For those of us who wait — and wait — for the snow to fall, the early opening of some ski resorts comes as a mixed blessing. That’s because this essentially man-made, preseason chance to hit the slopes also carries risks beyond what seems prudent.
No doubt, resort owners know they can make more money by opening early, as many skiers and snowboarders gladly accept the crowds for the chance to go down the few runs the snowmakers make possible. But when a resort uses its high-speed lift technology to give thousands of riders per hour the chance to descend only one or two runs, a chaotic atmosphere results.
Dude, we totally don’t want to look like wussies. Once nature does its work and snowfall gives the resorts the ability to open their extensive array of trails and features, the crowds thin out — and thin out in efficient and selective ways: The experts seek advanced terrain and the unskilled keep to the trails they can handle.
In that scenario, riders accept the risk the mountain offers them, and we have no problem with that.
But when a high-speed, four-person chair lift meant to serve several trails drops off 2,400 riders an hour at the top of a single trail or two, the expectation that such a concentration of riders can co-exist responsibly strains credulity.
To their credit, the resorts put up caution signs and stage ski patrol and other officials with whistles to try to keep the throng moving along safely. They also bar problem riders from future visits. But watching officials with whistles try to slow the hundreds of accomplished riders flying past their just-getting-started peers is like watching lifeguards shout at the ocean, demanding its waves stop washing ashore.
Colorado’s Ski Safety Act gives resorts powerful immunity from lawsuits, and the spirit of the law makes sense to us, because, as we said, to enjoy the rewards you must accept the risk involved in the Rider vs. The Mountain equation.
But let’s be realistic. Advancements in snowmaking, grooming and high-speed lifts have ushered in a 21st century far removed from the kinds of historic risks and rewards of the prior one, when old-timers still remember the thrill of giving up hikes to the top or two-person lifts almost as fast as drying paint.
Don’t misunderstand us: We relish the opportunities the contemporary resorts offer and know the state would be hurt if our slopes got a bad reputation. Further, we don’t want a preseason backlash to usher in restrictions that would spoil the fun by cluttering the slopes with barriers and whistleblowers all season long.
We do, however, think it’s time that resort owners considered waiting to open until they have more snow-covered runs; slowing the pace of the lifts; or limiting the number of riders allowed in during peak early- season days.
Otherwise, they’re inviting disaster.
