SAFETY
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and within our resorts, it’s been embraced as an important
tool that supports guest safety.
“Last March, after an enormous dump of snow, Boreal
Mountain Resort sent their entire executive team to the entrance
and wouldn’t let a single person go on the mountain
that day without a guide. That’s a measure of success.”
Videos
Understanding that no modern communication is complete
without a digital component, Reitzell commissioned three
videos featuring celebrity guides for their YouTube channel.
Professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones and freestyle skier
and Olympic gold medalist Maddie Bowman came on board
to walk viewers through important safety tips.
As a father, Jones was keen to host a video on safety for
kids, including the importance of dressing in layers, always
wearing a helmet, using sunscreen and eye protection and
putting important contact information in a secure pocket.
With her freestyle skiing expertise, Bowman shares tips on
terrain park safety, including using the Park SMART method:
Start small, Make a plan, Always look, Respect and Take
it easy.
The third video is hosted by Jeanee Gonet, an instructor at
Squaw Valley Ski Resort on safety for new skiers and riders.
Her advice includes taking a lesson, sticking to your level,
controlling your speed, taking care to observe trail signage
and taking care when merging trails.
“The videos were created with optional closed captions,
so resorts can put them in lodges where they can be viewed
without sound,” said Reitzell.
He hopes to add to the safety video library over time.
There’s currently a video on chairlift safety in the works.
Mountain Safety Guide available for all
Ski California is not possessive of its popular print and digital
guide. In fact, they’re willing to share graphics, text and the
entire design of the Mountain Safety Guide with any other association
that would like to use it.
“I’ve told a couple of our fellow association heads that they
are welcome to use information from our guide for their own
versions,” said Reitzell. “I had a call from a Midwest organization
that wanted to use everything but the avalanche part.”
For associations looking to create a guide from scratch, he
advises working with board and industry representatives to
find the commonalities among the resorts and create tips
that apply to all.
Last year, Ski California distributed 100,000 copies of the
Mountain Safety Guide and will share 72,000 with member
resorts this year.
To help raise awareness about safety, Reitzell says the association
organized a California/Nevada safety day for all member
resorts this past October.. Each resort marked the day in
their own way, but Reitzell hopes the Mountain Safety Guide
played a role in all activities.
“It’s a tool we hope everyone can use to ensure all riders
have a safe and fun season.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SKI CALIFORNIA
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