In the winter of 2017, China’s ice and snow sports market grew even hotter, with skiing trips becoming a new fashionable choice for many. However, frequent accidents at ski resorts have drawn attention from all sectors to the ice and snow sports industry from another angle.
At the National Ski Resort Safety Work Conference held on February 9 earlier this year, Gao Zhidan, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China, stated that developing ice and snow sports,ensuring the safety and health of participants should be the primary responsibility, “Amid the craze for ice and snow sports, there should not be a lack of calm reflection. Effective and practical safety guarantees must be provided for skiing enthusiasts.”It cannot be denied that China’s skiing industry is still in a mode of “extensive development.”
According to statistics from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) of the United States on skiing accidents nationwide, the average number of fatalities caused by skiing accidents over the past decade has not exceeded 34. Calculated based on over 50 million skier visits per season, the accident rate is only 7 in ten million, a figure that is even far lower than the fatality rate of car accidents in the United States. Yet, in early 2017 alone, there were already three tragic deaths caused by skiing accidents in China.
Practitioners in the skiing industry shouldtake what measuresto improve safety and reduce accidents,and to ensure the personal safety of skiing enthusiasts of all levels to the greatest extent? Meanwhile, the ISPO Beijing 2018, which opened from January 24 to 27, 2018, at the Beijing National Convention Center—the Asia-Pacific Snow Industry Forum (APSC) of the 14th Asia Outdoor Sports & Fashion Exhibitionwill focus on aspects such as informatization, training, and safety instruction, bringing together senior professionals from home and abroad to discuss how ski resorts can ensure the safety of skiers.
Strengthening ski resort operations and management to uphold the safety baseline for skiers
For skiing to develop sustainably, professional safety training must be put on the agenda as soon as possible. Gao Zhidan stated that to uphold the red line of safe development, it is first necessaryto enhance the sense of responsibility, as many accidents stem from weak safety awareness and lack of accountability. Secondly, it is essential toupgrade management concepts, industry standards, and regulatory mechanisms.
“Safety is the foundation for the long-term and stable development of a sport. The development of the ice and snow sports and industry is at a critical stage; if safety management does not keep up, problems will arise.”
The 2016 Ice and Snow Blue Book – China Ski Industry Development Report points out that currently,there is a shortage of professional technical and management personnel in skiing, which is far from meeting the surging market demand. Shan Zhaojian, former Secretary-General of the Chinese Ski Association, mentioned that currently a small number of ski resorts have some issues in management, such as inadequate protective and rescue measures, and insufficient safety promotion by ski instructors.
The management and training of talentis also one of the important topics of this Asia-PacificSnow Industry Forum (APSC), and experts are warmly invited fromCardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand(Cardrona Alpine Resort)Mr. Bridget Legnavsky, the person in chargewill draw on his many years of experience in ski resort management to share typical cases, aiming to bring more international cutting-edge information and inspiration to professionals in China’s snow sports industry.
Safeguarding skiers’ safety with standardized regulations
The "China Skiing Safety Standards" apply to all types of skiing venues and cover all skiing and snow entertainment activities operated therein. The standards provide comprehensive and specific regulations regarding the safety of managers, skiers, instructors, professionals, and various other personnel, as well as activities such as cable cars, equipment, and competitions at skiing venues. Among them, clear safety regulations are set for professional skiing personnel:
—1. Safety First
Instructors should understand the situation before starting work, fully grasp the number of participants, their skill levels, experience, physical and mental conditions, etc., and the first priority is safety education.
—2. Ensure Safety
(1) Instructors should strive to ensure the safety of skiers while working at the ski resort.
(2) When instructing skiers during practice, instructors should help them correctly choose slopes and skiing methods according to their skill levels.
(3) Instructors should try to persuade skiers to use safe clothing and equipment, and conduct regular inspections.
—3. Avoid Danger
Instructors should always pay attention to weather changes, nearby obstacles, and the skiing conditions of other skiers, providing specific instructions to skiers and striving to prevent accidents.
—4. Rescue
Instructors should personally assist in rescuing skiers in the event of an accident and seek help from others as quickly as possible when necessary.
—5. Guidance and Precautions for Skiers
(1) Instructors have the responsibility to ensure that skiers read and understand the following in advance:
① Pay attention to the instructor’s explanations and follow instructions;
② Correct methods for using equipment;
③ Protective safe falling techniques in case of danger;
④ Self-protective falling techniques when unavoidable collisions are about to occur;
⑤ The main points of the "Skier Safety Rules";
⑥ The main points of the "Aerial Tramway Passenger Safety Rules".
⑦ Guide skiers to familiarize themselves with various signs at the ski resort:
— Prohibition signs for dangerous behaviors;
— Caution signs for potential dangers;
— Reminder signs for recommended actions;
— Difficulty level signs indicating the challenge of ski runs;
— No-entry signs marked with ropes, nets, railings, bamboo poles, etc.;
— Directional guidance signs including flags, main signs, and marker numbers.
(2) Both instructors and skiers must adhere to the "Skier Safety Rules" while on the snow.
(3) Skiers must pay close attention to the instructor’s directions and follow them accordingly.
(4) The instructor is not responsible for any injury accidents resulting from failure to follow their instructions.
—6. Prior Consultation
When guiding a large group or undertaking special instructional tasks, the instructor must consult with ski resort management in advance to agree on an action plan, which both parties will then follow.
Stay tuned for more first-hand updates from the snow and ice industry.
January 24–27, 2018, China National Convention Center, Beijing
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