Avoid These 7 Common Ski Mistakes That Annoy Everyone

Let’s face it—skiers can do some pretty ignorant things.

Some might be out of true ignorance, others might be out of laziness, and some might be more related to ego. Maybe you already know that dropping your empty beer can off the lift is bad, or maybe it’s news to you that setting a skin track that goes straight up pisses other skiers off.

In any case, here are a few things that skiers regularly do that other skiers just wish they wouldn’t. Take a peek, just in case!

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1. Parking Like a Jerk

Everyone has had the experience of pulling into the parking lot in hopes of a good spot, only to be thwarted by that person who parked obnoxiously far from the person next to them or took up two spots.

There’s no faster way to start a day in a bad mood that bad parking karma. There’s an easy solution here that will make everyone have a better day—just don’t park like a jerk. Keep it between the lines, and if there are no lines, use a little common sense. If you could almost fit a car between you and the car next to you (or in front/behind you if you’re parallel parking), you’re too far away.

The only exception to this rule is in the spring, if you’re at a lot that’s on a slant and melting ice causes cars to slide into each other. Then, give the folks next to you some room.

2. Not Wearing a Helmet

We hate to break it to you, but it’s no longer 1995, and ski helmets are comfortable, light, and warm. There was a day and age when not wearing seatbelts and smoking cigarettes also “looked cool,” but before long, we figured out that both could also kill you. Helmets are kind of the same. We don’t care if you wear your goggles over or under your helmet, have a gaper gap, or cover your helmet with stickers; just wear one.

3. Setting a Bad Skin Track

It’s not like most folks go into the backcountry thinking, ‘I’m gonna set a real pain in the ass skinner today just to mess with folks that follow it,’ but there are undoubtedly things that should be avoided when setting a skin track. It’s also true that certain aspects of what makes a “good” skin track are subjective.

However, if you find yourself walking straight up something that you could have put kick turns in (I’m looking at you, Central Oregon) merely because you don’t want to do a kick turn, or better yet, setting kick turns in the spiciest possible places, maybe reconsider.

Furthermore, if you realize the skin track you’re setting takes an irresponsible path through hazardous avalanche terrain, maybe reconsider. While it’s up to everyone in the backcountry to be aware of their own movement and risks, there will always be someone who follows your bad skin track for one reason or another, so be a homie and just make a good one.

4. Dropping Trash Off the Lift

Every spring and early summer, we get a few fun press releases from ski areas saying, “Look how much trash our team picked up now that the snow has melted!” While it is entertaining seeing all the random and wild things people bring skiing and certainly helps with slow news days, it would be better if ski areas weren’t littered with trash at the end of the year.

So, do Mother Nature and all those ski area employees a favor and don’t drop stuff off the lift. Not your beer cans, not your apple cores, not your vape, and definitely not your skis. We understand accidents happen, so if you’re prone to dropping things, maybe refrain from getting anything out on the lift and double-check your pockets are zipped when skiing so trash doesn’t fly out.

5. Ducking Ropes

A ski patroller once told me, “We wouldn’t spend all that time putting ropes up if we didn’t want people not to cross them,” and if that’s not the best reason not to duck ropes you’ve ever heard, I don’t know what would be. Ski patrollers aren’t the “fun police,” and if they’ve roped off terrain, it’s because that terrain is unpatrolled and uncontrolled. Sure, you may have gotten away with it before, but don’t let the time you trigger an avalanche and bury someone, or get injured and need an evac be the thing that changes your mind about doing it again.

6. Backcountry Skiing Without Proper Knowledge and Gear

Whether you’ve driven to a trailhead with your touring setup or followed someone out a resort gate, if you’re in any terrain that qualifies as “backcountry” without a beacon, probe, shovel, partner, and avalanche training, you’ve already messed up. It doesn’t really matter what the reason you’ve come up with to justify this is to yourself; skiing in the backcountry recklessly endangers yourself and others. Maybe you thought “it’s just side country” or simply forgot your beacon at home and really didn’t want to turn around for it. Either way, take the L, stay in bounds, and live to ski another day.

7. Complaining About Wind/Lift/Avalanche Closures

Terrain and lift closures are definitely a bummer, especially when you’ve been frothing to ski a piece of the mountain, but there’s not a single thing more humbling than clinging to the side of a chairlift for dear life as it sways side to side knowing that as soon as you’re at the top, they’re closing the lift. Remember that these closures are for your safety, and try to accept them gracefully.

8. Skiing With a Bluetooth Speaker

Don’t be the backpack speaker guy. No one wants to hear your crappy beats in the lift line, on the skin track, on the hill, in the bus, or literally anywhere else. You’re not bringing the vibes; you’re just annoying people. Take the carabiner off your Bluetooth speaker and put it back in your JanSport backpack. If you really want to ski with tunes, use headphones, and don’t turn them up too loud.

Related: 7 Ski Town Dos and Don’ts for a Better Trip