- I’m an experienced skier who has been to more than a dozen ski resorts around the world.
- I often see beginners make mistakes like holding up lines, tailgating, and zooming down slopes.
- Wearing proper gear and being aware of your surroundings can enhance your skiing experience.
As an unathletic kid, I dreaded “going skiing” because it really meant slogging through ski school while my parents hit the slopes.
I started ski school before I started actual school, and for years, I was much better in the classroom than on the slopes.
Now, as a (much more athletic) adult skier with years of experience, I’ve been lucky enough to travel beyond my home base in Lake Tahoe to ski resorts in Utah, Colorado, the Canadian Rockies, and the French Alps.
Ski resorts have an etiquette system that can be difficult to grasp, and I’ve seen beginners make the same mistakes over and over, no matter where I am.
If you’re a newcomer at a ski resort but you don’t want to seem like one, here are some mistakes to avoid:
Holding up the line
If you’re traveling in a group, wait until everyone is present before you all enter the chairlift line together. Don’t try to save a spot for your friend — it’s rude to other parties who are ready to get on the lift.
If you need to make boot or gear adjustments, do these before you get in line. Don’t block the line’s entrance.
At most resorts, lift lines funnel from many lanes into one main artery that feeds the chairlift. If there’s no lift operator queueing groups, you have to merge lanes by alternating groups. Be mindful of when it’s your turn and when you should let someone else go ahead.
Tailgating
It’s annoying when someone steps on the back of your shoe while you’re walking. However, it’s even worse when someone does that to you while you have big metal slats hooked to your 8-pound boots.
When you’re queueing up for the lift, leave just enough space between the tips of your skis and the next person’s.
You wouldn’t drive bumper-to-bumper, and you don’t need to ski like that either.
Poorly planning your dismount from the lift
Good lift etiquette continues at the top of the hill on the dismount.
Coordinate with others on your chair to figure out which direction you’re going when you get off. This can help you avoid a collision if you need to cross paths with another person on your chair.
Once you get off the chair, keep moving so the people behind you have a clear runway to exit.
Not staying in your lane
Once you advance past beginner techniques like “pizza” and “french fry,” you need to make more parallel turns to ski down a hill safely.
Avoid zooming straight down the trail, which is how you can lose control.
On busier trails, it’s safest to make your turns in a chosen section of the slope. Stick to one side of the trail rather than using its entire width to leave enough room for other skiers.
Picking a bad mid-mountain rest stop
Whatever you do, don’t stop in the middle of the trail — that’s like parking in the center lane of a highway.
Just like you would on a freeway, pull onto the shoulder instead. When you know you need to hit a stop, get to the side of the trail so the other skiers won’t have to swerve around you.
Then, when you’re ready to get back on the slopes, look uphill for anyone making their way down toward you. I usually wait for a break in the traffic — when there are very few skiers uphill of me — before I hop back on the trail.
In general, downhill skiers have the right of way because they can’t see you coming behind them. It’s your responsibility as the uphill skier to ensure you won’t crash into them.
Not wearing the right outfit and gear
There are no fashion faux pas in skiing, but I would caution against those tight designer ski suits some people like to wear. They feel impractical for a sport that involves a fair amount of falling and bending over.
On the slopes, you should also wear bright colors and avoid wearing white. This can help other skiers see you coming, thus avoiding unnecessary collisions.
I also swear by wearing helmets. Most of the times I’ve taken bad falls have been on flat ground — it’s easy for even the most experienced skier to catch an edge and lose their balance.
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