Use the resort's approved lift procedures and the instructor's training. Different lifts and riders need different arrangements. Do not create your own child loading or emergency unloading method from a written guide.
Before a group moves, confirm the destination, who leads, who remains behind, and how the group is counted. Use names, not only a total. A count of six is not enough if the wrong six people are present.
Choose meeting points that the resort approves and that do not create a collision hazard. Teach participants what to do if they cannot see their group. The exact action must fit the resort's lost-person procedure and their ability. Do not send a child to find the base alone.
The slope code used by the resort should be taught in words the group understands. For example, the U.S. National Ski Areas Association's code emphasizes control, safe stopping, signs, lift use, and responsibility to other slope users.1
Keep radios and phones available to the staff who need them, with backup plans for dead batteries and poor coverage. Avoid using public channels for private medical details.
If a lift stops or a rider has trouble, follow the resort's directions. Only authorized personnel should carry out lift rescue.
Your task: Rehearse a group handover and a separated-rider report without putting anyone at risk.
Sources for this page
- National Ski Areas Association, Your Responsibility Code. U.S. slope-safety code. Use the code, signs, and rules adopted by the host resort. ↩