As a certified summer holiday enthusiast, it was an unusual feeling packing for a winter holiday to go snowboarding for the very first time.
In the beginning, I was… resistant. Who hasn’t watched those videos of people spectacularly falling down a snowy mountain, taking out a crowd of people with them?
But after four days of snowboarding on a ten-day trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, I’ll admit the occasional painful fall onto the icy ground was worth it.
So, will I pursue a career in snowboarding? No. But will I go on another snowboarding holiday? Yes.
However, I was in a lucky position. My partner, who has been snowboarding for more than 10 years, was my helping hand through every turn and ungraceful fall — and the few tears.
But with my rookie experience and the tips I’ve learned from my partner, I’m listing everything you need to know ahead of your first time snowboarding, plus some Queenstown activities and restaurants you can’t miss.
Just purchase the lesson…
Yes, I could have saved my money by asking my boyfriend to teach me. But after a horrific surfing lesson, I will never make that mistake again — and oddly enough, other couples said we’d made the right decision.
I purchased a full-day lesson with an instructor via The Remarkables website who gave me some tips on my equipment, including why it is so important to really tighten my snowboarding boots — listening to this straight away would have saved my calf muscles…
Other benefits of having a qualified instructor are that they will also teach you how to glide down the hill on your heels and toes, which are essentially your braking system on a snowboard. After this, you’ll learn how to turn! And this is where the ungraceful falls come into play. But it’s all part of the experience.
Plus, you’ll also learn how to take the ‘magic carpet ride’ so you’re not exhausted from walking up and down the hill. They’ll also help you with snowboard etiquette and tell you how to safely get off the chair lift.
However, if you’re coordinated or pick up sports relatively fast, a full-day lesson may become a bit boring.
What equipment do you need for your first time snowboarding?
Ahead of my trip, I purchased a lot of my own clothing, including the jacket, helmet, pants, thermals and borrowed gear from friends.
If you’re not eager to purchase your own equipment ahead of your holiday (because ski gear can be very expensive), a lot of items are available for hire on the hill.
Such items available for hire include the snowboard itself, helmet, ski goggles, jackets, wrist guards, gloves, and ski boots.
You are going to fall over! Naturally, our hands extend to save us from falling, which can cause a lot of stress on our wrists. So if you have weak wrists, grab some wrist guards from the get-go.
You’ll also need some great layers, so pack thermals, warm jackets, a face covering and Blistex for your lips!
Always double-check the website to confirm what is available for rent.
Worst comes to worst, Queenstown is the ultimate ski town with snow clothing stores every few meters. So, you’ll be able to purchase any items you may have forgotten.
You’re just as embarrassed as everyone else
After watching countless videos on social media, I wholeheartedly believed the hill was going to be packed with snowboarding professionals, while I was the greenie getting in everyone’s way.
But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
After taking a few tumbles, I vacated to the bar to relax with an Aperol Spritz and watch the slopes from below. In just five minutes, I watched more people tumble, slide down on their butts, hands and knees, then I saw people racing down like a pro…
So, if you’re concerned about looking like a fool going down the mountain, don’t be because you won’t be the only one.
Besides, there are different paths: green, blue, red and black. If this is your first time, you’ll probably stay on the greens but may dabble in the blue if you’re confident.
What other activities can you do in Queenstown?
So many activities, never enough time! On the few days away from the slopes, we managed to tick off a lot of must-do items.
My biggest bucket list item was the Shotover Canyon Swing which is basically a 200 meter swing, including 60 meters of free-fall and 109 meters high. You can do this solo or tandem if you’re not willing to embrace the fear alone.
But they also offer different ways to jump! You can ride off the ledge on a trike, cutaway the rope, forwards, backwards and more. My advice, don’t pick the cutaway option unless you’re completely okay with being tormented by the employees 109 meters off the ground. And did I mention the core workout from just trying to keep yourself up?
Go-karting with a view? Yes please! Skyline Luge is a family-favourite, located at the top of a Gondola. Race through 1,600 meters of banked corners, tunnels and dips, then hop back on the chairlift and do it all again.
You can also go paragliding here! Having already done it, we decided to give this activity a skip. But the views are truly incredible.
The last activity on the list is the Shotover Jet boat ride. Here you can get up close and personal with the caynon – literally, racing at 85km the drivers got very (and intentionally) close to the walls. For girls wanting to do this, make sure your hair is tightly secured! My braid loosened immediately which lead to a knotty mess and a new hairbrush from the closest convenience store.
What are the best restaurants in Queenstown ?
If you’re more of a foodie, you cannot visit Queenstown and not eat at Ferg Baker or Ferg Burger. Unfortunately, the restaurant is a hot-spot for Queenstown that customers are blocking the entire walkway, but we have some tips.
The bakery line moves impressively fast in the morning, so don’t be too intimidated by the number of people lining up. Ferg Burger is a bit more chaotic. The best decision I made was calling the restaurant in advance to order. It is then as simple as walking to the counter 15 minutes later, paying, grabbing the food and leaving. Thank me later!
Burger’s in hand, my partner and I then walked five minutes to the Perky’s Floating Bar – a boat docked at Lake Wakatipu, with beautiful water and mountain views. Perky’s allows you to bring your own food, just simply order drinks at the bar.
Another restaurant with water views is Botswana Butchery, located in a cosy cottage with log fires inside and out. This was such a perfect spot for date night that my partner and I actually visited twice. We dove into various meals including Botswana Fried Chicken, French Onion Soup, Crispy Squid, and more. The lunch and dinner menus are different so please be wary of this.
