As the steepest pisted terrain in a resort, skiing a black run isn’t easy, but if you are a confident skier ready to take on the challenge, you are in the right place!
Maison Sport ski instructor, Freddy W., shares his two golden tips that will help you to ski a black run with confidence and control.
If you master these skills, you’ll be able to ski pistes of any gradient, including black runs – and soon enough, you’ll be actively seeking out black runs rather than avoiding them!
What is a Black Run?
Ski resorts categorise their pistes by difficulty. In French resorts, green runs are the easiest, followed by blue, red and black runs (the most challenging). In other European resorts, the easiest classification typically starts with blue, progressing to red and black runs. From the legendary Harakiri in Mayrhofen, Austria, to the iconic La Face de Bellevarde in Val d’Isère, France, Europe is home to some of the steepest and most exhilarating black runs in the world.
Black runs are characterised by their steep inclines, with gradients of more than 40%. They also often have icy patches, moguls and narrow sections, making them a true test of skill and technique. They provide a thrilling descent and can take you from some of the highest peaks in the mountain, offering incredible views on the way down.
Black runs may be the most challenging pisted terrain that you will encounter in a ski resort, but this doesn’t mean they are unachievable. Although they can be intimidating, black runs are manageable with the right approach and shouldn’t be avoided – believe it or not, they can be a lot of fun!
How to Ski a Black Run: Two Key Technique Tips for Success
Master these two essential elements of your technique, and you’ll be able to ski a black run with confidence and control.
Tip One: Body Stance – Maintain Forward Pressure
When skiing a black run, maintaining forward pressure is crucial. Keep your weight pressed against the front of your boots and adopt a strong, attacking stance with your hips stacked over your feet.
Leaning back reduces control, making it harder to turn and manage your speed. While it may feel counterintuitive to lean forward on steep terrain, a backseat stance puts you off balance and increases the risk of losing control. Adjust your body position in response to the slope: the steeper the descent, the more you need to feel like you’re leaning forward to maintain stability and control.
Tip Two: Turning – Keep Your Weight Over the Outside Ski
A smooth and controlled turn begins with proper weight distribution. Use a pedaling motion to transition pressure from your inside foot to your outside foot as you initiate each turn.
Think of weight distribution as a scale from 0 to 10 – your outside ski should carry the majority of the pressure to ensure clean, controlled turns. This technique is especially important on steep terrain, like black runs, where speed can build quickly. Adequate pressure over your outside ski will allow you to adjust your turn radius with ease so you can perform shorter or longer turns as needed to control your speed.
Watch the Full Video Tutorial Over on Our YouTube Channel
Click below to watch the full video tutorial and see Freddie demonstrating these top tips.
Try it Out on the Slopes!
Before heading straight for a black run, we recommend practising these skills on blue and red slopes first. Once these important skills have been mastered, you will be able to confidently tackle slopes of any gradient – even black runs!
Are You Ready to Ski a Black Run?
It’s important to only attempt to ski a black run if you feel ready. Black runs demand skill, focus and endurance. They can be physically and mentally challenging, requiring strong technique, quick decision-making and forward planning. The steep terrain also puts greater strain on your muscles, so a good level of physical fitness is essential. Check out our free 6-week ski fit guide to help you prepare for the slopes – you’ll thank us later!
Ultimately, only you can decide if you are ready to ski a black run. But we recommend that you have a good level of physical fitness, are comfortable skiing in all conditions, have a strong skiing technique and have the right mindset before attempting a black run.
If you are skiing your first black run, it is highly advised to book an experienced instructor to help guide you down safely and give you technique pointers before you tackle it on your own. With the right preparation, black runs will soon feel a lot less intimidating!
