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snowboarders into lifetimers without undue concern that visited, where some guests acted recklessly, ignoring the
turns many away from the sport. There is, after all, an potential consequences of their behavior.
unfair and uninformed perception of the comparative risks #RideAnotherDay is the Johnsons’ attempt to change
in the sport, despite the fact that scientific studies confirm that. While some may not understand how they can
that skiing and snowboarding are remarkably safe (and still embrace skiing and boarding despite the tragedy of
in the last decade alone are becoming even more safe), losing their daughter, Chauncy puts it in perspective. “[I
especially compared to other similar recreation activities, have the opportunity to] have my daughter’s memory
including boating and kayaking, swimming, bicycling, and live on with me,” he explained during the CPR interview.
snowmobiling. “My last memories of being with Elise were on the ski
At the same time, we recognize the need for ongoing slopes, and while it was extremely difficult for me to start
guest education for all manner of safety issues and [snowboarding] again, those experiences sort of help me
challenges: avalanches, lift commune with my daughter.
safety, tree wells and snow In addition to that, we have
immersions, terrain parks, other [four] young children
helmets, and especially speed “No amount of money could that ask us, ‘When are we
control and reckless skiing. going skiing again?’ So, I
Neither our guests nor the possibly compensate for the want to raise my other kids
media may fully acknowledge with the opportunity to
or even recognize the great loss of their daughter Elise, do the same thing that we
lengths to which ski areas love, and not raise them in a
go to help ensure a safe but the Johnsons committed scenario where they’re in fear
experience and educate guests themselves to do anything of skiing or they’re in fear of
on safety. But as we know, other things.”
safety is a shared obligation. they could that would raise In fact, it took Chauncy
To a very large extent, skiers one full year to the day before
and snowboarders control awareness and lead to real, he got the courage to go
their own actions, and more back out on the mountain.
than anything else, it is their positive change in our industry.” On Christmas Eve 2011,
individual judgment, control, he returned to his passion
and respect for others that of snowboarding, this time
largely dictates mountain at Beaver Mountain. “It
safety (as well as their own T I M H EN D R I C K SO N , S EN I O R V I C E P R E S I D ENT, was very difficult for me…”
safety). Accordingly, the W IL L I S M OU N TA ING UA R D Chauncy tearfully told
#RideAnotherDay initiative the audience at the ISAA
is an important complement conference. “… but luckily,
to our ski areas’ individual there was 10 inches of fresh
efforts promoting safety. snow,” he added, providing a well-timed comedic relief in an
“I want to raise the level of awareness of the otherwise painful conversation.
importance of safety and respect for others out on the In their appearances speaking to audiences of ski
mountain,” Kelli Johnson told a packed audience of resort operators, both Kelli and Chauncy stress that more needs
operators at the Intermountain Ski Areas Association to be done to police the growing problem of reckless skiing/
conference in June at Grand Targhee Resort, Wyo. boarding and disregard for others out on the mountain.
When someone in the audience asked about Chauncy’s “I know that many ski patrollers feel their main
perception of mountain safety prior to that fateful obligation is to provide medical care and transport for
afternoon when he lost his daughter, he said he felt there injured guests on the mountain, and they do an amazing
was often an air of “lawlessness” at some ski areas he job in that role,” Kelli told a session at the NSAA

NSAA developed the artwork at right for resorts to use as an anchor for the #RideAnotherDay initiative.

30 | NSAA JOURNAL | SUMMER 2017