Snow Skills

Number 3 in the Skiing and Snowboarding Responsibility Code for skiing and riding is “You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above“.

To follow this item of the Code, it’s important to identify the difference between a good place to stop and a safe place to stop. When you’re going down a trail, a more level spot with soft snow that’s flatter than the slope might look like a good place to stop. It’s very possible that someone else will want to go through that same good place, however, so finding a safe place to stop is priority. A safe place to stop is typically against the side of a treeline or other obstacles, with enough visibility up the slope for someone to spot and avoid you.

A good means test for good place vs. safe place to stop is “Would I go over this spot if I weren’t going to stop?” If the answer is yes, there’s probably a safer place for you to stop.