Vail Celebrates National Safety Awareness Week with “Play It Safe. Play All Season.”
VAIL, Colo. – Jan. 12, 2012 – National Safety Awareness Week returns to Vail, Jan. 14-20, encouraging skiers and snowboarders, guests and employees, to “Play It Safe. Play all Season,” referring to Vail Resorts’ enhanced slope safety campaign. The new, comprehensive campaign is aimed at addressing slope safety by communicating to guests how they can ski and snowboard more responsibly and still have a great time.
The resort, which has been recognized by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) for its safety efforts for more than a decade, also plans to continue highlighting the importance of always abiding by “Your Responsibility Code” on the slopes. Vail will host various events and activities throughout Safety Week to effectively promote and communicate the importance of slope safety to guests and employees.
“This season, the intent is to keep communications simple and straightforward for our guests and employees alike with daily activities and events that tie directly back to Vail Resorts safety campaign, ‘Play It Safe. Play All Season,’” said Bob Cox, manager of Vail’s Mountain Safety team. “The new campaign has been implemented across all six Vail Resorts mountains and is something guests and employees should be aware of throughout National Safety Awareness Week and every day of the year.”
Also new last season, Vail Mountain has created signs with “Your Responsibility Code” in Spanish, German and Portuguese to help communicate with international guests. Signs in other languages will be added as available.
Guests can join staff from Vail Mountain Safety, Vail Ski Patrol and Community Guest Service at the Vail Mountain Safety Tent in Lionshead daily from 9-11 a.m. to pick up safety giveaways, brush up on ski culture and history and get a photo taken with Pork Chop the Safety Pig or one of Vail’s avalanche rescue dogs, Henry, Mookie or Rocky. Guests can also participate in daily sweeps with Vail Ski Patrol by signing up at Patrol Headquarters, located at the top of the Mountaintop Express Lift (#4).
Saturday, Jan. 14:
9-11 a.m. Vail police officers will be present at the safety tent to assist guests with registering their ski and snowboard gear.
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Chaos Canyon Children’s Safety Scavenger Hunt: Join Vail mountain Safety staff in Chaos Canyon for a family-friendly scavenger hunt. Little rippers must answer a series of safety-related questions before receiving a small prize at the conclusion of the hunt.
Sunday, Jan. 15:
10 a.m. Avalanche safety introduction with Vail Ski Patrol. Sign up at Patrol Headquarters or call (970) 754-4610.
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Chaos Canyon Children’s Safety Scavenger Hunt: Join Vail mountain Safety staff in Chaos Canyon for a family-friendly scavenger hunt. Little rippers must answer a series of safety relates questions before receiving a small prize at the conclusion of the hunt.
Monday, Jan. 16
9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Free adult ski tips with the Vail Ski & Snowboard School: Historic Ski/Snowboard Tour of Vail. Learn how the trails were named and how Vail has grown over the years. Meet at the bottom of the Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16); intermediate or advanced skiers and snowboarders only.
Tuesday, Jan. 17
10 a.m.-2 p.m. “Cat Nap”: Check out one of Vail’s famous grooming cats while it sleeps at Mid-Vail.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Anatomy of Skiing with Howard Head: Join physical therapists from the Howard Head orthopedic clinic to discuss knee health and receive tips on keeping your body strong and healthy during ski season. “Look Ma” level of Mid-Vail and The Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest.
Wednesday, Jan. 18
10 a.m.-2 p.m. “Smart Style” with the Vail Ski & Snowboard School:Join freestyle instructors from the Vail Ski & Snowboard School as they review the importance of the “Smart Style” Terrain Park Safety Initiative in the Golden Peak Terrain Park.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Helicopter Landing:View a Flight for Life helicopter at the top of the Avanti Express Lift (#2).
Thursday, Jan. 19
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Chaos Canyon Children’s Safety Scavenger Hunt: Join Vail Mountain Safety staff in Chaos Canyon for a family-friendly scavenger hunt. Little rippers must answer a series of safety relates questions before receiving a small prize at the conclusion of the hunt.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. “Cat Nap”: Check out one of Vail’s famous grooming cats while it sleeps at Mid-Vail.
11 a.m. Adult ski tips with the Vail Ski Patrol. Meet at Henry’s Hut at the top of the Mountaintop Express Lift (#4).
Friday, Jan. 20
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Chaos Canyon Children’s Safety Scavenger Hunt: Join Vail mountain Safety staff in Chaos Canyon for a family-friendly scavenger hunt. Little rippers must answer a series of safety relates questions before receiving a small prize at the conclusion of the hunt.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. “Smart Style” with the Vail Ski & Snowboard School:Join freestyle instructors from the Vail Ski & Snowboard School as they review the importance of the “Smart Style” Terrain Park Safety Initiative in the Golden Peak Terrain Park.
Other events, activities and communications may be added throughout the week and all events are subject to change; please check with Vail Ski Patrol or Mountain Safety personnel about daily activities or call (970) 754-4610 for more information.
About Play It Safe, Play All Season
New this ski and snowboard season Vail Resorts launched a company-wide, enhanced slope safety campaign across its six mountain resorts – Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and Heavenly and Northstar in California and Nevada. The Play It Safe campaign is a multi-faceted, comprehensive campaign aimed at addressing slope safety by communicating how guests can ski and snowboard more responsibly and still have a great time. All six of the Company’s resorts are implementing enhanced on-mountain Play It Safe messaging across a variety of channels and in critical locations, such as terrain park exits and areas where trails merge, to reach skiers and snowboarders of all ages. Vail Resorts is also working on video communications with sponsored Olympic and world champion ski and snowboard athletes Lindsey Vonn and Shaun White who share the company’s safety vision.
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About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar California in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort property and hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.