Vail
Safety Paramount at Vail Ski Resort
By All Vail Listings

When you choose a condominium or home in Vail, Colorado for family vacations, rest assured that the Vail community is a leader in promoting safety on the slopes.  Your family and friends who visit your Vail CO real estate will reap the benefits of The Yellow Jacket program, an exceptional National Safety Awareness Week held annually in January, and enhanced mountain safety education and enforcement every day of the ski and board season.   For the past three years, Vail has won the National Ski Areas Association Safety Award for its exemplary programs—one important reason why second-home owners are confident purchasing Vail real estate here.

What is the Yellow Jacket program?  Just like the lifeguards at the beach, Vail’s Yellow Jackets educate, enforce, monitor, and reinforce the Your Responsibility Code.  They show up on the slopes and continually stress the “Space NOT Speed” campaign with everyone who skis and rides Vail Mountain.  They teach respect for space and safety through education sessions at local schools, merchants, and other organizations.  During ski and snowboard classes and private lessons offered through the Vail Ski and Snowboard School, safety is promoted as part of the culture around Vail.

The Yellow Jacket staff may ski up to any guest to communicate the message of responsible skiing and riding.  It is important for outdoors people to be aware of the surroundings and understand the best places to be on the slopes within their range of abilities.  Certain areas that are indicated on the Vail trail map with a yellow grid are designated as slow skiing zone areas.  Like a school zone, all traffic moving through these areas must move slowly.

Freestyle terrain, like all skiing and riding, exposes the rider to the risk of serious injury.  It is very important for participants to be knowledgeable of the features.  They are comprised of manmade and natural terrain variations, both of which change constantly due to weather and use.  The features must be inspected before use and throughout the day. 

Pointers for riders include 1) one user on a terrain feature at a time (like a diving board).  2)  Riders must control their bodies on the ground as well as in the air.  3)  Always clear the landing area quickly (like a diving area of the swimming pool).  4)  Always ride in control and within your ability.

The Skier Responsibility Code applies to everyone in every area of the resort.  It is as follows:

• Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.

• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

• Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.

• Whenever starting downhill or merging onto a trail, look uphill and yield to others.

• Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

• Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.

• Before using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.