When skiing, what to do if you accidentally get on a run that's too difficult?

[Anonymous]

If you're unable to go back up, should you try to ski down sideways or call ski patrol, if they're not busy with more urgent issues? Obviously, it's best to avoid this happening.

[Anonymous]

Skis off and walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skis off and walk.

Thanks! What if the slope is too steep?

[Anonymous]

I’ve always just gone back and forth almost horizontally so not covered much vertical distance each time. It takes a while but is doable. Just be on the lookout for skiers from above (even though it’s technically their responsibility). This is why my most recent instructor recommended, too. Ended up on a run that we had gone down many times before but conditions had changed and it was too hard for part of our group

[Anonymous]

Take long, wide turns and keep your knees bent. Don’t take your skis off—you’ll sink into the snow and still fall. Just move as slow as you can by crisscrossing the slope. Use your uphill pole to turn and never point the ski tips down slope. Fall to your butt and then flop your upper body uphill if you get going too fast. Wear a helmet, always.

[Anonymous]

Just go slow. Turn. Stop. Turn. Stop. Turn. Stop. Go horizontal across the hill. Plan so you don't plan to stop or turn on ice.

[Anonymous]

Wide, slow turns or side slip.

[Anonymous]

I once found myself accidentally on a moguls run, all by myself at the end of the day. Fell a few times and sat there in the snow for awhile. Then made up my mind to be more aggressive and go for it, though I had no clue what to actually do. I made it down without another fall. Being tentative actually was the wrong choice in that situation. I was a gymnast and being cautious on balance beam sometimes got you into more truoble than going for it. felt kind of the same to me.

[Anonymous]

2 choices

Snowplow

Giant turns as others have mentioned


Ski patrol is for people who are injured

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just go slow. Turn. Stop. Turn. Stop. Turn. Stop. Go horizontal across the hill. Plan so you don't plan to stop or turn on ice.

This is what I would do. Unless it was very icy, then I’d probably go down on my butt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once found myself accidentally on a moguls run, all by myself at the end of the day. Fell a few times and sat there in the snow for awhile. Then made up my mind to be more aggressive and go for it, though I had no clue what to actually do. I made it down without another fall. Being tentative actually was the wrong choice in that situation. I was a gymnast and being cautious on balance beam sometimes got you into more truoble than going for it. felt kind of the same to me.

This answer is correct. I’m an expert skier, and sometimes ski terrain where there is a good chance a fall could be fatal (ie near cliffs). Skiing super tentatively is an easy way to get hurt.

For beginners and intermediates skiing groomed runs, first option is wide turns using the whole slope. Second option is side slipping. Third option is bailing out by skiing off the run, often through trees, to get to a better situation. That isn’t always possible.

Also remember every runs have easier and harder sides. I’m the mid Atlantic, often the snow is worst in the middle of the run, and the sides will be considerably easier.

[Anonymous]

Traverse all the way down. Works for me. I did that the first time I ever came across mogels. WTF were they thinking? Why?? Terrifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're unable to go back up, should you try to ski down sideways or call ski patrol, if they're not busy with more urgent issues? Obviously, it's best to avoid this happening.

Ski down sideways-yes, if you mean long wide turns as others said. I have ended up on double black diamond by mistake! Just aim to ski straight across, keeping knees bent and shifting most of your weight on the ski closest to the bottom of the hill. Pizza shape to turn, shift weight to bottom ski, repeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're unable to go back up, should you try to ski down sideways or call ski patrol, if they're not busy with more urgent issues? Obviously, it's best to avoid this happening.

If you're talking black diamond, move to the side and figure out a way to signal someone that you need help. Any other slope, move to the side, take your skis off and walk down. Happens all the time.

[Anonymous]

wide, giant slow turns. I have found myself more than once in this position out west.
taking your skis off is a last resort, IMO.

Just know you will sweat, your quads will burn and you will be muttering expletives under your breath the whole way.