SUGAR BOWL RESORT WINS NSAA CHAIRLIFT SAFETY AWARD, ACCOLADES FOR RESORT-WIDE S.A.F.E.T.Y. PROGRAM
Sugar Bowl Resort has been awarded this year’s “Best Chairlift Safety Program” by the National Ski Areas Association, an industry organization representing 325 alpine resorts and 472 suppliers across the country. The award, presented to Sugar Bowl’s CEO and President Rob Kautz at this year’s National Convention and Tradeshow in Palm Springs, recognizes the resort’s efforts to elevate awareness and implement best safety practices across the resort, most notably in the area of chairlift safety. This marks the second NSAA award recognition for Sugar Bowl in the past three seasons, having won the “Best Guest Service Program” award in 2010.
After a tragic chairlift fatality incident in which a seven-year-old Sugar Bowl Ski Team member fell from the Mt. Lincoln chairlift on December 18, 2011, the resort worked in close cooperation with the family to implement the John Henderson Memorial Chairlift Safety Initiative, a comprehensive, 13 piece safety program with guiding principles focused on elevating education, awareness and training for both staff and guests. Components of the initiative include heightened monitoring via new streaming webcams installed at the bottom of several lift terminals, new incident investigation protocols, reduced 3:1 student-to-teacher ratios in children’s lessons, a “sit on the spot” chairlift target campaign, base-area practice chairs, lowering all restraining bars for skiers and riders under 51″ in height, and more. The program has been well-received by skiers and riders, and now recognized as exemplary by the industry.
In addition, Sugar Bowl celebrated NSAA Ski Safety Week this season with a new “S.A.F.E.T.Y.” campaign, in which each letter represented a different safety initiative, each day of the week. S was for “Sit on the Spot”, the resort’s new bulls-eye loading targets on several chairlifts; A was for “Avalanche Awareness” and the resort’s Backcountry Adventure Center aimed at educating backcountry skiers on best safety practices; F was for “First Aid”, a nod to the professional Ski Patrollers keeping it safe on the slopes every day of the season; E was for “Education”, as in Know the Code and Smart Style terrain park etiquette; T was for “Tree Well Awareness”, an extension of snow submersion safety; and Y was for “Y wear a helmet?”, pointing to the NSAA’s Lids on Kids helmet safety program.
For more information, visit www.sugarbowl.com/chairlift-safety.
As the closest major Tahoe resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area, boasting the most annual snowfall in all of Tahoe and the largest network of cross country trails in North America, Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge offers an ideal escape for authentic alpine adventure. With an unwavering dedication to the experience, Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge provides an unhindered opportunity to connect with nature, friends and family, in a pristine high-alpine setting. For more information visit www.sugarbowl.com or call (530) 426-9000.
Diamond Peak: April 14
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Pass
The Mountain Collective Pass
Alpine Meadows
The Lake Tahoe Nordic Festival is a three-day event that will cater to one of the fastest growing cross-country regions in the United States – Lake Tahoe. While it is no secret that Lake Tahoe is a famous alpine skiing destination, the region also offers world-class Nordic skiing and even played host to the Nordic events on the scenic West Shore during the 1960 Winter Olympics.
The events take place February 4-14, 2013 at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino, Sky Tavern Ski Resort, Mt. Rose Ski Resort, High Bowling Sierra Lanes, and the Rink on the River.
Snowshoe to Meiss Lake
Alpine Meadows