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Anyone who has traveled enough knows that laws change from one place to another. This is true in the U.S., where state laws vary from one state to another, and is especially true when people travel from one state to another. Being aware of and knowing the laws and rules in a specific location can mean the difference between having a fun trip and a very bad one. This applies not only to states or countries but also to ski resorts, where the rules can change from resort to resort.
VIP SKI compiled a list of unusual ski fines from ski resorts around the world and found that each country and resort may have different restrictions for skiers and snowboarders. For people who enjoy traveling and exploring different ski resorts around the country or the world, this information could help you save money when visiting a new mountain.
- Related Article: Mammoth Mountain, CA, Enforces Stricter Penalties for Skiers and Riders Ducking Ropes
The United States
Colorado
9. Skiers or riders can be fined up to $1,000 if caught on a lift or ski run while under the influence of alcohol, according to the Colorado Ski Safety Act.
8. You can be fined for giving someone else your ski pass. Violators can expect to pay $500 for “Deceptive Use of a Ski Facility.” The Deceptive Use Of Ski Facilities is when you borrow, steal, split a day ticket between two people, counterfeit a ticket, or get on a lift without any ticket at all.
California
7. You can be fined for jumping over a train on your snowboard.
New Jersey
6. There is a governmental fine of $25 for ignoring the compulsory ski helmet rules. New Jersey’s ski helmet law requires all minors to wear helmets while downhill skiing or snowboarding, as well as while on ski tows, lifts, and tramways. Adults, parents, guardians, and persons in supervisory positions will face a $25 fine if a child under their care is caught without a helmet. Additional offenses will incur a $100 fee each. New Jersey is the first in the nation to mandate ski helmets for minors, according to the New Jersey Herald.
Austria
5. The Mayor of Ischgl Ski Resort in Austria has a specific regulation prohibiting anyone from walking around the resort center in ski boots or carrying skis, ski poles, or snowboards between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the ski season (November 20 to May 5). The rule is enforced throughout the central routes and squares of Ischgl. Violators may be fined anywhere from €25 for minor offenses up to €2,000 (about $2,200–$2,350) for repeat or serious breaches. This regulation was introduced due to noise complaints from residents and safety concerns, as tourists slipping or falling while wearing ski boots and carrying equipment have caused injuries and disturbances.
France
4. If you trigger an avalanche during your off-piste session, you could be fined up to €15,000 ($17,570) and imprisoned for up to a year. Prosecutions have occurred in recent years, particularly when skiers or snowboarders have ignored warnings, ventured into clearly marked off-limits areas, or acted without proper knowledge or guides. The purpose is to deter reckless behavior and protect both the public and the environment.
3. Skiers caught in French nature reserves, such as Plan de Tuèda above Méribel, could be fined 135 euros ($158).
Italy
2. Skiing without ski liability insurance can result in fines of €100 to €150. ($117 to $176). Italy was the first country to insist on winter sports travel insurance for anyone visiting its ski resorts.
Germany
1. A man was fined €200 ($234) for skiing on the motorway. Police on a highway were stunned to see a man hurtle past them on a pair of skis. The man, Lars Bortast, 32, had run out of gas and remembered the specially adapted all-weather pair of skis, fitted with little wheels, that he had in his vehicle. He was caught on his way to a garage and later fined. After his arrest in Mellrichstadt, Germany, last month. He said, “It was an emergency. I didn’t think anyone would mind if I were quick.”
For most of the skiers and riders who follow the skier’s code of responsibility, none of the above rules should affect them. It is always essential to know the law of the land before visiting a place you have never been to before. Remember that just because two different ski resorts are located in the same state or country, it does not mean the same rules apply to each resort.
The complete list of unusual ski fines from ski resorts around the world can be found on the VIP SKI blog.
