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Ski Trail Ratings

By , About.com Guide

The trail ratings below are different from North American trail ratings - they don't use symbols. These ski trail ratings are used in Europe.

Green - Easy slopes that aren’t always marked but their gentle slope symbolizes their use as a first time ski area.

Blue - An easy trail with a gentle slope that is for beginning skiers or skiers who wish to ski on an easy trail.

Red - An intermediate slope that is steeper (or more difficult than) a Blue trail.

Black - Always known as an expert slope, but sometimes these slopes can be extremely difficult, so skiers should always proceed with caution.

It is very important to consider the rating of the trail, but you must use caution, too. Ratings can vary at different resorts. This is because resorts individually assign the ratings to a trail. For example, a trail that’s marked for beginners at Mount Snow Resort may be more difficult than a beginner trail at Sugarloaf Ski Area. So, always use caution and ski with safety!

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