It’s been 31 years since I last strapped a snowboard onto my feet and with all that time passed, I had pretty much forgotten everything.

As I have always been aching to have another go, it was great to have the chance to go with the Happy Freelancer team when they teamed up with Sister Ski on a trip to Morzine!

So after a fantastic time in Geneva with Emily and then 3 days skiing (and another attempt at snowboarding), I thought I would create this guide to encourage others to have a go.

WHY GO?

Well why not? There are tons of reasons to go including:

* Great group activity

* Fun – we laughed so much!

* It’s a fantastic experience

* Sociable – especially if you go with strangers or a big group

* Great for exercise too!

Location and accommodation

Morzine in France is where we skied but there are plenty of places to go. Snow magazine has a great guide on the 25 Best resorts In the World for 2026 or you can go with the flow and go where your friends or where your retreat is heading.

There are plenty of accommodation options available on AirBnB and more retreats are popping up – check Instagram as there are some companies on there already.

What to wear

What to wear when skiing and boarding is SUPEEEER important! As I boarded before I knew what I needed but the only thing I didn’t have was ski socks on this latest trip – which only screwed me the first day so DEFINITELY get yourself some.

You need:

* Base layers – top and bottoms – I wore leggings instead of thermals and they were fine in weather that was -1 to 2 degrees. If it’s colder where you are going then thermals are a must.

* Trousers or dungaree style pants – I bought mine from Dope Snow and I utterly love them! I sized up too so they were baggy as that is the fit I prefer. They are super comfortable and kept me dry all day.

*Jacket – I love this Blizzard jacket from Dope Snow. It looks so cool but word to the wise, one that zips up down the front instead maybe better and pulling this up and over your head after a few times was a little annoying.

You can hire your helmet, ski/snowboarding boots and skis/board but if you want to go regularly you can pick up snow googles for as little as £50. Check reviews though as you want a pair that are safe and good quality.

What to pack

I packed so much stuff for this trip and I didn’t wear more than half of it. I really over estimated how much times we would go out, outfit changes and in reality you just want comfy winter gear, bits to lounge around in and maybe one or two going out looks. Most of the time you are out in your ski wear during the day and only need a change of clothes for the late afternoon/evening.

My experience was that I was pretty tired after a day of ski/boarding and wanted to just chill at the chalet afterwards or get in the hot tub.

Put plenty of warm bits to wear in your suitcase and some pieces that you can dress up and down and you will be fine.

Pack plenty of base layers too as you may need a fresh change of them everyday when you ski/board. Some accommodation may have a washing machine but check when packing just in case.

Also pack swimwear as there might be a hot tub or a spa that you can book/use.

Essentials (Things to remember)

* Book an instructor – If you are a newbie – you need an instructor. I didn’t have one when I first snowboarded when I was 14 and received lots of advice from people on the trip instead. It’s ok to do this but this method just encourages bad habits as you are trying to teach yourself and use advise when really it is essential you learn the techniques properly. You can find instructors online, especially Instagram so many follow some and DM them when planning your trip. Having an instructor for skiing was such a great experience and I picked skiing up a lot quicker then boarding.

* Make sure your boots fit properly – this is a huge issue and can effect your whole experience. For Boarding, make sure you have plenty of toe room and that you can wiggly your toes as your heels and toes will be getting constant pressure when you are snowboarding.

With ski boots, these are a little uncomfortable when you first put them on but when fitted properly, you get used to the weird sensation. Make sure you have plenty of toe wiggly room and that you can fit two fingers down the side of your boot when they are done up. The first day I skied, my boots did not fit properly and were pinching my skin and made my first day of skiing pretty uncomfortable so make sure you have room there. As I mention before, get yourself some ski socks too as these are very important to.

* Get Travel Insurance – This seems obvious but when you see people on stretchers being towed along by another skier, it is just a reminder of how important it is to cover yourself and your trip.

There are lots of options on Google for snow sports insurance but for my trip, I got my insurance with Snowcard.

* Stretch!! – I learnt the first time when boarding that stretching is SO IMPORTANT! Emily and I did yoga the first morning which really warmed us up and then every night, after skiing I got in the hot tub which really helped with the aches and pains. If you don’t have a hot tub, do some yoga or some stretching in the morning and evening before you go to bed to prepare you for the next day.

I hope this guide helped! If you have any questions, drop me a message on Instagram here.

Happy Skiing (or boarding )