by Skiing has a bad rap. Once seen as a gentleman’s pastime, it is now more home to ski bums and bunnies. It’s undeniably a niche sport and it really lacks diversity. It’s also a big buck industry, driven by revenue sheets, where drinking plays a significant role, not to mention reckless behavior on and off the slopes. Add to the debate questions of sustainability – led by capturing images of fast-moving glaciers and white piste ribbons through brown fields – and there is a stacked list for prosecution.
Ask passionate skiers and snowboarders to defend their passion and they won’t say anything that violates it. So how can enthusiasts clean up their acts and become proper ambassadors for snow sports? Here’s how to tackle the most common bad habits, end misconceptions, and become an upstanding citizen.
1. ‘Skiers follow no rules’
Do you know the rules of the piste? Did you even know they exist? Of all the challenges facing the winter sports industry at the moment, it’s easy to improve piste safety that we can all contribute to, says Amie Henderson of the Morzine-based Piste X Code campaign.
Know your right of way; look before you slide. Respect the piste signs. Japan and America are much better at policing the slopes and enforcing the rules – reckless skiers can say goodbye to their lift pass. It’s something Henderson is campaigning for, with behavior on the piste “out of control this winter”. Why? “Excited to return to the mountains after the Covid-19 travel restrictions, or perhaps the challenging snow conditions this winter,” she said. “Watch the videos, learn the rules – the mountains should be a fun, safe place for families, for groups, for everyone.”
How to break the habit
Get up to date with the rules. Check out the FIS guidelines, and visit Piste X Code, which has great learning assets for kids.
2. Improve your technique
The high cost puts many people off taking lessons with a professional. In addition, piste maintenance has improved so much, as has technology, that there is much less need to ski technically, with two-metre-plus-long skis and perennial moguls (thank God) a thing of the past. spent
But having better technique is something we should all strive for, regardless of our level. “It’s important to take a lesson every vacation to identify and correct any bad habits that have crept in,” says independent ski instructor Mike Richards, based in Hokkaido, Japan. “And it’s the safest and fastest way to enjoy moving around the mountain under control. Include the cost of a lesson or two in your vacation, as you would ski hire or a lift pass. Remember, the smaller centers tend to offer cheaper tuition.”
How to break the habit
Local ski schools are the first place to visit, but consider booking platforms like Maison Sport or Ski Bro if you’re short on time or money. They work a bit like dating apps – choose your instructor ahead of time to set up customized lessons that suit your times, group size and budget.
3. ‘You have all the equipment, and no thought’
Do you really need all that equipment if you ski once a year or less? It’s expensive, it’s bulky to store, it’s redundant. EcoSki estimates that one ski jacket has a carbon cost of 72.7kg CO2-eq, uses 2.08m3 of fresh water and 992MJ of primary energy (about the same energy needed to run a fridge/freezer for year) in production. When it inevitably reaches landfill, that same jacket can take up to 500 years to break down.
Most tourists rent their skis, snowboards or boots – so why not the rest? It’s a growing trend and great for growing kids, all at a fraction of the cost, keeping quality clothes in circulation for longer.
How to break the habit
EcoSki is a clothing rental company that stocks high performance ski clothing by major brands. Rent everything from helmets, goggles and gloves to jackets, backpacks and safety gear. In addition, EcoSki sorts the cleaning (in an environmentally friendly Ozone chamber), repairs and waterproofing.
If you buy, make it a smart purchase. Arc’teryx is at the forefront of sustainable ski wear. Their ReCARE tips are invaluable in extending the life of technical ski equipment, and this month Arc’teryx opens its first service center in Europe, offering free care and repair of existing equipment in Covent Garden.
4. ‘You think you are an influential person’
Social media makes the mountains much more accessible, and drone technology and GoPro are used to capture extreme lines marked by professionals, showing us what (and sometimes exactly) adventure skiers get their kicks from.
There is a risk that this easy access material will normalize the edge of these situations, and cause skiers who want to venture deep into the backcountry. The “no-fall zone” – sections where mistakes due to rocks, cliffs, steepness – is well documented and no joke, but its gravity can be lost through the lens, attracting amateurs at think they can handle the terrain. .
How to break the habit
Remember your head, and know your limits. As the locals say “the mountain always wins”, and we are there to enjoy it, not conquer it. Whether in search of adventure or the ultimate selfie, ski with a guide – someone who knows the terrain and understands the conditions. They change from day to day, year to year, so be aware that even well-known trails can surprise you.
5. ‘Skiers are drunk and disorderly’
Experts estimate that more accidents occur in ski resorts off the slopes than on the slopes. Table dancing in ski boots, piste-side Jägerbombs at 1,500m (the highest altitude), champagne spraying at the Folie Douce – as winter reaches its peak social media is flooded with the antics of (admittedly) drunk Brits on the slopes .
Despite the general perception, these scenes do not represent the past or the future – a recent survey suggests that nine out of ten Brits do not enjoy après ski as much as they used to. Although après is still a big part of skiing, it looks a little different these days, with resorts offering much more than just skiing and schnapps. Even the biggest party centers (Ischgl or Mayrhofen) are trying to change their reputation and draw in the family crowds.
How to break the habit
Sledding, ziplining, fat biking and snowshoeing are now quite ubiquitous in the winter mountains, with downtime in spas and (local) wine tasting as common as the traditional après-ski. Try something new this winter.
6. ‘You are killing the mountains you are so interested in’
All hypocritical skiers have been called – we tend to complain about shorter and warmer winters when we’re taking ski lifts and taking flights to ride them. Worried about the impact of your carbon footprint on the ski holidays you love? All is not lost.
How to break the habit
The easiest way to make a big change is to think about taking the train. Ski Flight Free is an information hub for greener skiing when it comes to transportation. In addition, Italy’s Vialattea (Milky Way) ski area offers 25 percent off lift passes for those arriving by train. Choose a resort that is making changes and also supporting sustainability – in France, some are easily recognizable by the label Flocon Vert (Combloux, Les Angles, Morzine), and Companie des Alpes (the lift company that runs Paradiski, Les 3 Vallées and the Espace). Killy) use 100 percent biofuel to power its piste basiers.
