app to track ski runs

You don't need an app to track your ski runs. For decades, people just skied. They came home tired and told stories about their day.

But data is fun. Seeing your day on a map, knowing your top speed, and having proof of that 30,000 vertical foot day is its own kind of satisfaction.

Most modern ski tracking apps work surprisingly well. They use less battery than you'd think and are very accurate. The question isn't whether they work, but which one fits how you ski.

For the Data Hogs

If you live for the numbers—vertical feet, run count, max speed, lift time versus ski time—you want a pure tracking app.

• Ski Tracks: One of the originals and still one of the best. It’s light on your battery and heavy on the stats. It's not flashy, but it's reliable and gives you everything you need to geek out on your performance. It's the trusty pickup truck of ski apps. It just works.
• Slopes: A well-designed app that’s easy to figure out. It automatically knows if you're on a lift or skiing, so you don’t have to mess with it. The free version is good, but paying gets you 3D run replays and more detailed analysis. It also has a good social side for finding friends on the mountain.

I remember one Tuesday at Keystone around 4 PM. My phone was at 8%. My buddy was using some random app that had already killed his phone. I'd been running Slopes since the first chair and still had enough juice to coordinate our last run. That's what matters.

The All-in-One Resort Guide

Some apps go beyond your personal stats and try to be a digital guide to the mountain.

• Resort-Specific Apps (EpicMix, Ikon Pass): If you're a pass holder at a Vail or Ikon resort, you'll probably end up using their app. It holds your pass but also tracks stats, shows webcams, reports lift line waits, and updates you on open terrain.
• Skitude: This app tries to be a complete mountain companion. It tracks your skiing but also lets you book lift tickets and connect with a bigger community across a huge number of resorts.

For Actually Getting Better

Some apps are less about bragging rights and more about improving your technique.

Carv: This is something else entirely. It's a digital ski coach using a smart insole in your boot to give you real-time audio feedback. It measures your balance, edge angle, and pressure control—way beyond what a GPS tracker can do. It’s not just tracking; it’s training.

What About the Backcountry?

If you're heading off-piste, your needs are completely different. Resort maps are useless out there.

• onX Backcountry: This is a serious tool for navigation and safety. It gives you detailed topographic maps, slope angle shading, and avalanche terrain overlays. You can plan routes and download maps for offline use, which is essential when you lose cell service.
• FATMAP: It was acquired by Strava, but its legacy is in highly detailed 3D maps that are great for visualizing freeride lines.

The Short Answer

For most people at resorts, it comes down to Ski Tracks for simplicity or Slopes for its slick interface and smart features. If you're a data nerd, start with Ski Tracks. If you care more about the user experience and social features, get Slopes.

And if you have a season pass, your resort's own app is probably the most practical tool of all.