For Immediate Release

Contact: Dave Byrd

Director of Risk & Regulatory Affairs
dbyrd@nsaa.org
(720) 963-4213 office
(202) 270-3924 mobile

November 15, 2017

Skier/Snowboarder Catastrophic Injuries During the 2016-17 Season

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reports that during the 2016-17 season, there were 33
catastrophic injuries that occurred at U.S. ski areas during the 2016-17 season—which is significantly
below the ski industry’s 10-year average of 48 catastrophic injuries occurring at ski areas in the United
States, and the lowest catastrophic injury rate in the last 10 years. Catastrophic injuries include forms of
paralysis, broken necks, broken backs, and life-altering severe head injuries.

Based on 54.8 million skier visits tallied last season, the catastrophic injury rate for 2016-17 equates to
0.60 catastrophic injuries per one million skier/snowboarder visits, well below the 10-year average of
0.85 catastrophic injuries per one million visits. A skier/snowboarder visit is defined as one person
visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night. This includes full- and half-day, night,
complimentary, adult, child, season passes, and all other ticket types.

NSAA collects fatality and catastrophic injury data from all U.S. ski areas annually, at the end of each
season. NSAA compiles this data to provide information to the media and the public that accurately
reflects the inherent risks to skiing and snowboarding guests at U.S. ski areas. The data reflects all
incidents of fatality or catastrophic injury that occur within a ski area’s boundaries (Backcountry
fatalities and catastrophic injuries are not included in these statistics because they do not reflect the true
risk of fatality or catastrophic injury at ski areas for the skiing public.) Also, for the purpose of this
annual report, NSAA reports fatalities or catastrophic injuries that occur during normal operating
hours—a sledding death after hours at a ski area, which is quite rare, would not be included in this
report. NSAA also does not include guest fatalities or catastrophic injuries that are related to a pre-
existing medical condition (such as a heart attack or stroke on a chairlift). Similarly, this data also does
not include fatalities or catastrophic injuries suffered by ski area employees while working, unless the
fatality is akin to one that could occur with a guest. An industrial fatality (like a fall from a chairlift
tower, for example) would not be included because such a workplace fatality would not reflect the risk
of fatalities or catastrophic injuries to the public.

Gender continues to play a significant role in catastrophic injuries, with males disproportionately
represented. Of those catastrophically injured last season, 24 were male and 9 female. By equipment
type, most of those catastrophically injured were skiers compared to snowboarders (73 percent skiers/27
percent snowboarders, which is very similar to the national breakdown percentage between skiers and
snowboarders). Likewise, most of those catastrophically injured were wearing helmets: 24 were
wearing helmets while 9 were not helmeted. While 73 percent of those catastrophically injured wore
helmets, the overall percentage of skiers and boarders wearing helmets nationally is 83 percent,
according to a separate helmet study conducted annually by NSAA (for more detailed helmet
information, see NSAA’s Helmet Usage Fact Sheet at http://www.nsaa.org/press/industry-stats).

Based on the last 10 years, an average of 48 catastrophic injuries occurs each season at U.S. ski resorts.
Average skier/snowboarder visits during this same time 10-year period averaged 56.4 million. The 10-
 2
year catastrophic injury rate equates to 0.85 injuries per one million skier visit. The number of
catastrophic injuries and fatalities fluctuates within a small range over the years, which is why NSAA
reports a 10-year industry average for more statistically reliable data.

Kelly Pawlak, NSAA’s president, emphasizes that resorts continue to underscore the importance of
personal responsibility and that safety remains a top priority at ski areas. This season, NSAA has
launched a new safety initiative, called #Ride Another Day. The initiative is designed to educate skiers
and snowboarders about the risks of reckless skiing, speed, and collisions. This compelling initiative
relates to an incident several years ago involving Kelli and Chauncy Johnson, a family from Wyoming,
who lost their daughter in a tragic collision at a ski area in 2010. To learn more, including an article on
the incredible Johnson Family in the NSAA Journal magazine, visit the NSAA website at
http://www.nsaa.org/safety-programs/collisions/.

In addition, many ski areas have developed comprehensive guest safety education programs and actively
promote the seven points of Your Responsibility Code, as well as the tenets of the Smart Style freestyle
terrain safety initiative promoted by NSAA and ski resorts. The industry continues to support Heads
Up, a safety initiative designed to promote on-mountain awareness, and each season ski areas across the
country observe National Safety Awareness Month in January, which is dedicated to additional
emphasis on guest and employee safety. NSAA recently updated its Lids On Kids website
(www.lidsonkids.org) committed to educating parents and children on the importance and proper use of
snowsports helmets. In 2013, NSAA launched a new website, Kids on Lifts (www.KidsonLifts.org), to
educate parents and their children about important safety practices for riding, loading, and unloading
chairlifts. Similarly, NSAA’s Freestyle Terrain website (www.freestyleterrain.org) strives to educate
consumers about the proper use of freestyle terrain features, with new, user-friendly signage for guests.
For more information, visit the Safety & Education portion of www.nsaa.org.

10-Year Catastrophic Injury Rate per Million Skier/Snowboarder Visits

SEASON CATASTROPHIC SKIER DAYS RATE

INJURIES (in millions) (per one million
skier visits)

2016-17 33 54.8 0.60

2015-16 45 52.8 0.85
2014-15 42 53.6 0.78
2013-14 52 56.5 0.92
2012-13 76 56.9 1.34
2011-12 49 51.0 0.96
2010-11 60 60.5 0.99
2009-10 40 59.8 0.67
2008-09 44 57.4 0.77
2007-08 41 60.5 0.68

10-year
Average 48 56.4 0.85

NSAA, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, CO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR U.S. SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS.