Red runs are best suited for intermediate and advanced skiers. They have more challenging terrain and are steeper than what most beginners can handle. But if you have the skills, reds can be a lot of fun.
I’ve been skiing for nearly my entire life, and I’ve skied on just about every type of condition and run you can imagine. I have experience with red runs, and I know how to ski these slopes. I also like sharing this knowledge with my fellow skiers.
This post will provide you with some tips for how to ski red runs. I’ll advise you on the proper technique and tell you some tricks to help you navigate these runs successfully and without worry.
Let’s get started.
Contents
What is a Red Run?
A red run is a slope somewhere between an intermediate and advanced run. These runs typically have more challenging terrain and conditions best suited for skiers with above beginner abilities.
You probably aren’t quite ready for a red run if you are just learning how to ski. You can get there, but you want to make sure you are ready so you don’t get in over your head.
You probably have never seen or heard of a red run if you are from North America. That’s because they don’t really exist in the US or Canada. The equivalent here would be a challenging blue run or a moderate black run.
How to Ski Red Runs
In this section, I will provide you with some tips and suggestions to help you successfully ski red runs. Like I said earlier, red runs aren’t for beginners, so only attempt one when you have the necessary skiing skills for more challenging terrain.
Tip #1 – Use Parallel Turns to Your Advantage
Parallel turning can be helpful in many situations, but this technique really pays off when you are on steeper slopes and need to navigate quickly. Because red runs are pretty steep, you’ll want to use parallel turns to your advantage.
Keep your skis and knees as close to one another as possible when navigating a red run. This will help you make turns and react quickly so you can deal with every obstacle that comes your way correctly.
Make sure your knees are bent and your hips and core muscles are engaged when parallel skiing. This will help you stay active and ready for action. Also, keep your hands and poles out in front of you to help maintain balance and form.
Tip #2 – Make Quick Turns
This tip follows directly behind parallel turning. By utilizing the proper parallel turn technique, you can make quick turns that will effectively help you go down a red run. Quick turns will allow you to go down steep sections while remaining in control.
Making quick turns does not mean you need to ski fast. Instead, you just need to be deliberate and precise with your turning. When you make a turn on a red run, make it happen as fast and as powerful as you can.
The quicker your turns, the more control you will have over the line you take down the slope. This can help you pick a section you want to go down and stick with it.
Tip #3 – Focus on Form
This tip applies to skiing anywhere, but it comes in particularly useful when you want to take on more challenging conditions like a red run. By focusing on your form, you’ll keep your body ready for action and can make the proper skiing decisions when needed.
You always want to keep your knees bent with your arms slightly out in front of you when skiing. This will help you stay engaged and allow your body to naturally react, move, and adapt to whatever movement you need it to make.
Keep your knees and skis close together while doing this for effective turning power and edge control. You also will want to keep your eyes on where you are turning and not at the bottom of the hill. If you don’t focus on what’s in front of you, you can quickly lose control.
Tip #4 – Know Your Abilities
Just because you want to ski a red run doesn’t mean you are actually ready for it. You need to know and understand your abilities as a skier so you don’t get in over your head and risk getting injured.
If you don’t know how to parallel ski yet or haven’t ever tried a steep run, you aren’t ready to try skiing a red. You can get there with more practice and patience, but don’t go for it until you know you are prepared for sure.
I’ve seen way too many skiers hurt themselves by trying something that was beyond their ability level. It can be frustrating when you want to ski something difficult, but just take your time, so you don’t do anything stupid.
Final Thoughts
One of the best ways to improve your skiing abilities is to take a lesson with a qualified instructor. This is an excellent way for beginners to gain the skills and experience necessary to take on a more challenging run.
Red runs can be a lot of fun, but they can also be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. If you read through all of the tips in this post and feel like you can put them into action, then you are ready to get out there and crush a red!
