On your left or right

[raisingarizona]

Yer kinda vocal here too, just sayin.
Doesn’t make ya a bad man.
Carry on.

I’ve been home the last three weeks!

 

[Milo Maltbie]

it isn't for you to get out of the way, it is so when I am coming to pass you say on a flat cat track and have carried more speed to avoid having to skate you dont make a sudden turn in front of me. It shouldn't be used when someone is bombing down a run, that is uphill skiers responsibility.

What changed my mind about thhis is the time I was passing a snowboarder who was walking on a long cat track. When I said "on your left," and he turned left and whacked him. I've never seen anyone react in a way that makes anything better.
IME alomost every time I hear "on your right" I'm about to turn right. What am I suppsed to do? Should I give up my turn and accelerate down the hill? Maybe the passer should just hold back and wait till I turn left to pass me safely. If he does that I may not ever be aware he was ever there until I see him in front of me.

mm

 

[Milo Maltbie]

I’m super vocal on busy ski runs. On your right, on your left, coming through, yadda yadda. I’ll even tell people not to move if they are standing on a drop in as I approach. I may sound like a dick but I don’t care. Collisions suck.

I'll tell someone not to move if they are standing still, especially if they have already seen me.
If I'm passing someone I wait until they are turning away from my line. If they are turning toward my line there is nothing they can do but turn downhill and accelerate, which they may not be able to do, or may be afraid to do. I've never seen that stuff make anything better.


mm

 

[idratherbskiing]

What changed my mind about thhis is the time I was passing a snowboarder who was walking on a long cat track. When I said "on your left," and he turned left and whacked him. I've never seen anyone react in a way that makes anything better.
IME alomost every time I hear "on your right" I'm about to turn right. What am I suppsed to do? Should I give up my turn and accelerate down the hill? Maybe the passer should just hold back and wait till I turn left to pass me safely. If he does that I may not ever be aware he was ever there until I see him in front of me.

mm

Where do you ride? it sounds like you have a bunch of idiots on your hill. Like I said before, it shouldn't be used when actively skiing a run, the uphill skier/rider has the responsibility to NOT run into you even you are making unpredictable turns or changing your line a number of times. It is beneficial on cat tracks, flat areas, low speed, busier areas where someone may have maintained more speed than you and giving you the heads up so you dont get slammed into.

 

[riverc0il]

What changed my mind about thhis is the time I was passing a snowboarder who was walking on a long cat track. When I said "on your left," and he turned left and whacked him. I've never seen anyone react in a way that makes anything better.

I try to be aware of this when calling out my intentions. While I have never been taken out, I have seen people react differently than expected because they are not expecting a call out and are surprised. Same with road cycling.

If you are passing straight and all parties are on a steady line, I think it is sometimes safest to just carry through at speed without startling someone.

That said, I will call out in some situations. On your right/left should never be used to pass people that are actively skiing/turning. Downhill skier has the right of way and the uphill skier needs to adjust speed and travel to pass safely only when it is safe to do so. Right/left call outs are best left for flats, runouts, etc.

 

[Milo Maltbie]

. On your right/left should never be used to pass people that are actively skiing/turning. Downhill skier has the right of way and the uphill skier needs to adjust speed and travel to pass safely only when it is safe to do so. Right/left call outs are best left for flats, runouts, etc.

This^^^^

mm

 

[Andy_ROC]

I try to be aware of this when calling out my intentions. While I have never been taken out, I have seen people react differently than expected because they are not expecting a call out and are surprised. Same with road cycling.

If you are passing straight and all parties are on a steady line, I think it is sometimes safest to just carry through at speed without startling someone.

That said, I will call out in some situations. On your right/left should never be used to pass people that are actively skiing/turning. Downhill skier has the right of way and the uphill skier needs to adjust speed and travel to pass safely only when it is safe to do so. Right/left call outs are best left for flats, runouts, etc.

Absolutely agree, but I've also seen people abruptly turn significantly out of their cadence/line and into someone. This is especially important on a narrower run. Personally I want to know if someone is behind me and going to come by so I don't do something stupid like turn abruptly into them, let alone being startled. It should NOT be used as a "Get out of my way" tool.

 

[Harvey]

My skiing can be a problem. I find most skiers make consistent turns (same size, frequency, amplitude) all the way down. I really enjoy mixing it up, switching between tele and alpine and changing the size of the turn based on terrain. I'm pretty sure this comes from growing up nordic.

Essentially no one expects it because most skiers are so consistent. Just because I made 4 tight turns in a row, doesn't mean my next turn won't be wide. I am actually surprised people don't mix it up more, it's fun.

I try not to ski when or where it's crowded, but if I do get in a crowd, i ski like everyone else.

I know that technically I might have the uphill skier rule on my side, but I don't treat it that way. I follow my bliss when I have the space.

Flame away.

 

[Campgottagopee]

I try not to ski when or where it's crowded,

This^^^^
When it gets crowded I'm done

but if I do get in a crowd

I kick into high gear and pass everyone

 

[Brownski]

Listen, there are rules for a reason. Yelling out doesn’t change the rules. You are still obligated to stop if somebody turns in front of you. Communicating is a good thing and if you think somebody doesn’t know you’re there, calling out may be helpful but the person you’re approaching may be a raw beginner. They might not understand what you mean quickly enough for it to help. You might startle them enough that they yard sale right in front of you. You have to be ready to stop or divert no matter what.