Piste Etiquette - Tips for Ski Holidays

[@emorydaniel9084]

YES! I was a former collegiate ski racer and all these are great tips. I love the tip about slower moving skiers especially. Those people do have the right of way, and please keep going about your business. Racers are trained to see 3-4 future turns before they get to it, I am constantly planning my line based on movement from other skiers. I don’t want to get anywhere near another person, and if a slower skier changes their trajectory erratically, it’s much more likely we’ll crash into each other.

[@christinalynn8143]

Seems such a nice person, human being. Soft spoken, Kindhearted, A sweet ski instructor. Yay for quality character, characteristics. Niceness. 🙃🙂 👏

[@fantastischfish]

Great to hear that it's good etiquette to 'give way' to the slower skier. As a beginner, my greatest fear is that faster skiers are going to overtake and cut across my line at a close distance. When I was skiing last week, I always got nervous and started panicking when I could hear the swish of someone's skies behind me. I just continued doing my turns and concentrating on keeping them even so that the person behind would know how to get around me. My theory was, "If they are a better skier, they have the skill to go round me".

[@deadlyshark5439]

Yeah, (I'm a moderate skier) once I was in a trail that sweeps everyone to the bottom (like the main one where everyone closes in on each other) I heard the shred of a snowboarder behind me (didn't know from what side) so I kept just making small turns like I had been doing. Obviously, not being that much of a considerate boy (kid about 12-15) he cuts into me to take a turn to a nearby trail and crashes straight into me. Just a warning that many people know etiquette, though be careful for those who don't.

[@harrachos]

fantastischfish Yes, good, keep doing that. The etiquette is much the same as you would do while driving when alongside a lane merging in to your's; keep doing what you're doing, don't change your speed, don't alter your direction. The more predictable you are the safer it is for a skier coming from behind to pass. Courteous skiers will also shout their intended passing side when coming up behind, eg, "On your left!" so as not to surprise you.

[@bonnaud_dowell]

+fantastischfish I agree but I also think there's a responsibility for beginner skiers not to go on the harder red or black runs and block the run up with a pair of slugs struggling all over the place! The number of times I see a number of total beginners on the completely wrong kind of run drives me insane, We all learned once upon a time so not suggesting an elitist approach. Just that people stick to the runs that most appropriately match their current ability

[@bonnaud_dowell]

+Stout Lager I find the shouting techniques rarely works now with the widespread use of helmets as you cant hear very clearly. Also assumes that everybody is speaking /understanding the same language.

[@fantastischfish]

***** Everyone has to try a red or black run for the first time at some point. On my first black run, I stacked it about 15 times. You just can't go from a blue to a red to a black without messing up at in the first few attempts. People just need to be patient and understand that we all just want to improve and be great skiers.

[@gavyngenson8551]

Amazing videos and tips, I think that I have watched every one. I have definitely improved. Thanks so much.

[@jamesdunn9714]

On the back of each lift ticket" The Skiers Responsibility" code is printed. All skiers/boarders should be aware of it.

[@shigyungkim]

All the resorts should make it mandatory to watch this video before handing out lift tickts

[@skng]

Good call +shigyungkim. Maybe we need to start a campaign?

[@shigyungkim]

Ski School by Elate Media sounds great!!

[@jesushatesyoutoo]

I am a PSIA Level 3 instructor and I am having my resort have this a mandatory video in the rental office

[@leejaydillon]

These videos are awesome. I don't get to the mountains much but I love how these are put together and use the content that is supplied in these often.

[@harrachos]

Thank you for this! Great tips on a subject not enough casual skiers are familiar with.

[@SimmJimm]

Iiiiifffff only more people on the Pistes knew this stuff...I remember on my first ski lesson, we were told all of this stuff and I've stuck with it since. As you say, common sense....I've lost count of people just stopping in the middle of the slope, behind a drop....or my real favourite of just setting off, without even a quick glance uphill. As for the helmet...it's your head, you want to wear one, wear it, if not, it's no danger to me... Good videos!!

[@LavenderPajamas08]

As an intermediate skier I don't quite know all the rules and etiquette of ski culture. I found myself following a lot of the same rules that you mentioned. I like going fast so I try to look a few turns in advance to see who ahead of me might possibly get in my way.

[@openmythirdeye]

Only if you could tell snow boarders to not lay in the middle of the hill

[@thomasdahlgren1985]

And four or five abreast.

[@Areausmg]

Dont stop in the middle of the slope!!!!! MOVE IT GREEN JACKET! 1:12

[@sparkinggal82]

That's right! A slower skier has the right of way. I was skiing in Rusutsu early this year and was almost knocked down by an ill-mannered boy from behind, who then said 'keep to my lane' whilst racing past me within arm's length, almost knocking me over. What an idiot (I am sure he heard me).

[@SkiDaBird]

Frankly, most newer skiers have fine etiquette. It's the advanced skiers that are the worst. Good enough to fly, but not to anticipate, control speed or stop on a dime. Good enough to ski pow, but not to find their own lines or to have enough experience on traverses. I kinda wish that there was a 2 minute mandatory etiquette course for all season passholders and skiers renting advanced skis.

[@xiaoleideng]

I am new to ski. One thing I don't understand is when people are going really really fast on the easiest green run of the resort. Can they just go to harder green runs or blue runs for speed? There is a sign saying speeding will cause one to lose the pass but unfortunately nobody is enforcing it so people don't care. I am slow and my turns are big. I tried to be as predictable as possible by skiing in the same pattern. Yet, I have got hit a few times on the easiest green run of local mountain.Being hit from behind/side already upsets me and the dirty look people gave me after hitting me just made things worse. There were eight green runs. Can they just speed on more advanced ones and keep the speed low as indicated by signage for the easiest green run on the mountain?

[@MsSnudie]

While snowboarding last month I had two beginner skiers just ride over my board, nearly knocking me over. They just kept going like ist was okay. You should also stress how important it is to keep your distance, and if you do make an honest mistake: apologising never hurt anyone.

[@SargsyanTigran]

Also, when taking or leaving the lift, don't stick your poles into the ground. Keep them in your hand, resting on end on the shoulder, so that they don't touch your neighbors or their skis.

[@amandajones8889]

good tips for safety for everyone on the piste, however "professional ski instructor" = no helmet.....NOT setting a good example!!!

[@edwardpirie7625]

Great locations but where?

[@Loobo2012]

What Route level should i start with if I'm intermediate or advanced skiing. I learned to ski on a dry slope and have only been skiing on a dry slope since.

[@wastelandwhale8145]

Where I live you rarely see another skier

[@JB91710]

If you follow the Rules of the Road, they apply to skiing also. Any human traffic situation needs to be organized and respectful of others. One of the biggest problems and misconceptions is who is responsible for avoiding collisions while skiing. BOTH the uphill and downhill skier are responsible and here's why. While the uphill skier has a grand view of the skiers below and should steer clear of them and loudly announce which side they are passing on, the lower skiers must provide the uphill skier with some knowledge of what you are doing. Your turns must be a consistent radius so the uphill skier can time a pass. If you want to change the radius of the turn or traverse the slope, it is no different than changing lanes in your car. You should look up the hill to see if anyone is coming and even put your arm out to signal your intention. Do everything you would do in a car and Everybody respect Everybody else, and Accidents can be avoided.

[@mogadsh]

Where was that taken?

[@skng]

This ski tip was shot early season in Tignes, France. Great resort with a long season, wide pistes and some very challenging off-piste.

[@mahdip.4674]

Gerat, but why not wearing helmet?

[@xxwumpusxx]

SNOWBOARDERS. They sit on ass everywhere, always strewn about the runs, often just below rises. I tolerate them most of the time, and hate to stereotype, but argh, go sit at the base, not in the middle of the runs. Also, skiers who insist on doing very wide sharp turns that take up an entire run. Divide groomers into three or four lanes, and stick to one a time. Yes, I'll be watching you as I come down from behind you, but please don't cut a whole run off on each turn. Even if you have the right of way, keep a look out! To be totally fair, my ski days are full of fun, and the frustration of clueless skiers and boarders barely registers. At least at my home resort, Snowbasin, most people are responsible.

[@fantastischfish]

space potato The thing is though, as a beginner, we're trying to give ourselves time to get the technique right and that means controlling speed. I know that I was tending to do fairly wide turns (thought I wouldn't call them 'sharp') to allow myself to practise the techniques my instructor was teaching me. When we took a group of schools kids away, we spent the days following the instructor down the runs, and she did make pretty wide turns. We were on blue runs. Perhaps more experienced skiers who get frustrated by this should try the more difficult runs so we're not bothering them. Hopefully when I'm good enough and confident enough to try a red or even black, I'll be making smaller turns.

[@FelixWurz]

the thing is with snowboarders is that most of them understand that they are not on the same level so for example I saw a skier cross a snowboarders path ( they were only going around 10mph) and the snowboarder crashed without the skier even knowing it happened, he didn't say anything. If however thhese roles where switched the skier would have maybe even complained to the patrol

[@micke984]

offpist

[@askeishdmspj]

1:13 that guy should get over to the side of the slope

[@lingfors]

He forgot the most important common sence - wear a helmet!

[@nilmag2284]

Mountain rules

[@odom2142]

Also… No blaring music out of your backpack and watch your language!

[@skng]

Ha Haa, I think this goes for the beach too.

[@knighttuttrupriprock9733]

I hate to say it, but the snow boarders seem to be less considerate. Just my observation, be safe everybody.

[@tymonkey12]

Here's a tip from the guy who doesn't wear a helmet

[@danielbelcher8113]

He does often wear a helmet in other videos. Bout he is quite advanced.. If he was just skiing slowly on piste for the video I don't think a helmet is necessary. If you look at his harder videos he always wears a helmet

[@mak152]

This has nothing to do with him skiing slowly. I've actually witnessed a death in Norway, where a dude got hit by another and he didn't wear a helmet. It wasn't his fault, but he's dead today anyway. You always wear a helmet no matter what. Take this from a guy who doesn't do it when he is biking...

[@lassivaatamoinen5468]

Yes, I can totally see how wearing a helmet makes you be more considerate of other people. Wait - no, I cannot.

[@jk28416]

make sure to Ice people at full speed, all the time, and especially if you see an English ski teacher (lol).

[@arcticmonkys]

rule number 1: wear a helmet

[@HerrJuliman]

Do you miss a Helmet maby

[@jackpatton1079]

Not entirely true... The slower skier does not necesarily have the right of way. It is the downhill skier who has the right of way. If that happens to be the slower skier then so be it but simply because your speed is lower than someone else's does not give you priority.

[@SkiDaBird]

Unless you are carrying so much speed you can turn back into the pitch, the slower skier will be the downhill skier in a collision situation.

[@32MindenMen]

???? If your the slower skier and you’re above someone who is faster then you won’t catch them up therefore there is no right of way issue. If you catch them up then they are the slower skier not you. Sorry am I reading your comment wrong Jack Patton?

[@lifewiththelakes]

This wasnt a bad video. That said, slower skiers shouldn't traverse the ENTIRE run and make it impossible for someone that knows what the hell they are doing to get around them. I look at it more like the freeway than a ski run. Stay right if you are going slow, stay left if you arent. This guy made a good point though. Awareness on the hill is everything, and being aware that someone behind you, might burn past you as fast as they can possibly go, might save a pass holder from accidentally sticking a ski up some tourists ass mid way down the run..

[@someusername121]

If it's a green run then slow/learning skiers are expected. The idea is that if you're going faster than someone else you should have enough tools in your box to be able to get past them safely.

[@32MindenMen]

Life with the Lakes - I think you’re quite wrong. There is no rule or etiquette that says you cannot ski from one side of the piste to another, in fact in some runs and especially on narrow greens or blues most beginner skiers cannot do short turns so you faster folk can get round them easily - THEREFORE the responsibility is ALWAYS on the skier coming down to give way to the slow skier and to ski round them safely. This is the rule, it’s not up for debate and not matter how much you think you as the better skier should have utter clear ways down every piste by right - you don’t.

[@moozlauwereys9624]

lol, he is telling about saftey but he dus not wear a helmet.

[@erinodom3663]

Also, please no profanity within earshot of other people. For some of us, it really kills the vibe, especially if we have our children present.