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THE QUESTION: MY SON WANTS TO GO INTO THE TERRAIN PARK, BUT I’VE HEARD IT’S NOT SAFE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT IT?


MOUNTAIN 1: ALBERTA

First contact: Young female. Nice, but sounds like she’s in a rush.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Terrain parks? Safe? They’re as safe as the person using it. If you were going to go do stupid tricks you would probably get hurt. We do, of course, build our parks to a certain standard with safety being our number-one concern, but I would still suggest a helmet since there’s always an inherent risk. I mean to call them not safe, whoever said that is saying that probably because they’re doing something unsafe. I mean if you’re going to go out there and do a flip off something you shouldn’t be doing a flip off of, then sure, it’s not safe. Compared to skiing or snowboarding down a regular slope, there’s the same amount of danger in both. You know, it’s entirely up to the user to decide how safe they’re going to make something. I mean you could just as easily run into something while not skiing or riding in the terrain park. So yeah, I would say they are as safe as the person using it. Okay?
SAM: Umm, sure I guess so.
Staff: Okay thanks for calling, have a good day.

Rating: 4
Comment: I think I got the risk manager on that one.


MOUNTAIN 2: COLORADO

First contact: Young male. (Transferred to terrain park manager.)
Answering phone: Male, super nice sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Okay, well I mean we have six different parks of all ability levels from small snow features up to the big jumps. So, I mean really in your lesson we can take people from all levels of ability and get them riding the small features in a short time.
SAM: Okay that sounds good. So you would advise that I have him take a lesson?
Staff: Yes, for certain a lesson would definitely be advisable because that way he’s getting the chance to experience all the right techniques that will be really advantageous for him when riding in the park.
SAM: Okay, great. So should I just call back before we come to sign up for one or is there someone specific I should talk to?
Staff: Well, you can either call up or actually, we’ll be updating our website shortly where you can check for lesson information and details. We don’t open until November 18 so there’s plenty of time before that and before the parks really start to get underway around early December. So, by then he’ll have plenty of time on the snow to get comfortable before the lure of terrain parks really becomes tempting.

Rating: 8.5
Comment: Good attitude, detailed info and ensured my son’s safety. Big high five.


MOUNTAIN 3: NEW JERSEY

First contact: Automated machine. Chose operator.
Answering phone: Young male, nice.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: I’m not really sure what to tell you. The terrain park itself could be inherently more dangerous than skiing down a hill. But you can definitely take a terrain park-specific lesson if you’d like. I know as of November, you have to take a tutorial and quiz and have a certificate that says you’ve passed it to let you into the terrain park. But, I mean we do jib lab sessions that focus on how to ride in the terrain park for beginner learners. How old is your son?
SAM: He’s 12. You said the jib lab sessions, are those just like regular lessons I can sign him up for before he heads in to the park?
Staff: Yes, they are standard lessons you can sign up for. But what I’ve been told so far is that anyone who wants to enter the terrain park needs to take the tutorial so they understand the proper etiquette of using the park. Things like landing zones and where you should and shouldn’t stand, because if you do stand in the wrong spot, ya know, you could potentially be landed on by someone else. And, ya know, it also teaches you about the features, and rails and jumps, etc. So that’s why this year they’re doing the park pass system for anyone who wants to enter the park. And it would probably be a good idea for you to go through it with your son so you both are aware of what to expect and it’ll give you a better understanding of what your son is getting into.
SAM: Okay, so the jib lab sessions you mentioned, do you have to complete the tutorial before being able to take a lesson or can he do that separately?
Staff: Yes, your son would have to take the online tutorial before he’s allowed any access to the terrain park lifts. I mean it’s totally free and pretty straightforward, so he would need to do that in order to get a park pass. It’s new this year so I unfortunately don’t have anything to show you how the process works exactly, but it will be fairly simple.
SAM: All right, well, if I do the tutorial with my son, I assume we’ll be able to pass this thing, even though I don’t know much about terrain parks?
Staff: Yeah, I mean it’s not up yet because, like I said, it’s new this year, but it’s meant for all ages and all ability levels so there shouldn’t be any reason for your son not to pass. And then once that’s done you bring the proof in with you and we get your son set up with however you’d like to proceed with a lesson or whatnot.
SAM: Okay, great, I’ll give it some time and check out the tutorial online and go from there. Thanks for all your help.
Staff: Anytime, have a great day.

Rating: 7
Comment: A slew of solid information to get me started. But, minus points for calling terrain parks more dangerous.


MOUNTAIN 4: MISSOURI

First contact: Automated machine. Chose 0.
Answering phone: Young female. A bit snippy.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Okay, um. Hold one second for me.
Staff: Hello, can I help you? (Same girl…)
SAM: Restated question.
Staff: Well, yeah, but what exactly were you looking for, ma’am?
SAM: I guess I’m just looking for basic information about your terrain park. My knowledge is very limited so I’d like to find out any information I can before I let my son go into one.
Staff: Uhhh, well’s there’s not much I can really tell you about them, since they change on a weekly basis. I mean, yeah, it can be very dangerous in there if you’re, like, not a skilled snowboarder or skier, but like I said, they change as far as the different set-up goes, so I can’t tell you much about them until they set it up. You could go on our website and visit our terrain park page if you wanted. That might give you some more information.
SAM: Yeah, I could do that. Does it have the basic points of what my son should know and what I should be aware of?
Staff: Umm. It’s got, umm, they were just telling me… I’m not sure, it’s only my first week here. What exactly were you looking for? (Did you forget?)
SAM: I’m not exactly sure what answer I’m looking for, but I’d like to know of any red flags that my son should be aware of before he goes into the park. Are there certain safety precautions or specific rules that he needs to know? I’m concerned with his safety so whatever I can find out that will help protect him is what I’m looking for.
SAM: Well, yeah, they’ll show some videos on the site so it’ll help you with what safety precautions to take, I guess, but they’re real advanced so if your son is not, I wouldn’t really advise you go on there for your information. (Long pause…)
SAM: Hmm, okay. Well, maybe I’ll just check it out to start and go from there.
Staff: Okay, sounds good.

Rating: 2
Comment: First week with a hard question = transfer me.


MOUNTAIN 5: VERMONT

First contact: Female. Nice sounding.
SAM: Stated question. Transferred to terrain park department…
Staff: Hi, again. There actually isn’t anyone in that department at the moment, but I can walk you through this. Let me pull something up on the computer. Do you have one available, too?
SAM: I do, yes.
Staff: Okay, great so if you’ll go to our website at www.skiarea.com, you’ll see the mountain image right there. Put your mouse over the mountain and then click on park and pipe. Do you see that?
SAM: Yup, got it.
Staff: Okay, so once you’re there this page basically tells you about all the park and pipe features at the resort. And then you’ll see the orange Smart Style box that is all around our terrain park with signage and warnings. Their main points are “Make a plan,” “Look before you leap,” “Easy style it,” and “Respect gets respect.” And this is actually a nation-wide program going on at resorts that helps riders and skiers understand park etiquette. This is something good to go through with your son, which really explains how to use the park with things like landing zones, approaching your features, etc. And then at the bottom there’s www.freestyleterrain.org and www.freestylesafety.org, which are great resources, especially for you as a mother to go through with your son about proper safety precautions and things to know before heading into a park. How old is your son?
SAM: He’s 12.
Staff: Okay, so he’s on the younger side of the park riders. I mean there are some really rippin’ 10-year-olds out there, but also a lot of college kids. So, I mean, respect gets respect when he’s in the park so being aware of other riders and where they are and watching them can really help him out and will keep him respected as well. There is a lot going on so the more aware he can be about park etiquette, the better he’ll be able to approach the whole thing. Now do you ski or ride at all?
SAM: I ski, yes.
Staff: Okay, great. So when he first starts to go, maybe you can go with him and help him mark where his landings are and make sure they’re clear and that he goes over all the features of the park. Like for the pipe, for instance, you could be on the other end and make sure it’s clear for him to go down. And always have him wear a helmet, too, that’s a good idea when he’s starting.
SAM: Okay, great, thanks so much.
Staff: Oh, you’re welcome, and if you have any other questions with all of this just give us a call back.

Rating: 9.5
Comment: Rippin’ job by the operator. A classic example of someone who has good customer service skills, even when she is not the expert. Did lack the lesson push.

Identity Revealed: Stowe