Skip to main content

Yes, there are real rules for skiing and snowboarding, and here they are

Prevent accidents and ski more with these safe skiing rules

It’s generally acknowledged that skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous sports. Heck, any sport where you hurtle down the mountain propelled by gravity will have the potential for injury; that’s why we always recommend wearing a helmet. We’re not trying to put you off on your ski holiday here, but it’s always good to be aware of the potential risk of the sport.

Crashes are an unavoidable reality of learning the sport, and even experienced skiers and snowboarders will fall over as they push their abilities on new slopes. What is avoidable, though, is crashing into other hill users or having them crash into you. The worst accidents I’ve seen on the slopes have been caused by someone riding completely out of control — usually because they’ve put themselves on a higher level of ski run than they were ready for. To try to keep everyone safe on the mountain, the FIS – Fédération Internationale de Ski — has put together a set of skiing instructions that every mountain user should follow.

Skiing Snowboarding Lake Louise Ski Resort Canada
Veronica Kei

Have respect for others

Keep the age-old skiers vs snowboarders debate for lighthearted ribbing over that aprés ski beer. When you’re out on the slopes, you should be supportive and welcoming to every rider, regardless of their chosen sport, level, gear, or anything else. With a sport like skiing, which has an ingrained feeling of elitism — especially looking in from the outside — it’s especially important that we break the cycle and ensure that everyone feels welcome on the mountain. You can offer advice — where it’s wanted and warranted — to help people progress and stay safe, but try not to sound like a self-proclaimed expert when you do it; no one likes that guy.

Stay in control

No one really likes this guy, either. We all know that one of the biggest thrills in skiing and snowboarding is riding fast down the mountain, and at some point, we all need to push our abilities if we want to progress. But skiing out of control is dangerous and is one of the most common causes of an accident on the mountain. Stay in control and at a speed you can always stop if you need to. Remember that other skiers and snowboarders are unpredictable but that they think the same as you.

people skiing down the slopes at Afton Alps, Minnesota
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Plan your route

On empty slopes, you get the freedom of putting in a turn wherever you feel like it, while on busier slopes, your route might be affected by other skiers. Have a plan in your head as you ski and do what you can to account for other skiers on the mountain. Remember that the downhill skier has the right of way, but that doesn’t mean you should suddenly veer across the groomer to stop at the edge — it’s still in your interest to avoid an accident.

DOUGBERRY/Getty Images

Overtaking

When you get more comfortable on the slopes, you’ll move faster than some skiers and snowboarders around you. This means you’re going to have to perform the dreaded overtake. As we said above, other skiers are unpredictable, especially if they’re startled by a sudden overtake. If you can, try to give them some warning by shouting that you’re passing them on whichever side — especially on narrower or less steep ski runs. In reality, they often won’t hear you, so you have to be sure to leave enough room for them to make any voluntary or involuntary turns. Be more cautious on beginner runs, and be respectful by not hurtling down green runs at top speed.

people on ski lift
Raymond Roig/Getty Images

Joining a run or moving uphill

Perhaps you’ve stopped for a moment to catch your breath, or your run joins with another one. Or maybe you’ve had a bail and lost a ski that you now need to retrieve. Always be aware that although you technically have the right of way as a downhill skier, this doesn’t fully relate to joining the run or restarting. Look uphill and find an appropriate space to set off safely. If you’re moving uphill, only do so at the side of the groomer.

Snowboarder Kneeling
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Stopping

We all need a break on the hill or a moment to regroup with our ski buddies, but don’t do it in the middle of the groomer. Stopping suddenly in the middle of a slope is a surefire way to cause an accident, and if you stop on the far side of a blind rise — or worse, the landing of a jump — you’re going to have an angry skier or snowboarder crash into you without even knowing you were there. Make sure you can see all around you and be seen by skiers coming from whatever angle. If you’ve had a crash, get to the side of the slope as quickly as possible before putting your skis back on and setting off again.

Rossignol Skis
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Moving on foot

If you have to walk at all, whether up or down the mountain, do so at the side of the slope and make sure you remain visible all the time. Try to avoid waving your skis around in a way that might catch a skier as they pass you.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Heed signs and markers

The mountain signs are there for a reason. The slow signs keep lift queues safe or prepare you for a narrow section or tight bend. And the snow on the far side of the ‘run closed’ sign might look enticing, but further down, it turns to rocks, and you have to walk back to the lift line. The mountain isn’t trying to catch you out, so stick to runs you’re ready for and follow all signage and markers on the mountain.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Assist other skiers

A little like respecting other skiers, if you see someone in difficulty, you should go and check that they’re okay. If they’re struggling, you can always offer advice — be prepared for them to say no, though, and respect it — but if they’re injured, then you are duty-bound to assist and call ski patrol. Stay warm, but stick around until ski patrol arrives and help out if needed.

Skis with bindings on snow..
Anne Nygård / Unsplash

Identification

Accidents happen, even among skiers and snowboarders who follow these rules. You must exchange information if you are involved in an accident or witness an accident. This is important for insurance details, but also, your witness statement can often help ski patrol and emergency services treat a casualty.

Editors' Recommendations

Tom Kilpatrick
A London-born outdoor enthusiast, Tom took the first ticket out of suburban life. What followed was a twelve-year career as…
Make winter sports stress-free: Visit these phenomenal all-inclusive ski resorts
These are the best all-inclusive ski resorts for you this winter
Skiiers shred slopes

All-inclusive vacations can be a great way to save money and relieve stress when planning a trip. The resort handles the logistics of buying lift tickets, renting ski gear, booking lessons, cooking meals, and even supplying drinks. All you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself. If you're the type of person — or family — who enjoys the ease of taking cruises in the warmer months, an all-inclusive ski vacation might be just the thing for you.

While we appreciate that not every all-inclusive will suit everyone — perhaps you've got your perfect ski setup already and don't want to pay for a rental package you won't use. But with such a variety of packages on offer, isn't it time that you took the stress out of your ski holiday and found yourself an idyllic ski resort that not only catered to all of your skiing needs but also where you had your meals and drinks and everything else sorted before you arrive? Well, check out these 10 all-inclusive ski resorts because it's time to get booking.

Read more
You may want an electric mountain bike, but you probably shouldn’t buy one – here’s why
Spoiler alert: You can blame the government for this, too
A large sign on a tree on the side of a mountain bike trail telling riders that e-bikes are not allowed

There is really one more type of mountain bike that should be added to the list of mountain bike categories that make up the sport. Electric mountain bikes have broken onto the scene and have rapidly grown in popularity.

One look at these electric mountain bikes, especially if you look at the suspension travel numbers, would have you thinking that they fall into the “trail” or “enduro” mountain bike category. And while these bikes do look similar, the pedal assist of an electric mountain bike means that long cross-country rides aren’t out of the question.

Read more
How to adjust ski bindings in 10 easy steps
Your ski bindings are the link between you and the snow, so set them once and set them right
Ski boot clipping into binding from behind.

When you’re riding the chairlift or gondola up your favorite ski mountain and picturing the next great run down the ski trail, there’s a good chance you’re not specifically thinking about your ski bindings. However, once you get to the top of the mountain and plant your skis in the snow so you can clip your boots in and start cutting the trail down the ski slope, you’ll certainly be reminded of how crucial ski bindings are to the whole skiing experience.
After all, ski bindings are what attach your ski boots to your skis and allow you to stay connected and control your skis. Therefore, having properly adjusted ski bindings ensures you can ski safely and comfortably without risking injury to yourself or others by accidentally losing control due to an equipment failure.
Adjusting your ski bindings isn’t particularly complicated, but it’s clearly important that it’s done correctly -- especially if you're participating in the Winter Olympics skiing event! With that in mind, we will have you set for the best ski season yet with our guide to how to properly adjust ski bindings.

Can you adjust your own ski bindings?
Your local ski shop or the ski rental shop at the mountain can certainly adjust your ski bindings for you, but it will cost money, and if it’s their busy season, you may have to wait a while for them to get the job done. The good news is that you can adjust your own ski bindings with little more than a screwdriver, a few pieces of information about the skier (yourself or whomever you’re healing), and the basic know-how.

Read more