By Brooke Geery, Killington Resort
Killington and Pico Resorts strive to create an enjoyable environment to participate in skiing and snowboarding. New for this season, we’ve introduced the Mountain Safety Attendant program. These team members will be on hill to directly communicate with guests through verbal and visual cues, seeking to be a positive influence on their choices and etiquette.
Building on our current education and collision awareness programs, which won the National Ski Area Association (NSAA) National Safety Award for Best Collision Prevention Program in 2019 and 2023, these new team members will be our on-hill representation of safety and guest service. Recognizable by their black and red vests, they will seek to have an overall positive influence on guest decision-making by sharing information on Your Responsibility Code and the three tenets of the #rideanotherday campaign.
This team will use a very deliberate strategy to realize its goals without relying on the implied threat of suspending skiing privileges. This is not to say that no passes will be pulled. If a guest is found to be in violation of resort policies or is disrespectful to staff, they may be subject to a pass suspension.
Our Mountain Safety attendants will take a unique approach to monitoring skiers and riders. Instead of evaluating guests on their perceived speed, style, relative skill level, or being ‘out of control,’ they’ll seek to evaluate decision-making and behavior relative to the trail density in the immediate area. For example, skiing fast on an empty trail may be deemed acceptable, but doing the same in a busy area is not. January is recognized as National Safety Month, and you’ll notice an increased presence of signs and events around the resort to recognize this.
Safety is a season-long mission, and it requires everyone’s attention and cooperation. As a general rule, we ask all guests to go with the flow, use a spotter, be courteous, and follow Your Responsibility Code. If you enjoy skiing fast (while staying in control), then select another location on the hill that is not a congested beginner/intermediate slow zone.
“This is an ongoing process, and we will remain agile with our approach as we learn from our experiences,” said John Duke, Killington’s risk and insurance manager. “Cultural change programs require several years to create noticeable shifts in behaviors and mindsets. However, the changes that are realized will be permanent and over time will result in an on-hill culture that is far more enjoyable than one that was realized through the ‘enforcement’ model. These changes will not occur overnight and help, support, and buy-in from our guests and staff will be a critical component in the rate of change and perceived success of this program.”
So far, the overwhelming majority of guest responses have been positive and courteous, with the guests acknowledging how their decisions create a possible issue for themselves and others .We ask you to remember: ‘It’s not about you, it’s about the people around you.’
Courtesy Killington Resort
Killington Resort has a new mountain safety attendant program aimed at ensure responsibility while skiing and riding.
