With it officially being Spring conditions at Purgatory Resort, I thought this would be a great time to make sure everyone is aware of Colorado’s Responsibility Code. The slopes can be tons of fun if enjoyed in the proper way, but they can also be extremely dangerous. I can’t tell you how many folks I’ve seen come down in sleds behind ski patrol this year with their winter season ruined and their summer hiking season already in doubt.
The Responsibility Code is made of seven points that you are responsible for knowing. One of our excellent local trainers at Purgatory, Jim Lyman, taught me the acronym “CLOVERS” to remember the Code.
C for control: Always stay in control and be able to stop and avoid other people and objects. I like to teach students what’s called a progressive movement pattern so that they’re not parked and riding in a neutral stance for a long period of time. When you’re constantly even slightly progressive moving your ankles, knees and hips through even a small turn, you’re likely in an athletic stance where you can quickly avoid whatever obstacles might get thrown your way.
L fort lifts: Prior to riding any chair lift, you must have the knowledge on how to load, ride and unload safely. A lot of seasoned riders don’t think much about lifts, but as your friends and family are coming in town this March for their spring break trips, it’s important to educate them on how the lift works before getting up to the chair. Like most ski areas in the West, Purgatory has lots of different lifts that all operate in different manners. A skier that has spent the morning at Columbine – Purgatory’s beginner area – riding the three person chair lifts is going to be totally thrown for a loop if their next ride is the Twilight Lift where there is only two chairs with a bar in the middle. Educate them on how that lift works and allow them time to watch a few people load it.
O for observe: As in observe all posted signs and warnings. This may seem like a no-brainer, but people unfortunately die every year from from ducking ropes and skiing out of bounds.
V for visible: You must always stop where you’re clearly visible from above. This is another point a lot of folks don’t think about, because how often are we really looking back behind us when we’re going down hill. There’s a time and place to laugh when your buddy has a yard sale and their equipment is scattered all over the hill – obviously after you’ve made sure they’re not hurt – but that time and place is not if your friend is laying on the backside of a headwall where people above can’t see them.
E for equipment: Always use retention devices that help runaway equipment. I’m sure many of you have seen that runaway snowboard sliding down the hill without it’s rider. Imagine that snowboard running into a little kid at a fast speed and wiping them out. I’ve seen it happen, and it wasn’t pretty. make sure your boards have a leash on them and, skiers, properly test your brakes on your bindings so that your ski doesn’t end up at the bottom of the hill with you at the top.
R for right of way: People ahead of you and downhill have the right of way. This is an important point at any ski area, but I think it’s crucial at Purgatory, especially in places like the bottom of Lift 3 where people are often in their racer tucks trying to get across the flats. There is obviously nothing wrong with skiing and riding fast, as long as you’re in control. If that person in front of you cuts right but you thought they were going to cut left, how are you going to react? Do you leave enough space between you and other riders to avoid them when circumstances like this happen? I witness accidents that result from situations like this every year at different ski areas, and for some reason it is often the faster, uphill skier that is doing the yelling at the downhill skier for cutting them off. The downhill skier has the right of way, not you because you’re out of control in what you think is a racer tuck but is really a Texas Tuck, which is another article in itself.
S for starting: as in when you’re starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others. Anybody that has ever done a clinic with me knows I beat this point to death, but I do it because I feel it’s very important. When I have my students stopped on the side of the run halfway down discussing a game plan for that giant headwall we just got to, I always remind them to look uphill before they drop in.
It’s your job to know and implement Responsibility Code at any mountain you visit. Parents, model this code with your children by making sure your actions match up with the Code. Explain to them how important it is to look uphill when trails come together, and go spot that headwall for them that they want to jump and let them know when it’s clear to do so. Less injuries would happen every year if the Code was implemented more often, which would result in that fabulous biking and hiking season that is just around the corner.
If you have questions, comments or a specific topic you would like to see covered over the ski season, email Tex at justin@wellsgroupdurango.com.
