Page 60 - Early Winter 2014

SAFETY NSAA Releases New Terrain Park Signs by DAVE byRD, RISK & REGULATORY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR SAA is unveiling two new terrain park signs for ski areas to consider using for entrance and access to their terrain parks and freestyle terrain areas. The proposed signs, “Park Entry” and “Park Smart,” Nrepresent a noticeable updating of the previous version of the NSAA terrain park signage, which was last revised in 2008. “The new signage is a significant revision to underlying concepts from the previous been the caution that has been widely the existing signs currently used by most ski version. Both signs feature the familiar embraced throughout the United States areas,” explained Mark Petrozzi, one of the orange “pill-shaped” oval, which resorts and Canada to encourage guests to make ski industry’s leading experts on terrain park have long used to represent freestyle ter- their own assessments before choosing a operations. Petrozzi led the committee that rain and terrain parks. The entrance sign feature or series of features in a park. developed the new signage, which included retains the use of information that indi- The Park Smart sign embraces the resort personnel, terrain park designers and cates the size of the features in a specific same elements and concepts from the pre- builders, manufacturers, and legal and risk park—allowing users or parents to easily vious “Smart Style” signage used through- management representatives from NSAA’s determine if a park is appropriate for the out the industry, but it is more concise Risk and Education Committee. “Since guest, based on his or her own experience and easier to read. Also, the “SMART” the last update of the park signs, a lot has or ability level. acrostic is a clever, short-hand way to con- changed in both park operations and in The new entrance sign uses the imme- vey important safety messages. how society in general communicates and diately recognizable initials XS, S, M, and A key element of the Park Entry absorbs information. These two new signs L to help resorts characterize reflect these profound shifts,” he said. the size of the features within PARK ENTRY SIGN PARK SMART SIGN The previous signage conveyed impor- a specific terrain park. “The tant information, but it was all on one text- NSAA sign committee felt heavy sign with warnings as well as safety that these symbols are over- information. While there was nothing whelmingly understood as inherently “wrong” with the old sign, the short-hand abbreviations for new approach is to use two separate signs: extra-small, small, medium, 1) the succinct, 16-word Park Entry sign and large,” Petrozzi said. for placement at the immediate entrance to “Everyone has t-shirts with a terrain park, and 2) the Park Smart sign, these size representations on which may be posted in locations within them, so there’s little room the terrain park, such as staging areas, for confusion.” where guests gather or congregate. Even with park size “The entrance sign is more read- features reflected on the able and easier to comprehend quickly,” entrance sign, it still explained Petrozzi. “We know that when remains the sole responsibil- many guests enter parks, most don’t stop ity of park users to individ- to read a lengthy sign. The same infor- ually assess the features first, mation, albeit more concise, can now be watch others, and make Artwork for the Park Entry sign includes multiple absorbed immediately as someone rides by their own determinations versions (e.g., “THIS PARK CONTAINS M & L into the park. For that matter, having the about their own ability lev- FEATURES,” and “THIS PARK CONTAINS XS & S Park Smart sign within the park itself, in els, Petrozzi stressed. Indeed, FEATURES”) so resorts can describe the characteris- a location where people are more likely to “Look Before You Drop”— tics of the features users might encounter within one park. Also included are guidelines for the dimensions pause and read it, makes a lot of sense.” one of the safety sugges- of each sign (Note: the Park Smart sign is a different The signage retains important tions on the sign—has long size than the Park Entry sign.) 58 | NSAA Journal | EARLY WINTER 2014 w w w. n s a a . o rg NSAA Early Winter 2014 prepressed v5c.indd 58 11/5/14 11:52 AM