It’s hard to beat the experience of cruising through the snow on a wide open run at your favorite winter resort. Surrounded by mountains that stretch to the horizon and with fresh air on your face, you’ve found what you were looking for – peace.

But wait, what was it that almost collided with you? It flew by so fast it was a mere blur. Another skier? Cutting you off? Your moment of peace has been interrupted by a close call and the risk of serious injury or death. And you know it will happen again. After all, almost getting smacked by someone who’s not paying attention is just one of the many annoyances that can sneak their way into the perfect winter slopesport day.

Here are 14 things people do at Colorado’s ski resorts that we could all really do without:

1. The human traffic cone

We get it, it’s a crowded day and parking is sparse – everyone has noticed that. However, standing in the last open spot in the parking lot for an extended period of time while waiting for a vehicle full of friends to arrive will always be taboo. It’s a surefire way to get plenty of glares and maybe some harsh words sent your way. Everyone is anxious to get to the slopes – respect the parking lot rules of ‘early bird gets the worm.’

2. The distracted lift-rider

As crowds start to form, so do dreaded lift lines and the general annoyance that comes with them. Everyone is anxious to get their next run in, making this a bad time to let distractions slow you down. The worst is when someone at the front of the line isn’t paying attention and results in a lift stoppage. It’s also important to make sure you’re not knocking into other slopegoers’ expensive gear with your own skis or snowboard. Pay attention and don’t be that person.

3. Mr. Free Concert

Helmet speakers are made for a reason. Use them! No one also wants to hear your personal hype song while they’re cruising down the slopes, on a lift, or waiting in line to head up the mountain. Even if you’ve got great taste in music, common courtesy means keeping it to yourself. It’s also worth noting that headphones aren’t a great option, as these fully cover your earholes. This is why helmet speakers, when used responsibly, are the way to go.

4. The surprise lift bar-putter-downer

Ski lift safety bars have long been a point of controversy on American slopes for some reason. While putting the bar down is commonplace in many places around the globe, a lot of American slopegoers tend to leave it up. Because many skiers and snowboarders are used to not using the bar, it can be a bit jarring when it suddenly slams down unexpectedly. If you’re putting the bar down – which is recommended for the sake of safety – let others on the lift know and give them a moment to adjust their seating and move gear around as needed. A simple “Bar!” with a brief pause will generally do the trick.

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5. The person with a need for speed

We get it – going fast is fun. That being said, going fast without being in control puts everyone on the slopes at risk. If you’re going fast on your skis, make sure you’re able to handle that speed first. No one wants to get smacked from behind by someone that can’t stop. It’s also important to go fast on terrain that’s safe to do so on – in specific, fast skiers should avoid areas where new skiers frequent. Even if you’re able to dodge these new skiers, being surrounded by fast skiers can add to their level of stress, potentially contributing to more mistakes and bad decisions. Feel free to go fast when allowed, but be responsible and respectful of others when doing so.

6. The mid-run group hang

Something that can be particularly annoying on crowded days is when a group of slopegoers decides to take a mid-run break in the middle of the slope. Not only does this interrupt the flow of slopegoers coming down the mountain, it can also pose a safety hazard when these groups aren’t visible to those on terrain above them. Stopping under a jump or laying down in the snow can greatly increase the likelihood that these groups cause dangerous collisions and accidents. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, but try to do so on the edge of the run where you’re out of the way, also in a position that keeps you highly visible to those above. Never take breaks in blind spots on the mountain.

7. Lift talkers

Obviously, conversations on the ski lift are often fine, but it’s always important to read the room. Sharing your life story or bragging about your abilities (especially the humble brags and namedropping) usually aren’t appreciated. If those you’re sharing the lift with want to chat, then go ahead and chat, but if they don’t, keep to yourself. It’s that simple.

8. The litter bug

The mountain isn’t your personal trash can. Just because a ski resort might be a commercial operation, it doesn’t mean you can toss your garbage anywhere. Never throw trash off a ski lift and don’t leave it at the side of a run. It’s also important to make sure that trash is secure so you’re not accidentally dropping it on your way down the mountain. There are plenty of trash receptacles found at the top and bottom of many lifts – use them. It can also be a good idea to bring some sort of a bag along that lets you keep trash in your backpack without making a mess.

9. The gear swinger

Skis and snowboards can be awkward to carry, especially when starting out in slopesports. That being said, it’s important to be highly aware of where gear is swinging while moving about the base area of a mountain. No one wants to get whacked in the face with a set of skis or snowboard.

10. The snow sprayer

While intentionally spraying friends with snow might be fun, spraying strangers is a big no-no. One instance where this tends to occur is when someone takes a fall, set-up to be sprayed by others zipping past them and making turns too close for comfort. Instead of spraying a downed slopegoer, give them space – or better yet, ask them if they need help.

11. The amateur trickster

We get it – you’re super stoked because you just learned how to do a 180 off a side hit. You’re pretty good and can get it right most of the time. You’re impressed, I’m impressed, we’re all impressed. That said, performing tricks and stunts on the slopes should be done with extreme caution, as falling or not checking landings adequately can pose an extreme risk to others. If you want to break your own arm going airborne, got for it, but keep it to the terrain park – at least until you’re a true expert. Otherwise, you might end up causing a collision and facing the consequences that stem from that.

12. The “slopes are alright today” guy

Despite it being a beautiful bluebird day with a bit of fresh powder, this skier will always be reminiscing about another ‘better’ day on the mountain. They’re eager to share stories of their heroic acts on the slopes that day and seem to get their fix from making other people feel like they missed out. Instead of being happy with the present conditions, this person might leave those they encounter feeling like a great day wasn’t actually that good. The same goes for those incessantly comparing ski areas. Sure, there are many great ski areas around the country, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding which ones are the best. Avoid bashing resorts without a good cause to do so – that resort getting bashed might be someone else’s favorite spot.

13. The self-proclaimed ‘expert’

Everyone already knows you’re the best skier on the mountain, you don’t have to keep reminding us. This annoying character tends to be full of advice that they’ll overzealously hand out at no request, from skiing form to gear to ‘secret’ stashes of powder. Remember, most people head to the slopes for a stress-free day, not for passive aggressive criticism. If you catch yourself providing fellow chairlift riders with critical commentary of skiers below or feeling the urge to stop mid-run to correct someone about their skiing style, you might be this person.

14. The wanna-be influencer

“Does the internet really need another video of a blue groomer at Breck?” That’s the question you forgot to ask prior to hitting the slopes with a triple-GoPro set-up that’s capable of getting simultaneous shots from your helmet, chest, and skis. While videotaping your ski day for the memories can be a great idea, don’t take it too seriously and don’t let it interrupt the experience that others are having on the mountain. One of the top nuisances related to this behavior tends to be when a skier is spotted paying more attention to what’s happening at the end of their selfie stick than those downhill. Remember, the shots never look as cool from the couch anyway.

Slopesports are a blast, but annoying behavior can definitely harsh the good vibes. Most of it boils down to not being a jerk and not being aloof. If everyone followed those two rules, many common complaints about other slopegoers could be avoided.

What types of annoying ski hill behaviors did I leave off this list? Let me know in the comments.

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