Skiing in the Time of COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we live in the United States. As the virus spikes in different parts of the country, several states, Oregon included, have enacted strict restrictions in order to curtail the spread of the virus. Movie theaters and gyms have been forced to close, restaurants have to seat their guests exclusively outdoors, and people are encouraged to work from home whenever possible.

Typically outdoor recreational facilities are spared from some of the harshest restrictions but that does not mean that they are completely immune (excuse the pun) from some of the drastic changes to our lifestyles COVID has brought upon us.

As temperatures drop and the snow falls, mountain sports season is beginning across the country and, like much of 2020, this year is going to be a bit different, and you may want to know what to expect ahead of time.

Lodges.png

I love a good lodge. If you’re like me and try to be the first person up the mountain, the lodge offers you a great place to take a break and get out of the cold before continuing to ride down the mountain. What’s more, nothing caps off a great day of hitting the trails like sitting down in a warm lodge by a fire with some good food and having a drink or two with your buddies before going home.

20180114_143152.jpg

Due to decreased revenue and less staffing, most food options will also be severely limited. With no indoor seating available, many ski areas will only offer simpler handheld meals such as hotdogs, burgers, sandwiches, and cups of chili, so don’t expect to have a lot of options.

Unfortunately, in order to minimize large indoor gatherings of people, many ski areas have opted to keep their lodges closed. This means that, if you start your day on the slopes early, you will have no where to seek refuge from the cold and that can be a bit demoralizing. Layers upon layers of clothes to protect oneself from the elements aren’t exactly the most comfortable thing to wear all day and it’s nice to be able to take some of it off but don’t expect to be able to do that.

Thanks to COVID you can expect to spend your entire day outside. Dress accordingly.

Pack Light.png

The lack of food and drink isn’t the only thing you’ll be missing out on due to the closed lodges. In order to risk the spread of COVID via direct contact (i.e. someone’s germ covered stuff touching yours), many ski areas have restricted or flat out closed locker access.

lockers-1.jpg

Although a bit of a nuisance, there are some pretty easy ways to work around this. For starters, if you’re driving in for just a day trip, make sure to wear your ski clothes on the drive up. Not only will you not have to worry about putting your regular clothes in a locker, but you’ll also save time and can get to the lifts faster.

Obviously since you can’t drive with your ski or snowboard boots on, make sure to put them on at your car and leave your regular shoes behind. Alternatively you can do what I do and bring a backpack big enough to put your normal shoes into and just carry them with you all day.

Carrying a backpack is also a great place to store your wallet, keys, and any kind of camera equipment you may want to bring with you on your run.

Classes.png
109.jpg

Newbies looking to pick up skiing or snowboarding will find it increasingly difficult to book a class this season. Many ski areas are severely restricting the size of group lessons in order to adequately practice social distancing. When combined with the previously mentioned staff shortages, getting into the more affordable group lessons will be tough.

There are really only two ways to get around this: book your group lesson early (if the ski area you are going to visit offers this), or book a private lesson. Private lessons are significantly (and sometimes prohibitively) more expensive than if you are in a group setting, but if you have the means and are worried about being around a bunch of people, then maybe the private route is for you.

Mask.png
 

Yes you are outdoors, but on occasion, like when you’re waiting in really long lift lines, you will be in close proximity to others. As such, in the era of COVID, social distancing and mask wearing is expected at most ski areas and even where it is not, you should still adhere to these practices for your safety as well as that of those around you. If you don’t feel like wearing a medical grade mask, at the very least wear a ski mask. It’ll help you keep people safe AND it’ll protect you from the cold.

Don’t be stubborn, wear a mask.

105.jpg
 
Luis Fayad