SKI HOME > HILL MASTERS > INSTRUCTIONS

Ski Venture Hill Master Opening Check List

Revised 9/01

GENERAL INFORMATION

Minimum requirements to become a Hill Master
  1. You (or your immediate family) must be a paid Ski Venture member, 18 years old or older.
  2. You must read and understand these instructions.
  3. You must receive formal training from the president, vice-president or other board-specified individual.
  4. You must sign the Hill Master pledge, acknowledging your first aid knowledge and your responsibility for the safe operation of the hill.
When you are operating the hill, please treat the facility as if it were your own, and monitor the people skiing as if they were your family to prevent injury.

REMEMBER - Skiing may result in injuries! Your attention to detail will minimize the possibility of someone being hurt!

NOTE -ANY problems must be logged and reported immediately to either Frank Winters at 384-2041, Eric Mason at 377-0413, or Tony Dean 370-1445. If equipment is damaged or operating incorrectly, a red danger tag (located in the A-frame by the phone) should be placed on the breaker or operating mechanism to prevent its operation.

No equipment with a danger tag should ever be operated. This action will result in loss of membership. Anyone who identifies a problem may attach a danger tag to a piece of equipment. Only an officer of the corporation may remove a danger tag once it is attached.

Remember that only an approved Hill Master may start the tows and that a Hill Master must be present during hill operation. Two people must be present at all times during lift operation. Hill Master lock combinations may only be given out by Frank Winters upon completion of Hill Master training requirements. Hill Master responsibilities are identified by state regulation.

All guests must be signed in! Signing of guest sign in list is a waiver of liability. Hill Master responsibilities are identified by state regulation.


Upon Arriving in Driveway:
  1. Unlock gate chain
  2. Inspect driveway for trash/broken glass
  3. Determine if it is plowed satisfactorily

Go into A-frame Unlock and Enter:
  1. Inspect for vandalism
  2. Verify fire extinguisher in place
  3. Verify phone has dial tone (911 now works)

Go to Top Via Lift Line:
  1. Inspect all towers, verify rope is on all pulleys and that the pulleys are clear of ice, take rope off hooks, verify all signs installed, verify rope track is clear.

At Top:

NOTE - All safety checks and counterweight position must be logged by state law. (The log sheets are maintained in the A-frame lodge.)
  1. Unlock circuit breaker box, and main switch.
  2. Turn on lights, power to lower lift and hut, power to lifts, control power, brake circuit.
  3. Inspect rope/pulley system, clear snow as required.
  4. Verify counter weight and pulleys move freely, clear of snow and ice, record counterweight position.
  5. Unlock top shack, enter, inspect and turn control on. Verify sled is in satisfactory condition.
  6. Reset safety gate switches.
  7. Verify lift line is "clear", Start lift by pushing start, goes through starting speed to normal speed.
  8. Verify proper operation of safety gate by tripping verify rope stops "quickly".
  9. Check rope for proper position on all wheels and pulleys prior to starting tow
  10. Verify proper operation of emergency stop switch at bottom.
  11. Verify lighting (at night) at top of hill is adequate.

On the Hill:
  1. Verify lighting (at night) is adequate.
  2. Inspect all trails for any fallen branches or other hazards, clear obstructions as required.
  3. If any obstacle cannot be immediately cleared, the obstacle should be clearly marked with poles and/or orange marker tape or the trail should be closed.
  4. Verify condition of snow is safe to ski on.
  5. Verify hay bales are properly located.

At the Kids' Lift:

NOTE - All safety checks and counterweight/tensioner position must be logged by state law. (The log sheets are maintained in the A-frame lodge.)
  1. Unlock shack, enter, inspect and turn rope tow control circuit switch on.
  2. Turn on lights (at night), control power, brake circuit.
  3. Inspect rope/pulley system, clear snow as required.
  4. Verify rope tensioner is clear of snow, record tensioner position.
  5. Reset safety gate switches.
  6. Verify lift line is "clear", Start lift by pushing start, monitor that lift start properly.
  7. Verify proper operation of safety gate by tripping both switches, verify rope stops "quickly".
  8. Verify proper operation of emergency stop switch at bottom.
LOG ALL SAFETY CHECKS AND TRAIL CONDITIONS!!!!


While Skiing:
  1. Ensure a lift operator monitor is stationed at the top of the lift at all times.
  2. Monitor members for polite behavior, safe skiing, proper spacing on the tow, no scarves on the lifts, no long hair exposed on the lifts, and rule compliance.
  3. Kick butt as required. Log any required membership corrective actions for future reference. Inform officers of corporation of any unusual events as required.
  4. Insure all members and guests are properly signed in.
  5. Monitor equipment frequently for proper operation.
  6. Inspect the stove in the lodge frequently.
  7. If there is fresh snow, see that the hill is packed down by at least one packing party after the hill is skied off.

Closing Check List:
  1. Verify all skiers are accounted for and are cleared off the hill, and have a ride home.
  2. Shut down kid rope tow, turn of lights, lock shack.
  3. Shut down main rope tow, turn off required circuit breakers, lock main switch, lock circuit breaker box, lock top shack.
  4. Put main tow rope back on the hooks.
  5. Log time of shutdown.
  6. Verify fire in A-frame is properly shutdown. Lights off.
  7. Lock up A-frame.


TRAINING VERIFICATION SHEET

REMEMBER - WHEN YOU HAVE SIGNED ON AS HILL MASTER IN CHARGE, SKI VENTURE HAS ENTRUSTED YOU WITH THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE WHOLE FACILITY. YOU ARE OUR "LIABILITY INSURANCE".
Hill Master's Pledge

By signing this form I:
  1. Certify that I have formal first aid training adequate for the treatment of serious skiing injuries.
  2. Certify that I have read and understand the Hill Master's Instructions (attached) and that I will faithfully carry out my duties when signed on as Hill Master in Charge

NAME (PRINT)_____________________


SIGNATURE _____________________ DATE__________


CHECKED BY ____________________ DATE__________
back to top


http://www.skiventure.com/hillinstr.htm -- Revised: December 10, 2001
Steve Leavitt: leavitts@union.edu