What are the Main Features of a Ski Mountain (Ski Resort)?

Café's and Restaurants

Skiing is a very tiring sport and requires lots of energy. This energy is in the form of food, and nearly all skiers have at least one lunch break and many coffee and cake breaks.

Situated across the mountain you are skiing at will be many Café's and resaurants, providing tasty refreshments. You will usually choose what you want, and take it up to the counter to be purchased. But be warned, because many of these places are very touristic and therefore overcharge their customers; so, you should be careful about the amounts of food you buy and remember to bring lots of money and reserves.

However, if you would like to save on cash then you can purchase a packed lunch at the nearest town from the mountain, and slip it into your ski bag. Once up in the mountain, you can then eat the lunch but do not sit at a Café or restaurant with your own food, as they do not permit this and being kicked out will cause a great embarrasment. You will probably end up eating on the snow, although on some mountains there are tables where you can eat your own food, free of charge. But do not hesitate to bring your packed lunch, because it really will save you a ton of money!

Transport

Making your way up the mountain is very easy. Wherever you go skiing, there will always be a large number of ski lifts, which will take you to where you need to go.

At the beginning of your day, you should park your car in the mountain's car park, located next to the main ski lift; the car park is usually known as 'point zero.' After this you should make your way with your skis and boots, preferably with your boots on and carrying your skis, to the main ski lift. It will be very easy to find the main ski lift, as this is the one that will take you to the top of the mountain, and you will probably see crowds of people waiting to get on. You should wait in the queue, and once you get near a ski lift hop on with all your gear and patiently watch the scenery as you ascend. Remember that you will have to share the ski lift with others, so please do not be rude or take up to much space!

Once at the top of the mountain, you can ski as much as you like. The following small ski lifts will take you to the pistes that you want to go to:

Chairlifts

Chairlifts are the most common type of lifts on mountains. Skiers must keep both skis attached when riding.

How to ride on a chairlift:

1. To ride on a chairlift, stand in line in front of the chairlift. A simple gate system makes sure that only the designated number of people gets on at a time. This is usually between 2-6 persons per chairlift.
2. As the gate opens, slide forward and wait for the chairlift to come from behind while looking back.
3. You will gently be swooped into the chairs.
4. Once you're lift off, you and the other people in the chairlift should lower the bar that will support your feet and will keep you from falling out (failure to do so can result in removal from mountain).
5. Now you can rest and enjoy the ride!

How to get off a chairlift:

1. As you approach the exit platform, lift the top bar together with the others in your chairlift and get ready to unload the chairlift.
2. Put down your skis and let them slide over the landing platform. 
3. Stand up while keeping your balance and slide away from the landing platform. Always make sure to move a safe distance away from the landing platform. This will keep other people from bumping against you when you exit the lift.

T-Bar Lift

This is a rotating lift where there are many wires running above the slope. Attached to the cable are many bars you can grab, usually in the shape of a T but do have other forms. Riding on them is very simple. All you have to do is approach the platform, wait for a T and grab it and place it behind your bum, so that it is gently tugging you up. And to exit, remove the T and let it go, skiing away at the same time.

Poma Lift

This is very similar to a T-Bar Lift, but in this case it is in the shape of a platter which you place between your legs. Again, it will gently tug you up the mountain.

Piste Ratings

Pistes are classified by a colour-coded system. The following ratings apply for most of Europe and America:

1. Green - Extremely easy, usually an almost flat open surface. Required ski level: beginner.

2. Blue - Easy, gentle downhill will some mild turnings. Required ski level: beginner.

3. Red - Okay, visible downhill with some mild / sharp turnings and sometimes moguls. Required ski level: intermediate.

4. Black - Hard, steep downhill with many moguls and tend to be covered with ice. Required ski level: advanced.

5. Double or Triple Black Diamond - Very or extremely diffucult piste, extremely steep with all ice and large moguls. Required ski level: expert.

6. Terain Park (colour varies) - Hard, with large jumps and ice, although really depends on mountain. Required ski level: intermediate.