Theme at Snowbasin this month: Ski and snowboard safely

Source: Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UtahJan.儲存 04--SNOWBASIN -- As skiers and snowboarders break out the new gear that Santa Claus brought them, several advocates are asking them to keep in mind basic safety rules so everyone has a good time on the mountain.Snowbasin Ski Resort is kicking off its Skier and Rider Safety Awareness Month with the goal of reminding people that they're not the only ones on the mountain."We'll be up here reminding people to know the code," said Jason Dryer, spokesman for Snowbasin.The Responsibility Code is a set of guidelines created by the National Ski Area Association.According to the NSAA, an average of 41.5 riders or skiers die every year, and 44.7 are seriously injured every year."We're just trying to make sure our slopes are as safe as possible," Dryer said. "Like driving a car, people need to make sure they are practicing safe skiing."One incident that was subject to debate among Standard-Examiner readers was a snowboarder's collision with a young skier in early December on the slopes of Snowbasin that was caught on camera.The snowboarder, 17-year-old Daniel Poulsen, was snowboarding down the slopes with friends. Halfway down, a small girl on skis encroached on his left. He swerved and balanced himself off her shoulder, when another small child appeared on his path from the right. The two collided and the boy's father skied up to Poulsen and hit him.Susan Poulsen, Daniel's mother and a sergeant with the Davis County Sheriff's Office, said a few weeks later that the man had gotten in contact with them and met with the family to personally apologize for his behavior.A subject of debate among readers was whether Daniel and/or the boy and father were in violation of the NSAA's responsibility code.Along with teaching basic safety skills, avalanche safety will also be the focus of the month.The first event, which took 迷你倉lace on Saturday, was a memorial to Ryan Smedley, a local snowboarder who was killed in an avalanche in the Snowbasin backcountry in 2006.The Ryan Smedley Foundation, founded by brother Claire Smedley and friend Allison Beeson, will be handing out batteries for avalanche beacons, training riders on how to use them and discussing safety tips for backcountry skiing."People need to think before they go out," Beeson said. "Our motto is 'Don't just see it, live it' as in: Experience it and learn how to use the equipment before going out."Younger skiers have the opportunity to meet avalanche dogs and see how they work.Intermediate skiers are invited to help the ski patrol close the resort for the day by sweeping the slopes for stragglers and making sure everybody is safely off the mountain.A full schedule of events can be found at .snowbasin.com.SAFETY ON THE SLOPESThis is the National Ski Area Association's Code of Responsibility, guidelines that all skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to follow.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.6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.7. Before using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.Source: .nsaa.orgContact reporter Andreas Rivera at 801-625-4227 or arivera@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter @SE_Andreas.Copyright: ___ (c)2014 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at .standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage