Some of the best times I’ve had on ski slopes involved watching competitions. These include extreme competitions, freestyle events, regional races and Junior Olympics. I’ve spent the entire day watching friends and friends children compete. Watching extreme events can teach you about lines you’ve never considered: for reasons both wise and cowardly. The best alpine skiers create angles you dream about.

If your GNASA has a goal of watching competitions, or you have lots of time at the resort, you won’t have any issues. If your GNASA is focussed on skiing, competitions can create challenges.

What Problems Do Competitions Create

• Closed terrain
• Crowds
• Booked accommodations

Expert Tips To Deal With Ski & Snowboard Competitions

The big issues during competitions are crowds and closed terrain.

Avoid Competitions

If you want to focus on your skiing, on terrain of your choice, at times you want, avoid competitions. Competition are announced months, sometimes years in advance. Avoid any competition that is likely to close terrain on your bucket list.

Book Early

If you absolutely need to visit a resort over a competition period, book early. The earlier you book, the easier it is to get the accommodations you want. Do this for restaurants as well. If there’s an instructor you want to take a lesson from, call them and ensure their ability during the competition.

Use Competition Times To Do Other Things

Many resorts that host competitions have out of bounds ski options. There might be a heli-ski or cat options. Call ahead and book early. There may also be nearby resorts worth visiting for a  day, especially if the signature terrain is closed at your main resort.