Are ski runs the same at every resort?
In Short no, a red run is not the same difficulty across the world.
In most of North America red runs do not even exist. Find out what they use instead below.
In ski resorts around the world, the resorts piste maps are covered with symbols and colours that highlight many different factors.
Symbols on a piste map can highlight
Pitch
How steep or shallow the run is.
Groomed
Whether the run has been flattened by a groomer overnight.
Glades
A run, or area that is skiable but is covered in trees.
Resort Boundary
Marker to show where the resort area ends.
Lifts
They usually show using different symbols which type of lift it is, t-bar, chairlift, gondola. etc.
Along with restrooms, restaurants, ski patrol, ticket windows, slow zones, freestyle terrain, bus stops, ski school meeting areas, lockers, guest services, scenic viewpoints and many others.
Each ski resort normally has their own key at the bottom of their piste map. It is worth having a check when in resort to become familiar with where and which symbols are used in that resort.
Ski Runs
Depending where you are in the world the colours can mean differnt things. Double check the resort you are at when you grab a piste map, but below is the standard for most resorts in that country. With the ability level on the left, and the colour of the run on the right.
America
Easy - Green
Intermediate - Blue
Advanced - Black
Expert - Double Black
Australia
Easy - Green
Intermediate - Blue
Advanced - Black
Expert - Double Black
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Austria
Easy - Blue
Intermediate - Red
Advanced - Black
Canada
Easy - Green
Intermediate - Blue
Advanced - Black
Expert - Double Black
China
Easy - Green
Intermediate - Blue
Advanced - Black
France
Very - Easy Green
Easy - Blue
Intermediate - Red
Advance - Black
Japan
Easy - Green
Intermediate - Red
Advanced - Black
Expert - Double Black
New Zealand
Easy - Green
Intermediate - Blue
Advanced - Black
Switzerland
Easy - Blue
Intermediate - Red
Advanced - Black
Safe off Piste - Yellow
I hope this clears up which countries have which slope. This is not every ski country in the world, but the most common ones which I get asked about.
Again make sure to look specifically at the resorts Piste map key, to make sure it aligns with the above. As some resorts in the same countries use different markings.
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Thank you for reading.
Steve
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