SAM Magazine-Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 30, 2010-It could only happen in California: last Friday, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger first approved a bill that required under-18 skiers and snowboarders in the state to wear helmets, but then vetoed companion legislation that would have required resorts to take a number of other actions to further safeguard visitors. Since the two bills were linked, the veto of the second means that the first won't become law, either.

Had the bills both passed, California would have the country's strictest laws regarding helmet use and ski safety.

The bill Schwarzenegger vetoed, AB 1652, mandated that all California ski areas increase the number of hazard signs, boundary markings, and install safety padding on potentially dangerous obstacles. The bill also would have required resorts to prepare an annual safety plan, and to publish monthly reports of any fatal incidents.

"Many California ski resorts are located on U.S. Forest Service land, and are already required to compile and file safety and accident reports with USFS as well as maintain some of this information in the resort management office," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Ski resorts in California also already mark their ski area boundaries and trails with appropriate information. This bill may place an unnecessary burden on resorts, without assurance of a significant reduction in ski and snowboard-related injuries and fatalities."

Senator Leland Yee, author of the bill requiring helmets for all skiers and riders under age 18, said he will reintroduce the helmet bill next year as a standalone measure. This bill had the support of the California Ski Industry Association, and will likely have that support again.

• Previous
  Resort Personnel on the Move
• Next
  Ski and Ride Season Launches in Europe, North America