{"id":3198,"date":"2015-02-12T08:44:03","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T16:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=3198"},"modified":"2025-11-20T16:53:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:53:09","slug":"use-gopro-slopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/snowsports\/use-gopro-slopes","title":{"rendered":"How to Use a GoPro on the Slopes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So, you\u2019ve decided to get yourself the funnest camera in the world. I know, funnest isn\u2019t a word, but it\u2019s tons of fun to use\u2014just like the GoPro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A video camera, a still camera, and the undisputed king of POV footage. Fun galore. So now what do you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s any complaint to be made about the GoPro, it\u2019s that there\u2019s too much going on in that little box. What the heck are all those settings? Well, I can assure you, the options are there for good reason. I teamed up with pro riders Ralph Backstrom<\/a> and Tyler Ceccanti<\/a> for a day of shredding at Crystal Mountain<\/a>, Washington, and we made a quick video to help you get the most out of your GoPro on the snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moved pretty fast, so let me break it down a little bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mounts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Handlebar Mount<\/a>:<\/strong> If you\u2019re a skier, you\u2019ve already got a great extension arm on which to mount your camera. Just attach the handlebar mount to the basket-end of your ski pole and aim the camera back at the center of your body before you drop in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helmet Mount<\/a>:<\/strong> The helmet mount provides the most classic POV of them all. There\u2019s no substitute for the helmet mount when you want to show people exactly what you experienced during your moments of glory on the hill. Use the GoPro app to check the camera angle on your smartphone before you start recording. More on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chest Mount<\/a>:<\/strong> The chest mount is especially great for skiers because it is stable, points directly downhill and shows the skis and hands, which is a very immersive perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3-Way Handle:<\/strong> If you\u2019re snowboarding, you don\u2019t have a pole already handy so you\u2019ve gotta come up with a different solution. The 3-Way handle is your best option. Not only does it provide a great extension arm, it can also be used as a bombproof handle or even a tripod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"GoPro<\/figure><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Video Settings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the video settings, but once you know a couple of the basic guidelines, the decisions get a lot easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two important numbers in each camera setting; the resolution and the frame rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolution<\/strong> is how many pixels you\u2019re capturing. We used the following resolutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n