As ski season approaches, skiers and snowboarders can't wait to hit the snow to leave behind their first fresh tracks of the year. Before you strap into your bindings, keep in mind that a day on the slopes can be dangerous. To avoid a trip to the emergency room and ensure you spend more time tackling double-black diamonds, here are a few things to keep in mind before your ski trip:

• Get in shape: Be sure to follow a regular fitness program before heading to the mountains. A basic layer of conditioning will strengthen muscles and build endurance that will help prevent injuries.
• Check your equipment: A bindings check is always a smart move. Roughly half of all injuries are due to improper binding performance. While you're at it, make sure all of your ski and boarding gear is in tip-top shape.
• Know your limits: Ski or snowboard at your appropriate level. Beginners should avoid advanced runs.
• Warm up: Before you hop from the car to the chairlift, don't forget to do a little stretching before to loosen and warm up your cold muscles. Focus on calves, hamstrings, quadriceps as well as your shoulders.
• Hydrate: When you're fixated on getting in as many runs as possible, sometimes you forget to stay hydrated. Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids as the day goes along. Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue.
• Avoid the "one last run" syndrome: You think you've got just one more run in you before you call it day. If you're legs are feeling heavy, it's better to make a beeline to the lodge instead of the chairlift.
• If a mishap does occur on the hill, make sure that your body is fully recovered before your next trip up to the mountains.

Ski Safety

1. Your Responsibility Code Keystone is committed to promoting skier safety. In addition to people using traditional alpine ski equipment, you may be joined on the slopes by snowboarders, telemark skiers or cross-country skiers, skiers with disabilities, skiers with specialized equipment and others. Always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing and snowboarding that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Know your ability level and stay within it. Observe “Your Responsibility Code” listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.

    1. Always stay in control, and be able to stop
        or avoid other people or objects.

    2. People ahead of you have the right of way.
        It is your responsibility to avoid them.

    3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail,
        or are not visible from above.

    4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail,
        look uphill and yield to others.

    5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.

    6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off
        closed trails and out of closed areas.

    7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge
        and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

Be advised that Keystone does not mark all potential obstacles or hazards. When marked, poles, flags, fencing, signage, padding or other forms of marking are used to inform the skier/rider of the location of a potential obstacle or hazard. These markers are no guarantee of your safety. It is part of your responsibility under the Your Responsibility Code and the Colorado Ski Safety Act to avoid all obstacles and hazards.

2. Colorado Ski Safety Act. The Colorado legislature, recognizing risks that are inherent in the sport, has passed the Colorado Ski Safety Act, which provides inherent risks of the sport and relative responsibilities of the "skier" and the ski area. You must obey the Act. Under the Act, any person using the facilities of a ski area is considered a skier. A summary of the inherent risks is listed below:

WARNING
Under Colorado law, a skier assumes the risk of any injury to person or property resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing and may not recover from any ski area operator for any injury resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing, including: changing weather conditions; existing and changing snow conditions; bare spots; rocks; stumps; trees; collisions with natural objects, man-made objects, or other skiers; variations in terrain; and the failure of skiers to ski within their own abilities.

The Ski Safety Act was amended in 2004 to include CLIFFS, EXTREME TERRAIN, JUMPS AND FREESTYLE TERRAIN as inherent dangers and risks of the sport.

Skiers and Riders should be advised that a green circle, blue square or black diamond at Keystone is not necessarily the same as a green circle, blue square or black diamond at other resorts. The system is a relative rating of trails at each resort and does not compare trail difficulty between resorts. Skiers and Riders should begin with the easiest terrain and then move up in difficulty as their ability permits in order to understand the relative rating at Keystone.

EXTREME TERRAIN 
Extreme Terrain contains cliffs, very steep slopes as well as rocks and other hazards. Skiing or boarding Extreme Terrain is for EXPERTS ONLY. 

3. Freestyle Terrain Areas are designated with an orange oval and may contain jumps, hits, ramps, banks, fun boxes, jibs, rails, half pipes, quarter pipes, snowcross, bump terrain and other constructed or natural terrain features. Prior to using Freestyle Terrain, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with Freestyle Terrain and obeying all instructions, warnings and signs. Freestyle skills require maintaining control on the ground, and in the air. Use of Freestyle Terrain exposes you to the risk of serious injury or death. Inverted aerials are not recommended. You assume the risk.

Freestyle Terrain has designations for size. Start small and work your way up. Designations are relative to this ski area.

    MAKE A PLAN. Every time you use Freestyle Terrain, make a plan for each feature you
    want to use. Your speed, approach and takeoff will directly affect your maneuver
    and landing.

    LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP. You are responsible for inspecting Freestyle Terrain before initial use
    and throughout the day. The features vary in size and change constantly due to snow conditions,
    weather, usage, grooming and time of day. Do not jump blindly. Use a spotter when necessary.

    EASY STYLE IT. Always ride or ski in control and within your ability level. Do not attempt Freestyle
    Terrain unless you have sufficient ability and experience to do so safely. You control the degree
    of difficulty you will encounter in using Freestyle Terrain, both on the ground and in the air.

    RESPECT GETS RESPECT. Respect Freestyle Terrain and others. Only one person on a feature
    at a time. Wait your turn and call your start. Always clear the landing area quickly. Respect all
    signs and do not enter Freestyle Terrain or use features when closed.

4. Electronic Devices. Keystone discourages the use of electronic devices – cell phones, music players, or earphones – while skiing and snowboarding, or loading and unloading lifts.

5. Lift Safety. Under Colorado law, you cannot board a lift unless you have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to negotiate or to use such lift safely or until you have asked for and received information sufficient to enable you to use the lift safely. You may not use a lift or any ski trail when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

6. CAUTION – snowcats, snowmobiles and snowmaking may be encountered at any time.

7. Slow Zones. Certain areas (indicated on the map in yellow) are designated as SLOW ZONES. Please observe the posted slow areas by maintaining a speed no faster than the general flow of traffic. Space and speed are especially important in these areas. Fast and aggressive skiing will not be tolerated.

8. Helmet Use. Keystone encourages our guests to educate themselves on the benefits and limitations of winter sports helmets. Regardless of whether or not you choose to wear a helmet, every winter sport participant shares responsibility for his or her safety and for that of others using the ski area facilities.

9. Backcountry Warning. Pursuant to the Colorado Ski Safety Act, the ski area assumes no responsibility for skiers going beyond the ski area boundary. To access the backcountry, use designated gates only. Areas beyond the ski area boundary are not patrolled or maintained. Avalanches, unmarked obstacles and other natural hazards exist. Be aware: the backcountry avalanche hazard may be extreme. Rescue in the backcountry, if available, is the responsibility of the Summit County Sheriff. It will be costly and may take time.

10. High-Altitude Environment. Some visitors may experience symptoms associated with [Resort Name]’s high altitude. Symptoms may include headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, restless sleep, coughing and difficulty in breathing. If symptoms persist or if you have a concern about your health, you should seek medical attention.