If you’re new to skiing, going out ‘on the piste’ may not mean what you think it does!!  Piste is the French term for a defined ski run, usually marked by poles at each side and shown on a piste map available at the lift stations.  Marked pistes are avalanche protected, groomed (nightly by huge ‘pistebashers’ ) and patrolled to ensure the safest conditions possible.  European pistes (they are called ‘trails’ in North America) are classified according to difficulty from green and blue (easy) through red (intermediate) to black (difficult).

Beginners start off at the nursery slopes, usually with a drag or ‘button’ lift to haul you up to the top and then you’ll head off to longer green or blue runs by chair lift or gondola as you progress.   Be aware that pistes are affected not only by steepness but also by weather conditions – you may be easily able to cope on a red run in good snow but struggle on a blue when it’s icy.  ‘Moguls’ or bumps can quickly develop after fresh snowfall as the loose surface snow gets moved about by the actions of the skiers – these can take some negotiating!  Blue and green pistes will vary from wide ‘motorway’ style runs in open mountain bowls to gentle runs through the pine trees.

‘Off piste’ is exactly that and we advise you not to venture off the piste (on purpose, at least) until you have a bit more experience under your belt!

Filed under: Destination Guides, Travel Tips by kathryn