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Ski resorts should supervise ski school children better

Carolyn Costanza, Breckenridge

I just read about the little boy injured at Keystone from falling off the Peru lift. 

The article quoted the Skier Safety Act as saying the skier is responsible for the “dangers and risks of skiing.” Well, this child was not skiing when the accident occurred – he was on the lift. 

The act also states a skier is not to board a lift unless you feel confident you have the ability and knowledge to use the lift safely.



If this is really the case, then none of us would ever have learned to ski. A ski lift is scary for beginners, and that is why we put ourselves and our children in ski school – to learn these things.

If the instructors of these precious little ones can’t watch out for their charges and ensure they are safe on the lifts, why have ski schools?



Personally, I have seen instructors ask experienced skiers to assist young skiers to make sure they are safe on the lift.

The instructors should have no more than two youngsters with them, one on each side, so they can be looked after properly until they are comfortable with the lift.

It takes more than a couple rides up to get the hang of unloading, especially raising the safety bar and footrest.

I just pray this child can fully recover and lead a normal active life. 

This incident will make me think twice before I put my little grandchildren in ski school. There have been entirely too many skiing- and snowboarding-related accidents and deaths on the mountains this year. 

The resorts need to do more than quote the Skier Safety Act to absolve themselves of unsafe practices. Maybe some policies need to be changed.


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