Is ski etiquette a thing of the past?

[Malbecmoron]

Currently in the three valleys with DH. We haven't been to the alps since before covid. We are both astounded by the lack of consideration of skiers generally. Lots of people stopping (some sitting) in the middle of the slope, going very fast on runs down to the village (blue/green, lots of beginners), just missing hitting you etc etc. It's making me very nervous. Are people not told the rules of the slopes anymore?

I don't ski in France any more because of the appalling behaviour and disinclination to tackle it.

You have to be aware of people stopping in the middle of a piste, because there's always a possibility that someone can fall. Yes I know it's all sorts of wrong that people just do it, but it's a scenario that you should always ready for.

But I'd strip lift passes for all those ski-ing at speed on blue runs. Children and novices are on those runs for a reason and should never be intimidated like that. People who ski near misses/actual collisions are utter and total twats. OK, someone might make an occasional mistake, but I think in some countries it happens far too frequently for it to be accident only.

Give me Switzerland any day!!

It's because France has got a lot cheaper to ski in which opens it up to people who have no real experience and don't understand the dangers.

Yep, had this a few years ago and it was amazing we didn’t see anyone get hit. I do think there is more resort could do to tackle it and direct people but it’s easier for us to just go elsewhere.

I disagree that it’s particular to France and because France is cheap! Both times I’ve been hit at speed from behind were in Switzerland. And it happened to my friend in Austria; snowboarder didn’t even stop to check she was OK.

It definitely does seem to have gotten worse. My particular pet hate is that people appear to have decided that it's no longer necessary to move to the side of the slope when stopping in groups. Especially annoying when they stop in massive groups at the exit of a lift or over the brow of a hill. Or in the middle of a flat bit. Get out of the way fuckwit!

I don't think it's peculiar to skiing. People just care much less about other people these days.

Yes I'm always prepared for someone having fallen mid slope but came across boarders stopped mid piste over the brow of a hill. Idiots! There's nobody patrolling anything here even though the ski passes are very expensive. I'm older and have been skiing for a very long time so am very competent, but I'm terrified of being taken out and getting an i jury that would be difficult to recover from at my age.

We found the same recently in Italy. I really wasn't enjoying skiing and thought I had completely lost my mojo until a very quiet black restored my faith in my ability. People just don't seem to care, much like driving. Ski school groups were also a nightmare, we saw groups as large as 15 where all each person was doing was following the tracks of the person in front with no consideration for anyone else. How is anyone supposed to safely ski round a snake of 15 people who are not completely predictable?

Totally agree, feeling like I'm not enjoying it at all this year even though conditions are amazing.

I think loads of people have stupid speed apps these days. So they do it for Strava style bragging rights with their equally stupid mates. Except, unlike runners or cyclists, they are doing it downhill at high speed with planks strapped to their feet and with no regard for anyone else on the slope.

It hacks me off especially when they do it on green runs - basically using nervous learners as slalom poles. I've seen idiots whizz down green runs leaving loads of people falling over behind them. Also, it doesn't impress anyone going fast on a bloody bunny run ffs. I find black runs more relaxing sometimes because those idiots tend to avoid runs that they'd struggle to go super fast and ski out of control on.

I think it may be due to less people having lessons and being taught fairly obvious ski etiquette. We ski in France but at less well known and smaller places and I do t find it so problematic there.

I’m glad it’s not just me! I was in Val Thorens and it was full of wankers. No one stopped at the side of the piste but it was the flying down blue runs (sometimes over my skis) that most pissed me off and I’m not a beginner. There was also loads of shouting. As far as I’m concerned if you are shouting there is imminent danger, but no, just some dickhead wants attention…

Modern skis have got much faster too. It's so easy to get to 60kmh that you can do it without control or technique. I agree that the apps don't help and I can't help wondering if helmets make people feel less vulnerable and other skiers don't look human so can be ignored.

A lot of people aren't as good as they think they are. DH is a qualified instructor... his rants are very informative!

However anyone can hire or buy a set of skis or a snowboard, get a lift pass and just go out there. There is no restrictions really!

When I started skiing lessons included not just how to ski and how to behave, but also how to read the slope, the weather conditions, how to plan a circuit, how to read a piste map etc. I don't see much of that happening these days.

Good point re modern skis. It's much easier to ski without actually requiring skill. I think that's one of the reason most the idiots can be found on blue and green runs. It's much harder to get away with lack of skill on reds and blacks.

I agree OP. I find it terrifying but mainly because there are lots of inconsiderate skiers whizzing down the blue runs that kids are going down. It was only a few years ago there was a little girl killed in Megeve because some idiot skiing too fast, collided with her. Bloody awful. I live about an hour away from the French ski resorts, Morzine, La Clusaz, Chamonix and it's all the time now, mainly teenagers/younger people who are skiing recklessly or they've got bottles of booze in their bag or they're videoing how fast they can go etc.

I think this might be my last skiing holiday actually. I fell today (first time in years!), nothing serious more a comedy fall in the powder. I was just getting up when a guy skied over my head from off piste, missed me by a centimetre. Absolutely terrifying. Later, a young ski boarder wiped out my DH, just skied into him. Also, when I was standing at the very bottom of the slopes at 1850 a man skied up to me and sprayed snow all over me. Totally on purpose, he looked at me for my reaction. It was wonderful conditions today, gorgeous but my confidence has been completely knocked.

That sounds awful. A snow boarder took out my husband a few years ago. We were just about to take skis off and go to lunch when she careered down the slope and crashed into him. We were not really even on the slope but right by the ski stands. He broke about 4 ribs we reckon and the rest of the holiday was ruined. I wonder if you could start going to some of the smaller less busy resorts in future if you decide to go again. Hope you’re ok.

My 6 year old last year had a teenage man ski over her hand (she had fallen over) removing some of the skin, she was very lucky not to have had severe lasting damage. This was at the bottom of a blue run, the main run back into the resort. There were so many stupid poor examples of skiing, it really put us off.

Went to Norway this year (Trysil) and had a great experience, so quiet and respectful. Also, the skiing was better! Would 100% recommend if your fed up with the alps.

A lot of it depends on how busy the resort is. A stupid French man knocked me over at Samoens on a blue because it was the only way through to the main slopes and he was going too fast.

Last couple of years I have been skiing at Pila. Much less busy and generally no issues with poor ski manners.

There are idiots everywhere unfortunately. A stupid Italian on his phone near the bottom of the run to the gondola took me out in Pila at new year @rookiemere . Away from those blues it's lush though.

@Waymarked7 hi - where did you stay in Trysil please? It looks lovely!

We stayed at Skistar Lodge around the back of the mountain which is perfect for cruisy greens and being in the woods. Or just get the chair lift over into Trysil main resort. We booked through Sunweb.

Thanks!