Do you know The Code? Of course you do — at least when it comes to skier and snowboarder safety.
An ubiquitous feature at all U.S. ski areas and resorts, the National Ski Area’s Association (NSAA) rules for safe and responsible skiing and snowboarding are found everywhere from trail maps to lift signage to napkins in restaurants. The Code is featured in childrens’ books and taught by every ski and snowboard instructor.
Why? Because keeping one another safe on the slopes is critical to our enjoyment and the future of snowsports.
You know what else is critical to our enjoyment and the future of snowsports? Snow.
(Do you and your kids know the Skier Responsibility Code? If not, click here!)
Know the Skier Sustainability Code
NSAA recently announced a new Code for skiers and riders. It’s called the Skier Sustainability Code and it’s the public component of NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes program, which gives participating resorts a framework for committing to and implementing sustainable practices. As of today, approximately 200 U.S. resorts have signed on, many of them among the nation’s greenest ski resorts.
(For a list of nearly 200 participating U.S. ski resorts, click here)
We will cover what resorts are doing below, but first, here is what we — the over 10 million skiers and riders in the U.S. — can do.
It’s our Code.
(For a downloadable and printable PDF of the NSAA Skier Sustainability Code, click here).
What Ski Resorts Are Doing
I recently wrote an article about ski resort sustainability for FIS SnowKidz, pairing examples from some of the greenest ski resorts with 3-5 actions per example that families can take to combat climate change.
The article focuses on eliminating single-use plastics, reducing food waste, using renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and participating in earth-friendly programs like the NSAA Climate Challenge and Sustainable Slopes.
(For the full FIS SnowKidz article on snowsports sustainability, click here)
Sustainable Slopes
Sustainable Slopes was created in 2000, and has gained in both participation and prestige as public recognition of climate change — and the havoc it will wreak, not just for snowsports, but across all aspects of life — has grown.
In addition to the new Skier Sustainability Code, NSAA is awarding sustainability badges of excellence to ski areas and resorts that meet measurable targets. Badges (shown above) must be renewed after two years, requiring ongoing progress. Look for them at your favorite mountains.
And then thank your ski area for taking action.
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