Mountain Etiquette for Progressing Riders

Alright guys so I'm starting to progress of the small hills and hitting some much harder blues and a few blacks at some of the smaller mountains. I'm getting more comfortable with higher speeds and pointing my nose down the mountain.... BUT I still fall every now and then and some of the real steep points still ride and edge way too long.

So my question to the community is how to I progress without pissing off the other riders? Whats the etiquette for someone that might be on a trail a bit beyond their ability.

if you do stop in the middle of a trail when you start up again be very aware and try to wait for a point where there are not many riders before starting up again. commonsense but you'd be surprised how many people clump up for no good reason

Just stay out of the way and make sure everything is clear before you go for something. I hate it when a person falls right in front of me..

Very true

It's inevitable for emerging riders to be on the blues, or going onto the blacks when they're ready. The person at the top should watch out for the person at the bottom. We don't have eyes in the back of our heads. But try not to be in the path at blind turns and or corners because the person no top won't be able to see you. In the end you'll both probably be in lots of pain.

thanks guys, super helpful, alot of it is mostly common sence and im doing alot of that already, I like the idea of pointing keeps your body in the right position and lets people know where your headed

now if I can only get some balls and go more straight down instead of big s turns ill be all set.

even thought it sounds like alot of common sense, SOOO many people do the unthinkable and obviously aren't aware of their surroundings and don't use their noggin.

when you fall off the lift (it happens to everyone) try to scramble away as fast as you can so the lifts don't stop.  also just becasue someone's slower than you doesn't mean you should zoom right past them. try to give them more space so you don't startle them as you fly by. =]

A chairlift etiquette: Try very hard not to bump your board into others' gear on the chairlift.

If you are regular foot it is easier to see other people when you are on the left side of the trail, if you are goofy (foot) you have more of an open view when on the right hand side of the trail.

As other people mentioned, don't just plop down in the middle of a trail, especially if it's after a lip or something where people can't see you from above.

When you're preparing to start back up after taking a break, always look up the mountain to see if people are coming down. Nothing pisses me off more than when people go from sitting still to all of a sudden zooming straight across a trail without looking up at all.

When I was learning, I got really nervous around big groups of riders, and I was make a lot of mistakes. I would try to stay closer to the sides, and when there was a big group behind me, I'd just pull off and let them pass, and I'd start back up once it cleared up a bit.

what l hate is those skiiers. they get so close to you like honestly. were on like a huge as slope and your like 1 feet away from me. LIke seriously T_T

Being a little vocal helps too if you're coming up on someone who's fairly unpredictable or just getting up on their feet. Just a simple "left side" "right side" has saved my butt once or twice.

I just came back from Mountain Creek, NJ and it AMAZES me how not 1, not 2, but many GROUPS of people just stop right in the middle of the trail (one of the wider ones) and was just chilling there. I understand occasionally they'll be a person or 2 resting right in the middle and its annoying but groups?! wth?!

not to mention right when you get off the lift, people (all strangers) literally lined up sitting next to each other strapping in. guess what, theres a trail behind those @$$holes and people from behind have to get through!!!

I've been saying good things about this mountain to my friends but this place is becoming more and more of a joke!!

Originally posted by Migoo Originally posted by inksofmemories I just came back from Mountain Creek, NJ and it AMAZES me how not 1, not 2, but many GROUPS of people just stop right in the middle of the trail (one of the wider ones) and was just chilling there. I understand occasionally they'll be a person or 2 resting right in the middle and its annoying but groups?! wth?! not to mention right when you get off the lift, people (all strangers) literally lined up sitting next to each other strapping in. guess what, theres a trail behind those @$$holes and people from behind have to get through!!! I've been saying good things about this mountain to my friends but this place is becoming more and more of a joke!! Both these things drive me CRAZY...

you don't understand how freakin frustrated i got yesterday!! when i was approaching that so called line where everyone was strapping in, i found a foot of space for me to go through it..... BUT a skier cut me off and stopped right at the opening... !@#$%^%$#@#$%^^%$#@ i flipped out and pretty much cursed at those who were sitting down near me at that line. it wasn't the right thing to do but i was pretty darn pissed at that point.

Originally posted by inksofmemories

"I just came back from Mountain Creek, NJ and it AMAZES me how not 1, not 2, but many GROUPS of people just stop right in the middle of the trail (one of the wider ones) and was just chilling there. I understand occasionally they'll be a person or 2 resting right in the middle and its annoying but groups?! wth?!

not to mention right when you get off the lift, people (all strangers) literally lined up sitting next to each other strapping in. guess what, theres a trail behind those @$$holes and people from behind have to get through!!!

I've been saying good things about this mountain to my friends but this place is becoming more and more of a joke!!"

I'm assuming you were at Vernon if it was that bad. Or a weekend at South. That place is full of punk kids anyway who couldn't care less about being in anyone's way.

yea, mountain creek is fun but there are too many crazy kids and sumtimes too many ppl.  Thats why i usually go during the weekday and towards the night time.  I hardly ever ride at Vernon cause it's always packed with ppl trying to learn and I'm not good enough myself to dodge them all.... Granite is the best IMO.

Gotta go during the week at the Creek, it is pretty empty, especially right when South opens up at the 12-1ish. That's where I hide out.

blah blah blah.

Don't sit on the landing side of jumps. It's kinda hard to avoid people who sit there when your already mid-jump.

Heres what i reckon makes nice safe considerate boarding:

Rule 1: The person downhill ALWAYS has right of way. The person uphill must always be aware of what the hell is going on down from them. Its ALWAYS their duty to modify their speed and line accordingly. If you get hit from someone above you on the hill, its their fault. (the only exception i can honestly think of follows...).
Rule 2: BE VISIBLE at ALL TIMES. dont sit under a lip, and if you fall, get up quickly. Its your head that's about to get spilled over the snow. If someone hits you because youre in a blind spot, youre pretty much in the wrong here.
Rule 3: Just because you have right of way doesnt mean you have the right to ski or snowboard as erratically as you like. Be aware of your surroundings.
Rule 4: If dropping in from somewhere off the main trail, check up the hill for people. You'll be popping out of those trees faster than you realise.
Rule 5: When getting up LOOK BEHIND YOU. Make sure no one is coming through before you start riding.

Originally posted by ippollite Heres what i reckon makes nice safe considerate boarding: Rule 1: The person downhill ALWAYS has right of way. The person uphill must always be aware of what the hell is going on down from them. Its ALWAYS their duty to modify their speed and line accordingly. If you get hit from someone above you on the hill, its their fault. (the only exception i can honestly think of follows...). Rule 2: BE VISIBLE at ALL TIMES. dont sit under a lip, and if you fall, get up quickly. Its your head that's about to get spilled over the snow. If someone hits you because youre in a blind spot, youre pretty much in the wrong here. Rule 3: Just because you have right of way doesnt mean you have the right to ski or snowboard as erratically as you like. Be aware of your surroundings. Rule 4: If dropping in from somewhere off the main trail, check up the hill for people. You'll be popping out of those trees faster than you realise. Rule 5: When getting up LOOK BEHIND YOU. Make sure no one is coming through before you start riding.