Skiing: Frequently Asked Questions and Tips for The Plus Size.

One of the most magical wonders of winter is the preponderance of winter sports. Of those, few are more interesting and flat-out enjoyable as skiing.

But the truth is skiing looks hard—particularly so for us. You just don’t see many people our size engaging in the sport.

This makes us doubtful and flat-out scared. Can we really ski? The short answer is yes! The long answer? Some terms and conditions apply.

For further knowledge check our list of FAQ—and don’t be afraid of trying.

1- IS SKIING EXCLUDED FOR OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE?

No, it’s not! Despite what media makes you think, almost no sport is designed only with “skinny people” in mind—the only limitations are skill, strength, stamina, and balance. No one can be a pro on day one, but that doesn’t mean we should hold ourselves back out of fear. Plus-sized snow clothes aren’t that hard to find nowadays, so all you need is the right mind-set and precautions to keep ahead when facing this chilly challenge.

2- WILL THE SKI LIFT HANDLE MY WEIGHT?

I get it—ski lifts are scary, and being prompted up by a wire triggers our primal self-consciousness about weight.

The good news is that reality is far less scary than your overactive imagination. It turns out that ski lifts are stronger than you think. They are designed to carry multiple people, so they can and will handle your extra pounds without a problem. If you are really worried, you can ask your lodge, but odds are you won’t have to worry about that at all.

3- HOW DO I RENT SKIING CLOTHES AND ITEMS?

This gear will be taking you everywhere from now on, so don’t be stingy nor careless when it comes to renting your kits! Most ski sizing charts feature a maximum weight of 220 pounds. This does not mean you cannot ski if you are heavier—just that you must make calls and verify your possibilities. Remember, skis should be longer or smaller according to weight. In general lines, clothing shouldn’t be a problem—taking your resort into account, look for the closest shops around it and rent your clothes and skiing items after you’ve done the proper research, with extra focus on your boots.

4- WHAT HAPPENS IF I FALL?

Falling is inevitable no matter your grade of experience, so the best thing to do is to let things flow.

If you pay attention at the right time, you’ll get to avoid a rushing visit to the doctor. Flop on your side and skid down, avoid using your hands to break a sideways fall, and pay attention to any solid objects on your way down. Most importantly? Don’t go skiing on your own if you’re a newbie, help is never overrated on these situations.

5- ARE THERE ANY SIZE-FRIENDLY SKI LODGES?

In theory, all ski lodges are size friendly! The only real limitations for plus-sized folks are the ones imposed by the equipment itself, something far beyond the control of most ski lodges. This means that—unless the staff actively antagonizes us—most ski lodges will have what it takes to make your dream vacations come true. The only exception might be the clothing and skis, but that can be easily solved with careful planning.

Feeling relieved? Then enjoy your winter vacations!

Lookout for our adventures next month, as we take our first Ski trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico!

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