I could have been seriously hurt. There are universal rules when skiing and snowboarding, applicable to everyone, worldwide. Commonly known as the Alpine Responsibility Code, it is endorsed and used by most ski areas around the world with slight variations. Ultimately, it's about using some common sense and personal awareness to reduce elements of risk.

Last winter, a bunch of brands made big changes to their lineups, added models and features, and tweaked old classics to make them even better. So here are our top three skis we’re excited to get out on next winter, along with our top three snowboards.