Can I Ski A Black Run First Time Skiing? *Instant Regret (Val D'isere)

I Attempt A Black Ski Run First Time Skiing *Instant Regret (Val D'isere). Ruroc Helmets kitted me and my friends out as we headed to Val D'isere for one of my favourite adventures yet. Attempting to ski the most difficult black ski runs in the area, Le Face was a serious challenge but a lot of fun.
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[@Wrong_Sport_Bo]

I'm equal part impressed and terrified. You guys are clearly *very* athletic to ski like this if it is indeed your first time. On the other hand, I've witnessed skier-on-skier collisions where one left in a neck brace... being young and resilient is amazing but there are more vulnerable ppl on the slopes. And it's the responsibility of the uphill skier to avoid collisions. As a father who's thinking about starting my child skiing, the what-ifs terrifies me to no end...

[@withoutwroeirs]

Understand that, nothing worse than seeing a fast skier flying 60-70 kmph and more only metres away from your child who can suddenly cross piste without notice. I teach my daughters the short ski method, absolutely no pizza. I habitually drum it into them to look uphill before setting off.

[@briankelly6113]

@@withoutwroeirs As it should be, however, not everybody does this to the extent that you do and we all know that kids don't always do as they're told. There will always be people who are in imminent danger through no fault of their own due to people like the guy in this video.

[@dereksmith5934]

@@briankelly6113 Yeah you're right. The mountains should be reserved for those in most danger. Everyone over 10kmh should be banned.

[@briankelly6113]

@@dereksmith5934 Brilliant retort! While it was clearly lacking in any topical relevance whatsoever, at least it was a prime example of juvenile ad hominem in lieu of a well reasoned response or even an attempt at a valid counter-point.

[@dereksmith5934]

@@briankelly6113 Not entirely sure you know the meaning of ad hominem

[@peerhermans5604]

parallel skiing on day 2? Thats impressive, almost not possible.

[@rchalmers8115]

I have posted a very short clip of my best student on her second day on skis. It is possible to ski parallel on the second day, if you are an elite college athlete trained since childhood. The boys here are just courageous because they have not yet had an injury that never healed properly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6uye2ChqrCEh6M

[@apropo73]

I've started skiing parallels on Day 3, when my instructor took me to my first green trail. And I was at my late 40s then. He called me "a naturally born skier", LOL. So it is totally individual, but possible. I must confess, though, that I am an amateur figure skater, which could play some role in my fast progress.

[@Firjendhdoasicjr]

I just went full send and did it on my first day

[@6arethevan5]

Completely irresponsible to even attempt that run in such a short space of time.......love it 😂😂😂👍🏻👍🏻

[@tmac77]

😂😂

[@ThatAIKid-xt6wf]

@@tmac77 I actually have been a skier for 1 year and did a black diamond my first day... it was scary yet awesome.

[@ISuPeRTNTI]

it's really not hard to ski, idk why people take so much time to learn it

[@Marcus_Aurelius.]

@@ThatAIKid-xt6wf it depends where you live, your black diamond are like our blue/red

[@benjaminpedersen6345]

@@ISuPeRTNTIstill i dont believe this. First you learn to plow this guy went straight to parralel skiing and trying to go as fast as possible

[@withoutwroeirs]

The attempts to break necks with the backflips was easily the scariest part of this adventure. Well done for coming out the other side with the full use of your nervous system!

[@MisterTMH]

They all dodged a bullet there. The other possible result was quadraplegia and a blighted life in a wheel chair.

[@StCreed]

Not a problem if they're doing it to themselves, I'm more worried about the rest of their antics. Just last week a girl was injured heavily by an idiot who dove at top speed into a skiing class. Her leg arteries were cut.

[@withoutwroeirs]

@@StCreed Saw something similar in the Dolomites last year with a snowboarder cutting off a skier. His board cut open this guy's thigh straight through his pants, must have been a couple of inches deep.

[@lesliehedges8252]

Trouble is people like this cause terrible accidents. I got hit from behind and ended up in hospital because they can’t stop and are out of control.

[@thomasmoll8822]

Everything that is wrong with resort skiing nowadays in a single video… 😉 Joke aside, it’s actually scary that modern equipment and near-perfect preparation of the runs lure folks that cannot ski into believing they could.

[@drhandle4498]

I skied for the first time a few seasons ago, and this year was the first year that I was introduced to blue terrain. I am slow on the uptake - and being mid-50s doesn't help - but I have absolutely no aspiration ever to ski black terrain. I salute your terrifying silliness.

[@johnl2613]

Ski on the blue trails, learn how to stop both side and control your ski. You should be able to go to the black trail after a few session. You dont need to go down a trail fast.

[@otitan1]

Not all black diamonds are equal.

[@Levitate420]

a black terrain is just a word, lots of blues should be blacks and a lot of blacks should be blue. Take each slope one at a time and just make sure your having fun :)

[@johnl2613]

I remember a few yrs back we went to the black diamond trail to ski. One of our friend who didnt know how to ski (that was his 1st day) and followed us to the black trail. We told him not to do it but he insisted he could handle it (duh). OK, he skied down and had a fire sale (meaning slid, rolled and both skis flew off). Fortunately he was ok. The ski patrol came by and asked him "Are you ok, When was the last time you skied? My friend replied "Today". The patrol was kinda confused and ask "How long have you been skiing". My stupid friend replied "started today". The patrol was pissed and said "I dont want to see you on these black trails. If I catch you I will kick you out"...

[@briankelly6113]

Good for the Patrol! Guys like that are a danger to the rest of us.

[@MisterTMH]

The trouble at Australian ski resorts with a lot of terrain across three linked mountains such as Perisher/Blue Cow/ Guthega is that the Ski patrol are very hard to find when you need them.@@briankelly6113

[@oliverburgess9458]

the camera doesnt do the start of Le Face justice its nuts, impressive that he did it after one week skiing

[@MrArniemar2000]

At least you all had the sense to do it in the early morning while it was in peak condition..😁

[@tastytechaddictsmtb]

Janky backflips are a reaaaaally bad idea. I did the same when I was 18 and landed on my neck and screwed all the cartilage up in my neck. Better to learn them on a trampoline or on an airbag, as only one landing away from a broken neck otherwise.

[@MisterTMH]

100 % right. A whole life in a wheel chair won't be much fun.

[@linmorell1813]

A danger to others, such as lack of control.

[@yourenotjames568]

my first time skiing this past week and the same thing happened to me i got to sliding but i couldnt stop or slow down🤣 turned into a snowball everytime til i got it now i love it!

[@FutureYT_]

Just got back from Val! I’ve been skiing lots in my life and have done many black runs. Tried that run and had to detour off piste and go to a red and barely completed it. You are MENTAL.

[@johnsmithson6390]

You're on the fast track to the neurosurgery department at Grenoble lads, I've been there and it's not very glamorous.

[@laurencejacobs2084]

GOOD JOB - I'm properly impressed, I only managed Le Face on my 2nd week skiing and that was poodling down with an instructor. I hope you're not getting delusions of adequacy as a downhill racer, stick to the day job as an attacking midfielder for Man U!

[@tmac77]

😂😂👍🏼

[@peterharris3096]

Glad you saved the black until the last day which you managed well, The trouble with going with mates who can ski is they might say "don,t worry you will soon pick it up" forgetting how long it took them to learn. At least the final run was empty, as a newbie on a busier slope you could easily wipe some poor soul out with all the potential consequences while your twat friends look on a bit sheepish. Saying that, it was awesome.😀

[@Warentester]

Going super early, first run is the absolute best time for La Face.

[@Arc_Luena]

Ex racer here.....Your skiing is impressive after only a week. I do find it hard to believe you've not done it before..... That rate of progression is almost superhuman.... If not then you're a natural. Most people would never attempt a black after a week. Keep at it and hope you enjoyed the holiday dude. Those groomers look amazing. Was in La Plagne in January. Lovely resort but looks like Val has better pisteurs 😂

[@angusharley5947]

I remember attempting this on my 4th trip ever. The first part was like a hard red. Then the steep bit came. Literally one turn and I lost my edge and went about 50 metres down the slope... I will stick to the gentle blues for now

[@tmac77]

I’m glad someone can sympathise

[@tmac77]

😂

[@maugseros8347]

You need to be very capable and confident on easier runs before you even attempt to move up a run one notch in difficulty (realizing that not all greens are the same, not all blues are the same, not all blacks are the same, etc.) So just because you can confidently ski one easy green run.. doesn't mean you are ready to just hop onto any blue run. You need to move up to a more difficult green. Then a more difficult green... then another. Then once confident on ALL those... move up to an easy blue. and so on. Also realize that snow conditions can radically change the difficluty of a run in a heart beat. One day the snow conditions on a blue run may be easy, and on another day, that same blue run may be terrifyingly difficult. Skiing needs to be renamed to "turning". Because that's what it is. The more difficult the run, you never have the tips of your skis just pointed straight down the slope. You are ALWAYS in a turn. You turn to stay in control. You turn to control your speed. You turn to avoid obsticals and you turn to stop. That being said it's also important to understand that being able to point your skis in a direction back and forth and not straight down the mountain, doesn't mean you have good form or are in control or know what you are doing. Everyone is different, but in can take 10-30 ski days to move from a beginner to an intermediate. In can take up to 60 ski days to move from an intermediate skier to an advanced, and 200 ski days to move from advanced to an expert. All the while taking lessons from time to time to learn the skills you need to progress to the next level. So if you are only sking 1-3 ski days a year, just going from a beginner to intermediate can take years. Michael Jordan in his prime... shouldn't be skiing on a black run his first time skiing. Being able to survive a run is NOT the same as being able to ski it. So the answer to your question is NO!

[@maddscottish]

I’ve done this run by accident, you know it’s steep when people are waiting at the top. Video doesn’t do it justice. Next try the harakiri in Austria. Ticked it off in February and will not be doing it again 😂😂. Off to Tinges in 3 weeks 😁😁

[@kevinmcauslan-crine8564]

my mate did Harakiri on his 2nd day of skiing. he's mental!! 💀😱 he'd fit in well with these guys. Tignes is fun but only done it in the summer.

[@maddscottish]

@@kevinmcauslan-crine8564 He’s not wired up right hahaha. I won’t be in a rush todo it again I know that hahaha

[@krazed0451]

Knocked myself unconscious my first day on the snow on a black run, not the smartest play lol

[@user-xd3ql7cj4l]

I remember driving up to Ski Santa Fe, when an ambulance passed me on the road. I learned later on that day that one of the chair lift operators went skiing for the first time down a black run and died. The run is called "Muerte."

[@kennethwilliams9924]

😂 OMG! 😂 Glad you all got to walk away from those back-flip attempts! 😂

[@tmac77]

Us too!

[@PoppoBikes]

Well done!

[@sandygilmour5444]

What a stupid idea. Nice of your pals to let you try. Dangerous for you and others on the slopes

[@dafthatsenduroadventures]

Haha, love ur nervous laugh! I'd only go down that on me bum!🤣.

[@roland5599]

i guess we are supposed to believe that giant groomer was a diamond run?? Yeah ok.

[@bzhyoyo]

The camera flattens it A LOT. The start of la Face is really really steep. They must have done it in the morning when it's just been groomed, it gets a bit more bumpy by the end of the day. I'm quite an experienced skier (been skiing for 20+ years, level classe 4 ESF) and I wasn't bragging at the start of la Face, far from it. Plan to go skiing on it again in 3 weeks, can't wait.

[@nealinnc]

pretty impressive to be able to parallel ski the first time skiing

[@mikaelandersen1537]

Yeah, I don`t think its their first time skiing

[@andreaskuntz6947]

I was last year skiing with a friend who never did it before. I teached her and she was also skiing parallel on day two or three. Staying to long on the Pizza crap stile does not bring you any further. When I was learning skiing I did two weeks a ski school in a group with 8 persons. We were following the ski teacher the entire day and learned noting. After two weeks I we were still skiing Pizza stile. At the next ski holiday a friend said I do nothing correct. He teaches me how to ski. After 4 hours I could ski parallel after 2,5 days we started skiing red slopes and at the last day of the week I survived my first black. With my friend last year we only did blue tracks. She is a bit afraid from the speed, so you have to increase the difficulty slower. You have to feel secure and you have to be able to control the ski the entire time ... She had lot's of fun and I am sure this year we will ski her first red track ...

[@lukaa2]

Not long ago, I went on a residential trip to austria with my school, we were taught only how to snow plow ski, and they threw us on a red run on our second day. I fell 27 times that day.

[@Thoxom]

Well done lads! Look like you guys had a whale of a time!

[@nevilpearce3939]

Why was the video cut off near the top of Le Face?

[@fodey_3134]

So sick haha!

[@joshualegend6386]

I would recommend everyone to learn how to carve on skis. It makes skiing so much funner

[@MisterTMH]

Carving turns on your edges won't control your speed if you are merely doing Z turns on a steep slope. Turning up the hill and linking the turns controls your speed.

[@WildernessForever]

I wanted to learn to ski when I was 13. My Dad was 60 and decided to learn with me. He learned to carve some of the most beautiful turns....all I could do was point em down hill and let em run! Sure do miss my Dad!

[@Tzadeck]

It doesn't look like a particularly scary run though. Black courses freaked me out early on when it seemed like I could lose control and fly of the edge or hit a tree or something. The steep section shown here is so wide that the danger seems pretty limited as long as you know how to fall.

[@Hello_there_obi]

You did well to do it first thing! I did it at the end of the day knowing what was in store...moguls as mig as a small car lol

[@andreirazvan6783]

First time skier my ass

[@tmac77]

I’ll take this as a compliment 😂

[@charlieheimann]

If you want something hard next time, check out epaule du charvet which runs just around the corner from le face.

[@TheRealMills]

Mate well done, you’ll advance so much by just tackling things head on - like that! I mean, I wouldn’t have take someone down there on the first ski trip but bravo 😂

[@What.The.Fluff.]

Crazy impressive!🙀 Glad you made it back intact, minus a few marbles!🤪 Doing it for the vlog!😼😹 Should've saved the back flip (break) competition for after the death wish run! But, I do believe your racing skills helped you adapt to skiing quickly!👍✌️😽from🇺🇸

[@1Flyingfist]

So this is why i see so many people on crutches on the way back.😅

[@skell15]

T-Mac, I'm bringing my wife to Switzerland in a week and like you, we've never gone skiing. Did you enjoy skiing? Perhaps I'd consider doing it but I don't see how it comes close to as enjoyable as racing.

[@tmac77]

I absolutely loved it, 100kmh on your feet feels fast let me tell you 😂

[@jammin_5619]

You were lucky (and early) with conditions . . That steep face is usually 6 foot moguels . . Fair play though 👍

[@jas559]

thats a back run ?? for us here thats def a blue one

[@practicalplinking6133]

Skiing has built in pain killer- yer so numb from the cold ya can't feel anything.

[@christoph404]

haha...you guys are nuts..but after a weeks skiing you were doing not bad, sliding down a black slope , just ever so slightly out of control and managing to stay upright... is good 😛....another one week of tuition with a good instructor, just to get that technique on your edges, and you'd be done.....you'd be good skiers after two weeks...being fearless is half the battle really. I admire you bravado!

[@danielheathcote5625]

I’ve got a photo somewher3 standing right on the edge of that first steep bit, 27 years ago, my skis were literally sticking out in to thin air up to the front binding. I’d been doing a ski instructing course at my local dry slope with two uni mates as we were going to val for our uni ski trip. A couple of the other lads were instructors already. We’d scouted it the day before to see if we could get a mixed£ ability group down it but decided the beginners weren’t good enough as the moguls were nearly up to our knees. Not as smooth as a babies bottom like you had it. One of the beginners decided to ignore the advice, and his insurance apparently put up a bit of a fight about paying the rescue costs because he’d told them he’d torn his anterior cruciate ligament.We threatened to strap him to the roof for being a cock on the bus trip on the way back to the UK! Can you tell nobody liked him? That run had been used in the olympics down hill but it was subsequently deemed to dangerous and the route is now running in to la daille instead.

[@shirleyboy8859]

You are Dagenham......... A couple of stops short of Barking!!!!!! :-))

[@tmac77]

😂😂

[@shirleyboy8859]

@@tmac77 Mum is a Cockney!!!! she is a bit Dagenham as well :-))

[@garysherlock1394]

GOOD LADS!!!!!!

[@roboppers]

Perfect flat slope, how is this a black one?

[@markwallace141]

Poor skiers and beginners trying to be advanced skiers - irresponsible on so many levels.

[@NoahRial-xb5fb]

I was on the mountain the night after young beginner went down a terrain park, hit one ramp, and paralyzed herself.

[@MisterTMH]

0811. I am not skiing down that . Forget it!.At least I can turn and do hockey stops if it gets hairy but that looks steep!

[@overwatchxrescue]

Awesome! Looks like you had a great time out there on the slopes.

[@Matt-vo1ge]

Ah, all the reasons to avoid Val Despair in one easy video. Capital fellows! Glad you waited till it was quiet - other people's safety first when you're going beyond your limits.

[@strattonskier7229]

Ok so I did watch, to add to my story, a hero such as shown here, 15 years ago; i was teaching a 6 year old, we were in a full snowplow my student behind me. Next thing I know I am on the snow, woke up after who knows how long, ski patrol present, child crying. A hospital visit and a year plus in rehab, with at least 10 years of pain and rehab. Better now but this is so avoidable for rational people.

[@kevs8891]

That's a black slope? Looks not that steep... I still love the jumping parts ... well done..

[@TheJono916]

accidently went down that run thinking it was a blue. its serious

[@tmac77]

Agreed 😂

[@rognevs5695]

Fair play after 6 days

[@tmac77]

Thanks Rog!

[@andrewjackson8089]

My 8 yr old skis Le Face! Man up you tarts😜

[@chrisbelcher6122]

10/10 for balls - 2/10 for ability . . .my advice; spend some money in ski school and learn some technique - it will hold you in good stead for the future when your muscles and balls have shrunk somewhat - it will also stop you endangering everyone else you'll be sharing a slope with. If you come anywhere near me (which is thankfully doubtful) prepare to receive the sharp end of my pole . . . enjoy!

[@justguitarplayer1501]

It looks steep and you know damn well that its even steeper irl😂

[@xr400dr]

I watched you for the vlog.

[@tmac77]

Thanks 😂

[@kurtgolden7488]

you was doing good for motorcycle racer lol

[@terrybrooks7140]

Impressed. snowboards next time ?

[@tmac77]

Maybe yes!

[@markmd9]

And on camera that slope looks blue 😂😂😂

[@sennyloner6719]

Can always appreciate having the boys around who will step up to a challenge. Keep on killing it bro. Loved the flip attempts with 0 idea wtf was going on haha.

[@tmac77]

😂😂 I’m still none the wiser as to what was happening that day

[@shadow-pj8lo]

That le face looks like a normal red in finland

[@rosmelylawliet3919]

At the first week? lame... I went w/ a friend on his first day to the hardest black of the mountain :P Took us like half an hour to do a few meters, but what gives

[@PeteDevlinootnaboot]

Face isn't even close to being the hardest run, it's basically a long red, especially when it's groomed like when you hit it. It's more an endurance test as it's pretty long. Well done on doing it though. First time I did it I just stood on the lips of the steep sections and wondered how far the racers must fly screaming down it at full pelt. about time I went back to Val but I believe it's changed a lot since I was last there - a bit more upmarket.

[@JatinderSandhu-pc3om]

Talented - to have skied as in your video on the first day of skiing …!?!?

[@madfred666120]

Le Face de le Bellevarde 😂😂😂

[@TheJonnyzeus]

Didn’t go down the whole of Face!

[@bryankyle9865]

You really need another camera. The POV looking down at your skies the whole time stinks. Otherwise, looked like lots of fun.

[@dondle2]

BRAW> !!!

[@Shot_by_Stu]

Le face is a great run, lots of fun in the morning but fucking carnage late in the day. The camera never does the steepness any justice.

[@brunokrause]

No way you were skiing like that on second day as an adult learner. I'm not buying that.

[@VeeFour]

Skiing a black run scares you, but fully pinning a Superbike over Clay Hill is fine? 😉

[@tmac77]

Yes, cause I’ve got half an idea what I’m doing when I’m not on snow 😂

[@timseytiger9280]

I thought he was going to jump off the chair lift at 4:07, loads of people do that, though I guess they're tired of groomed black runs by then.

[@SirSilverFox]

Lol, what an anticlimax lol

[@eddiefleming7302]

No way was that your first week on ski’s young man. It’s disingenuous to suggest so. You’ll give people false impressions. Come on. Its an achievement without the lies.

[@hughferguson08]

2:56 must have been terrifying but loved it 😂

[@JonathanLifts]

least steep slope in Colorado

[@MrTeg319]

definitely not your first time lmfao

[@briankelly6113]

This is not someone who has never skied before, he has at least some rudimentary skills. If he does this kind of stuff and gets hurt it's entirely on him and I have no sympathy. However, if he collides with someone else and hurts them he should be held accountable and punished to the full extent allowed by law.

[@WildernessForever]

Yeah, right...go hide in your basement

[@briankelly6113]

@@WildernessForever Brilliant retort! While it was clearly lacking in any topical relevance whatsoever, at least it was a prime example of juvenile ad hominem in lieu of a well reasoned response or even an attempt at a valid counter-point.

[@claretbuck1882]

Awesome chap's 👍🏻

[@tmac77]

Thanks 👍

[@welshboyonabike]

You going snowboarding next time

[@williamdrylie7951]

Ya have great friends! They got you thru it, never give em up.

[@samsinite100]

100% click bait, couldn't have been that steep or the most difficult if it was groomed 😝, I imagine that the resort probably had harder runs. Most ski areas have some runs that are just too steep and gnarly to safely groom, and black runs that can be groomed are usually only groomed in the worst conditions. In my experience most mountains will call groomed runs a blue and not a black, and even if the conditions are so bad that they groom a black run, it is not fully groomed from top to bottom, only half of the run. That said glad you didn't attempt something harder, inexperienced skiers/snowboarders can often really hurt themselves on steep off piste double diamond runs, and end of on top of or sliding off of a cliff because they are out of control. Glad you enjoyed yourself, skiing/snowboarding is amazing, but riding fast out of control (you were 100% out of control at one part of the video) is an easy way to hurt yourself or others.

[@michaela.5363]

Even a fool gets to be young once

[@pierresakurai4812]

I'm glad no one else was injured or killed due to your actions for the sake of this video. Life seems really cheap in the USA. Whats even worst, your are not even in the USA. Next time do the same but in a steep out of bound area with nobody around. Big thumbs up from me if you do. Now that would be quality content.

[@Luuk-]

no way first time skiing lol

[@markhavig641]

The run looked more red (intermediate) than black, but it did have a short steepish section. You’ve done very well after only skiing for 5 days prior to Le Face. Great work! 👍

[@nickmaclachlan5178]

Hope you guys had good insurance.......

[@strattonskier7229]

I won’t watch this, only want to add a comment. I have skied since I was 3, taught skiing since 13 (while a student wknds only) in Quebec, Vermont and Austria. Taught full time for 10 years and wknds till I was 65. Passed all my instructor exams. It is people like this who cause life threatening injuries, myself included. What they do is criminal. This is not an adventure, these are simply idiots who endanger the lives of others due to their ingnorance. What’s even worst for profit and fame 🤡

[@petergreen3381]

Last time I skied that 30 years ago it was covered in huge moguls. You had it easy!

[@erica1957]

I've never seen a groomed black run.

[@WeendyBSS]

9:14 thats probably blue

[@User94287.]

That’s the blue runs I go on

[@User94287.]

And it’s only short

[@edjack1993]

Drunk.

[@tmac77]

Correct don’t recommend it