Slope and chairlift etiquette for riding with new people

The rules everyone rides by

Two codes cover most of the skiing world. In the United States, resorts follow the National Ski Areas Association’s Your Responsibility Code, and Canada has its own Alpine Responsibility Code. Across Europe and in many other countries, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s FIS rules for the conduct of skiers and snowboarders set the standard. The wording differs, but the core ideas are the same:

• Stay in control. Ride at a speed and in a way that lets you stop or avoid people and objects, for your ability, the terrain, the snow and the visibility.
• People ahead and below you have right of way. They can’t see you. It’s your job to avoid them.
• Overtake with plenty of room, on either side, leaving space for the person you’re passing to turn.
• Look uphill before you set off or merge onto a run, and give way to people already on it.
• Stop only where you can be seen from above and aren’t blocking the run. If you fall in a narrow or blind spot, move clear as soon as you can.
• Stop runaway equipment. Ski brakes or a snowboard leash help keep loose gear from sliding into someone.
• Obey signs and closures. Closed runs and areas are closed for a reason, often avalanche or grooming work.
• Know how to use the lifts, and ask the lift staff if you need help.
• Don’t ride or use lifts impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Help at an accident, and share your details with anyone involved and with resort staff.

Read the code posted at your resort; it’s usually on the trail map, the website and boards at the lifts.

Riding as a group

Groups of new people tend to make the same few mistakes. Avoid them and you’ll ride better together:

• Don’t ride side by side across a run. A wall of riders blocks everyone behind. Spread out down the run instead.
• Ride your own line. Following someone too closely leaves you no time to react if they stop or fall.
• Agree who leads and where you’ll stop, before you drop in. “Next stop at the junction with the blue run, skier’s left” is a good plan.
• Pick terrain that suits the least confident rider, or split up and agree a time and place to meet.
• On cat tracks and narrow paths, keep to one side and pass carefully. They’re busy and everyone is funnelled together.

Where to stop and regroup

Regrouping is where most group etiquette goes wrong. The best spot is at the edge of the run, where people above can see you clearly. Avoid stopping:

• just below a roll, lip or jump, where riders above can’t see you until it’s too late;
• in the middle of a run, a narrow section, or at a merge;
• right at the top of a run where people are setting off, or in the unloading area of a lift.

When you set off again, look uphill first. The bottom of a lift is often the easiest regroup point of all, and a good default if you get separated. Snowboarders usually need to sit down to strap in, so leave room for them to do that out of the way. More in our guide on how skiers and snowboarders ride well together.

Lift line etiquette

• Fill the chair. On busy days, expect to ride with strangers, and call out if your group has a spare seat.
• Use the singles line if there is one and you’re happy to split up. Agree to meet at the top.
• Mind your gear. Don’t step on skis or boards in front of you, and keep poles pointing down.
• Group together before you get to the front, not by pushing past people in the line.
• Snowboarders: ride the lift with your back foot out of its binding, the standard way to load and unload.

On the chairlift

Take off your backpack or move it to the front before you sit, and keep loose gear in your pockets. Before you lower the safety bar, check everyone is sitting back and say “bar coming down”. Some resorts and countries require the bar to be down, and it’s a good habit everywhere. Don’t bounce or swing the chair.

Near the top, raise the bar in good time and agree which way everyone is going, so nobody cuts across each other as you unload. Move away from the unloading area straight away before you stop to strap in or regroup. The chairlift is also the best place to get to know your new riding partners: it’s where the “where are you from?” conversations happen.

If something goes wrong

If someone in your group falls and is hurt, protect them by placing crossed skis or a board upright in the snow above them, where it’s safe to do so, and get ski patrol: call the resort’s emergency number or tell lift staff. If you’re involved in or see a collision, stay and share your details with the people involved and with resort staff. In an emergency, call local emergency services or ski patrol first. Our Safety Tips list emergency numbers for common ski countries.