The National Ski Areas Association’s annual National Safety Awareness Week (through Sunday) is a great time to get in the habit of practicing safety on the slopes and all that entails. Most important — and often overlooked — are the basic tenets of on-mountain skier and rider etiquette and safe skiing practices found in Your Responsibility Code, or simply “The Code.”
Since most of us aren’t reading the back of the lift ticket these days, here’s a quick responsibility refresher on The Code:
•Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
•People ahead of you have the right of way. It’s your responsibility to avoid them.
•You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
•Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
•Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
•Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
•Before using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
