Because the slopes can be dangerous and even deadly at times, safety is something every skier and snowboarder should thoroughly understand.
To encourage more safety on the slopes, Ski California will host its sixth annual Safety Day on Saturday, Jan. 27. Resorts in California and Nevada are planning to offer a variety of safety-themed activities and experiences (see below).
The theme of Ski California Safety Day will be centered around the first four points of NSAA’s Your Responsibility Code to educate guests about the importance of skiing and riding under control, how to avoid collisions with other people or objects, and their role in being resorts’ partner in safety.
Ski California will also make a new video produced by the nonprofit High Fives Foundation as part of their B.A.S.I.C.S. series central to its Safety Day education efforts. The video, sponsored by Ski California and the National Ski Areas Association in collaboration with the Snow Angel Foundation, features Olympian Travis Ganong and professional skier Amie Engerbretson, and introduces the triangle of safety – speed, space, and self.
The video will be released Jan. 25 and available in the Ski California Mountain Safety Guide and on Ski California’s YouTube Channel.
“Your Responsibility Code was developed to give skiers and riders consistent information about how to recreate safely on the slopes and what their role in safety is,” said Mike Reitzell, Ski California president. “Our member resorts have planned a host of creative ways ahead of and on Safety Day to engage guests on these and other responsibilities.”
In addition to using social media channels and hosting on-site activations throughout the month, resorts will continue to leverage the Mountain Safety Guide throughout the season to offer education to guests.
MOUNTAIN SAFETY GUIDE
- What to know before you ski and ride
- Being safe on the slopes: staying in control, avoiding collisions, riding lifts, and more
- Snow safety, including deep snow and avalanche awareness
TAHOE SKI RESORTS SAFETY PLANS
Diamond Peak: Fun and educational activities are planned on the mountain, including ski safety bingo, meeting Ski Patrol Director Kari Brandt and patrol dog (Fred), and learning how to help keep people safe. Participants can earn prizes from ski patrol for making good decisions on the slopes throughout the day.
Advanced skiers and riders will also be invited to shadow ski patrollers during the end of day sweep of the mountain. To participate, guests should meet outside the patrol shack at the top of Crystal Ridge at 3:50 p.m. Saturday.
Heavenly: A voluntary challenge course focuses on codes (1 thru 4) of Your Responsibility Code. The challenge course will be fenced off and present tasks such as avoiding obstacles and staying in control, proper spacing, stopping in appropriate locations, and restarting with alertness uphill. Participants will be playing for some Heavenly logo gear and may even get to skip a lift line.
Kirkwood: The information will include avalanche awareness training, avalanche dog demos, patrol meet and greet, warm-up stretches with Doc the Dog, on-mountain Responsibility Codes quizzes, and more. Guests can win swag for participation and a chance to help patrol conduct an end-of-day sweep and close down the mountain this season.
The avalanche dog demos will take place by the ice rink at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., while the patrol meet and greet will be at the top of Chair 2 until 2 p.m.
Mt. Rose: One of the highlights for the Nevada-based resort will be a trivia hunt. Guests will visit 10 spots on the mountain and answer safety trivia questions to be entered into a raffle for prizes.
Northstar California: Activities will include avalanche dog demos, snowcat and snow gun show and tells, and a Your Responsibility Code scavenger hunt courtesy with a chance to win prizes.
The activities will be offered all day at mid-mountain with the two avalanche dog demos at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., next to the Arrow Express lift. Guests may even see the infamous Captain Safety gliding around the mountain.
Palisades Tahoe: Learn how the Palisades Avalanche Patrol Dogs and Alpine Avalanche Rescue Foundation (AARF) dogs do their jobs. Watch as they demonstrate their abilities by searching for human scent under the snow.
Avalanche Rescue Dog demonstrations will take place on the Alpine side of the resort at 2 p.m. at the Treeline Cirque mid-station, and at 10 a.m. at the top of the Funitel.
Over the weekend, Alpenglow Expeditions will offer an AIARE Level 1 hybrid course, and leading up to Safety Day, the resort’s Surf Report will include details about a reels-based Smith helmet scavenger hunt giveaway on social media.
Sierra-at-Tahoe: The ski patrol team will stage a live demonstration, showcasing the skills of their Avy dogs and their handlers.
Sign-up to tour the mountain with a Mountain Host and learn facts about Sierra-at-Tahoe and the NSAA Responsibility Code, or stop by the National Ski Patrol booth in the Plaza to learn hand-only CPR, “Stayin’ Alive” and Stop the Bleed.
The resort will also share Mountain Safety Guide related trivia, Avy dog videos and other safety information on its social media channels leading up to Safety Day.
Sugar Bowl: Summit Avalanche Dogs will host one of its stops at Poker Run, sharing information about the resort’s dog program. There will also be safety-related content on its social media channels and “Apres and Avy Awareness” events Feb. 7 and March 13 at 3 p.m.
These interactive beacon training activities will take place outside the Judah Lodge and all levels are welcome. Apres will follow at the Sierra Vista Bar in the Judah Lodge. Hosted by Andy Anderson of the Sierra Avalanche Center, no lift ticket is required for these events, but it’s recommended participants bring a beacon to participate.
Tahoe Donner: Educational activities are planned, highlighting best practices for safe skiing. There will also be safety-themed scavenger hunts for the whole family, national coloring contests, snow science and safety, and safety tips and information through social media channels.
Guests will receive 25 percent off on Smith helmets and goggles by participating in Ski California Safety Day.
