Piste Grading - Europe vs. North America (Easy Guide)

Piste/ slope/ Run grading can vary between Europe and North America. This can leave new or beginner skiers a bit anxious about what they are getting themselves into.

But fear not! This article will help you to better understand the difference between Europe and North American ski-piste grading. Helping you to make the most fun and safe choices on your holiday.

Ski Piste/Slope Grading – The Color System

While both continents use a color-coded system to indicate the difficulty level of ski slopes, there are some differences that could leave skiers and boarders confused and scared.

Read on for a general comparison of the grading systems used in Europe and North America:

A Green Piste (or run)

A green piste is the easiest piste to ski in North America and in France (In the rest of Europe, the easiest is a blue piste)

If you are dropping into a North American/ French green run you can expect:

A Mellow Gradient: This piste will have a relatively gentle gradient of less than 25%, meaning the slope is not too steep. It allows beginners to practice their skiing or snowboarding skills without feeling overwhelmed.
Lots Of Width: These pistes are usually wide, providing plenty of space for beginners to make wide turns and practice their maneuvers without feeling crowded.
Smooth Terrain: The terrain is typically smooth and free from significant obstacles. This minimizes the chances of accidents and makes it easier for beginners to navigate the slope.
Minimal Obstacles: While such pistes are generally obstacle-free, there might be some minor features like small rollers or slight variations in the terrain to add a bit of excitement without making it too challenging.
Easy Access: Easy pistes are often located near the base area of the resort, making them easily accessible for beginners and those taking lessons.
Ski School Areas: Many resorts have dedicated areas on such pistes for ski schools to conduct lessons for beginners. These areas might have additional features like magic carpets or gentle lifts to assist learners.
Signage: The piste will be well-marked with clear signage indicating that it is a green or blue beginner’s slope. This helps skiers and snowboarders identify the appropriate level of difficulty.

A Blue Piste (or run)

So… This is where things start to get complicated but don´t worry we have simplified it…

A Blue piste in North America and France is a nice halfway between green and red, offering skiers and boarders a chance to safely push their limits, but not too much.
A Blue Piste in Europe is the easiest piste available and would be classed as a green run in North America and France

If you are dropping into a North American or French Blue run expect:

A Steeper Gradient: Compared to Green slopes, Blue pistes have a slightly steeper gradient, offering a bit more excitement and a chance to practice sharper turns and controlled descents.
A Moderate Width: Blue pistes can vary in width but are generally narrower than Green pistes. However, they still provide enough space for intermediate skiers to comfortably navigate the slope.
Varied Terrain: Blue pistes often feature more varied terrain compared to Green slopes. You may encounter gentle rolls, small bumps, and slight changes in the landscape that add some interest to the run.
More Natural Features: While Blue pistes are not overly challenging, they may have some natural features like trees, rocks, or small moguls, which provide opportunities for practicing maneuvering around obstacles.
Accessible Locations: Similar to Green pistes, Blue pistes are often conveniently located near the base area or close to lifts, making them easily accessible for skiers of intermediate skill levels.
Marked and Well-Maintained: Blue pistes are clearly marked with signage indicating their intermediate difficulty. They are also well-maintained, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride for skiers.

A Red Piste / Black Diamond Run

A Black diamond run in North America would be of similar terrain and steepness to a European red piste.

It has been designed for advanced skiers and boarders who have experience in handling steeper slopes and different snow conditions.

If you are dropping into a North American or French Blue run expect:

A Steep Gradient: Black Diamond runs and European red pistes are characterized by a steep slope, offering a thrilling and adrenaline-pumping descent. Skiers and snowboarders need to have strong control over their turns and speed. Such pistes often have both mellow and steep sections so skiers and boarders must be aware that it may look easy from the top but it can quickly get harder.
Narrower Width: Compared to intermediate slopes, Black Diamond runs or European Red pistes can get narrow in places, requiring more precise navigation and control, especially when the slope is crowded.
Varied Terrain: These pistes often feature diverse terrain, including moguls (bumps), glades (tree areas), and chutes (narrow, steep passages), adding an element of challenge and excitement.
Snow Conditions: The difficulty of a Black Diamond / European red piste can be significantly influenced by snow conditions. In ungroomed or powder conditions, the slope may become even more challenging and moguls can form.
Limited Grooming: While some resorts groom Black Diamond pistes to maintain safety, many leave them relatively ungroomed to preserve the natural challenges of the terrain.
Advanced Skiers Only: It’s essential to respect the difficulty level of Black Diamond pistes. Only advanced skiers and snowboarders who are confident in their abilities should attempt these runs.

A Black Piste / Double Black Diamond Run

Double black diamond slopes in North America are equivalent to Europe’s black (or sometimes double black) pistes. They are the most challenging and demanding runs available on the resort. Often featuring steep terrain, moguls, un-groomed sections, and other obstacles.

These slopes are for experts only. Skiers and boarders should be very confident, skillful, or downright crazy before attempting such a slope.

If you are dropping into a North American Double Black Diamond or European Black piste expect:

An extremely Steep Gradient: Double Black diamonds / Black pistes have a very steep slope. They demand exceptional skill and control to navigate safely.
Narrow and Technical: These pistes are typically narrow, providing limited room for maneuvering. Skiers must be able to make precise and quick turns to handle the challenging terrain.
Varied and Hazardous Terrain: Double Black Diamond/ Black pistes present a wide range of obstacles and terrain features, including large moguls, tight chutes, cliffs, rocks, and trees. These features demand expert-level skills to navigate successfully.
Limited Grooming: Many resorts leave these pistes relatively ungroomed to preserve the natural challenges of the terrain. This can include ungroomed powder, making the run even more difficult.
Avalanche Prone: In some cases, Double Black Diamond pistes might traverse areas with a higher risk of avalanches. Skiers should be aware of avalanche safety protocols and carry appropriate equipment when skiing on such slopes.
Expert Skiers Only: Double Black Diamond pistes are not suitable for most skiers and snowboarders. Only those with extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and confidence in challenging conditions should attempt these runs.
In-Bounds but Hazardous: While Double Black Diamond/Black pistes are within the resort’s boundaries, they may pose hazards similar to backcountry skiing. Skiers should be cautious and prepared for the added risks.

How Do Ski Resorts Decide On Piste Difficulty?

Ski resorts use a number of factors when deciding on piste grading.

Their ultimate goal is to offer a range of slopes that cater to skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, from beginners to experts. Ensuring that each level of skier or boarder knows what they are getting into before dropping into the slope.

In some areas, the terrain may not be steep enough to accommodate black slopes making for beginner/intermediate-friendly resorts. If the terrain is steep, however, resorts can build pistes that snake their way down the hill, ensuring that beginners can still enjoy long runs from the top of the mountain.

Piste Difficulty Grading Factors

Slope Gradient: The steepness of the slope is one of the most important factors in determining difficulty. This will be decided by taking an average over the vertical drop of the slope VS the length. This average is not perfect however as if there is a flat plateau then a very steep section, the piste may be more difficult than its grading. For this reason, Ski patrol must take other factors into consideration.
Terrain Features: Resorts consider the presence of natural terrain features, such as moguls, glades, rocks, and cliffs. These features impact the overall difficulty and require different skill levels to navigate.
Obstacles: Man-made obstacles, such as jumps, rails, and terrain parks, can significantly impact the difficulty of a slope. Terrain parks with jumps and tricks are usually designated with their own difficulty levels.
Snow Conditions: The difficulty of a piste can vary depending on snow conditions. Fresh powder or icy conditions can make a run more challenging than under regular conditions. For this reason, you will normally find that beginner/ Intermediate slopes are regularly topped up with snow cannons and are well-groomed.
Width and Navigation: The width of the piste affects how easy it is to navigate and control speed. Narrower pistes can be more challenging, especially for beginners.
Grooming Practices: The level of grooming also affects the difficulty. Smooth, groomed slopes are generally easier to ski on, while ungroomed areas can increase the challenge.
Continuity with Grading System: Resorts try to maintain consistency with the standard grading system used in their region or country, ensuring that skiers can easily understand the difficulty of a slope based on its color code.

Piste Grading – Europe vs. North America (Easy Guide)