Mountain Safety

Share the Slopes

Seven Springs is committed to promoting slope safety. Share the slopes and be courteous to others. Be aware that there are elements of risk in snowsports that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce.

Observe Your Responsibility Code and share it with others on the slopes for a great snowsports experience!

Your Responsibility Code

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
6. Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Winter sports involve risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions and actions contribute to your safety and that of others. If you need help understanding the Code, please ask any ski area employee.

Safety Tips on the Slopes

  • Take a lesson trained instructors can teach you more quickly and safely then learning on your own or from a friend.
  • Share the slopes; enjoy a lifetime of skiing or snowboarding.
  • Be “predictable” when skiing: Don’t suddenly swerve or stop.
  • Go with the flow; pass others cautiously.
  • Observe the areas posted as “Slow Zones” and slow down, regardless of your ability level.
  • Fast or reckless skiing and snowboarding can result in injury to you or others and could result in the loss of your ski and snowboard ticket or season pass.
  • Be courteous to others.
  • End the day on a positive note. Stop skiing or snowboarding with the first signs of fatigue.
  • Use caution when walking on steps, walkways and parking lots. Melting and freezing can cause surfaces to become slippery.
  • A helmet is an important safety consideration. Use your head. Educate yourself about helmet use.
  • Know the slope and trail ability designations.

SEVEN SPRINGS SKI PATROL

The Seven Springs Ski Patrol provides rescue and first aid in the event of an injury. The Ski Patrol will also address unsafe practices and may revoke skiing and snowboarding privileges.


Skiing at Seven Springs Mountain Resort

SHOULD YOU NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHILE ON THE SLOPES:

  • Place crossed skis in the snow above the injured skier/snowboarder.
  • Send another skier/snowboarder to report the incident to the chairlift attendant, ski patroller or other resort employee.
  • Give the exact location of the incident and the possible injury.
  • If you have a cell phone, you can call Ski Patrol directly at 814-352-2035
  • The Main Ski Patrol is located at the base of Avalanche Slope in the Mountain Operations Building. On-mountain Ski Patrol huts are located at the top of Tyrol and Gunnar slopes and the top of Polar Bear lift.

ADDITIONAL MOUNTAIN SAFETY

START SMALL

  • If you are just getting into the park for the first time, or first time that day, start with small features and work your way up. If you aren’t sure about how to use a feature, build your skills first.
  • When starting out, look for small progression parks and features and then work your way up to medium or large parks and features. Freestyle Terrain
  • comes in different sizes so make sure and start small and work your way up before going into larger parks.

MAKE A PLAN

  • Every time you use freestyle terrain have a plan for each feature you are going to use.
  • Remember, your speed, approach and take-off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.(ATML)
  • (A) The approach zone is for setting your speed and stance.
  • (T) The Take-off zone is for making moves that start your trick.
  • (M) The Maneuver zone is for controlling your style.
  • (L) The Landing Zone is for getting straight and riding away clean.

ALWAYS LOOK

  • Before you drop. Before getting into freestyle terrain observe all signage and warnings.
  • Use your first run as a warm run and to familiarize yourself with the park layout and features.
  • Remember that the features change constantly due to weather, usage and time of day so it is important to continue to inspect features through out the day.

RESPECT

  • The features and other users.
  • One person on a feature at a time.
  • Wait your turn and call your drop-in.
  • Always clear the landing area quickly.
  • Respect all signs and stay off closed features.
  • Remember that respect is important both in the park, and on the rest of the resort. So be smart when you are heading down the mountain or to the lift and save your best tricks for the park.

TAKE IT EASY

  • Know your limits. Land on your feet.
  • Ride within your ability and consider taking a lesson if you want to build your knowledge, skills, and bag of tricks.
  • Stay in control both on the ground and in the air.
  • Remember you can control how big or small you take the feature by varying speed and take off.
  • Inverted aerials increase the chance of serious injury and are not recommended.

Be advised that you cannot board a lift unless you have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to negotiate or to use such lift safely, or until you have asked for and received information sufficient to enable you to load, ride and unload the lift safely. You may not use a lift or any slope or trail when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

  • Load and unload in designated areas.
  • If you are unsure about how to get on/off any of our lifts, consider taking a lesson or ask a Mountain Ambassador for assistance.
  • Your ski or snowboard ticket must be visible to the Mountain Ambassadors.
  • Avoid wearing loose clothing or backpacks that may catch on a lift you are riding.
  • If you fall while getting on/off the lift, keep your head down and low to the ground to reduce the risk of being struck by the chair.
  • If the lift stops, remain on the chairlift.
  • When unloading, stand on your skis or snowboard and glide away from the lift. Anticipate possible ice or a steep decline on the unloading ramp.
  • Move quickly away from the unloading area to provide adequate distance for those unloading behind you.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort promotes the use of helmets on the slopes by creating the Helmet Zone located in the Rental Center. In order to stay safe on the slopes and have a great snowsports experience, we recommend all skiers and snowboarders wear a helmet when on the slopes and to also ski or snowboard in a controlled and responsible manner by following Your Responsibility Code, developed by the National Ski Area Association.

For guests, employees, and resort property, as well as concerns for individual privacy, Seven Springs Mountain Resort prohibits the operation or use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, by the general public – including recreational users and hobbyists – without the prior written authorization from the Resort. This prohibition includes drones used for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating above or within the Resort’s boundaries. This prohibition on drone operations or use extends to any drones launched or operated from 

Resort property, as well as drones launched from private property outside of the Resort boundaries. Please contact our Risk Management/Safety department if you have any questions or if you seek prior authorization to operate any aerial drones. Any authorized operation of aerial drones may be governed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations, local law enforcement, as well as those policies separately established by the Resort, which may include certification, training, insurance coverage, indemnification requirements, and waivers or releases of liability. Any violation of this policy may involve suspension of your skiing or snowboarding privileges, or the revocation of your pass, as well as confiscation of any drone equipment, and may subject violators to any damages, including, but not limited to, damages for violations of privacy and/or physical or personal injuries or property damage, as well as regulatory fines and legal fees. 
 
Thank you for your cooperation. 

The following devices are restricted slope use and must follow specific parameters.  Additional restrictions may apply based on conditions and policies set by resort safety leaders.

Skibikes, Snowbikes & Snowtrikes

  • No more than three skis
  • Must have metal edge on skis.
  • One rider per bike
  • Must be loaded within envelope of chair.  Bike counts as a rider on the chairlift
  • No homemade devices
  • Must wear a leash at all times and braking device
  • May be restricted to certain areas and lifts for safety

Snowdeck & Snowskate

  • Must have metal edges and a device to stop runaway equipment

Adaptive Devices

  • Must have metal edges and a device to stop runaway equipment.
  • All adaptive devices must be able to be safely loaded and unloaded
  • No homemade devices.

For the safety of our guest, the following items are prohibited from being used on any slope or trail at Seven Springs by anyone other than authorized personnel from November 1 through the end of the ski season.

  • Bicycle converted snowbikes
  • Fat bikes
  • Mountain bikes
  • Plastic Snowboards
  • Snow Scooters
  • Sledding devices: toboggans, sleds, airboards, ghosky, etc.
  • Body Sleds
  • Inflatable Snow Toys
  • Any device when paired with infant carriers
  • Snowmobiles
  • ATV’s
  • Motor Vehicles
  • Snowshoes
  • Pets are not permitted on the slopes or chairlifts.