Etiquette For New Park Skiers

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ChangeCashMoney

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So I'm planning on getting into the park for the first time this year and starting to learn rails and butters and basic tricks. I don't know park etiquette at all. I know resorts put up signs giving basic info on how to act in the park, but are there any unspoken rules I should know about? How do I go about learning without getting in anyone's way or making an ass of myself? I climb a lot and climbers are really cool about sharing tips and beta with each other, is it okay to ask other skiers how to do something if I see them do something I think looks rad? Or am I supposed to just keep to myself and figure it out? I'll be skiing at PC & Snowbasin.
 
Basic etiquette is easy, and the mere fact that you're asking these questions means you're the type of person that will never have an issue with this anyway.

Couple things:

In a busy park, you should call your "drop" at the top of a jump line or rail line. It doesn't have to be a big deal but just look around when you're ready and just give a quick "dropping" to let others know you're headed in. If it's quiet and not many people, it's no issue, just be aware.

Don't stop in landings or in runs. Step to the side if you are hiking or whatever.

Do NOT side jump the features and lips for rails. Now if you're prepping to try an urban rail or something it's totally fine to ride up once and pop off the lip to get a feel for the takeoff and to gauge what speed and pop you need, but don't make a habit of it and make it clear what you're doing.

Enter through the gates and read the signage.

No issue asking people for advice or asking to follow someone into a jumpline in order to get the speed needed dialed. If you're friendly and cool and whatever you'll have no issues.

Respect park crew and patrol. If park crew or patrol closes a feature just respect it and don't give anyone a hard time.

If you are on the knuckle of a jump or feature be to the extreme edge to not interfere. If you stand there, help those preparing to drop in by making an "x" over your head if someone fell in the landing out of sight and make an "o" with your arms when they're clear.

If you're hiking a feature in a line of other features that's fine, but yield to people hitting all the features in a flow/line. So when you hike and step back in to hit a rail, look uphill and make sure no one is coming in hot behind you. And if they are, get out of the way!

If you fuck up a takeoff or mess a feature up or notice that a screw is popping out or whatever, let park crew know and let other people know.

Just be happy, positive, friendly, pay attention to social cues. And most importantly have fun!
 
The reason I fell in love with skiing in the first place was because of how friendly and helpful most of us were. Joining the crew for a few laps, pointers on tricks or a bit of a push to try something they know you've got, etc. Be friendly and gauge your audience - chances are they're happy to offer a pointer if you're stoked.

That said, there are plenty of skiers with huge egos these days so don't get discouraged if someone is a bit dismissive. If you wait your turn for a feature/line and follow the spotter if there's someone chilling on the knuckle (O or X should make sense) you're in the right. The rest is up to your interpretation.
 
Just want to add that if you fall and explode beneath a feature or on a jump, you may be hard to see from above. So with that, if you're ok, grab your gear and get off to the side as quick as you can. Don't try and put your skis or gear back on in the landing.
 
13843297:casual said:
Basic etiquette is easy, and the mere fact that you're asking these questions means you're the type of person that will never have an issue with this anyway.

Couple things:

In a busy park, you should call your "drop" at the top of a jump line or rail line. It doesn't have to be a big deal but just look around when you're ready and just give a quick "dropping" to let others know you're headed in. If it's quiet and not many people, it's no issue, just be aware.

Don't stop in landings or in runs. Step to the side if you are hiking or whatever.

Do NOT side jump the features and lips for rails. Now if you're prepping to try an urban rail or something it's totally fine to ride up once and pop off the lip to get a feel for the takeoff and to gauge what speed and pop you need, but don't make a habit of it and make it clear what you're doing.

Enter through the gates and read the signage.

No issue asking people for advice or asking to follow someone into a jumpline in order to get the speed needed dialed. If you're friendly and cool and whatever you'll have no issues.

Respect park crew and patrol. If park crew or patrol closes a feature just respect it and don't give anyone a hard time.

If you are on the knuckle of a jump or feature be to the extreme edge to not interfere. If you stand there, help those preparing to drop in by making an "x" over your head if someone fell in the landing out of sight and make an "o" with your arms when they're clear.

If you're hiking a feature in a line of other features that's fine, but yield to people hitting all the features in a flow/line. So when you hike and step back in to hit a rail, look uphill and make sure no one is coming in hot behind you. And if they are, get out of the way!

If you fuck up a takeoff or mess a feature up or notice that a screw is popping out or whatever, let park crew know and let other people know.

Just be happy, positive, friendly, pay attention to social cues. And most importantly have fun!
Click to expand...

Super helpful, thanks a bunch!
 
1) Don't side-hit rails and boxes. Just don't.

2) If you fall, get out of the landing faster than you possibly can.

3) Call your drops and if you're trying a trick for the first or second time and it's busy, have a spotter on the knuckle of the jump to make sure nobody hits it if you fall. Sometimes people can't see if you're clear of a landing, depending on the sightline from the top of the inrun.

4) Don't stand in the way/directly to the side of features when you're with your homies trying to figure out what to hit next. The worst thing ever is to drop in and have to bail on hitting a feature because somebody is in front of it or right beside it

5) Always try to ski in a controlled fashion, yes the park is for trying new shit, but make sure you're not skiing through it like an idiot.

6) Be chill and have fun, nobody in the park cares how good you are and if you ask anyone in the park, they'll most likely give you tips if you need them.
 
I grew up skiing at snowbasin just like you. Everyone there is pretty mellow. There arent a ton of "Jerks" or people that take it way too seriously that get mad when they see new guys. Just make sure that you call your drop when you go. Most people stop at the top of each feature, so just slowly slide to the front of the line, then call next. Dont be shy. We were all in your shoes at one point in time. Good luck and have a good time!
 
Just never stop until you're at the bottom of the chair. Surefire way to know you aren't stopping in someone's way.
 
pretty much only rule I follow is don't stop near a feature or in the landing of a jump. And if you're dropping to hit something, make sure someone else isn't hitting it. People getting wrecked most of the time is because they have no awareness of their surroundings. Stay alert and you'll be good
 
Biggest things.

Call your drop if there are several people waiting. You can just say "Dropping next" or wait for more people to go. Basically just taking turns like anywhere else.

Don't side jump the sides of rails. If you want to hit smaller jumps, hit the smaller parks. (Smaller parks have a way more mellow vibe as well)

Don't climb on take offs/stand in landings. Takeoffs can be big and require some speed. If you don't go fast enough to make it over, simply slide back down and go around. Please don't duck walk up and over. It gouges the takeoffs for the other people riding the park.

When you go off a jump, keep going and ride away. Avoid making turns till you're near the bottom of the landing or back to the normal trail pitch. Those turns can cause big moguls especially in the spring. If you fall on the landing and aren't injured, get out of the way quickly. If you lose a ski, grab it and move to the side rather than put it on in a blind spot.

If you see a feature closed or being worked on go around

There could be an accident on the landing, a problem that needs to be repaired on a box, or the park crew just raking it out. Many times that feature will be open by your next run. If you want the park to ride nice, let the guys working have some space.

Just observe and ask questions

People are generally pretty friendly. Also pointing you in the right direction helps everyone else in the park too. Also if you see anybody raking a features or in a "Park Crew" jacket ask them. That's part of their job.

If you want to hit a jump for the first time ask if you can follow somebody in for speed. If you want to try a rail, watch some people, or ask for some tips.

The Parks Are About Having Fun!

Have a good time and try to pick up some things as you go along. Start on the smaller stuff and work your way up. Make some friends in the park to lap with and push each other to learn new tricks. It's skiing, enjoy yourself!
 
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