Question 1

Where do I rent equipment?

Accepted Answer

There are lots of shops in Zermatt that rent everything you might need. It might make sense to choose a shop close to your accommodation. Bayard Sports opposite the train station (near our office) and at the bottom of the Sunnegga Express offer Summit clients a 20% discount on equipment rental. Just show them your lesson confirmation to get your discount.

Question 2

How many lessons do I need as a beginner?

Accepted Answer

Good question. One lesson will introduce you to the basics of the equipment, controlling speed and turning. You will need more than one lesson before you can safely head out onto the slopes. We’d suggest a minimum of 3 half days to start. That way you get time to practice and learn.

Question 3

What do I need to rent?

Accepted Answer

You’ll need skis, boots and poles. You can also rent helmets if you don’t have one (recommended). If you don’t have suitable clothing (warm and wind/waterproof) then you can rent that at Bayard Sports too.

As a complete beginner, you don’t need to worry about choosing equipment. Just tell the shop staff you’ve not skied before and they’ll set you up with everything you need.

Question 4

What equipment do I need as a beginner?

Accepted Answer

As a beginner skier or snowboarder booking the lesson is only one part of what you need to get on the mountain.

Equipment You will need to rent skis/snowboard and boots (also poles if you are skiing). These can be rented from any of the ski shops in town, but we would recommend Bayard Sport in the Coop Centre, near our office, they are really helpful, have a great range of kit and if you are a Summit client then there is a 20% discount.

Clothes You will also need suitable clothes for being in the mountains. If you do not have your own then adults can rent clothes in Bayard too. You will need to buy gloves, goggles or sunglasses, a helmet (which you can rent) and some warm layers. Suncream is really important too so you don't get burnt!

Lift Pass You will also need to buy a lift pass to get up the mountain. You can buy a pass for beginners only which is cheaper than for the whole ski area. The prices start at 56chf, for more information see the lift company website

Question 5

Should I book in advance

Accepted Answer

| It really depends on your specific requirements and the time of year. If you are coming over New Year or February half term then yes we would say you need to book as early as you can as these weeks fill up early.

Outside the really busy season there is a little more flexibility but if you want to guarantee it then it's best to get it booked in as early as possible. We can’t guarantee availability last minute.

||| The busiest times (when last minute availability is most limited) are Christmas and New Year, mid February school holidays and late March / early April spring holidays.

Question 6

How fast do you learn?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your stage of learning. You make huge leaps forward as a complete beginner but smaller progressive steps the closer you become to an expert. This also depends on your physical fitness, your coordination / balance skills and your mental approach to a new sport. A complete beginner can expect to be using blue slopes and maybe easy red slopes after a week of skiing. The progression to parallel skiing, harder red runs and black slopes normally takes another week or two.

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