If you are looking for a new way to entertain yourself this winter, taking up snow skiing might be the answer. Whether you want to hit the slopes with friends or get the whole family involved, skiing can be a perfect activity on a winter afternoon as you take a break from your regular routine of staring outside wondering when the sun will return.
After renting or buying gear for the trip, it’s important to know where to go for beginners and those who have a decent amount of skiing experience. It might be a good idea to start at the lower levels to warm up and get acclimated to the rhythms of skiing. While you may think you’re ready for the toughest challenge immediately, nothing ends a ski trip quite like a visit to the emergency room because you tried to play the hero of the mountain right away.
Colors and symbols will help in deciding where each member of the group should start determined by experience and skill level. The Walt Disney Company came up with this system, which was quickly adopted by the National Ski Areas Association.
Green circle
The green circle symbolizes trails that are designed for beginners. These trails are not very steep with a gradual slope usually under 25 percent, and they are usually very wide and free of many obstacles. First timers should get their first few runs of the day on these trails and with enough success and confidence, they can move on to the tougher courses.
Blue square
The blue square is the next step up in difficulty. Here, the slope is between 25-40 percent and these will usually be the most populated runs on the mountain. These trails are typically more narrow than the green circle option, but they are still easily manageable for much of the public without a significant amount of difficulty.
Black diamond
The difference between black diamond and blue square can be significant as this will usually be the most difficult trail on the mountain. The slopes can be higher than 40 percent with plenty of bumps to keep skiers focused on what’s in front of them. Some mountains will feature double or even triple black diamond trails, which are even trickier to navigate. Plenty of experience is likely needed to visit black diamond trails, so this is likely not a good option for Day 1 skiers even late in the day.
If you are an experienced skier, you likely knew all of this information already. For newbies looking to start skiing this winter, it’s important to start off with the easier slopes before moving on to the blue square and – if you think you’re ready for it – becoming a regular at the black diamond.
Photo Credit: Pixabay, Flickr
