What a beginner learned from her first ski lesson

Catch up quick: Growing up in Southern California, I never took up the winter sport. My parents, who hail from Mexico and Guatemala, didn't have the opportunity.

• After living in Utah for over a decade, it's crazy to imagine that I hadn't learned winter sports despite living near the mountains. I'm changing that this year.

Here's what I've learned so far:

Fitness makes a difference

I wanted my learning experience to go as smoothly as possible so I started working with a physical trainer a month before lessons to help get me into ski shape.

Context: I also heard horror stories about skiers suffering serious injuries over the years and wanted to develop a strong foundation to prevent them.

Yes, but: Those few weeks of strength training did not prepare me enough, so I encourage you to start early.

Tip: Ask ChatGPT for a pre-season workout program.

Size matters

My friends told me ski boots were painful so I sat through their discomfort until my legs and feet started feeling numb after an hour.

• My instructor suggested I get re-sized and it changed everything.

Read more: REI's guide on how to choose ski boots.

Invest in an instructor

The first time I attempted to ski at Brian Head Resort, I only lasted 30 minutes.

Flashback: My well-intentioned boyfriend at the time tried to teach me how to "pizza" and "french fry" and it was a complete disaster.

State of play: Group lessons with an instructor have helped me better understand technique and form and given me more confidence to take risks.

The bottom line: Leave the instruction to the experts.

What's next: I'll continue learning at Deer Valley for the next three weeks through Ski Utah's Discover Winter program which aims to diversify the slopes.