How to find people to go on a ski trip with

The easiest way to find people for a ski trip is to start with people you have already ridden with for a day. Clubs, group trips and riding partners from your home mountain are the best sources. Ride together once before you book anything, then agree on lodging, costs and the daily plan in writing before anyone pays a deposit.

A trip is a bigger ask than a day on the hill. You are sharing a car, a kitchen and maybe a room for several days, so the fit matters more than the dates. SkiBuds itself started there: in the 2018/19 season at Whistler, the first idea was finding people to share accommodation with, before it became about finding people to ride with.

Where to find people for a ski trip

• People you already ride with. The best trip partners are usually people from day trips. You already know their pace, their terrain and whether they show up on time. How to find ski buddies and how to find snowboard friends cover building that crew.
• Ski and snowboard clubs. Many clubs run weekend and week-long trips with lodging and transport already arranged, which takes most of the planning off your hands. How to join a ski club covers what to ask.
• Organized group trips. Some shops, outdoor groups, alumni groups and workplaces run trips open to people who sign up alone. You arrive knowing the logistics are handled and that everyone else is there to meet people too.
• Online groups for your city or mountain. Useful for finding people heading the same way on the same dates. Post the details, not just "anyone want to go?". The template below helps.
• Someone you met on a day trip. Some of the best trips come from saying yes. In March 2020, a rider Stephen had met through the app at Whistler invited him along to Kicking Horse, and the trip turned into closing days at Kicking Horse and Lake Louise. You can read the story in skiing alone and meeting people.

Ride together before you book

A single day at your local mountain tells you most of what you need to know:

• Pace and terrain. Does one of you want groomers until lunch and the other want trees from first chair? That is fine for a day and hard for a week. Skiing with friends of different abilities shows how mixed groups make it work.
• Timing. First chair or a slow breakfast. Last chair or après at two. Agree now, not on day three.
• How they handle a bad day. Wind holds, flat light and long lift lines happen on every trip.

The meetup planner turns the mountain, time, terrain and meeting point for that first day into a message you can send.

Agree on the money before anyone pays

Most trips that go wrong go wrong over money, not skiing. Settle these in one written message that everyone confirms:

1. Lodging. Who books it, the total cost, how it splits, and who sleeps where. Decide whether couples or people who want a private room pay more.
2. Deposits and cancellation. What happens if someone drops out after the booking. A simple rule, such as "your share is non-refundable unless you find a replacement", avoids an argument later.
3. Transport. One car or several, how fuel and parking are shared, and who drives on snowy roads. How to plan a ski carpool has a checklist.
4. Lift tickets and passes. Check which pass covers the resort before you pick it, and whether anyone needs to buy tickets ahead.
5. Food. Shared groceries split evenly, or everyone on their own. Either works if it is agreed.

A message you can post

"Planning a [number]-day trip to [resort or region] around [dates]. Riding [terrain and level], usually [first chair or later start]. Looking for [number] people to share [lodging type] at about [cost per person] plus transport from [general area]. Happy to ride a local day first. Message me if you're interested."

Share only your general area in public. Swap details privately once you have decided who to go with.

Keep it safe

• Meet in person before the trip, ideally on a day at a busy local mountain.
• Tell someone at home where you are going, who with and where you are staying.
• Keep a way home. Know how you would get back on your own if you needed to.
• Book lodging where everyone is on the reservation or the host knows who is staying.
• Plan for the weather. Check the forecast for your dates with how to read a ski resort snow forecast, and agree what the group will do if a storm closes a road.

The safety page explains how SkiBuds handles reporting, blocking and moderation.

Choose the destination together

Pick somewhere that works for the whole group's terrain and budget. The mountain region guides and resort guides cover terrain by ability, arrival tips and snow forecasts, so the group can compare options before anyone books.

SkiBuds is being rebuilt for iOS and Android to help riders find people who ride the way they do, and the new app is coming soon. Until then, start with one local day together. If the day goes well, the trip usually will too.