Know The Code
The National Ski Areas Association established the "Your Responsibility Code" in 1966 as a code of ethics for all skiers on the mountain. Today, the code reflects not only skier safety but snowboarder and lift safety as well. Ultimately, safe skiing and snowboarding on the mountain is each person's responsibility. The following Responsibility Code helps all skiers and snowboarders have a safer experience.
Your Responsibility Code
- Safety on the slopes is everyone's responsibility. Ski safely - not only for yourself but for others as well.
- Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid objects.
- People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
- Do not stop where you obstruct the trail or are not visible from above.
- Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, yield to others.
- Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
- Observe all posted signs and warnings.
- Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
- Prior to using any lift, you must know how to load, ride, and unload safely.
West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act
The West Virginia Legislature has recognized that there are inherent risks to skiing in its various forms, including snowboarding, snowtubing and other forms of snow riding ("Recreational Snow Sports”). Under the West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act, Winterplace patrons ("Patrons") accept the fact that Recreational Snow Sports have inherent risks and can be HAZARDOUS. Patrons are therefore responsible for any injury, loss or damage to any person or property resulting from the inherent risks of Recreational Snow Sports at Winterplace. Patrons are also responsible for reading and complying with all signs, instructions, posted information and other warnings. Winterplace Ski Resort, New Winterplace LLC and New Winterplace, Inc., and their owners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, and insurers (collectively, the “released parties”) are not responsible or liable for any injury or harm to any Patrons, including minor Patrons, caused by inherent risks.
Trail conditions may vary across the mountain with weather conditions and Patron use. The West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act requires you to know the range of your ability to negotiate any slope or trail, ski within the limits of your own ability, maintain reasonable control of your speed and of the course at all times, heed all posted warnings, ski only in areas designated by Winterplace, refrain from acting in a manner which may cause or contribute to the injury of anyone (including yourself), maintain a proper lookout so as to avoid other Patrons and objects, and act in a manner to avoid obstacles and hazards which may cause injury, loss or damage including, but not limited to: variations in terrain including freestyle terrain, icy terrain, surface or subsurface snow or ice conditions, bare spots, rocks, stumps, trees, moguls, other forms of forest growth or debris, collisions with other skiers, natural and manmade objects, pole lines, lift towers or any component thereof and/or collisions with marked snowmaking equipment. Be aware that snowmaking and snow grooming may be in progress at any time and avoid any such equipment.
The West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act also prohibits you from placing any object in the skiing area or on the uphill track or lift which may cause a passenger or other Patron to fall, crossing the track of any lift or rope tow except at a designated location, failing to wear retention straps or other devices to help prevent runaway equipment, skiing on a slope or trail that has been posted as "Closed," using any slope while your ability to do so is impaired by the consumption of alcohol, the use of any controlled substance or other drug or while you are under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance or other drug. Before beginning to ski from a stationary position or before entering a slope or trail from the side, Patrons shall have the duty to avoid moving skiers already on the slope or trail.
The West Virginia Skiing Responsibility Act prohibits you from boarding or disembarking a lift in any area except at an area marked for such purpose; dropping, throwing or expelling any object from a lift, performing any act which interferes with the running of the lift, entering the boarding area of the lift without requesting and receiving instruction on its use, engaging in any harmful conduct or willfully or negligently engaging in any conduct which causes or contributes to injury to any person (including yourself) and boarding a lift without the authority of a representative of Winterplace. Patrons shall be liable for any injury, loss or damage resulting from violating any of the above prohibitions.