Safety first

Waiver

Alpine Responsibility Code

  1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
  2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
  3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
  4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
  5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
  6. Read and obey all signs, warnings and hazard markings.
  7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
  8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
  9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
  10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee
Ski Safety Canada

LIFT SAFETY

To travel uphill at ski areas, visitors use a variety of lifts. Users should be familiar with lift operation for their own safety and the safety of others. Loading lifts in winter with skis or a snowboard is very different from loading a mountain bike in the summer. The information below covers winter lift use.

WINTER LIFT SAFETY

RIDING LIFTS ON SKIS OR SNOWBOARDS

IMPORTANT:

Alpine Responsibility Code #9 states: "Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs."

TIPS FOR RIDING SKI LIFTS

Get prepared and be ready:

  • If unfamiliar with a lift’s operation, watch others first or ask for help.
  • Slow down before approaching the lift entrance.
  • Obey all posted instructions.
  • Ensure your lift ticket is available. RFID tickets should be in a pocket without other cards/electronics.
  • Skiers: remove pole straps from wrists and hold poles with tips forward.
  • Secure loose items so nothing catches on clothing, zippers, strings, or hair.
  • Remove audio headsets before loading or unloading.
  • If wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it on your lap.
  • Infant front carriers and child backpack carriers are not permitted on ski lifts (except select sightseeing gondolas).
  • Group up before the final queue.
  • When riding with small children, help them load/unload and lower/raise the bar.
  • It is OK to miss a chair and wait for the next one.

LOADING THE LIFT

  • Load and unload only at designated areas.
  • Be courteous in the waiting area.
  • Move to the marked line and watch for the approaching chair.
  • Grab the chair, sit back, and help children if needed.
  • Lower the bar immediately after loading and notify others before lowering it.
  • Do not swing, bounce, or misuse the lift.
  • If riding alone, sit in the middle of the chair.
  • If the lift stops, never attempt to jump off.

UNLOADING

  • Ensure no loose clothing is caught before unloading.
  • Raise the bar only when you reach the “Raise the Bar” sign.
  • Skiers and snowboarders: keep tips up and stand at the “Unload Here” sign to slide down the ramp.
  • Foot passengers: stand at the “Unload Here” sign and move quickly out of the chair’s path.
  • Move away from the unloading area immediately.
  • If you fall, keep your head down to avoid the chair and clear the area as soon as possible. Lift operators can assist you.

SURFACE LIFTS

(T-bars, platters, conveyors, rope tows)

  • Stay standing for the entire ride—never sit.
  • Only unload at designated areas.
  • If you fall, clear the track quickly.

REMINDER

Alpine Responsibility Code #8:

"You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant."

There are many important signs on and around ski lifts. They explain how to load, ride, and unload safely. Pay attention to and obey these signs. If you are unfamiliar with a lift, ask an attendant for help. Lessons for skiing, snowboarding, and bike parks are also a great way to learn how to use the lifts.

Riding with Kids Video:

https://youtu.be/CslQC8IG4EQ

Why Wear a Helmet?

Wearing a protective helmet when practising snow sports is a wise choice since it reduces the risk and seriousness of certain head injuries. But beware, you still have to be careful… A helmet is not armour and should not encourage you to take more risks. The best protection against accidents is knowing and respecting your limits and the Mountain Code of Conduct and Alpine Responsibility Code. The golden rule is control!

Dr. Rob's Top Ten Tips for Using and Wearing Helmets When Skiing and Snowboarding by Robert Williams, MD

Robert Williams, MD, is a pediatric anesthesiologist and associate director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Vermont Children's Hospital and associate professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He is also an avid skier and snowboarder and serves as a medical associate for the Smugglers' Notch Ski Patrol.

  1. Ski and snowboard as if you weren't wearing a helmet. All skiers and snowboarders should ride responsibly and in control at all times. Helmets may help prevent head injuries in the event of certain types of accidents, but are of little help in high-speed, head-on injuries and offer no protection against neck and other types of injuries.
  2. Use a helmet designed specifically for skiing or snowboarding. Bike helmets are designed with different impact characteristics and different areas of protection than ski and snowboard helmets and should never be worn as a substitute for a snow sports helmet. In addition to appropriate safety design, ski helmets offer advantages, such as warmth and an integrated fit with goggles.
  3. Take time to ensure the helmet fits properly. Snow sports helmets are not something to grow into. The helmet must fit properly to function safely. In addition, a helmet that is an uncomfortable fit will end up not being worn. Consult a knowledgeable salesperson at a reputable store regarding appropriate fit for a helmet and to get any questions answered.
  4. Buy a helmet that meets industry standards. There are various helmet standards in place including CEN (the least rigorous standard), ASTM, Snell and RS-98 (far and away the most rigorous and hard to meet standard for certification). Be sure to review product literature for the helmet to find out which standard the helmet meets.
  5. Adults should serve as role models for children. Children pick up on hypocrisy at light speed. If parents expect their children to ski and ride responsibly and wear helmets, then they should do so as well. Any adult who wears a helmet will help encourage children to follow suit.
  6. Establish a firm rule regarding helmet use and skiing/snowboarding. If a parent decides that helmets should be worn, but the child is resistant, remember that it's O.K. to say no. Establish a rule, such as "No helmet equals no skiing or snowboarding." Most ski teams and academies have rules requiring helmet use in their athletes and the athletes accept these rules as a matter of course. Your child will adhere to this rule as well if it is presented in a polite, yet non-compromising manner.
  7. Bring your child's or your goggles in when you buy your helmet. Different goggles and helmets work together differently. A well-fitting system will provide great protection for the face and forehead from cold wind and snow and still allow adequate ventilation for the goggles.
  8. Keep goggles and helmets attached together. It is much harder to lose both a helmet and a set of goggles. Some parents may find they recoup the cost of the helmet by not having to replace lost goggles (and hats!) as often.
  9. Provide incentives for good helmet behavior. A number of professional skiers and snowboarders wear helmets and can serve as great role models. Help reinforce helmet wearing with such incentives as posters of winter sport celebrities who wear helmets, or gear worn by these celebrities.