Meeting ski buddies safely: your first day riding with someone new

Agree the plan in the chat

Most awkward first days come from different expectations, not bad people. A few messages beforehand sort out nearly all of it. Before you meet, agree on:

• Where and when. A specific, busy place like the bottom of a named lift, a base lodge or a ticket office, and a time.
• What you want to ride. Groomers, park, bumps, trees? Easy cruising or pushing it?
• How long. A few runs, the morning, or the full day. Starting with a morning is an easy way to keep it low-pressure.
• Your levels, honestly. If you’re not sure how yours compares, our guide to ski and snowboard ability levels helps.

Read their profile again too. It shows whether they ski or snowboard, their level, and what you have in common. If something in the chat doesn’t match the profile, trust that feeling.

Get there on your own terms

Make your own way to the mountain on a first meetup, with your own lift pass or ticket. It means you can leave whenever you like, and nobody owes anyone a lift home. Carpooling is great once you know each other. Keep your phone charged and tell a friend who you’re meeting and where.

The first run

Make the first run an easy one on open, groomed terrain, even if you’re both strong riders. It’s a warm-up for your legs and a chance to see how each other rides: speed, turn shape, how often they stop. After that run, check in: “Was that a good pace?” is a simple question that saves a lot of guessing.

On the chairlift up, agree how you’ll stick together. Common systems are stopping at every lift, regrouping at named junctions, or the faster rider waiting at the side of the run below the slower one. Always pick a regroup spot in case you get separated, such as the bottom of the lift you just rode.

During the day

• Stop where you can be seen, at the side of the run and below any rolls or blind spots, not in the middle or under a lip. Our slope etiquette guide covers this.
• Keep each other in sight in trees and powder, where it’s easy to lose someone. If you can’t stay close, choose different terrain.
• Don’t follow anyone onto terrain you’re not comfortable with. “I’ll meet you at the bottom” is always an option.
• Take breaks. Food, water and warming up are also when you actually get to know each other.
• Mixing skis and a snowboard? Plan around flat sections and strap-in stops. See how skiers and snowboarders ride well together.

When it isn’t working

Sometimes the levels are further apart than you both thought, or you just don’t click. That’s normal, and it’s nobody’s fault. You can ride some runs separately and meet for lunch, or say thanks and head off. Something like “I’m going to do my own thing for the afternoon, thanks for the runs” is enough. You can leave at any time, for any reason.

Red flags

Most people on Broski just want to ride. Still, take note if someone:

• pushes you to meet somewhere private, or to drive with them on a first meetup;
• pressures you onto terrain beyond your ability, or out of the resort boundary;
• asks for money, gift cards or financial details, whatever the story;
• keeps pushing after you’ve said no, or makes you uncomfortable in any way.

You don’t need to explain yourself. Leave, and block or report them from their profile.

After the day

If you had a good day, say so and suggest another one. Mark your next free days so they can see when you’re riding, or invite them to an event with a few more people. If it wasn’t a good fit, there’s no need to ghost or over-explain: a short thanks is fine. If anything about the day worried you, report it from their profile or email us. Reports help keep Broski safe for everyone, and our Community Guidelines explain what isn’t allowed.