Best 5 Ski Apps on iPhone and Android (In 2023)

Are you ski-obsessed? A snow enthusiast? Or just want some easy tips to improve? Here are some great ways to use technology to elevate your overall skiing experience. Having just finished my first ski season in Austria, I want to highlight the best ski apps that I found along the way. If you’re a beginner, just starting out, or if you are a seasoned skier, ready to hit the powder next season, here are my top skiing apps. From the best tracking to the best place to find real-time condition updates. I’ve got your back, let’s get ready to raise the skiing game to peak perfection.

The Best for coaching and tracking: Carv

Compatible: Android, iOS

During my time in Austria, I was lucky enough to use Carv on most of the days I went out on the slopes. I came to Austria, having been skiing on a yearly basis, but only for week-long trips. This made me determined to improve my technique, and being surrounded by very good skiers, I was constantly trying to live up to the standards of my peers. Carv helped me do that, I competed with myself before I competed with them and it made me a better skier.

Carv goes beyond the normal ski tracking apps, helping you improve with real-time coaching. As you are skiing down the slope you receive audio feedback and personalised coaching to improve your skiing in real time.

It’s an app that’s more than just simple tracking and instead provides detailed analysis of your skiing performance. By measuring metrics such as edge angle, balance, and turn dynamics, Carv generates comprehensive reports that allow you to assess your progress and identify areas for improvement. This allowed me to hone in on my technique and through the use of different modes, I could keep improving without having an instructor by my side. Buy Carv here.

The Best for Virtual Reality: Slopes

Compatible: Android, iOS

Slopes is known as one of the best ski-tracking apps. Although it offers an array of great features, like detailed tracking, interactive 3D maps, and many social elements, the most exciting thing about the app is its Virtual Reality element.

The virtual reality (VR) feature offered by Slopes provides a unique and immersive perspective for skiers. When using Slopes' VR replay, you can step into a virtual world that recreates your skiing session in a three-dimensional space. By leveraging the data collected during your ski run, Slopes generates a detailed and accurate representation of your skiing experience.

This includes the terrain, your speed, the twists and turns you made, and even the altitude changes. The VR experience allows you to truly immerse yourself in the skiing environment. As you put on your VR headset, you'll feel like you're transported back to the slopes, re-experiencing the adrenaline rush and the breathtaking scenery. It's a thrilling way to relive those memorable moments and get a sense of what it was like to ski down the mountain.

The Best for Resorts (US): Aspen Snowmass

Compatible: Android, iOS

The Aspen Snowmass app offers a range of features that enhance the skiing experience for visitors to the Aspen Snowmass resorts (Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Buttermilk, and Aspen Snowmass) in Colorado.

There are some great features in the app, the most important one being Real-Time Lift and trail status updates. It’s an easy way to see which runs are open and which ones are closed for the day, so you can make the most out of your time on the slopes.

The feature that makes it even easier to prioritise your time skiing is the Lift Wait Times: The app includes a feature that displays real-time lift wait times, giving you an idea of how long you may need to queue for each lift. This allows you to choose lifts strategically, minimising wait times and maximising your time on the mountain.

Another great feature is the interactive trail maps. These provide a detailed overview of the resort's terrain. You can explore the mountain, view different trails, and get information on difficulty levels, elevation changes, and other key details. The maps also allow you to track your location in real-time, ensuring you don't get lost and helping you navigate the resort effectively.

The Best for Resorts (EU): Bergfex Ski

Compatible: Android, iOS

I wanted to give one to all of our European skiers. I think the obvious winner is Bergfex Ski. This is a more comprehensive app that provides resort information in the EU, particularly for Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

This app provides a similar quality to the Aspen Snowmass app, including trail maps, weather forecasts and lift status and waiting times. Another great feature is the live webcams and live images, providing a visual representation of the current conditions. This feature allows you to get a real-time view of the slopes, weather, and ski resort atmosphere, helping you make informed decisions about where and when to ski.

The great thing about the Bergfex ski app is that it has offline capability, allowing you to download maps, trail information, and other content before heading to the slopes. This feature ensures that you can access crucial information even in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, making the app reliable and convenient for on-mountain use.

The Best for staying safe on the mountain: White Risk

Compatible: Android, iOS

When on the mountain it is extremely important to stay safe and informed regarding Avalanches and snow conditions, especially if you are choosing to ski or snowboard off-piste.

White Risk is designed to support mountain safety and offers several features that enhance the overall safety of outdoor enthusiasts.

Firstly one of the best features of this app is the Avalanche Safety Information: The app provides access to current avalanche bulletins and avalanche forecasts. This feature allows users to stay updated on the latest information regarding avalanche conditions, risk levels, and specific advice for safe travel in the backcountry. It helps users make informed decisions and adjust their plans based on the current avalanche situation.

Remember though that while this app can be a valuable tool for mountain safety and avalanche awareness, it should not replace proper training, experience, and judgment. It's crucial to undergo avalanche safety courses, carry appropriate equipment, and make informed decisions based on current conditions and expert advice from local authorities, especially when you are skiing or snowboarding off-piste.

Conclusions:

For me, although all of these apps have helped me on my skiing journey, the most important one was Carv. From the perspective of an intermediate skier. Carv has helped me to develop my skiing ability without the help of an instructor. Instead, I have been able to take time for myself on the mountain and keep improving.

The app has given me an array of different data points to keep referring back to. Reviewing this data has given me a deep understanding of my strengths and weaknesses, helping me target specific areas for improvement. With Carv, I have been able to refine my technique and achieve a level of precision in my skiing that I never thought possible.

Carv has become my trusted companion on the mountain, not only rekindling my competitive spirit but also improving my technique. Buy Carv here.