Ski Safety Awareness Month: Me...

Every January, Ski Safety Awareness Month invites skiers and riders to reflect on how we show up on the mountain, and to refresh the habits that help everyone have a great day on snow. At Colorado Ski Country USA resorts, that work happens all season long, thanks to mountain safety teams and ski patrol professionals who focus on education, awareness, and shared responsibility.

Your Responsibility Code is the foundation: a set of guidelines every skier and rider must know and obey. And behind those signs and reminders are people who bring the message to life through friendly conversations, timely guidance, and a steady emphasis on respect for others in a shared space.

Eldora's Culture of Care

At Eldora Mountain Resort, safety begins with connection. As a local mountain with a strong sense of community, Eldora's approach to mountain safety is shaped by relationships, familiarity, and a focus on helping every guest feel comfortable and confident on snow.

Led by Mountain Safety Supervisor Kathy Woolwine, with support from Ski Patrol Director Greg Seekell and their teams, Eldora's Mountain Safety Team centers its work on education and guest engagement. On a typical day, that means being out on the hill, visible and approachable, interacting with guests and helping them navigate the mountain in a way that feels right for them.

"Our top priority is to educate our guests on safe skiing and riding," Woolwine said. "We make every attempt to interact with as many guests as possible to welcome them to our resort, connect with them on what makes them feel safe, and guide them toward terrain that feels comfortable and puts a smile on their face. Fun and safety are the perfect combination."

That consistent presence has become part of the rhythm of a day at Eldora, reinforcing both personal and shared responsibility on the slopes.

During Ski Safety Awareness Month, Woolwine hopes skiers and riders approach each moment on snow with care for themselves and for others.

"We are a community, and we take care of each other," she explained. "Following the 10 points of Your Responsibility Code means understanding that you control your speed and behavior, and that skiing and riding in control includes being prepared to stop or avoid others and objects at all times."

A Shared Mountain at Steamboat

This season marks an important moment at Steamboat Resort, where a new Mountain Safety Team is introducing a guest-first approach built on education, encouragement, and respect. Led by Mountain Safety Team Manager Chia Basinger, the team's mission centers on community and approachability, with the goal of making safety conversations feel natural and welcoming on the slopes.

From the start, Basinger emphasized that the team wants guests to feel comfortable engaging with them out on the hill. Those interactions aren't about correcting behavior as much as building awareness and reinforcing the idea that everyone plays a role in how the mountain feels and flows.

That philosophy is reflected in the "three Es": education, encouragement, and, only when necessary, enforcement. Education and encouragement come first, with a focus on helping skiers and riders think beyond their own line and consider how their choices affect themselves and the people around them.

One phrase the team returns to often is "space, not speed." Being in control isn't defined by how fast you're going, but by how aware you are of your surroundings: current conditions, changing terrain, other skiers and riders, and your own skill set.

For Basinger, safety on the mountain shows up in everyday choices. Lowering the bar on the chairlift and looking uphill before moving through the mountain are simple habits that help snow lovers enjoy the slopes together.

"The mountain is a shared space that's meant for everybody," Basinger said.

Experience and Consistency at Copper Mountain

At Copper Mountain, safety is guided by decades of experience and a consistent approach that has remained steady as the mountain and its guests have evolved.

From the start, Copper's Mountain Safety Patrol has emphasized education and approachability when reinforcing Your Responsibility Code and the Colorado Ski Safety Act. According to Mountain Safety Patrol Supervisor Shauna Boksch, how those conversations happen matters just as much as the message itself.

"How you approach a conversation, whether you are delivering education or suggesting another trail for a better experience, your demeanor sets the tone and determines the outcome," Boksch said. "Guests are more likely to change a behavior if they are treated with respect."

That philosophy carries through even in more challenging moments. Because Copper's team is deeply familiar with all 10 points of Your Responsibility Code, they are able to explain not only what a rule is, but why it exists. In some cases, Boksch draws on Copper's work with the Snow Angel Foundation, a nonprofit founded by a family who lost their five-year-old daughter in an on-mountain collision, to help underscore the real-world impact of skiing and riding out of control.

Ski Safety Awareness Month is a long-standing focus at Copper, anchored by a community outreach event called SafetyFest, now in its 15th year. This season, the resort expanded those efforts with on-snow Pop-Up Safety Zones every weekend in January, designed to meet guests where they are with simple, memorable messaging.

"We want people to walk away with a nugget or two that sticks," Boksch said. "Something they remember when they head back out on the mountain."

One of those reminders is intentionally lighthearted: small helmet-mounted "Sprouts," paired with the message "Wear your Sprout and Look About," encouraging skiers and riders to pause, check their surroundings, and look out for one another.

At Copper, experience has shown that consistent messaging, delivered with respect, helps safety lessons resonate long after the conversation ends.

The Shared Commitment to Safety

Ski Safety Awareness Month is ultimately about how we show up for one another on snow. Across Colorado Ski Country USA resorts, mountain safety teams and ski patrol professionals bring that idea to life through consistency, approachability, and a deep understanding of the mountain and the people who share it. Their work may look different from place to place, but it's united by the same goal: helping everyone enjoy their time on the slopes responsibly and with confidence.

As skiers and riders, the role we play is simple but meaningful. Knowing and following Your Responsibility Code, making thoughtful choices, and remembering that the mountain is a place we all share helps ensure the slopes remain a welcoming, enjoyable space for everyone, this month and all season long.