Slope grading
Login
Personally, nothing phases me as I will have a go at anything, but skiing with a couple last week who were slightly lesser experienced, they were somewhat gobsmacked at the difficulty of a couple of blues and the odd red, whilst they breezed down a black no problem.
I tend to agree though - conditions have a big impact. A choice of red or blue off a peak usually means the majority take the blue and it can end up carnage and bumpy, this is why I usually suggest the red option.
Each slope can ski differently from day to day, some are left ungroomed which makes them interesting as well.
I'd like to see some kind of grading for beginners and more timid intermediates so they know they wont struggle though.
One of the greens (IMO a blue gradient) into ADH village was hidden in flat light and when we skied it, it was badly moguled and my mate said it was one of the hardest slopes he had skied all week!!!
To Create or Answer a Topic
Started by Tony_H in Ski Chatter 02-Feb-2012 - 16 Replies
Pablo Escobar
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012
Nothing will catch you out at Saas Fee. If you don't like narrow runs and a little bit of exposure avoid the blue that hairpins down the mountain.
Tony_H
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012
GPWM as usual Dave.Admin wrote:I think this is more an issue of education and experience (of the skier), no?
With all the variables that go to make up a slope, and the fact that so much can change - even within a single day - I just don't think it's possible to come up with a consistent scheme. Slope grading will always be subjective.
That said, there are certainly "local" issues (as mentioned above, and Val d'Isere's famous Greens with moguls, etc.) but those can only be addressed directly (with the local TO).
You can make a case for ensuring that "Greens" are appropriate for first day skiers, perhaps, but beyond that the important thing is to communicate the fact that runs can and will vary.
No two "Blues" will ever be identical, and the same run can be in completely different condition from one hour to the next. That's one of the things that makes skiing so much fun though and it's one of the challenges we face as we learn.
Slope grading varies. Slopes vary. Slopes change from hour to hour - in what state do you grade it?
It's like the Pirate's Code; just guidelines really... 8)
Personally, nothing phases me as I will have a go at anything, but skiing with a couple last week who were slightly lesser experienced, they were somewhat gobsmacked at the difficulty of a couple of blues and the odd red, whilst they breezed down a black no problem.
I tend to agree though - conditions have a big impact. A choice of red or blue off a peak usually means the majority take the blue and it can end up carnage and bumpy, this is why I usually suggest the red option.
Each slope can ski differently from day to day, some are left ungroomed which makes them interesting as well.
I'd like to see some kind of grading for beginners and more timid intermediates so they know they wont struggle though.
One of the greens (IMO a blue gradient) into ADH village was hidden in flat light and when we skied it, it was badly moguled and my mate said it was one of the hardest slopes he had skied all week!!!
www
New and improved me
NellyPS
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012
Tony_H wrote:Nelly posted something earlier about going on a blue in Canada
Did I? Or is there another Nelly on here I don't know about.
Anyhoo, I do remember being in either Tignes or Val D over the last fews years and going down a run that had changed from the previous year, it had either been a red and was now a blue and vice versa.
Very good point that Admin/TH made about blues getting mashed up and taking the red as an alternative, I ski very badly in mushed up snow (think 'I'll throw the washing in').
Tony_H
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012Maybe it wasnt you Nellster, sorry. But I read it from someone recently.www New and improved me
Snapzzz
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012Do you think it will be ever possible to have a consistent grading system? There are so many factors that determine difficultly and some of these factors are variable....a moderate blue can become a stiff red with ice and moguls.
I don't envy the resorts in choosing a grading but having said that some are plain wrong. EG: Mira from the grand rochette in la plagne. Its graded blue because it is wide but my god its steep for a blue and moguled to hell after 10am....funny how its the only blue down off that lift ;-)
Skied: Arinsal, La Plagne, Alpe D'huez, Flaine, Les Arcs, Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Sauze, Courchevel, Val Thorens
Trencher
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012There are no red runs in the US. Green, blue, (double blue sometimes), black, and double black. Green is a round symbol, blue a square, and black a diamond. At the top of all lifts is a piste map, and very often a mountain guide. The mountain guide is there to advise you on the runs and work out combinations of runs, or a route down that you can manage.because I'm so inclined .....Edited 1 time. Last update at 02-Feb-2012
NellyPS
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012Tony_H wrote:Maybe it wasnt you Nellster, sorry. But I read it from someone recently.
'Nellster' - like it :)
Sorry for the slight wibble.Edited 1 time. Last update at 02-Feb-2012
Dave Mac
reply to 'Slope grading' posted Feb-2012Should be NellStar, Shirley..... 8)
Topic last updated on 03-February-2012 at 13:30