Almost every skier and snowboarder has a mistake they would like to take back. We recently took to Facebook to ask our audience a simple question about the biggest mistake they had made while skiing or snowboarding. The responses ranged from embarrassing equipment errors to serious crashes and close calls in the backcountry.
While some commenters kept things light, the more serious responses revealed a pretty common theme. Overconfidence, poor decision making, and underestimating mountain conditions can turn an ordinary day on snow into a hard lesson.
Overconfidence Can Have Serious Consequences
Several of the most dramatic responses involved skiers pushing beyond their limits. One commenter described attempting a 50-foot cliff jump in Colorado after becoming accustomed to deeper and denser snow in California. Instead of landing safely, the skier blew through the powder and hit hardpack underneath, nearly losing consciousness.
Another skier recalled becoming overconfident while hitting jumps and striking a tree in midair. Patrol apparently had to climb the tree and bring them down with a rope.
There were also reminders that experience does not eliminate risk. One commenter described triggering the Grand Mesa Thunderbird Avalanche in 2010 and breaking both legs (read about that here). He said the experience made him more cautious, but it couldn’t get him to stop skiing big vert.
The Trees Remain Unforgiving
Tree skiing appeared repeatedly in the responses as well. One skier said they made the mistake of sticking out an arm to slow down in the trees. Another described becoming wedged between two trees on a powder day and needing a ski buddy to help get them free.
Perhaps the most concerning story came from a skier who said they fell into a tree well while skiing powder at night in the Aspen backcountry. The commenter reported spending approximately 30 minutes working to dig themselves out.
Knowing Your Limits Matters
Not every mistake involved extreme terrain. One skier said their biggest mistake was following their husband down a double black run. Another recalled following locals at Crested Butte despite having previously skied only in the Midwest. Others talked about assuming spring snow would be soft, forgetting essential backcountry equipment, skiing while hungover, or pushing aging bodies beyond what they could comfortably handle.
The lessons from these comments seem to be pretty simple. Respect the conditions, know your limits, and remember that confidence is not a substitute for good judgement.