Safety & Policies

overview

Common Sense, it’s one of the most important things to keep in mind and practice when on the slopes. The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) believes education, helmet use, respect, and common sense are very important when cruising down the mountain. NSAA developed Your Responsibility Code to help skiers and boarders be aware that there are elements of risk in snowsports that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce.

Keep an eye out for our helpful staff if you need assistance anywhere and anytime while at Gore.

MOUNTAIN SAFETY GUIDE

SKI NY is proud to announce the new SKI NY Mountain Safety Guide website at https://skiandridenysafely.com/

This interactive website is designed to educate skiers and snowboarders about the NYS Ski Safety Code and “Your Responsibility Code” that has ten tenets for skiers and riders to follow. The site focuses on key areas, including signage, collisions, lift safety, snow safety, and more. Linked from the site are the required Article 18 signage for skiers and riders including the NYS Ski Code.

what to know

Review these tips often to help ensure a fun and safe snow day for you and others.

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.

NSAA's Responsibility Code

New York State Skier's Code

Know The Zone

Every skier and rider gets 15 feet.

While on the hill, avoid collisions by giving others 15 feet of space on all sides.  If kids are present, go slower and give them more room.  Know that skiers and riders can turn suddenly, so stay in control to obey the 15-foot zone.

SMART Style/Park SMART

The National Ski Areas Association and Burton Snowboards would like to welcome you to the “Smart Style” Terrain Park Safety initiative. A cooperative effort with the help of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) that emphasizes the proper use of terrain parks while delivering a unified message.

The Smart Style video along with the TerrainParkSafety.org work together to emphasize the importance of safety in terrain parks across the country. Please visit the TerrainParkSafety.org for a comprehensive look at the Smart Style program.

Do not stop or ride through landings. If there are boards or skis in front of a jump, the jump is closed so go around the feature. When not using features, stay off to the side of the trail, out of the way. Use features in the manner in which they are intended. Don’t jump off the sides of the takeoffs.

Mountain Safety

Helmets are always a smart idea!

As part of our commitment to safety, we include a free helmet with every rental package. We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet but to also remain safety-conscious, skiing or riding with care. Skiing and snowboarding in a controlled and responsible manner is the best way to ensure your safety. Helmet’s however, do make a difference in reducing or preventing injury from falls or other impacts. So cover that head!

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) supports the use of snow sport helmets. With the encouragement of resorts and parents as well as helmet education, snow sport helmet use has increased year after year. Visit www.lidsonkids.org for more information, safety tips, and research to help better understand the benefits of helmet use and snow sports safety.

Practice Lift Safety

Riding a chairlift is one of the safest forms of transportation available, but there are risks involved when people and moving machines come together. Your personal behavior is critical for overall chairlift safety. Need assistance? Ask the lift attendant for help if needed, that is what they’re here for!

• It is best that a parent or adult ride in the middle of the chair seat, with the child and/or children on either side of the adult. The smallest kids should load closest to the attendant.
• You should load onto a chair seat when you are ready. It’s okay to allow an empty chair to go by if you or your child is not prepared to safely load the lift.
• Before loading, remove and hold packs as straps may become entangled. Holding packs will reduce the likelihood of this happening.
• Remove ski poles from your wrists and hold your poles in one hand. Parents, it may be helpful to hold your child’s ski poles, as well as your own, while loading the chairlift.
• When loading, watch for the approaching chair. Then sit back as far as possible and never lean forward toward the edge of the seat, nor rest on the restraint bar.
• Sit still, hang on, and absolutely no horseplay while riding the lifts!
• Drop something? Let it fall. Ask ski patrol or the lift attendant for help once you have unloaded.

Heading into the Glades? 

Remember these tips for a safe and enjoyable adventure.

• Keep your goggles on and pole straps off.
• Don’t go into the glades alone. Always bring a buddy.
• New to the glades? Ask about our specialty lessons and tree clinics.
• Start with blue square glades and shorter routes. Work your way up!

Risk-Awareness Sessions

It is your responsibility to “Know the Code.” Risk-awareness sessions, where a safety person discusses the day’s conditions and hazards, are conducted by request. Stop at the Guest Services Desk for updates on the day’s conditions.

Friendly Reminders

• No uphill travel on any of our ski trails during the snow season other than the designated uphill routes during operations.
• Bringing the kids? Have a plan should you get separated. If they get lost, children should go to the base of the nearest lift and let the attendant know.
• Safety first. Orient yourself to our patrol station locations and program our daytime emergency number into your phone: (518) 251-3838.
• Please be aware of construction, maintenance vehicles, and heavy equipment and obey all posted warnings.
• Use caution and stay alert- trucks and ATVs for mountain operations may be encountered at any time. Be advised that all poles, flags, fencing, signage, and padding on equipment or objects, or other forms of marking devices, are used by the resort to inform you of the presence or location of potential obstacles or hazards. These markers are no guarantee of your safety and will not protect you from injury. It is your responsibility to stay away from marked areas.
• Emergency notifications are posted at the base of every open lift, and announcements made over the public address system.

Here to Help

How to Report an Accident

Any mountain employee can help you. Look for Ski Patrol in the red jackets or Mountain Hosts in the orange jackets. If you are hurt or know of someone else who is, these folks are there to help.
Stop at the top or bottom of any lift. The lift personnel can help you.
Call (518) 251-3838  (PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911)

*MOST IMPORTANTLY: Please know the name of the trail the injured person is on. This saves time in getting help to them

NYS General Obligations Law Article 18 states, “All persons using a ski trail or slope at a New York State ski area are considered to be skiers.”

Reckless Skier Policy

Purpose

To promote safety in skiing and riding by maintaining a reasonable amount of control over the conduct and behavior of skiers and riders on the mountain.
To comply with all aspects of NYS General Obligations Law Article 18 Safety in Skiing Code.

Definition of Reckless Skiing & Riding

The skier/rider who is skiing/riding in a manner that is beyond their ability to control their actions.
Any person involved in activities that may result in personal injury to themselves or to others.
Any person who fails to abide by the New York State Safety in Skiing Code (found at General Obligations Law Article 18) particularly that section entitled “Duties of Skiers” General Obligations Law 18-105. Copies are available at Ticket Booth.

Reckless Skier Program

I. MISSION AND PURPOSE

The mission of the ORDA Reckless Skier Program is to promote skiing and snowboarding safety awareness, and education for employees and guests. The purpose is to educate employees and guests about the National Ski Area Association’s (NSAA) Your Responsibility Code (the Code) and safe skiing practices, enforce proper mountain etiquette, and attempt to reduce fast and reckless skiing/snowboarding.

The ORDA Mountain Safety Program is led at each ORDA venue by a team of ski patrol staff, department supervisors, and mountain managers. Using the Code as a guide, and employing the list of approaches below, each team is expected to:

• Monitor skiing and snowboarding on each mountain, especially in congested areas;

• Explain to offending individuals why their actions are endangering themselves and others;

• Offer suggestions about more appropriate behavior;

• Issue warnings;

• Depending on a guest’s attitude and the seriousness of an infraction, revoke lift privileges.

This guidance document in intended to explain the Code and how it is implemented at ORDA venues, ORDA expectations for guest interaction and intervention, and the types of infractions and levels of discipline that may be imposed for failing to adhere to the Code and the ORDA policies that are designed to assure public safety.

Safety Recognition & Awards

We were recently presented with several safety awards from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)!

BEST OVERALL SAFETY PROGRAM – 2022 & 2020
These safety awards highlight the creative, innovative, and tried-and-true methods that keep guests and employees safe on the mountain. At Gore we invested in new lift catch nets, children’s vests with safety handles, an interactive safety kiosk, and RFID ticketing. Guest communications are consistently infused with safety tips and reminders. Behind the scenes, employees receive expanded CPR and defensive driving training, and mandatory ski and snowboard inspections. Our new safety products vending machine dispensed over 1,000 items and worker’s compensation claims decreased significantly.

BEST GUEST SAFETY PROGRAM – 2018
These safety awards recognize exceptional resort initiatives to educate guests and employees about skiing and snowboarding responsibly. Our award was due in part to our consistent and frequent integration of guest safety information in promotional literature, on our website, in our lodges, and during special events.

skiing & riding with kids

Lids On Kids

NSAA promotes the use of helmets on the slopes. We urge skiers and riders to wear a helmet – but to ski or ride as if they are not wearing a helmet. NSAA views skiing and snowboarding in a controlled and responsible manner – not helmets only – as the primary safety consideration for all skiers and boarders. A skier’s behavior has as much or more to do with the safety of the sport as does any piece of equipment.

Terrain Park Safety

Park Smart

• The Orange Oval symbol on our trail map designates Freestyle Terrain such as parks and pipes.
• Every time you use freestyle terrain, make a plan for each feature you want to use. Your speed, approach, and take off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.
• Scope around the jumps first, not over them. Know landings are clear, and clear yourself out of the landing area.
• Inverted aerials are not recommended.
• Remember, respect gets respect. From the liftline through the park.

Mountain Policies

Uphill Policy

Uphill travel is only allowed at the North Creek Ski Bowl. See the full list of guidelines here.

Drone Policy

Drones are not permitted on the mountain. The use of drones and/or other unmanned aircraft, collectively referred to as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), is prohibited. The safety and privacy of our employees and guests are of primary importance. For Gore’s full drone policy- read here.

Transporting of Small Children Policy

No transporting a child on your person when skiing or snowboarding (no baby packs, kids on shoulders, etc).

Downhill Equipment Policy

Our lifts and trails are designed for use by guests on a wide variety of skiing and riding equipment incorporating an array of different binding systems. While within ski area boundaries, each guest shall have a device on their skiing and riding equipment that is capable of restraining or stopping it in the event it becomes detached from the user. Gore Mountain Ski Patrol retains the right to prohibit any type of equipment at their discretion.

Allowed Equipment:

• • Skis
  • Snowboards
  • Telemark
  • Carving Boards
  • Snow Blades
  • Monoski
  • Biskis

Metal edges are required for all of the above.

   Prohibited Equipment:

• • Children in backpacks or other carrying devices
  • Airboards
  • Swissbobs
  • Ski boards
  • Snowbikes
  • Snowskates
  • Bike Boards
  • Sleds or snow toys of any type
  • Gore Mountain Ski Patrol retains the right to prohibit any type of equipment at their discretion.

Prohibited Items

• • Firearms
  • Explosive and/or Incendiary Devices
  • Noxious Material
  • Electronic Stun Guns
  • Assault-type Items/Devices
  • Edged Weapons (exception: leatherman type multi-tool with a blade of 3″ or less allowed at Gore)
  • Nuisance Items/Devices
  • Restraining-type Items/Devices
  • Additional Miscellaneous Items.

See Prohibited Items - Complete List

Pet Policy
While we love our pets, we only permit service animals/service animals in training on venue property. Read below for our service animal policy.

Service Animal Policy
In accordance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act and NYS Human Rights Law, ORDA welcomes service animals and service animals in training who have been trained to assist a person with a disability, to assure access by individuals with disabilities to the ORDA venues, programs, activities, services, and events that are open to members of the public. No other animals will be permitted. For more information, please reference ORDA’s Service Animal Policy.

Scenic Skyride Policy

• Adult passengers carrying children in their arms, backpacks, or other carrying devices, may ride in gondola cabins but not on chairlifts.
• All chairlift riders must be able to approach the loading area and sit on the chair unassisted and under their own power.
• It is recommended that chairlift riders be at least 52” tall to ride on a chairlift alone.
• For the benefit of our guests and employees, we reserve the right to make the final decision regarding the eligibility and safety of a rider.
• No smoking while on the skyride.
• Pets are not allowed on chairlifts or gondolas. For ORDA’s full Service Animal Policy- read here.

Drone Policy

Out of safety concerns for guests, employees, and resort property, as well as concerns for individual privacy, Gore Mountain 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 Gore. This prohibition includes drones used for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating above or within Gore’s boundaries. This prohibition on drone operations or use extends to any drones launched or operated from within the resort property, as well as drones launched from private property outside of the resort boundaries. Please contact Gore 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 this 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 season 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.