Key:piste:grooming
 piste:grooming
|
 |
| Description |
|---|
Used to define how a piste is prepared. 
|
| Group: sports |
| Used on these elements |
    |
| Useful combination |
| Status: de facto |
| Tools for this tag |
|
Intended to describe the preparation of a piste dedicated to winter sports. The tag and its values depend on the type of piste it is applied to. The grooming is generally applied to ways rather than relations, as it is a characteristic that can change along the piste.
Alpine or downhill
When applied to piste:type=downhill, several values can be used, describing fairly different kind of runs.
piste:grooming=classic
Can be omitted, this is your standard ski run mechanically groomed by a tracked vehicle.
piste:grooming=mogul
A piste:type=downhill groomed for Mogul skiing (Buckelpiste)
piste:grooming=backcountry
Un-groomed descent, can also be used for an alternate off-piste skitour descent see piste:type=skitour.
The term 'backcountry' can be misleading, here it just means 'un-groomed', nothing more. For these runs, it is important to specify patrolled=yes or operator='Resort name' if the piste is part of the official pistes of a resort or patrolled.
Nordic or cross-country
When applied to piste:type=nordic, several values are to be used to help you choose the right gear.
piste:grooming=classic
Two rails for classic style nordic.
piste:grooming=classic;skating / piste:grooming=classic+skating
Wide piste for skating and at least one set of classic rails. While the semicolon is the common value separator in OSM, classic+skating is used more often (ca. 31,000 times as of December 2021) than classic;skating (ca. 19,000 times).
piste:grooming=skating
Wide piste for skating (or 'free') style nordic.
piste:grooming=scooter
Classic style groomed by a smaller snowmobile, which means that the piste is often much looser and single lane.
piste:grooming=backcountry
Un-prepared itinerary for cross-country skiing, tracks are made manually by skiers.
Winter-hiking or snowshoeing
When applied to piste:type=hike.
piste:grooming=classic
A mechanically groomed piste that can be hiked with simple boots or can be used for running (default if grooming is absent).
piste:grooming=backcountry
Requires snow shoes.
Ski-touring
When applied to piste:type=skitour.
piste:grooming=classic
A mechanically groomed trail, signposted by its operator. This happens for instance when a resort downhill piste can (is allowed to) be used for a skitour ascent.
piste:grooming=backcountry
Rough itinerary for cross-country touring, no operator to lay the track (default if grooming is absent).
Sled
The tag is seldom used with piste:type=sled, the following values are documented:
piste:grooming=classic
Implies groomed as "natural luge(sled) track".
piste:grooming=backcountry
Use with often used, un-groomed sledding trails.
See also
- Piste Maps – for a summary and description of tags for mapping pistes and ski resorts
Common Tagging Mistakes
skate value is used instead of skating.
Values used instead backcountry: