Skiers and snowboarders must abide by many unspoken rules at ski resorts worldwide, especially during peak season when crowds fill the slopes.
As winter arrives in the Southern Hemisphere, a recent survey has unveiled the crucial ski etiquette practices or bad habits to avoid.
SnowSeasonCentral, a global ski travel and job platform, commissioned a Ski Etiquette survey that surveyed over 2,000 Australians who have skied at least twice on Australian slopes in the last five years. The survey asked respondents to rate safety and control, courtesy and respect, and environmental responsibility.
According to the survey, 72 percent said skipping lines or pushing in lift queues is the worst breach of ski etiquette.
Complete list of the top 11 ski etiquette violations:
- Skipping lines or pushing in lift queues – 72%
- Not keeping a safe distance from other skiers – 50%
- Not respecting the environment – 32%
- Not obeying signs and markings – 24%
- Not looking before merging – 20%
- Going too fast – 18%
- Not staying in control – 17%
- Stopping in the middle of a slope inappropriately – 16%
- Smoking/vaping on the chairlift – 16%
- Not utilizing available seats on chairlifts efficiently – 14%
- Being rude to others – 10%
When asked how to respond to ski etiquette violations, 38 percent of respondents favored “ignoring the behavior.” A noble 23 percent opted for “politely communicating the rules to abusers.” And 17 percent of us appear to be keyboard warriors, believing the best approach is to “record the behavior and share it on social media.”
According to the survey, the most effective ways to communicate ski etiquette rules to the public are clear and concise signs with visuals (42 percent), social media campaigns (25 percent), and on-site educational programs (14 percent).
