How to Conquer the World's Most EXTREME Ski Runs

A comprehensive guide to the technical skills, routines, and mindset you should have to successfully ski or snowboard double-black diamond trails and other expert-level terrain.

Direct links to:

Follow us on other channels!

0:00 Intro
0:52 What Is an Expert-Level Ski Trail?
2:56 Technical Skills Required
9:14 Physical Preparation
11:54 Mental Readiness
14:12 Safety Precautions
16:38 The Day Of
18:05 Final Thoughts

[editorbuck]

Don't sleep on your endurance training! I followed a friend down 2 double blacks in a row at Copper, and by halfway through the second, I was absolutely dying. Tough terrain gets exponentially tougher when you're already tired and winded!

[raphaelmonserate]

11:04 "to get good at skiing, go skiing" honestly amazing advice

[texan_ocho]

Great video. As a life long snowboarder, I’ve sometimes found myself struggling with mental preparedness the most. As my family grows as I get older, an occasional lack of confidence has sometimes held me back. When I manage to overcome it, it’s hugely rewarding. Confidence, not cockiness.

[mankybrains]

love the commitment to have the helmet and goggles on while doing strength training.

[josephstratemeier]

The mental side always gets me. I've got the technique for the most part, but I just get in my head about injury and stuff and bail on stuff I know I can do.

[Salted]

Love the b roll of SkiT and Spam, especially Chief showing bracqage. He has the sweetest patient round turns

[bearieroblox]

A big tip is definitely to train all types of skiing. Most skiers I see only do one type, whether they strictly carve down groomers or live in the park. It’s so funny to watch extremely proficient ski racers try to go off the tiniest jumps or smallest cliffs and it looks like they have never skied before and fall on their ass. Or really awesome park skiers who can’t really carve well and just die on the moguls. Practice everything and you will be surprised how many of the skills in one discipline of skiing become useful in ways you never would have imagined.

[Aortadetroit]

People should know there's almost no truly bad ass skiers in any of these clips. Good skiers going for it and that's great(!) but not one goat in the bunch. If you're an advanced intermediate and up you can see what I'm saying easier by checking their forward lean relative to the hill angle. These guys are all back on their skis rather than forward with hands driving down out in front of them. The best skiers will carve a whole bunch of this stuff you're seeing here. Pedal turns are key like one comment said but that's a singular technique for 60 degree inclines, certain snow conditions and lanes to tight to carve because of width and/or because carving INCREASES your speed. There are times momentum must be checked to control speed. One of the coolest things in there is when someone has a clearly visible runout and you carve knowing you can go as fast as you want, 60-90 miles an hour in some cases because you have a relatively clear runout to the flatter area. That's fun!

[mbtravel]

I always ski alone. What happens is i often psych myself out of doing more difficult terrain because nobody is there to push me and encourage me. 9 times out of 10 if i can build up my courage i can complete these runs successfully. The mental factor is huge.

[randomentertainment]

SUTTON MENTIONED! My fav mountain and I go every year to the point where I know it like the back of my hand. I’m proud to say that I’ve been able to convince my mom to follow me on the triples and we’ve had great times.

[goldentwister]

The physical fitness part is key. When you’re not in great shape even if you’re a good skiier, you will get tired and sloppy very quickly. Experienced this last week when skiing many double black glade runs in a row with the group.

[evanwright]

One way to get good at hockey stops is to learn to skate and join a beer-league hockey team :) Seriously, it's fantastic cardio and really makes you understand edges. You're also bound to meet other people who ski.

[OzzlyOsborne]

Just learned how to ski on a bunny hill and my first small little green. I think I'm ready for the double black now lol

[myaschaefer]

I use to work at Mount Hutt in NZ, back in the early 90’s. It’s the ski area with the highest death count in the world for guests and staff combined. While working as an alpine ski racing coach I rescued several guests who’d skied out on to glazed snow fields, only to find that they were inverted ice skating rinks. One unfortunate guest cut loose before I could get back out there to help her turn around and guide her back…she slid nearly 1, 200 feet down from below The Towers (look up there trail map)…the blood trail started about 2/3 of the way down. To add insult to her death, she hit the only ski area boundary post on the lower cat track. I reckon she was going close to +80 mph when she collided. Anyway, the 3 other guests survived. My point is that what’s considered even moderate terrain can become extremely dangerous/deadly when storms put down freezing rain at the end. Conditions greatly reduce or increase risk, always best to wait till they’re dialed before attempting your first dbl D. Be safe out there…It ruins my day when I watch skiers die.

[anthonysteen]

The Rosetta Stone of skiing is the pedal hop or jump turn. The game changes when you learn how to execute with complete control at 40 degrees

[lucas-zn]

I also love snowboarding, but wow, this is an insane level. Respect!

[rizzivideocollection]

IF you cannot comfortably jump turn in all snow conditions, you are not capable of safely skiing double black diamond terrain. It is an essential skill. See way too many skiers trying terrain way over their skill level.

[sydakk]

The biggest thing holding me back is fear. I know I can chutes, I’m aware I can ski straight, but I’m scared.

Fear is the mind killer and whatnot

[Aboard_and_Abroad]

2:47 dude in the black form is boss level

[src]

Lake Louise used to have a run marked as red to signify a level above double black; not something I'd normally attempt but they dropped it down to a double black this season so I'll probably send it 🤣