Report assesses safety standards at Sierra resorts
By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal
Safety standards at Sierra ski resorts are inconsistent and skiers and snowboarders should take note of the situation at their favorite resorts, a report released Tuesday by a nonprofit group suggests.
The California Mountain Resort Safety Report, prepared by the SnowSport Safety Foundation, found mixed results when it surveyed safety conditions at 25 different resorts.
Representatives of the California Ski Industry Association said safety remains a high priority for a sport with inherent risks. They said the report is likely linked to recent efforts to enact safety regulations at ski resorts by the father of a woman killed in a snowboarding accident in 2006, a position denied by the report’s lead author.
Dick Penniman, chief research officer for the SnowSport Safety Foundation, said the report is only meant as an information resource and that his group is not pushing for new laws or regulations at California ski resorts.
“Certain things can cause serious injuries at resorts,” said Penniman, a former ski patrol supervisor at Sugar Bowl and Alpine Meadows. “Some resorts are doing things to address them and some are not.”
Resorts were surveyed anonymously last winter. The report gives them a numerical grade on safety measures to avoid impacts with structures such as lift towers and snowmaking equipment and on efforts to address hazards on the slopes through trail design and maintenance.
Skiing can be a dangerous sport. Everyone must take responsibility for their own safety. The resorts offer a quick easy way up the slopes, and what you do from there is your responsibility.