Colorado Safety and Resources

Provided below are some equipment safety tips, on snow rules and Colorado weather information links to help prepare you for the best ski and ride trip possible!

Skier and Rider Safety Tips:

Wear a helmet! Even though some pros make it look ‘cool’ to not wear a helmet, helmets are the ONLY protection one can have from serious head injury.

Make sure your gear is up to date. Are your skis or board waxed and tuned? Are your ski bindings set to the correct DIN (the release force setting or how easily will you pop out of your skis if you fall). The chart below provided by evo.com shows the suggested ski binding DIN for your weight and ability.

Skier Weight	25-65 lbs	30-100 lbs	50-165 lbs	65-200 lbs	65-240 lbs	65-250 lbs	130-285lbs	130-200lbs+	150-200lbs+
Ability Level	Beginner – Intermediate	Beginner – Intermediate	Beginner – Intermediate	Beginner – Intermediate	Beginner – Advanced	Intermediate – Expert	Intermediate – Expert	Intermediate – Expert	Expert – Pro
Brief Description	Lightweight children	Junior skiers	Heavier beginning or beginning to advanced junior skiers	Intermediate junior skiers or lightweight beginning adult skiers.	Beginning skiers or lightweight intermediate to advanced adult skiers.	Intermediate skiers who are heavier or lighter weight expert adult skiers.	Heavier or more aggressive intermediate to expert adult skiers.	Heavier skiers, very aggressive advanced and expert adult skiers.	Aggressive expert big mountain skiers and racers.
DIN	.5 to 2.5	.75 to 4.5	2 to 7	3 to 10	3 to 11	3 to 12	6 to 14	6 to 16	8 to 18

For snowboarders, making sure your bindings are working and not missing any pieces. Most resorts provide on hill tools to fix gear or have tune shops with extra parts for equipment.

Skiing and riding are winter sports. You could be skiing in below freezing weather. The top of the mountain can be colder and windier than the bottom. Making sure you have the right amount of clothing and waterproof gear can be the key to having a great day on the mountain. Resorts often provide lockers or storage areas to keep extra gear. This is a great way to pack extra clothing layers just in case the weather decides to change during the ski day. It is better to be over prepared than getting frostbite. Foot and hand warmers are your friends as well. They are perfect for keeping your extremities warm to stay on the slopes longer.

Know the Code:

Did you know that ski areas have safety codes for skiers and riders? There are seven key steps to staying safe on the slopes that the NSAA (National Ski Area Association) suggests to do:

1. Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment (breaks and leases).
6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas (you will hurt yourself and your pass may be taken away).
7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

There are many more steps one can take to stay safe, but these are the main points to be aware of. For more information visit https://www.nsaa.org/NSAA/Safety/Responsibility_Code/NSAA/Safety/Responsibility_Code.aspx?hkey=2feea5f5-61dc-45a4-9d6f-061b51307786

Safety in Terrain Parks:

If you’re wanting to go into the terrain park whether you want to check it out or maybe try some tricks, there are a few things to think about before entering the park. The NSAA says to:

1. START SMALL – Work your way up. Build your skills.
2. MAKE A PLAN- Every feature. Every time.
3. ALWAYS LOOK – Before you drop.
4. RESPECT – The features and other users.
5. TAKE IT EASY – Know your limits. Land on your feet.

For more information on safety in the terrain park and terrain parks information in general visit http://www.terrainparksafety.org/

Colorado Resources:

When traveling in Colorado during the winter, storms can come out of nowhere and leave you stuck in the mountains. Make sure to check https://www.codot.gov/ it is a great resource to check for road closures and conditions. If you are renting a car, get an AWD or 4WD car and make sure the car has snow tires! The tires will save you more than anything. It is also important to carry chains for your tires when driving over mountain passes. Ask your rental car provider if they provide chains as well as an ice scraper to clear snow off the windshield and windows after snow has fallen.

For information on avalanches conditions use https://avalanche.state.co.us/  

A great resource for information on the weather is https://www.weather.gov/bou/

For updates on terrain visit https://www.onthesnow.com/colorado/skireport.html