Oregon Passes Long-Awaited Liability Waiver Bill for Ski Areas and Recreation After years of uncertainty and rising insurance costs, lawmakers in Oregon have passed legislation designed to restore some legal protection for the liability waivers used by ski areas, outfitters, and recreation providers across the state. Senate Bill 1517B cleared the Oregon House of Representatives in a 55–2 vote on March 5 and passed the Oregon State Senate unanimously the following […] Industry News Brent Glogau | March 8, 2026 0 Comments
Competing Bills Leave Oregon’s Recreation Industry in Limbo as the State’s Legislative Session Nears its End Oregon’s long-running liability waiver crisis has reached another turning point, and the stakes for recreation providers across the state are rising. Earlier this month, advocates working with legislators and the coalition Protect Oregon Recreation renewed efforts to find a meaningful solution to a problem that has been building for more than a decade. Since a 2014 ruling by the Oregon […] Industry News Brent Glogau | February 27, 2026 1 Comment
Oregon Introduces the ORCA Act of 2026 to Address the State’s Liability Insurance Crisis On January 26, a bipartisan coalition of Oregon lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 1593, also known as the Oregon Recreation Commerce and Affordability Act of 2026 (ORCA), for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which begins on February 2. “Oregon is facing an affordability crisis in recreation and health and fitness,” Senator Mark Meek (D-Oregon City) said in a press release. […] Industry News Brent Glogau | January 27, 2026 2 Comments
Hoodoo Ski Area, OR, Sued for $4.6 Million, Further Deepening the State’s Liability Insurance Crisis A $4.6 million lawsuit against Hoodoo Ski Area has added fresh pressure on Oregon’s ski industry, which is already facing a storm of legal and financial challenges. The case was filed on behalf of a 4-year-old girl who suffered a concussion and multiple broken bones after another skier crashed into her in Hoodoo’s terrain park in March 2021. According to […] Industry News Brent Glogau | September 10, 2025 1 Comment
Oregon’s Legislative Session Ends With No Change to Liability Protections for Ski Areas Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry is facing a growing insurance crisis after major insurer Safehold Special Risk announced last month it will no longer provide coverage in the state. Safehold, which insures ski resorts in 37 states, cited Oregon’s legal environment—particularly its weak enforcement of liability waivers—as the reason for its exit. Related: Oregon’s Ski Resorts at Risk as Key Insurer […] Industry News Brent Glogau | July 2, 2025 0 Comments
Idaho Supreme Court Overturns Ruling on Ski Death Case, Introduces “Standard of Care” for Resort Actions Skiing and snowboarding are deeply rooted in Idaho’s culture and economy, with the state’s Ski Area Liability Law historically offering legal clarity on the risks of the sport. The law acknowledges that skiing carries inherent risks, such as collisions with trees or sudden changes in snow conditions, and generally limits a resort’s liability unless clear negligence is proven. Skiers are expected to take […] Industry News Brent Glogau | June 29, 2025 0 Comments
Oregon’s Ski Resorts at Risk as Key Insurer Exits Over Liability Laws A growing insurance crisis is threatening the future of Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry, with ski resorts sounding the alarm after a major insurer announced it is pulling out of the state. Safehold Special Risk, which has provided coverage for iconic destinations like Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline Lodge, is ending its business in Oregon, citing the state’s unfavorable legal environment […] Industry News Brent Glogau | June 19, 2025 0 Comments
The Idaho Supreme Court Could Change Ski Area Liability Law All Over Again Skiing is a risky endeavor, and it is the thrill that comes from that risk that draws many participants into the sport in the first place. Ski areas work hard to mitigate these risks, but countless waivers, signs, and warnings remind us every time we go to the mountain of the inherent risks of skiing. A legal battle is unfolding […] Industry News Zach Armstrong | March 7, 2025 0 Comments
Here’s Why Mt. Bachelor, OR, Will Charge an Extra $250 for Your Season Pass if You Don’t Sign a Liability Waiver Earlier this month we reported that Mt. Bachelor will offer cheaper lift tickets for guests who choose to sign a liability waiver. Now the resort is taking a similar approach to season pass prices. Related: Mt. Bachelor, OR, to Offer Cheaper Lift Tickets For Signing Liability Waiver This year’s season pass will have two pricing options. One cheaper option will […] Industry News Brent Glogau | September 29, 2022 1 Comment
Colorado Supreme Court Rules on In-Bound Avalanche Liability When skiing in-bounds, you probably aren’t thinking about the potential of a deadly avalanche – resorts take care of that, right? But in a single day in 2012, two men died in avalanches IN BOUNDS on open trails in Colorado. Taft Conlin from Eagle County, only 13-years old, died in a snowslide on the Prima Cornice trail at Vail. Christopher Norris, a 28-year old father of two, was buried in a slide within the ski area at Winter Park. Both tragic deaths spurred lawsuits, and the Colorado […] Avalanche ameliatraynor | March 23, 2015 3 Comments
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