SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Safety has always been a priority among Ski California’s member resorts in California and Nevada, and the theme of the 8th annual Ski California Safety Day on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, is “Safety is a Shared Responsibility.” When member resort ski patrol leaders selected this topic, they appreciated the ability for it to encompass a variety of safety topics that each resort could independently hone their focus on — from chairlift safety to avoiding collisions, terrain park safety, snow safety, and more.
“Our member resorts use Ski California Safety Day as an opportunity to collectively raise safety awareness and host activities and experiences designed to actively engage skiers and riders. The focus has always been to educate people about how to practice safety so they can have a great day every time they’re on the mountain,” said John Rice, Ski California president. “As an industry, an example of where we’ve had tremendous success has been the adoption of helmet use by skiers and snowboarders, which now exceeds 90 percent nationwide. We’re committed to continuing to educate our guests about what we do every day to ensure the safety of our guests and employees, and how they can actively be our partners in safety.”
In addition to hosting creative on-site activations that will help guests learn about safety, resorts will continue to leverage the award-winning Ski California Mountain Safety Guide, created as a tool to educate skiers and riders about staying safe and making good decisions on the slopes. The Mountain Safety Guide offers information relevant to winter sports enthusiasts of all experience and ability levels and includes a quiz at the end that, if completed with 80 percent accuracy, offers a chance to win a 2026-27 Ski California Gold Pass or one of multiple pairs of Praxis skis.
Ski California is also making a new “Helmets Are Cool” video produced by the nonprofit High Fives Foundation as part of its B.A.S.I.C.S. series, part of its safety education efforts. The video, sponsored by Ski California and the National Ski Areas Association, highlights the importance of wearing a helmet when skiing and snowboarding, with deeper dives into how helmets are designed and engineered, and why medical professionals recommend their use.
A safety video by Olympian Maddie Bowman of South Lake Tahoe on how to be “Park Safe” in terrain parks:
Here’s what some Ski California member resorts are doing to support Safety Day this year:
Bear Valley: At Bear Valley, the resort is dedicating Ski California Safety Day to smart turns, safe habits, and learning more about how we take care of each other on the mountain. Interactive activities with Ski Patrol and the Terrain Park crew will include safety-focused games, trivia sessions, a scavenger hunt, Bars for Bars down on chairlifts and more, all designed to keep safety top of mind. Resort guests will also have the opportunity to purchase helmets at a 10% discount in the sport shop.
Big Bear Mountain Resort: BBMR will host a Safety Challenge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that includes taking specific safety-related photos such as riding a chairlift with the bar down and wearing a helmet. Those who complete the challenge will get a small prize and be entered into a raffle. At 3 p.m., ski patrol will give a short talk about this year’s theme of shared responsibility and then draw the raffle winners!
Boreal / Woodward Tahoe: The Zombie Poker Run & Mini rail jam at Boreal is a themed ride day that mixes fun, exploration, and learning. Guests cruise the mountain collecting poker chips at zombie-themed stops (zombie-themed since we love saving brains), each featuring a quick Park Smart safety tip in celebration of Ski California Safety Day. Guests turn in their poker chips for a chance to play poker for awesome prizes (Burton snowboards, Boreal Season passes and Woodward memberships). The day wraps with a Mini Shred rail jam, pizza party, and prize drawing, making safety, riding, and community part of the same experience.
China Peak: At China Peak, guests can expect a Bar Down Surprise when they ride certain chairs with the bar down, and if patrollers observe a guest practicing safe behaviors, they will reward them with a lunch ticket. A 20% discount on helmets will be offered in the sports shop on Ski California Safety Day. And, for those who complete the “safety passport” by getting all four boxes checked off by a patroller for having the bar down, wearing a helmet, answering Mountain Safety Guide questions and using SMART style in the terrain parks, they’ll be entered for a chance to win a helmet or goggles.
Diamond Peak: On Ski California Safety Day, meet the resort’s new Patrol Director Danny Jones on the snow behind the Base Lodge from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. to learn more about what the ski patrol team does to keep skiers and snowboarders safe. Recite points from Your Responsibility Code or take the Mountain Safety Guide Quiz to earn prizes, and be on the lookout throughout the day for Diamond Peak’s Prize Patrol who will be passing out prizes to those who are practicing safety on the slopes. Take a selfie or post on social media about how you are practicing safety and show a patroller for a prize, and tag @diamondpeak and @skicalifornia to be featured on the resort’s stories. Advanced skiers and snowboarders are invited to shadow Diamond Peak patrollers during the end of the day sweep of the mountain on Ski Safety Day. Meet outside the patrol shack (a.k.a “Eagle’s Nest”) at the top of Crystal Ridge at 3:50 p.m.
Homewood Mountain Resort: Leading up to Ski California Safety Day, Homewood will offer 15% off helmets in its retail store, a 50% discount on “never ever” lessons for all ages, and a $99 mid-week lift ticket for purchase online in advance. On Saturday, the resort’s ski patrollers will offer snickers and stickers to guests with the bar down when riding chairlifts equipped with them, or practicing other safe behaviors when skiing and riding.
Mammoth Mountain: At Mammoth, skiers and snowboarders will see safety messaging written with race ink under busy lifts and in prominent on-hill locations, and a safety-themed Mammoth beanie drop will reward guests with a free beanie if they can recite one of the four safety messages the resort has been communicating over the past month. The resort will also share safety-themed content on social media and in-resort digital messaging boards to remind guests about how to practice safety.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: At Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, ski patrol will host a Safety Day Stations Tour and raffle with the chance for guests to win prizes. Meet the resort’s ski patrol dogs, Bacchus and Larry, and test your knowledge by taking the Ski California Mountain Safety Quiz for a chance to win Praxis skis or a 26/27 Ski California Gold Pass.
Mt. Shasta Ski Park: Kicking off Ski California Safety Day early, Mt. Shasta Ski Park will highlight safety topics that range from parking and proper equipment fitting, to lift operations, mountain safety, and terrain parks through a video series that will run through the resort’s social channels from Jan. 19-24. On Saturday, the resort will host in-person safety activations and have ski patrol members stationed at safety booths to engage with guests and ask safety-related questions. Participating guests will be entered into a raffle for the opportunity to win prizes.
Northstar California: From giveaways to live demonstrations, Northstar has it all planned for Ski California Safety Day this year. The Mountain Safety team will reward guests who have the bar down on key chairlifts with Nature Valley bars, and a raffle for scavenger hunt participants and guests who engage with the Mountain Safety team on the topic of “Safety is a Shared Responsibility.” The Northstar Avalanche Rescue Dogs will be at mid-mountain with ski patrollers who will talk about the important work the dogs are trained for, and a snow cat show-and-tell will give guests an opportunity to see a snowcat up close and learn about being safe around cats on the hill. Terrain park crew members will also talk with guests about riding SMART in the park. Expect to see “Captain Safety” on the mountain, and National Ski Patrollers will be around and available to connect with anyone interested in joining their team.
Palisades Tahoe: Expanding Ski California Safety Day activities through the weekend, Palisades Tahoe will highlight safety with Palisades Patrol and Alpine Patrol Dogs Demonstrations, Bars Down for TruBars, and an Alpenglow Expeditions one-hour Beacon Practice Training. Smith will be on-site assisting guests with proper helmet fitting and education at The Ledge and Parallel on Saturday, Jan. 24, and retail stores will offer 15% off helmets and avalanche beacons on Saturday and Sunday. On Ski California Safety Day, the High Fives Foundation will host a pop-up tent educating skiers and snowboarders on The B.A.S.I.C.S. (Being Aware Safe in Critical Situations) and promoting the message #HelmetsAreCool.
Sierra-at-Tahoe: Ski California Safety Day will include a variety of activities at Sierra-at-Tahoe, from Safety BINGO to a meet and greet with the resort’s Avalanche Dogs and ski patrollers at the top of Grandview from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and opportunities to hear from U.S. Forest Service staff about how they work with the resort to operate on Forest Service lands. Sierra Mountain Sports will also offer 15% off all helmets.
Sugar Bowl Resort: Offering one of the most expansive uphill and backcountry access programs in the country, Sugar Bowl is focused on keeping that access open through shared responsibility that includes resort communication and the uphill community making smart, consistent decisions. Beginning on Ski California Safety Day, the resort will launch a new effort designed to make uphill travel and safe behavior easy and obvious at decision points. Six signs that direct guests to real-time uphill status before they begin will be installed across the resort’s base areas in high-visibility, convenient scan locations. Information will include uphill hours, current uphill status, downloadable GPX files, an uphill route map and the link to an uphiller Strava group.
Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort: Celebrating on-hill safety, as well as an updated ski lodge that prioritizes operational safety and other great enhancements, the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort will host a full day of mountain-safety-inspired festivities on Ski California Safety Day. From scavenger hunts, a coloring contest, games, and demonstrations, plus live music, fun swag and other surprises commemorating the ski lodge opening, it’s all happening on Saturday!
Learn more about how to practice safety on the slopes by reviewing the Ski California Mountain Safety Guide at safety.skicalifornia.org.