SESKStuff Everyone Should Know

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Stuff Every Skier Should Know

Ski and snowboard safety, mountain weather, cold injuries and slope etiquette.

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  1. What is the first rule of Your Responsibility Code for skiers and riders?
    Show the answer

    Always stay in control. Rule one says you must be able to stop or avoid people and objects. If you cannot, you are going too fast for the slope or the crowd.

  2. On a ski trail, who has the right-of-way?
    Show the answer

    The people ahead of or below you. Skiers in front and below cannot see you coming. So the person behind and above must steer clear, every time.

  3. Where is it safe to stop on a ski trail?
    Show the answer

    Where you are visible from above and not blocking traffic. Skiers coming down need time to see you. Resting at the trail edge, in plain view, keeps everyone safe.

All 103 practice questions

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  1. What is the first rule of Your Responsibility Code for skiers and riders?
  2. On a ski trail, who has the right-of-way?
  3. Where is it safe to stop on a ski trail?
  4. Before starting downhill or entering a trail, what should you do?
  5. What must you do to prevent runaway equipment on the slopes?
  6. What does the Code say about trails marked closed?
  7. Is it okay to use lifts and terrain after drinking alcohol?
  8. After a collision on the slopes, what should you do?
  9. What do crossed skis stuck in the snow mean?
  10. A skier is hurt. What should a helper tell the nearest lift operator?
  11. How many points are in Your Responsibility Code?
  12. Which is one of the three #RideAnotherDay actions for skiers and riders?
  13. The Snow Angel Foundation's Triangle of Safety has which three sides?
  14. What should you do when you cannot see over a roller on a run?
  15. Idaho law says each skier must ski within the limits of what?
  16. On a US ski trail map, what does a green circle mean?
  17. On a US trail map, what does a blue square mean?
  18. What do two black diamonds side by side on a trail sign mean?
  19. What does an orange oval on a trail sign show?
  20. On Swiss pistes, what does a blue marker mean?
  21. On Swiss runs, what does a yellow marker show?
  22. How many conduct rules did the international ski federation FIS set for skiers?
  23. In the ABCs of chairlift riding, what does "Bottom to Bottom, Back to Back" mean?
  24. You drop a glove or phone on a chairlift. What should you do?
  25. As you unload from a chairlift, what do you do with your ski tips?
  26. On a chairlift, what should a snowboarder do with their back foot?
  27. Who should lower the restraint bar for a small child on a chairlift?
  28. In Switzerland, kids shorter than what height ride a chairlift with an escort?
  29. Your chairlift slows or stops mid-ride. What should you do?
  30. In Park SMART, what does the S stand for?
  31. Terrain park features come in sizes. Which size is a great place to start?
  32. After using a jump in a terrain park, what should you do?
  33. What is the best habit to reduce the danger of tree wells and deep snow?
  34. Why can a tree well be dangerous?
  35. About how much can helmets reduce head injuries, per Colorado Ski Country USA?
  36. By the 2023-24 season, about what share of skiers and riders wore helmets?
  37. Colorado Ski Country USA urges you to wear a helmet but to ski as if you are what?
  38. When does Colorado Ski Country USA recommend a wax and tune for your skis?
  39. What does Colorado Ski Country USA call the best way to make skiing fun and safe?
  40. What does frostbitten skin often look like?
  41. A friend's cheek looks frostbitten. Should you rub it with snow?
  42. What is frostnip?
  43. Which body parts does frostbite most often affect?
  44. To rewarm frostbitten fingers in water, how warm should it be?
  45. When should you NOT rewarm frostbitten skin?
  46. Hypothermia means your core body temperature drops below what?
  47. What is happening to the body in hypothermia?
  48. Which is a warning sign of hypothermia in an adult?
  49. A shivering skier needs a warm drink. Which is NOT okay?
  50. When warming someone with hypothermia, where does heat go first?
  51. Why can hypothermia be hard to notice in yourself?
  52. What does a wind chill number tell you?
  53. Air is 0 F with a -19 F wind chill. How cold does a parked car get?
  54. At 0 F with a 15 mph wind, how long can exposed skin take to freeze?
  55. At about what sleeping altitude does altitude illness become a risk?
  56. What is the main symptom of acute mountain sickness?
  57. AMS symptoms usually begin how long after arriving high?
  58. Altitude sickness is getting worse. What is the best step?
  59. Does being very fit protect you from altitude sickness?
  60. If fluid in the lungs (HAPE) is suspected at altitude, what is most important?
  61. Confusion and trouble walking straight at altitude may signal what?
  62. Why can you sunburn under your chin on a snowy day?
  63. Which sunglasses best protect eyes on a snowy day?
  64. How often should you reapply sunscreen on the slopes?
  65. Is thirst a reliable sign you need water?
  66. How many levels are on the North American avalanche danger scale?
  67. At Considerable (level 3) avalanche danger, human-triggered slides are:
  68. At Extreme (level 5) avalanche danger, what is the travel advice?
  69. When should your avalanche beacon be worn and turned on?
  70. When does a group do its beacon check?
  71. Why choose a metal avalanche shovel instead of plastic?
  72. Why is traveling alone in avalanche terrain especially risky?
  73. Avalanche.org says groups of what size or larger are more at risk?
  74. Most slab avalanches start on slopes of what steepness?
  75. Most avalanche burial victims have under how long before suffocating?
  76. When digging out a buried partner, which side should you dig from?
  77. How far should a phone be from your beacon in search mode?
  78. Which terrain trap most often causes avalanche trauma injuries and deaths?
  79. What is an avalanche probe used for?
  80. In a whiteout, what happens to what you can see?
  81. Low light goggle lenses that help in flat light usually have what tint?
  82. When should a ski group choose a meeting spot in case someone gets separated?
  83. How many whistle blasts in a row are a distress signal?
  84. Besides a phone, what should a young skier carry in a secure pocket in case of separation?
  85. What is snow blindness, really?
  86. When do snow blindness symptoms usually show up after a day in the sun?
  87. Do you need goggles or sunglasses on a cloudy day in the mountains?
  88. Which details are used to find a recommended binding release setting (DIN)?
  89. Who should adjust your ski bindings' release setting?
  90. You buy new ski boots in the same size as your old ones. What should happen to your bindings?
  91. A beginner's ski boots really hurt. What does Aspen Snowmass advise?
  92. Why do shoulder injuries often happen to skiers who fall?
  93. Why is a cotton sweatshirt a poor choice for skiing?
  94. Do two or three pairs of socks keep feet warmer in ski boots?
  95. How do air-activated hand warmers like HotHands make heat?
  96. Heading from a ski resort into the backcountry, where should you leave the resort?
  97. What does going through a backcountry gate mean?
  98. Can you skin or hike up any ski area's slopes whenever you like?
  99. At most Colorado Ski Country USA areas that allow uphill travel, what is usually required?
  100. On Swiss pistes, what does a red marker mean?
  101. You fell on a slope with skis still on. Where should your skis be before you stand up?
  102. Getting up after a fall on skis, where do you plant your poles to help push yourself up?
  103. Per the Special Olympics coaching guide, what is the easiest way for a snowboarder to get up after a fall?