Snow sports amidst a pandemic How will the slopes change to accomodate COVID-19? Leanna Gower
The Bay Area is known for its winter culture, with many residents traveling upwards of three hours to Tahoe Donner resorts for the snow season. However, the ongoing pandemic raises questions about this tradition and how it will be done safely. It’s estimated that some 10 million people visit Tahoe during the winter season, adding to the 15-20 million total throughout the year, according to the Tahoe Transportation District Manager, Carl Hasty. Out of the estimated 10 million people, Hasty said people from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Reno make up a large part of Tahoe’s traffic. “My family and I usually go up to Tahoe to snowboard whenever we have time, so some seasons we’re up in Tahoe nearly every weekend, and others we’ll only visit once,” Lucas Calenda, a junior, said. This season was cut short due to the pandemic, but COVID-19 cases in Tahoe were relatively low, while many California cities were sheltering in place. The cases spiked to roughly 12,000 in late July due to tourism. With the previous snow season cut short, the ski resort industry is taking precautions to avoid another closure. Some resorts have been open for
summer activities like mountain biking or hiking, while others have remained closed, brainstorming ways to reopen safely. The sudden closure of ski resorts left many avid skiers and snowboarders wondering how the resorts could reopen safely because lodges are limited and often very crowded, which doesn’t easily allow for social distancing. Resorts communicated with the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), the California Ski Industry Association (CSIA), the state of California, and other Tahoe ski resorts, to create a plan of action for reopening while abiding by all local and state mandates. Many resorts represented by Ski California, a trade association, have chosen to follow the national “Ski Well, Be Well” guidelines set by the NSAA. “While we’re living with COVID-19, we have to do all we can do to ensure everyone has a safe experience,” Mike Reitzell, the Ski California president, said. Visitors will need to wear a mask when inside and within six feet of people outdoors. Some resorts decided to implement social distancing on the chair lifts, while others banked on the airflow to keep their lifts full. With the gear most skiers and snowboarders wear—gloves, goggles, and
Art by Maddy Ting
10 HIGHLANDER SPORTS
