Sometimes a few people ruin the fun for the rest of us.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, announced in a recent letter from CEO Mary Kate Buckley that in an effort to prioritize safety, it would eliminate its JH Insider app’s vertical feet leaderboard, because it was deemed to potentially promote fast skiing.
The resort enlisted pro skier and Jackson Hole local Kai Jones – who’s the nephew of legendary freerider Big Mountain Jeremy Jones – to remind resort-goers to take it easy in the slow zones.
“Although there's all this really good steep and gnarly terrain there's a time and place to send, and that's not in the slow zones,” he said. “When you're in the slow zones make sure to keep it chill show us your turns and be respectful to other people on the mountain .”
Photo: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
The letter from Buckley points out several changes to the resort in the name of safety for this season, including family zones that were established in the beginner and congested areas to promote more controlled riding and skiing. Seven rest areas were also added to allow a place to pause on the slopes without disrupting the rest of the trial. The increased visibility of speed wranglers and ski patrol has “positively impacted perceptions of safety on the mountain,” she said.
"The consequences for violations vary based on severity, ranging from educational warnings to pass suspensions or revocations. In extreme cases, a no-trespass ban may be issued, legally barring individuals from the resort. All enforcement actions are recorded in a centralized database to track trends and repeat offenses,” Buckley wrote in the letter. “While we do not disclose the total number or identities of passholders whose passes are pulled each season due to privacy concerns, we have observed an increase in enforcement actions for violations such as skiing in closed areas, reckless skiing, and speeding compared to last year. Our Ski Patrol issued 24 pass suspensions in one day for violating closure signs. “
Laurie Thal, a local whose friend was struck and killed by a skier last year, asked the resort to remove the leaderboard last year.
“It's horrible that it took the death of Peter to create these changes,” Thal told Wyoming Public Media. “But if making some of these changes will save one other child or one other person, I am grateful to make any contribution to that.”
Skiers have already taken to Reddit to explore a leaderboard alternative on another app.
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