Black slopes are steep, often narrow, and sometimes icy or mogul-covered. They demand confident edge control, quick turns, and the ability to manage speed on steep terrain. Don't just bomb it; ride in control with short, aggressive turns. By the time you drop into one, you should already feel solid carving on steeper terrain and comfortable riding variable snow - black slopes combine both.
The main thing black slopes change is your relationship with speed. On a blue, you use turns to add a little control. On a black, you're relying on your turns to keep you from running away with gravity. The rhythm gets faster: short, sharp heel-toe-heel-toe turns that shed speed every time the board comes across the fall line. Long traverses feel tempting on steep terrain, but they just build speed before the next turn.
Body position matters more here than anywhere else. Keep your weight forward and your chest pointed downhill even when your instinct screams to lean back. Leaning back on a steep is the #1 cause of losing control, because the board shoots out from under you with no bite. Stay tall, stay forward, and trust the edge. If you catch your breath halfway down, do it sitting on the uphill side of the run where you're not in anyone's path.
A video lesson is available here:
Video by Tommie Bennett
Key tips
- Choose a line. Look 3-5 turns ahead before you drop in.
- Stay low with deep knee bend. Steep terrain amplifies every movement
- Use short, quick turns to control speed instead of long traverses
- Use the terrain to control your speed. Finish turns by pointing your board across or even slightly up the hill.
- Keep your weight forward. Leaning back on a steep slope makes you lose control
- If there are moguls, absorb them with your legs like shock absorbers
- It's okay to stop and rest on the side. Black slopes are tiring