Governor Granholm Declares January as Discover Michigan Snow Sports Month
DELEG Reminds Consumers to Make Safety on the Slopes Their Top Priority
Contact:
Mario L. Morrow 517-373-9280
Agency:
Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
January 19, 2010 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has declared January as Discover Michigan Snow Sports Month to encourage Michigan residents and visitors to learn a new snow sport and take advantage of the sports that only a Michigan winter can provide. Winter sports are a $4.4 billion business in Michigan and account for a third of the state's leisure travel.
"There is nothing more Pure Michigan than enjoying Michigan's rich abundance of enjoyable recreational activities in the snow," said Granholm.
Before hitting the slopes, beginners as well as experienced skiers, boarders and tubers, are reminded of important safety tips by Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) Director Stanley "Skip" Pruss.
"Skiing safety is our number one priority and is why we set goals higher than recommended national standards to ensure that the estimated 2.3 million skiers who hit Michigan's slopes each year have a great time and avoid injury," said Pruss. "Wearing helmets while skiing or snowboarding and being extremely careful getting on or off chairlifts are so important for the safety of children and adults. Mishaps around chairlifts account for the majority of ski lift-related injuries we see each year."
Unlike any other state in the nation, Michigan is home to 50 licensed ski areas (names, locations, and number of lifts are listed below) with 36 ski resorts within a two-hour or less drive from anywhere in the state. These areas operate more than 300 ski lifts ranging from rope tows to high-speed, detachable chairlifts.
Pruss emphasized that prior to using any lift, riders must be familiar and knowledgeable about how to load, ride and unload safely. "If you don't know or are uncertain, watch others and ask questions of the lift attendants, operators or other area personnel," said Pruss.
Michigan law requires that mechanical failures and accidents involving ski lifts be reported - many of which are caused by horseplay and irresponsible behavior on the slopes.
Additional recommendations for safe and courteous skiing and snowboarding include:
Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
Stop in a safe place for you and others. Don't stop where you will obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield to others.
Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
Observe all signs and warnings.
Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
Michigan's ski areas and ski lifts are licensed and inspected by DELEG according to national standards and the Michigan Ski Area Safety Act of 1962, the first in the nation. A seven-member Ski Area Safety Board is appointed from the industry and public alike, and a team of professionals is maintained to issue permits to operate, and assure safe operation by inspecting ski areas and ski lifts.
DELEG annually inspects more than 300 active ski lifts according to state and national standards, both before and during operation. Michigan exceeds national standards by requiring earlier and more frequent load testing (loading lifts to simulate passengers to dynamically test main and emergency drive systems, brakes, and anti-rollback mechanisms). The State of Michigan and its ski areas have doing load testing every five (5) years since 1978 which exceeds the national standard of requiring load testing of ski lifts every seven (7) years - a requirement only since 2000.
DELEG encourages people to try skiing or snowboarding by participating in "Discover Michigan Skiing" a popular and affordable introduction to these sports offered in 24 areas around the state. For details, go to the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) website at www.goskimichigan.com. Also at the MSIA website is information about "Cold Is Cool," a national program for 4th graders to ski and snowboard for free.
Michigan is one of 14 states to have issued proclamations celebrating the second year of the national "Learn a Snow Sport Month" initiative, up from only two such proclamations last year.
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