MORE RESORTS HIRING `SPEED POLICE' OFFICERS; CREWS AIDS BEGINNERS BY WATCHING OUT FOR THOSE WHO MOVE FAST.Byline: Art Bentley Special to the Daily News Security isn't a blanket at Snow Summit resort; it's a red jacket Red Jacket, c.1758–1830, chief of the Seneca, b. probably Seneca co., N.Y. His Native American name was Otetiani, changed to Sagoyewatha when he became a chief. emblazoned with the word in bold white letters. The job of the employee inside the parka is to promote safety on the mountain, especially on runs designed for beginners and families. Summit Run is a favorite of these beginning skiers and snowboarders. It's a wide, gentle slope that meanders the entire 1,200 vertical feet from top to bottom. Snow bunnies can seek safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. from experts who schuss schuss intr.v. schussed, schuss·ing, schuss·es To make a fast straight downhill run in skiing. n. 1. A fast straight downhill run in skiing. 2. A straight steep course for skiing. down in a blur with the kind of abandon that makes relative newcomers nervous. ``We don't want them to be intimidated by skiers or snowboarders going fast,'' said marketing director Chris Riddle. ``You've got the whole rest of the mountain if you want to ski fast.'' It is up to the nine men and women of the mountain security force - a paid auxiliary of the resort's ski patrol A ski patrol is an organization that provides first aid and rescue services to skiers and participants of other snow sports, either at a ski area or in a backcountry setting. in its second year - to enforce the rules of the slopes. They are the ski patrol's customer service who manage the easiest routes and issue appropriate warnings, while leaving the first-aid to the pros. ``They control speed zones (for example, where advanced and beginner runs merge),'' said Greg Ralph, marketing director at nearby Bear Mountain, where a similar auxiliary force has been established. ``Their primary concern is to make things as safe as possible.'' Other resorts frequented by Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, skiers and snowboarders, including Snow Valley, Mountain High and Mammoth Mountain Mammoth Mountain is a large lava dome complex[1] that lies to the west of the town of Mammoth Lakes, California in the Inyo National Forest. Mammoth Mountain is home to the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area which is notable in that it gets an unusually large amount of , enlist additional on-slope personnel to assist the ski patrol. Until the advent of such security corps, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain relied on the ski patrol and roaming ``hosts'' to maintain order. But patrollers often had their hands full mopping up after accidents. And somehow it didn't seem right for hosts to be welcoming patrons from one side of their mouths and admonishing ad·mon·ish tr.v. ad·mon·ished, ad·mon·ish·ing, ad·mon·ish·es 1. To reprove gently but earnestly. 2. To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution. 3. them from the other. ``We didn't want them to become Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,'' Riddle said. As Mountain High spokesman Brad Wilson points out, peacekeeping can be a ticklish tick·lish adj. 1. Sensitive to tickling. 2. Easily offended or upset; touchy. 3. Requiring skillful or tactful handling; delicate: a ticklish matter. proposition. ``Safety is an issue. Customers have said we're not doing enough,'' he said. ``But there's a fine line between making sure people are safe on the mountain and harassment.'' Dave Lenoch, executive director of the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, leads the Snow Summit security troops on weekends. They must meet two basic requirements: be good skiers - ``closer to expert than intermediate,'' Lenoch said - and have the people skills to handle ``all kinds of situations.'' ``Our function is to be ambassadors to the hill,'' Lenoch explained. ``You don't go out and clip everybody's ticket (resorts reserve the right to remove lift passes for recklessness). That doesn't work. You have to evaluate both sides of the situation and fully understand it. Then you have to base your decision on facts. If you base it on emotion, you're in trouble.'' One recent situation involved a couple who unwittingly skied through a practice race course. With competitors hurtling downhill at warp speed warp speed n. Informal An extremely rapid speed or state of activity: "A young pronghorn antelope teased a yearling wolf, shifting into warp speed and leaving the wolf in the dust when it tried to pursue" , such a maneuver can be as dangerous as trying to cross a freeway on foot. ``The coach saw them coming and asked them to leave,'' Lenoch said. ``The ski team was coming like bullets. The man hadn't seen the sign at the top of the course and he got irate at the coach. It took me almost an hour to neutralize the situation.'' Patrollers often don't have the time to be so diplomatic. A big part of the mountain security mission is to instill in·still v. To pour in drop by drop. in  stil·la tion n. a sense of caution all over the mountain, not just on the bunny slopes. ``If we see reckless skiing, we go and address it face to face,'' Lenoch said. ``Ninety-nine percent of the people we talk to are very understanding about what we're trying to do. They really appreciate it.'' Equally appreciative is the ski patrol; members are generally too busy responding to accidents to spend much time trying to prevent them, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Paul Romero Paul Romero is an award-winning computer and video game music composer,[1] significant contributor (along with Rob King) to the Heroes of Might and Magic series and numerous other games. References 1. ^ Rob King & Paul Romero. Gamasutra. , Snow Summit ski patrol's assistant supervisor. ``It's helped curb injuries,'' he said. ``That red jacket has a good effect. It gives families a good feeling, knowing that security people are out there handling situations when needed.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) As a liaison between the ski patrol and the patrons, a member of the Snow Summit mountain security force in Big Bear Lake answers a query from a pair of skiers. Courtesy of Snow Summit |
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