Three cheers for Vail going for safety on the slopes

Those of us who have spent most of our adult life on ski and snowboard slopes know how important it is to follow the rules on the slopes. From our earliest snow days we have followed the Skiers Responsibility Code, simple rules that make fun on the trail safer. If you don't know the Code, check it out next time you're at a mountain resort.
As one who has suffered two bad hits from snowboarders in recent years (not to single out riders; I've also been taken down by skiers) I follow the code carefully. If either of the two riders who hit me from behind had been familiar with the code, I wouldn't have suffered a broken rib or a smashed cell phone.
So it is heartening, particularly this season when there has been little natural snow and the manmade snow limits the number of open trails which are unusually busy, that a major resort operation has added emphasis to safety on the slopes. This is not going to make Vail Resorts more profitable but it is going to make life on the hill more fun. Here's what the company reported:

Vail Resorts has announced details of “Play It Safe, Play All Season,” the company’s enhanced slope safety campaign across its six mountain resorts – Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly and Northstar in California and Nevada.
“Our guests have been telling us that safety is a key component of their mountain experience, and their comfort level on the mountain relative to safety is one of the most important things we can affect,” said Blaise Carrig, co-president of Vail Resorts’ mountain division.
“Because of this, we’re launching the Play It Safe campaign across our resorts to encourage locals, destination guests and employees alike to ski and snowboard responsibly so that everyone can have fun on the mountain all season long. While everyone is ultimately responsible for their own behavior on the slopes, we can absolutely do our part in encouraging and enforcing responsible behavior and are committed to doing that.”
“At Heavenly Mountain Resort we are rolling out a safety initiative that focuses on making skiers and snowboarders more aware of the Skiers Responsibility Code and helps keep our mountain a safer place for all those who visit it,” adds Pete Sonntag, Heavenly's general manager.
The Play It Safe campaign is a multi-faceted, comprehensive campaign aimed at addressing slope safety by advising how guests can ski and snowboard more responsibly and still have a great time.
All six of the Company’s resorts are implementing enhanced on-mountain Play It Safe messaging across a variety of channels and in critical locations, such as terrain park exits and areas where trails merge, to reach skiers and snowboarders of all ages. Vail Resorts is also working on video communications with sponsored Olympic and world champion ski and snowboard athletes Lindsey Vonn and Shaun White who share the company’s safety vision.
Guests can also expect to see a greater presence of mountain safety and operations personnel at all six resorts. The mountain safety program, which started as the Yellow Jackets program at Vail more than 10 years ago, was designed to provide a dedicated staff whose primary focus was enforcing the rules of skiing and snowboarding on the mountain, allowing ski patrol to focus on the care and transport of injured guests.
A number of tactics were utilized throughout the years, including monitored runs. The program at Vail has nearly doubled in size since its inception and been a model for the company’s five other resorts. Training for the group has been modified to better equip employees to deal with people who are in violation of the laws and rules of skiing and snowboarding.
The program also went through a comprehensive audit in the last year to identify opportunities for increased visibility and effectiveness and as a result, new tactics for and enforcement and education are being established. Skiers and snowboarders who have their pass revoked for safety violations are required to attend a safety awareness class, which has also been overhauled and implemented across the company. (Don't know how they would enforce this.)
“It’s important that the Yellow Jacket position is a job that employees are passionate about, proud of the impact they can have on the guest experience and in which veteran Yellow Jackets can continue to fine-tune the program,” said Carrig. “Yellow Jackets across Vail Resorts have been empowered now more than ever to make a difference with slope safety.”
In addition to the Yellow Jacket program, management teams across all six mountain resorts are also being provided with additional training to support the slope safety efforts and will have a larger on-mountain presence particularly on busy days.
“Skiers and riders will notice an increased number of Mountain Safety (Yellow Jacket) personnel on the slopes, warning people of their speed in slow zones and encouraging people to be more aware of those around them,” noted Heavenly's Sonntag.
“At Vail Resorts, we’re always looking for opportunities to create more awareness and comfort for our guests, whether it’s through new signage and communications or taking a fresh look at the way things have traditionally been done,” said Carrig.
“Our focus is on both skiing and riding in control and slow in the designated ‘slow zones.’ Skiing and snowboarding are activities enjoyed by young and old alike, and the more we can encourage responsible skiing and snowboarding, the more fun we’ll all have on the mountain.”
Sonntag added: “We have increased signage in the slow zones, which we hope draws attention to those areas where trails merge or narrow. These slow zones will be enforced, and we will be pulling passes from those who do not follow the safety rules. There is a process in place for guests to have their pass reinstated, which includes a probation period and an education class.”
“At Heavenly, all mountain employees, as well as kids in the ski and ride school, are required to wear helmets. This rule has been in place for several years, and we feel by setting an example ourselves, it will encourage others to wear helmets anytime they are out on the mountain.”
“All the lifts at Heavenly are equipped with a restraining bar on each chair. This is not required by law, but it is something we feel adds to the safety and comfort of our guests, if they use the bar properly. We encourage guests to put the bar down as soon as possible after loading and to not raise the bar until reaching the portal in the unloading zone. There are safety signs on the lift towers that give directions to our guests, and we hope they are aware of them and follow them.”
“We want Heavenly to be a place that is fun and safe for all our guests, no matter their level of skiing or riding. This safety initiative is a good avenue to foster that.”

End of corporate thinking. I know I'll be looking for the Yellow Jackets at Heavenly and Northstar this season — if we ever get enough snow.