I'm no longer a "slow" skier, but I was one for a long time. I started skiing comparatively late at age 49 when I married an expert skier.
Once I was a fairly confident, but still a relatively early intermediate, I started skied black diamonds when it wasn't busy. I was slower and tentative. I viewed it my responsiblity to reduce the risk I presented to the skiers who were on terrain rated for them. I saw myself the poacher / visitor.
As a farm kid, all our tractors and implements had a bright orange SLOW MOVING VEHICLE signs. I understood that to mean that we were responsible to alert others of our presence. Since we can't control other skiers, we have to focus on what we can actually do and give more attention to our own roles in skier safety.
On the slopes, I was laser focused on staying in a predictable lane and maintaining a consistent rhythm which is ideal for faster, advanced skiers to pass. But predicability is no easy task for a beginner, so I avoided the most popular runs and times. Stopping was avoided and only done in highly visible areas and well off to the side.
When looking to advance, you have to venture onto more advanced terrain. Talk to the mountain hosts and get advice for less crowded slopes are and if you're lucky, the resort will have advanced blues that have a mix of drops so you'll get short tastes of blacks that level out a bit between drops. If possible, do this on non-holidays and week days and learn which runs are the top to bottom speed runs and avoid them.
Shorter, less popular runs are used less often as race tracks. The terrain off gondolas is always much more popular and busy.
I've seen in the past 10 years, there's been a huge drop off in ski patrol enforcing safety (Skier's Responsibility Code). I can't remember the last time I saw ski patrol confront an out of control or too fast skier in the slow zones. But the truth is that reckless skiers are all over the mountain and posted signs mean little. My husband has seen to skier fatalities -- both in well posted SLOW ZONES and near the lifts.
Be extra alert around multi-age family groups, as their attention is often diverted and sudden changes in direction are common.
Pro Tip: Ski at smaller and independent resorts where massive crowds are less common.
Lastly, I did not allow my grandkids to ski outside the green slopes until they knew and understood the Skier's Responsibility Code. When they skied recklessly, they were immediately taken off the mountain for the remainder of the day. Big strides can be made if we all resolve to keep our own houses in order.
Be safe, wear highly visible colors, ski in control, and wear a helmet.
form.typeform.com
