Michigan Ski Area Safety Act
Notice to Skiers

Pursuant to the Michigan Ski Area Safety Act, Section 6a(g), take notice.

Section 21. 

(1)   A skier shall conduct himself or herself within the limits of his or her individual ability and shall not act or ski in a manner that may contribute to his or her injury or to the injury of any other person.  A skier shall be the sole judge of his or her ability to negotiate a track, trail, or slope.

(2)   While in a ski area, a skier or passenger shall not do any of the following:

(a)   Board a ski lift which has been designated as closed.

(b)   Wilfully board or embark upon, or disembark from, a ski lift, except at an area designated for those purposes.

(c)   Intentionally drop, throw, or expel an object from a ski lift while riding on the lift.

(d)   Do any act which interferes with the running or operation of a ski lift, such as, but not limited to: swinging or bouncing on an aerial lift, attempting to contact supporting towers, machinery, guides, or guards while riding on a ski lift; or skiing out of the designated ski track on a surface lift or tow.

(e)   Use a ski lift, unless the skier or passenger has the ability to use the lift safely without instruction on use of the lift by a ski area owner, manager, operator, or employee, or unless the skier or passenger requests and receives instruction before entering the boarding area of the ski lift.

(f)    Use a ski lift or ski without properly engaging and using ski restraining devices, brakes, or restraining straps.

Section 22.

(1)   While in a ski area, each skier shall do all of the following:

(a)   Maintain reasonable control of his or her speed and course at all times.

(b)   Stay clear of snow-grooming vehicles and equipment in the ski area.

(c)   Heed all posted signs and warnings.

(d)   Ski only in ski areas which are marked as open for skiing on the trail board described in section 6a(e).

(2)   Each person who participates in the sport of skiing accepts the dangers that inhere in that sport insofar as the dangers are obvious and necessary.  Those dangers include, but are not limited to, injuries which can result from variations in terrain; surface or subsurface snow or ice conditions; bare spots; rocks, trees, and other forms of natural growth or debris; collisions with ski lift towers and their components, with other skiers, or with properly marked or plainly visible snow-making or snow-grooming equipment.

Section 23.

(1)   A skier involved in an accident causing an injury to another person shall to the extent that he or she is reasonably able to do so immediately notify the ski patrol or the operator, or law enforcement or emergency personnel, and shall clearly identify himself or herself.  A skier who wilfully fails to give identification after involvement in a skiing accident with another person, or a skier who is reasonably able to do so who fails to notify the proper authorities or to obtain assistance when the skier knows that another person involved in the accident is in need of medical or other assistance, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or a fine of not more than $100.00, or both.

(2)   A skier involved in an accident causing an injury to himself or herself, but not to another person, shall immediately notify the ski patrol or the operator, or law enforcement or emergency personnel, if the accident created a known hazardous condition in the area where the accident occurred.

Section 24.

A skier or passenger who violates this act, or an operator who violates this act shall be liable for that portion of the loss or damage resulting from that violation.