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Terrain Park Safety + Smart Style

THE TAHOE DONNER DOWNHILL SKI RESORT IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. THANK YOU FOR A GREAT WINTER!

Freestyle Terrain Areas: 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
  • Other constructed or natural terrain features.

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 in our Mini Size Candyland Park and work your way up to Bite Size and King Size Parks. Designations are relative to this ski area.

Terrain Park Safety Code

  • Know your Limits and ability level and select the appropriate Freestyle Terrain for you.
  • Your condition, speed, balance, body movements, alignment, trajectory and maneuver difficulty will directly affect your desired outcome.
  • Know the intended use of the Freestyle Terrain you have chosen. For example, some features are intended to be used in a series with no stopping and some individually with stopping areas; jump takeoffs are for jumping and rail takeoffs are for entering onto rails.
  • Your actions can take you out of balance and cause serious injury or death, no matter how the feature is designed or where you land. Land on your feet!
  • Transitions are changes in the shape and pitch of the snow or feature, or changes from one type of sliding surface to another. Transitions can be gentle or abrupt, and demand that users be alert and respond to them with accurate movements.
  • Know where to Land. The sweet spot is between the “knuckle” and center of the landing zone. Even if you land on or near the sweet spot, you can still be seriously injured or die if your landing posture is not correct.
  • Inverted maneuvers are not recommended.
  • Be aware that features change constantly due to snow conditions, weather, usage, grooming and time of day.
  • Read and obey all posted signs, instructions and warnings before using Freestyle Terrain.
  • Some resorts designate features as small, medium and large. Be aware these ratings are determined by size, not degree of difficulty, and are relative only to that  resort.

Smart Style

The National Ski Areas Association and Burton Snowboards have developed the “Smart Style” Freestyle Terrain Safety initiative, a cooperative effort to continue the proper use and progression of freestyle terrain at mountain resorts, while also delivering a unified message that is clear, concise, and effective.

Four main points of Smart Style:

  1. Make a Plan.  Every time you use freestyle terrain, make a plan for each feature you want to use. Your speed, approach and take off will directly affect your maneuver and landing.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.