Skiing Responsibly and Safely
Many of us have spent hours on the pistes in the Alps, the Rockies and the Pyrenees skiing at our leisure as we keep an eye out for hazards along the way. Anybody who’s spent any amount of time on the snow has probably seen the unlucky casualties as they’re towed down the slopes in the orange sleighs by the mountain safety team. The majority of us use our common sense and a little skiing etiquette to avoid such events but all too often, these accidents are due to the disregard of the rules of the pistes. Whether you’re a snowboarding, skiing, cross country skiing or just out hiking, it’s everybody’s responsibility to act in a safe way when on the slopes.
Most skiers don’t even recognise that there are widely accepted rules and skiing etiquette that are applicable around the world. For example, did you know that in certain scenarios some skiers have a right of way over others? No? Not many of us do? The precise rules of the slopes vary from country to country but there are certain ones that if obeyed, can significantly reduce the chances of accidents on the slopes. Below are a few examples. If you stick to these when you’re next zooming down the slopes in Val D’Isere, Whistler or Verbier then you’ll be a safer skier making everyone on the mountain safer too!
1. You should always stay in control. Piste users should always be able to stop if the need arises. It’s even worse when skiers/boarders users lose control of their speed and the only thing that stops them is someone else further down the slope! Whist sometimes being quite comical, it usually ends in the in an embarrassing and sometimes painful conclusion.
2. Piste users ahead of you always have the right of way. It’s the person coming up from behind’s responsibility to avoid them!
3. Take notice and obey all warnings and signs on the pistes, including the ones that say when pistes are shut.
4. Use cords/gadgets that prevent runaway equipment such as skis and snowboards. This not only stops you from having to chase your board down the slope, but it also prevents somebody from encountering it at speed further down the slope.
5. When you come to a junction that joins another run, always merge onto it with precaution and be aware that there may be others approaching at speed from above.
6. Where necessary, never stop in the centre of a piste. Always try to break/rest/wait for others at the side of the piste in a location where you can be seen by others coming down the piste behind you. Do not stop behind lips, sharp corners and ledges as you may not be seen until its too late.
These rules are only a guideline to skiing safely so when you arrive at your next mountain, be sure to check out the specific rules for that specific resort. They can usually be found at the base of resort’s main lift system or where you buy your passes from as well as always being found on piste maps. Rules and skiing codes are taken very seriously as mountain officials regularly patrol the pistes ad monitor peoples behaviour. Disrespecting these rules and major neglect of them can sometimes result in punishment in the form of revoking lift passes. Ultimately, if you obey these simple and respectful guidelines then you’ll be putting yourself in a safer position when on the slopes, along with everyone else on them too. Ever thought of becoming a ski instructor, see http://www.yomps.co.uk/trip-search/trips/12749 for more details.
About the Author
Tom who works for www.yomps.co.uk, graduated with a BA (Hons) International Business from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, where he spent half of his degree on exchanges in Canada and France. Throughout his studies, he spent his summers traveling around North America, Europe and Africa. His love for travel is reflected in his other interests, including foreign cinema, French food and languages. He’s fluent in French and skis/ boards every winter in the Alps.
Tom returned to the UK where he became the latest addition to the Yomps team. He brings a wealth of travel and international experience to the team and is now the coordinator for the Ski & Snowboard Instructors Course at http://www.yomps.co.uk/trip-search/trips/12749.
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