Do You Know The Alpine Responsibility Code?
Updated July 2021
It was opening day at The Remarkables and I was pumped! It was a Thursday and the coverage was great for start of the season. Mick was working so I was riding solo - cruising about, getting reacquainted with the terrain, getting my body back into the groove of snowboarding and feeling pretty damn good about it. That was until I got taken out by a snowboarder not once but twice. Both incidents happened on uncrowded runs and after the second one, I was so annoyed, I decided to call it quits for the day.
YEP, THAT’S ME BEING TAKEN DOWN!
Maybe it was ‘first day of the season frenzy’ or genuinely not having a clue but I could have been seriously hurt. It doesn’t take much when you are skiing or snowboarding - all you have to do is fall a bit awkwardly and boom, broken wrist, twisted knee, fractured collarbone.
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.
Here’s the Alpine Responsibility Code broken down plus a few little extras from me.
Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
I’m all for progression and building confidence but be careful not to overestimate your ability. If you’re a beginner, that’s ok, we all know that gaining control and learning to stop takes time. We expect to see out of control skiers and snowboarders on the green learner runs. That’s what the learner runs are there for. Just don’t try to be a hero and jump up to a double black diamond without first feeling confident on an easier run.
People ahead of you have the right-of-way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
This means EVERYONE in front of you. It doesn’t matter if they are skiing or snowboarding the weirdest line ever and blocking your path, they still have right of way. You can see people in front of you, but that person can’t see you behind them. Sure, you can go ahead and pass them, but it’s not like driving a car where it is fairly easy to anticipate what the car in front of you is about to do. On the mountain, there are no lanes or set paths so predicting where the person in front of you is about to go isn’t always that easy. Over time, you do learn to read a persons riding style and can better anticipate movements but ALWAYS be prepared for the unexpected.
Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
This rule is for your safety, the safety of others and for the enjoyment of everyone. There’s nothing worse than having to pull a stop because someone has obstructed your path - even worse when you are on a flat cat track and lose your momentum.
The chairlift disembark area is another place to be mindful of. Once you get off the chair, get out the way so the next chair has space to deload. Some chairlift exits have steep ramps and if you are standing in the way, you’re basically a pin in a ten-pin bowling game ready for the taking.
The second point about not being visible - this is probably the most important rule of skiing and snowboarding as far as I am concerned. If you look up the mountain and you can’t see the run above you, that means that anyone coming down the run won’t be able to see you. It’s the same concept as the stickers you see on big trucks:
“If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.”
But don’t I have the right of way you say? Technically yes, but you’ve also stopped in a blind spot, so stack the odds in your favour and stay visible. Don’t stop anywhere where there is a chance that a skier or snowboarder will not be able to stop, avoid you or land on you.
Before starting downhill or merging onto a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
Common sense, yeah?
If you are involved in or witness a collision/accident you must remain at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol.
Aside from the fact that you are doing the right thing, ski patrol needs to investigate the incident, the risk of occurrence and take appropriate safety measures.
Always use proper devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
Some ski resorts require leashes on snowboards but most ski resorts are pretty relaxed with this rule. Skis have ski brakes, so check that your ski brakes are 100%. Be conscious of your equipment and where you are placing it. Make sure snowboards are placed bindings down to the snow and across the mountain (not pointing down).
Observe and obey all posted signs and warnings.
Again these are for your safety. Ending up on a double black ungroomed trail when you’ve just graduated to a blue run could have you in tears, potentially injured or at the very least result in a tantrum. Ski patrol go through a lot of effort on a daily basis, often updating mountain conditions throughout the day. We often take for granted how safe the mountain is at a commercial ski resort but rest assured, those warnings are legit!
Keep off closed trails and obey area closures.
What I just said.
You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through the use of alcohol or drugs.
I’m all for a cheeky beverage here and there, but being intoxicated can lead to bad judgement and reduced coordination. Don’t try to take on the mountain, that magnificent beast will always win.
You must have sufficient physical dexterity, ability, and knowledge to safely load, ride, and unload lifts. If in doubt, ask the lift attendant.
Don’t let this one scare you. I know there can be a bit of nervousness and anxiety riding a chairlift if you’re a beginner. If this is you, then ride a chairlift with someone you know or let the lift attendant know that you’re just beginning. Some will slow the lift at the top to make getting off a little easier. A few extra tips for chairlifts:
Take your ski poles off your wrists and hold them together. This is so that if they get caught on something, you can let go of them easily, preventing injury. It also prevents your poles from wandering around and poking someone (super annoying when you are at the receiving end of someone else's loosey goosey ski pole). Some people hold them between their legs, to the side of their legs or sit on them.
Make sure your skis and snowboards aren’t tangled up with anyone else’s. Realising this at the moment that you are trying to dismount the chairlift doesn’t end well for anyone!
Try to distribute weight evenly on the chair. For example, if there is two of you, try to sit with an equal distance from the middle or end of the chair. Particularly with older chairs or windy conditions, it will help when you get off the chairlift. For example, if Mick and I sit together on one side of the chairlift, when Mick gets off the chair, it creates a catapult/seesaw effect - the chair swings and bounces making it a little challenging for me to get off!
This one is more courtesy than anything. Some skiers and snowboarders will push off the chairlift aggressively causing the chairlift to rock, swing and get a little unstable. It’s not a huge deal, but like the point above, it can make it challenging for others trying to get off.
Put the bar down. Always. I don’t think I need to really explain this.
There are times when things don’t go to plan, and that’s ok. We all make mistakes and every day is a new learning experience. I have two additional tips for you to complement the Alpine Responsibility Code:
Target Fixation
I learnt about this concept when I was learning to ride a motorbike. It’s something that I think everyone should understand because it applies to so many aspects of our daily lives.
“Target fixation is an attentional phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object (be it a target or hazard) that they inadvertently increase their risk of colliding with the object.”
If you begin to lose control when you’re skiing or snowboarding and are heading towards an object like a tree or person, don’t focus on it/them because you will inevitably collide into that object or person. Instead, look at the gap between the trees or at the gap next to the person you are heading towards. This should steer you towards where you are looking.
Apologise
When I was taken out twice in the one day, I think I was most upset about the fact that neither person took responsibility or seemed to care. There was no apology for crashing into me. A simple sorry would have made my day a whole lot better.
I hope that this gives you a better understanding of the universal rules for skiing and snowboarding. Make yourself familiar with the Alpine Responsibility Code - following these rules for skiing and snowboarding shows respect for others on the mountain. Adhering to these rules will ensure everyone has a safe and fun time on the mountain.
Do you have any other tips or guidelines that you think everyone should know about? Let me know in the comments below!
Jen
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Jen spends most of her time following Mick around the mountain, often unintentionally off jumps and cliff drops. Currently on a mission to prove that you’re never too old to try freestyle. Aside from snowboarding, a little obsessed about tattoos, CrossFit, saving animals, learning to play the guitar and clean eating. Web designer and digital marketing nerd.
