Level of skiing required for different slopes
Started by Lovesnow11 in Ski Technique 02-Dec-2011 - 36 Replies
Lovesnow11 posted Dec-2011
Trencher
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
Lovesnow11
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
OldAndy
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
I'll have a go and try and give a coherent view - but it's only my view. :D
Runs are graded to give skiers an idea of what they are likely to encounter if they go "that" way. This is hugely subjective and there is no standard formula. As has been discussed on here before a blue in one place can be a red in another resort. For example, last Xmas skiing with my son (17yo), top of a red in Courchevel - "Whoa, that's steep!" - hadn't skied with him for a couple of years as he had been on school trips and boasting about all the blacks he had skied, he had also really improved as a skier.
He skied it well, the snow was great - my second point;
Snow conditions make a huge difference to how difficult a run will be.
Icy, slush, heavy fresh snow, all make a difference.
So .....
There is a big difference between getting down and skiing down. And who you are with. Most of us first go down something a bit harder following an instructor or trusted friend. There are untold tales of tears, arguments and divorces after someone being persuaded do try something beyond their comfort level by a so called "friend" or relative!
3rd point - that one; comfort level, not even necessarily skill level, but "how am I feeling". This is probably why there are so many tales of hairy skiing (on blues, red, blacks etc) after a few sherbets at lunchtime!
And finally on a very prosaic level.
If you can ski pretty much parallel and in control down a good blue, then it's time to try some reds.
If you can ski pretty much parallel and in control down most reds then it's time to venture on a black ...
If you feel like it!
:thumbup:
Lovesnow11
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
Tarbs
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
I agree with oldandy above. if you feel ready then give it a go. We all started somewhere :)
have fun
Andyhull
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
It progress your technique, you need to ski slopes that offer a challenge. Not too much of one, just on the edge of your comfort zone.
When conditions are good, be bold. A little more cautious when they aren't.
In Andorra slopes tend to be graded on the generous side. A lot of the reds would be blue in France.
Lovesnow11
reply to 'Level of skiing required for different slopes' posted Dec-2011
andyhull wrote:
In Andorra slopes tend to be graded on the generous side. A lot of the reds would be blue in France.
Probably be attempting black then :) Going Andorra cause we're college students and the beer is cheap I hear :D
Topic last updated on 23-January-2012 at 20:20