Boors on the Slopes
Some people...
From
The Denver Post:
Shrediquette: Skiing manners
As bad behavior seems to mount on the slopes, ski areas teach some manners and punish offenders to make sure snow sports stay civil.
Snowboarders plopped across the middle of runs chatting on cellphones. Gondola cars reeking of smoke. Red Bull cans littering the snow under lifts. Shredders turning black runs blue with their "F-bombs."
Powder hounds are decrying conduct more expected in malls and high school hallways than on the snowy slopes where controlled schussing used to be the norm but shredding � today's term for tearing up the slopes � is now customary.
In some cases, boorish behavior is simply annoying. In others, it can snowball into court battles.
That happened recently at Beaver Creek resort when a 7-year-old skied over the backs of a 60-year-old man's skis, purportedly injuring him. The man screamed at the boy and later filed a personal-injury lawsuit.
"That takes rudeness to a whole other level," said Vail skier Jim Farrell, who admits he can get a little testy when someone slams the chairlift safety bar down on his head.
Colorado's 26 ski areas are stepping up with both proactive and punitive measures designed to ensure civility stays as much a part of the snow experience as face plants.
One area's solution:
Winter Park is the first ski area in Colorado to add a tangible incentive for good behavior � an advanced terrain park that only those who toe the line on rules can use..
Shredders and freeriders � skiers who do tricks � must watch a 15-minute video on safety and civility before they earn the privilege of using the top-shelf-cool jumps and rails in the park called Dark Territory. If they don't follow the rules, the special passes for this area are pulled..
"Our message is, 'This is a cool and mellow place. Keep it that way,' " Holme said.
Mt. Baker specifically promotes a very mellow vibe so we don't have as much of this problem. You would think that people would not be so frikken' self centered.
Posted by DaveH at February 3, 2008 5:52 PM