Cannonball Pools

Ski etiquette

As in golf or any other sport, there's a certain etiquette to skiing that seasoned skiers know and adhere to without even thinking about it. But if you're a newbie, you need to be aware of what it takes to have good manners on the slopes:

The golden rule: Be aware of your surroundings! Knowing where you are and who you're around will help you through just about any situation on the mountain.

1. The skier in front has the right of way. Regardless of who is the faster or better skier, the person uphill has the responsibility to watch out for the skier below.
2. Help others who need it. If you see someone having a "yard sale - skis everywhere, poles 50 yards up the trail, and it always seems like you've swallowed more snow than you thought possible -- assess the debris field end a hand so the downed skiier doesn't have to hike back up to retrieve their gear.
3. No skiing on closed trails. Trails are closed for a reason, and cutting a trail will most likely lead to finding yourself in a spot that isn't fit for skiing, putting you, and anyone fixing the trail, at risk. It can also result in your ticket or season pass being taken away. If skiing in the west, mind the ski area boundaries-cliffs, avalanches, and other not-so-fun features may lurk on the other side. If skiing in the east, there's a good chance the trail that is closed hasn't had snow made on it yet, or it may just be a bad day to ski it. "on piste" (on trail)!
4. Lift line cutting. Line cutting anywhere is just plain ol' bad manners.
5. Speed control. The experts at www.skiing.com say, "If you want to ski fast, make sure you do it in control and use common sense to judge the situation It's OK to let your skis rip, but make sure you're in the best place for it.
6. Be aware of lessons. Most lessons are in a slow ski zone, but it's still smart to be aware of who's around before you let your skis run-that golden rule again!
7. Share the trail! When a trail gets busy it can be tough to anticipate where people are headed. The best thing you can do is to put the brakes on a bit, pay extra attention to others, and hope that the people around you are doing the same.
8. Lunchtime. Often there's not much room to breathe, never mind eat or take your boots off. So if you have extra space at your table, share it!
9. Chairlift and gondola etiquette. Just be polite and hope other riders follow suit. Remember the biggest no-no for gondola and chairlift rides is smoking! One more helpful tip: Warn the other riders before you put the bar down on the chairlift. http://emilypost.com/advice/skiing-etiquette-tips/

Not only are these guidelines for gentility, they're also common sense -- and important for preventing accidents!

Contact Cannonball Pools, Ski & Snowboard today for all your skiing and snowboarding needs,