Ski slope
A prepared, marked and patrolled run down a mountainside, served by lifts and graded for difficulty.
Overview
A ski slope, or piste, is a prepared run down a mountainside within a ski area. Runs are machine-groomed, marked at the edges, graded for difficulty on the area’s piste map, and patrolled — which is what separates them from unprepared terrain either side.
Lifts carry riders back to the top, so a day is a repeated cycle of ascent and descent rather than a single journey. Beginner areas with gentle gradients and slow lifts are usually set apart near the base, and conditions on any run change through the day as snow softens, refreezes or gets tracked out.
Good to know
- A marked piste is prepared and patrolled; the terrain beside it is not.
- Difficulty grades on the piste map are relative to that ski area.
- Lifts make the day a repeated cycle of ascent and descent.
- Beginner areas with gentle gradients are usually near the base.
- Conditions change through the day as snow softens, refreezes or gets tracked out.
Where it’s used
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How it connects
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Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- SkisBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Alpine Skiing learning path.
- Ski bootsBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Alpine Skiing learning path.
- Ski polesBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Alpine Skiing learning path.
- Ski helmetBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Alpine Skiing learning path.
- Ski gogglesBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Alpine Skiing learning path.
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Equipment
- SkisPaired shaped boards attached to boots that let a rider glide and turn on snow.
- Ski bootsStiff moulded boots that lock into ski bindings and transmit the rider’s movements to the skis.
- Ski polesPaired lightweight poles used for timing, balance and pushing along on flat ground.
- Ski helmetA hard-shelled helmet worn on the slopes to reduce head-impact risk in a fall or collision.
- Ski gogglesSealed eyewear that protects the eyes from wind, snow and glare and keeps the slope visible.
Skills
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Facility
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-08-30
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