Ski school

'The other key item of equipment is goggles. Whether buying or borrowing them, make sure they're good in flat light because you can't always be assured of glorious conditions, but as long as you're comfortable and can see you'll be ok.'

Remember that mountain weather is changeable. It depends where you go and when, but always prepare for the worst. That means taking lots of clothes you can layer like t-shirts, plus polarised sunglasses for when the sun shines. Don't forget you can easily burn as the sun glares off the snow - so don't forget the sunscreen.

Ski lessons
As a novice it's a good idea to book a few lessons before you get there because places fill up quickly. I booked two days of instruction at the beginning of the week to get the hang of things, then had fun with my (very patient) friends on the slopes for the rest of the holiday.

Ask your travel agent for advice on decent instruction, research thoroughly on the internet or better still get recommendations. It depends on where you go, but Ecole du Ski Francais (http://www.ski-ecole.com/), pretty much has the monopoly in France.

Bear in mind that although most instructors undoubtedly know their stuff, it doesn't necessarily make them good instructors - so if you don't gel with an instructor ask for another. Ski lessons are expensive, they're not easy and if you spend your lessons fighting with an overbearing instructor the only person who is going to suffer is you, or rather your skiing will. My first skiing experience was with the latter and it wasn't pretty! The second time I researched my options a bit more before choosing one of the recommended guides and ended up really enjoying my lessons. It gave me so much confidence and I'm now looking forward to returning to the slopes again and again.

Budgeting
Skiing and snowboarding are not cheap hobbies, but they don't have to break the bank. The first expense is the ski and lift pass, which gives you access to all the cable cars and lifts needed to explore your mountain of choice. To get a rough idea of what you should be paying for your pass and accommodation Katie Gormley suggests choosing the country you wish to go to, and comparing prices for the cheapest and most expensive resorts online.

Lots of hotels provide half board, but you can also rent self-catering flats or chalets or have chalet girls who will do all the cooking and cleaning for you. It all depends how much cash you have to splash, and where you want to go. For example, Courcheval 1850 in the French alps is notoriously pricey, but go just a bit further down the mountain to Courcheval 1650 and you'll find it's more affordable and you can easily ski from one to the other in one day.

Ski hire is another expense and it's worth shopping around for the best prices as some places do group discounts. However, don't skimp on this, having good, expertly fitted, equipment is imperative to ensuring you come home in one piece!

Again, depending on where you go, slope side refreshment can be expensive. You'll need at least 10GBP on the slopes in the correct currency to pay for a sandwich lunch and any drinks and snacks you might want. Skiing is hard work and come lunchtime you'll need to refuel. If you want to skimp on this however, take a packed lunch.

The bottom line is if in doubt ask; people are generally very helpful, from friends or acquaintances who've done it all before, to fellow skiers on the slopes and staff in the hire shops. Above all remember it's a holiday, enjoy it!

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