Safe Skiing at Ski Resorts

At a ski resort, much of the safety work is already in place. Slopes are groomed, lifts are inspected, and areas are marked to create safe conditions for many skiers simultaneously. However, safe skiing is always based on shared responsibility between the resort and the guest.

Ski resorts in Sweden collaborate through the Swedish Ski Resort Organization, SLAO, which has developed common guidelines for lift and downhill skiing. These are compiled in SLAO’s Little Yellow Book, which describes the skier’s traffic rules and general regulations.

The Skier’s Traffic Rules

All downhill skiing is at your own risk. As a skier, you are expected to choose runs that match your experience, adjust speed and skiing style according to terrain, visibility, weather, and how many people are on the slope. Consideration for others is crucial, and those coming from behind always have the responsibility to avoid collisions.

Always follow signs, markings, and staff instructions in both lifts and slopes. The rules exist to reduce the risk of accidents and create a safe environment for everyone. Anyone who violates them and endangers safety may be removed from the resort.

As a skier, you are also responsible for your equipment. Skis, snowboards, and poles must be in good condition and not pose a risk of causing injury. If you stop on the slope, do so in a place where you are clearly visible. If you discover obstacles, accidents, or dangerous situations, it is important to notify staff on site. Alcohol and drugs have no place on the ski slope, and all ski passes are personal.

Snörapporten.se

Before a day on the slopes, current information is an important part of safety. Via Snörapporten.se, about fifty ski resorts in Sweden publish their snow conditions daily during the season with information about open lifts and slopes, snow depth, weather, and opening hours. Many resorts also show current images via webcams. By reviewing the snow report, you can adjust expectations, equipment, and skiing according to prevailing conditions.

Proper Clothing, Equipment, and Knowledge

Proper clothing and equipment are also crucial. In cold and changing weather, layering, dry materials, and protection against wind and moisture are important to avoid hypothermia and fatigue. For many, it is advantageous to rent equipment on site, where it is inspected and properly adjusted. For those who are new, inexperienced, or want to improve, a ski lesson or guided tour can contribute to both safer and more enjoyable skiing.

Skiing in the Mountains – Freedom with Personal Responsibility

Skiing outside ski resorts means greater freedom but also a completely different responsibility. Here there are no groomed slopes, no safety nets, and no staff monitoring conditions. For mountain skiing to be a safe experience, knowledge, planning, and respect for weather, terrain, and snow are required.

Ski Touring in the Mountains

Ski touring can be compared to hiking on snow. With touring skis, you travel both along marked winter trails and in untracked terrain. The skis are wider and more stable than traditional cross-country skis and better adapted to varied conditions. Most people accustomed to hiking can also manage touring skis, and even children can participate with the youngest in a pulka. For beginners, marked trails in flat terrain are a wise choice before tours gradually become longer and more demanding.

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Ski Touring – Great Experiences and High Demands

On ski tours, you ascend the mountain on skis and then ski down in unprepared terrain. The equipment enables both ascent and descent with a free heel and climbing skins. Ski touring can offer fantastic skiing but places high demands on judgment, experience, and planning. Snow conditions vary, and both ascent and descent take place in environments that are not groomed.

On ski tours, you are responsible for assessing avalanche danger and choosing terrain accordingly. Transceiver, probe, and shovel must always be with you, and everyone in the group must be trained in using the equipment. For those lacking experience or wanting to increase safety, there is the option to go on ski tours with a certified guide, where safety equipment and local knowledge are normally included.

Avalanches – Knowledge, Forecasts, and Personal Decisions

Avalanches are one of the greatest risks in mountain terrain. In the Kiruna mountains, daily avalanche forecasts are produced during the season via lavinprognoser.se for the areas Abisko/Riksgränsfjällen and Kebnekaisefjällen.

Avalanche forecasts are produced by continuously monitoring snow, weather, and avalanche activity. The forecasts are based on observations from avalanche experts, weather stations, forecast models, and reports from people in the area.

Recent avalanches, cracking in the snowpack, and sounds of collapses are clear warning signs that should always be taken seriously. Weather plays a crucial role, with heavy snowfall, wind, and rapid temperature changes being common causes of increased avalanche danger. At the same time, the snowpack varies greatly even within small areas, making assessments uncertain even for the experienced.

Avalanche forecasts are a decision-making tool, not a definitive answer. You are always responsible for your own choices. Through avalanche training, careful planning, proper equipment, and willingness to change plans or abstain, risks can be reduced. Turning back or choosing another route is sometimes the most experienced decision you can make in the mountains.

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Sources

• Swedish Ski Resort Organization
• Mountain Safety Council
• National Avalanche Forecasts from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency