How To Use Your GoPro as a Skiing + Snowboarding Camera

While GoPro action cameras are best known for their origin story centered around surfing, the founder is also an avid skier—as are many of the employees, especially since the headquarters are a quick drive from Lake Tahoe, California. So, if you want to take your GoPro skiing or snowboarding, you’re in good company. That’s what it’s for, after all!

What is the Best GoPro Camera for Snow Sports?

GoPro was made to take a beating and brave rugged conditions, so when it comes to taking one of these action cameras skiing, you really can't go wrong.

The latest HERO11 Black camera is phenomenal for getting the crispest image quality and great built-in HyperSmooth 5.0 video stabilization, but if you want to really get creative, we highly recommend the
GoPro MAX. Its 360 mode gives you tons of cool options to Reframe your shots later on the GoPro Quik app, not the least of which–you can make the selfie stick disappear!

What Are the Best Camera Mounts and Angles for Skiing + Snowboarding?

There are no rules about mounting your GoPro. If you find a nutso new way to mount it that gives you a shot nobody else is getting, go for it! Still, there are a few common camera mounts you can start with:

• Helmet Front + Side Mount – Mount the GoPro on your helmet using a helmet front + side mount or vented strap mount for great POV shots.
• Chesty (Camera Body Mount) – Mounting the GoPro on your chest gets your hands and poles in the shot for skiing, but it’s a little weird on a snowboard since you’re facing sideways.
• Hand + Wrist Strap – Mount the camera on your ski boot for a low to the ground shot that looks super-fast. For snowboarding, use the side of the boot. Reverse footing, and you’ve got a view up the mountain.
• 3-Way 2.0 (Camera Grip / Arm / Tripod)– You can get sick head-on or follow shots by carrying a stick style mount like the 3-Way 2.0. In 360 mode, angle the camera straight on with the pole, and voila, disappearing stick!

PRO TIP: Use the GoPro Quik Editing App to check out your frame in real-time before you start recording/skiing.

What Are The Best Camera Settings for Snow?

You can experiment with snow shot camera settings. Here are some starting points that will get you some great footage out of the gate:

Mode: Video Mode

Resolution: 1440 with SuperView for HERO cameras or Max SuperView for MAX

Frame Rate: 60 fps (120 fps for slow-mo shots)

Those basic settings will work for most situations. If it gets overcast, you might have to adjust the EV comp or ISO settings a little. If you're using a HERO11 Black, you can try 2.7K or 4K resolution, but you might run out of space quickly, and most viewers can’t reproduce 4k anyway unless you’re releasing feature films.

Tips & Tricks to Make Things Easy

Before we go, just a couple of tips.

First, batteries typically don’t last long in the cold, so bring extras, or you can grab the improved Enduro (cold weather battery), which is specifically designed to last longer in colder conditions.

Second, you don’t have to wait until you’re home to crank out some edits or share footage. You can use the Quik App to edit right on the mountain or while you get your hot chocolate on and share clips to your social media on the fly.

Or if you do want to wait until you're home and if you have a GoPro Subscription, Auto Upload to the Cloud will backup your footage once the camera is connected to your home WiFi and plugged in to charge.

Now that you're properly inspired, it's time to get out on the mountain. If you're not geared up yet, head over and grab your HERO11 Black or MAX camera today and let's go!