Are you planning to ski or snowboard for the first time? See our tips and advice below for beginners, so you make the most of your time and have a great experience.
Sugar Mountain is a great ski resort for all skill levels. Slopes are ranked by difficulty and various lifts take you to the top of those slopes. Find handy mountain maps and message board that tells you which slopes are open. “Easy Street” is perfect for beginners. Then you can graduate to more challenging slopes as your skills build.
Ski & Snowboard Tips for First Timers
Be Prepared for Winter Weather: Before you head up to our area, check our local weather forecast. Often, we will have snow at Sugar Mountain while there is sun and blue skies in lower elevations. 4-wheel drive is recommended since snows sometimes blow in with little notice. See our Winter Driving Tips. When on the slopes, keep in mind there is a 1,200 foot elevation within the ski resort. Temperatures are usually 5-10 degrees colder on the summit compared to the lodge. Also, winds are often higher.
Book Lodging on the Mountain: For convenience, stay on the mountain in a vacation rental (see Places to Stay). You’ll find many “ski-in, ski-out” homes and condos. On most weekends (Fri-Sun), take advantage of the fee Village Ski Shuttle with stops at most condo communities.
Take a Group or Private lesson: Starting your visit with a ski or snowboard lesson is a fantastic investment. You will have more fun and will learn the best techniques to take care of yourself and others. Sugar Mountain has a great Ski & Snowboard School. Groups are put together by ability level for every hour for a 1.5-hour session (ages 8+). For one-on-one instruction, take a private one-hour lesson tailored to your needs for ages 4+. The Sugar Bear Ski School is designed to teach skiing to children ages 5-10. The Polar Bear Snowboard School is designed to teach snowboarding to children ages 7-14. All programs include lift/slope ticket, rental equipment, helmet, lessons, lunch, and supervision. Read more on the Sugar Ski Resort website.
Rent Equipment & Clothing: There are so many options for both equipment and clothing. Renting allows you to test out skis vrs snowboards and all sorts of accessories. Conveniently located in Sugar Mountain Ski Resort’s Base Lodge, the rental equipment and clothing department contains an extensive and modern fleet of HEAD shaped skis, ski boots, and poles, as well as Burton, Ride, and HEAD snowboards and snowboard boots, helmets, and full sets (jackets & bibs) of clothing. In addition, find many rental companies located near the main entrance of the village of Sugar Mountain along NC 184 (see a list on our Shopping Guide). They will suggest the best equipment for your needs. Have zipper pockets to keep important items (keys, phone). Wearing a helmet is a very smart thing in case of a fall.
Wear Proper Clothing: Even if you rent jackets and bibs, remember to dress in layers. Your base layer should be moisture wicking. Don’t wear cotton – definitely no jeans! Outer layers should be waterproof and windproof – and breathable. Weather conditions can vary greatly in one day, so be prepared and bring extra clothes to leave in the car if you need to adjust as needed. Bring extra clothes, gloves and socks in case you need to change out wet clothers. Waterproof gloves and boots are a must. Goggles are a good idea since many days have snow guns blowing onto the slopes.
Avoid Busiest Days: Come on a slower day to get acclimated to the slopes. Saturdays and the week between Christmas and New Years Day are the busiest. You’ll also save on lift tickets and equipment if you come midweek (except for the two weeks around Christmas).
Don’t Overdo! You will use and find a lot of new muscles after a few times down the slopes. Take it easy your first day to avoid soreness and possible injuries. Doing cardiovascular exercise regularly in the build up to your trip will help tremendously. It’s also important to stretch, so yoga is fantastic.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water! Find snacks and drinks in the lodge – a perfect place to take a break, use the restrooms and warm up.
Apply Sunscreen: Believe it not, you can quickly get sunburned on the slopes. Bring sunscreen for your face and any exposed skin. Polarized goggles or sunglasses are very helpful too.
Ski with a Friend: Pal up so you can watch out for each other. Prearrange a meeting place in case you get separated.
Follow the Rules: There are plenty of rules and guidelines to keep everyone safe. Do not go off-trail. Obey posted trail closure and other warning signs. Remember that skiers and boarders who are in front of you, and below you, on the trail have the right-of-way. Read more below!
See our Winter Vacation Guide for other things to do during your stay – including Snow Tubing and Ice Skating.
North Carolina’s Skier Safety Act
A skier and / or passenger shall have the following responsibilities:
- To know the range of the skier’s abilities to negotiate any ski slope or trail and to ski within the limits of such ability;
- To maintain control of the skier’s speed and course at all times when skiing and to avoid other skiers and obvious hazards and inherent risks including variations in terrain, snow, or ice conditions, bare spots and rocks, trees and other forms of forest growth or forest debris;
- To stay clear of snow grooming equipment, all vehicles, pole lines, lift towers, signs, snow making equipment, and any other equipment on the ski slopes and trails;
- To heed all posted information and other warnings and to refrain from acting in a manner which may cause or contribute to the injury of the skier or others;
- To wear retention straps, ski brakes, or other devices to prevent runaway skis or snowboards;
- Before beginning to ski from a stationary position or before entering a ski slope or trail from the side, to avoid moving skiers already on the ski slope or trail;
- To not move uphill on any passengers tramway or use any ski slope or trail while such person’s ability to do so is impaired by the consumption of alcohol or by the use of any narcotic or other drug or while such person is under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic or any drug;
- If involved in a collision with another skier or person, to not leave the vicinity of the collision before giving his name & current address to an employee of the ski area operator, a member of the ski patrol, or the other skier or person with whom the skier collided, except in those cases when medical treatment is required; in which case, said information shall be provided as soon as practical after the medical treatment has been obtained. If the other person involved in the collision is unknown, the skier shall leave the personal; identification required by this sub-section with the ski area operator;
- Not to embark upon or disembark from a passenger tramway except at an area that is designated for such purpose;
- Not to throw or expel any object from a passenger tramway;
- Not to perform any action that interferes with the operation or running of a passenger tramway;
- Not to use such tramway unless the skier has the ability to use it with reasonable safety;
- Not to engage willfully or negligently in any type conduct that contributes to or causes injury to another person or his properties;
- Not to embark upon a passenger tramway without the authority of the ski area operator;
- If using freestyle terrain, to know the range of the skier’s abilities to negotiate the terrain and to avoid conditions and obstacles beyond the limits of such ability that a visible inspection should have revealed.