipment!
Indoor Ski Slope Clothing
Here are the recommended items of clothing to wear at indoor ski slopes:
- Helmet
- Warm clothes and thermal layers
- Ski or waterproof trousers
- Ski socks
- Gloves (non-woolly)
Indoor ski slopes are kept cold in order to maintain the indoor snow conditions but will not have wind or bright sunlight within them.
Conditions at an Indoor Ski Slope
While not a completely natural ski slope like you might experience on your first real skiing holiday, indoor ski slopes simulate some of the conditions you can expect on the slopes.
This often includes snow created by snow machines which forms the slope itself! This differs from a dry ski slope, where plastic bristles are instead used as the ground of the slope to simulate how your skis will feel on real snow.
Indoor ski slopes however offer a closer feel to how an outdoor ski slope will feel by using snow, mimicking how your skis will really behave on the slopes!
Because indoor ski slopes use snow created by snow machines, the area is also kept in relatively cold conditions! Different slopes may have slightly different ground and air temperatures, but speaking generally, some indoor ski slopes can have air temperatures of around -4 degrees Celsius!
This is why it is really important to wrap up warm when you are getting ready to head to an indoor ski slope!
However, in an indoor ski slope you don’t have to worry about all the conditions you might experience on the slopes outdoors! For example, there are no cold winds if the slope if completely enclosed, and no glare from the sun on the snow if the slope is artificially lit.
Equipment
If you are going to an indoor ski slope as a complete beginner to see if you like skiing or snowboarding, you might not have your own gear like ski boots and skis! But don’t worry if this is the case, at many indoor ski slopes there is the option to hire a lot of the equipment you are going to need!
For skiing, needless to say you will need ski boots, skis, possibly ski poles and a helmet in order to head out onto the slope. Often, indoor ski slopes require you to wear a ski helmet before going onto the slopes at all as it is essential for your safety.
Luckily, there is often an option to hire or book ski gear like this in advance at indoor ski slopes, where you will find equipment perfect for your feet and head size as well as height and ability if you don’t have your own.
Make sure to call ahead and check with the specific indoor ski slope you are planning to go to to check when and if you can book all the gear you need and how much this will cost to make sure you have all the information before you go.
Keeping Warm
While the ski slope will be indoors, meaning that you won’t be exposed to cold wind, indoor ski slopes can still be kept pretty cold to make sure that the snow within them doesn’t melt!
As a result, you want to make sure that you are keeping as warm as possible during your ski or ski lessons to make sure you get the best out of it and enjoy yourself without shivering!
It is therefore recommended to layer warm clothes, as this is likely to keep you warmer than just wearing one thick jumper! For example, you might want a thermal base layer and then an jumper and coat on top
Accessories and Extras
Gloves are an absolute essential when indoor skiing. Not only will these keep your hands warm when exposed to the cooler air, but if you touch the snow or fall over, it will also keep them warm and dry as well as protecting them!
As the snow will be cold and wet, it is advisable not to wear woolly gloves. Wool tends to allow snow to stick and melt onto them. All this will accomplish is to make your hands even more cold and wet!
Therefore, waterproof leather or specialist ski and snowboard gloves are definitely advisable. This will make sure your hands are kept warm and dry at all times, as well as protected from the snow!
To Conclude
Dry ski slopes can be a great place to learn or improve your technique, or just to have some fun! But to get the best out of the whole experience, make sure you are wearing the right think that will keep you warm, dry and safe on the slopes!
