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AS THE LATE AFTERNOON LIGHT As part of the closure process, A-basin’s staff draped an
OF A JANUARY DAY FADED AT enormous, 8-foot-long orange warning sign across the
loading area to prevent skiers from loading after employees
ARAPAHOE BASIN SKI AREA, rode the last chair out. The sign stated in boldface all-caps
letters: “DANGER! DO NOT LOAD THIS CHAIRLIFT.
SKI PATROLLERS AND LIFT CALL EXTENSION [ ] AND USE PHONE AT LIFT
TERMINAL.” The warning could not be more pronounced.
ATTENDANTS BEGAN THEIR Ignoring the closure and signage by sneaking on to the lift
could leave a guest stranded high above the bowl overnight,
PROCESS OF CLOSING THE in plummeting temperatures, with no communication.
Despite this, one skier nevertheless ignored these huge
LOADING TERMINAL FOR THE warnings, ducked under ropes and around the sign, and
boarded the still-moving lift. If not for one additional
ZUMA CHAIRLIFT COMING OUT risk management tool employed by A-Basin, the individ-
ual could have suffered serious consequences after the lift
OF A-BASIN’S MONTEZUMA stopped spinning. In addition to its closure sign, A-Basin
also had installed a surveillance camera at the loading ter-
BOWL. THE ZUMA LIFT—THE minal, and the mountain’s dispatch caught the skier surrep-
titiously boarding the lift after patrol had ridden up for the
THIRD HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY night. That decision likely saved this woman’s life, but it
also prevented a dispute with her over fault for her boarding
REACHING MORE THAN 12,000 a closed lift. (A-Basin did revoke her season pass for the
violation, however.)
FEET IN ALTITUDE—SERVES 400 A-Basin is not alone in using surveillance as a part of its
lift operations risk management program. There is a growing
ACRES OF CHUTES, DOUBLE trend among ski areas to use surveillance at lift loading and
unloading terminals. With surveillance infrastructure costs
BLACK DIAMOND TRAILS, GLADES, dropping, surveillance cameras at lift terminals may become a
AND HIKE-TO EXTREME TERRAIN. very cost-effective risk management tool. Although the trend
is still in its infancy, let’s address some of the common ques-
AT BEST, CELLULAR PHONE tions ski areas face when considering the use of surveillance
systems at chairlifts.
COVERAGE CAN BE SPOTTY.
IS SURVEILLANCE AT LIFTS A SMART RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL?
Like many other business, ski areas have successfully used
surveillance systems at some locations inside resorts, especial-
ly in F&B locations (with alcohol service and cash handling)
as well as in rental and retail shops, hotel lobbies, and base
village areas, and as a vandalism and theft-prevention tool.
For example, Jay Peak in Vermont uses surveillance cameras
inside its new indoor water park to monitor employee rota-
tions and guest behavior.
There are ample reasons to employ surveillance at
lifts—for employee training, to monitor employee activ-
ity and congestion, to monitor the effectiveness of ticket
checking and line up protocol, and to resolve disputes or
claims involving lift-related injuries. In turn, this could
improve overall guest safety.
CONVENTION 2017 | NSAA JOURNAL | 37
