Happy New Year everyone.  I hope you all had a great time with friends and family.

I wanted to share some information, and shed some light in happenings.

MANY people have shared with me stories on what they have been told, or what they heard was the reasoning for the original decision. In many years and through all of these stories the common theme was injury or death in one of the RCR parks. NONE of these Stories were true. Many were what are best described as "telephone game" pass alongs.  And I suppose after 16 years of stories are bound to become urban myths.

   I had an interesting conversation yesterday, with a very reliable person regarding the cause of the original decision.  I think it is only far that information is shared with all of you who are supportive of making a change to know some more of the background, and not just from my perspective. -  Back prior to the PR in 2008, there was a lawsuit that was happening out on the West Coast on Blackcomb.  This lawsuit stemmed from an park jump crash that resulted in a person becoming paraplegic.  Ultimately WB ended up paying an out of court settlement (I was told 16 million / But haven't dug to find any additional information on this). During this conversation there was also a mention of the change implemented due to this lawsuit, and from exploring a bit this morning from the WB Archives.   "...Originally, the park features on Blackcomb and other resorts in the Canada West Ski Area Association were rated like ski runs, with greens, blues, blacks and double blacks. As most people probably understand, riding a beginner feature would require different skills to a typical green run; however the system broke down when a visitor went off a jump that was far beyond their ability and sustained a debilitating injury. The resulting lawsuit was eventually settled out of court and, learning from this experience, the ratings in the terrain park were changed to those that we see today.."   

OUTSIDE of this, from personal memory we had already implemented the Burton Park program signage within RCR ( Not using standard ski area ratings on jumps and rail features)

       This is "my" rundown of the conversation I had, but also makes a lot of sense, and I believe worth sharing.   So, As we all know the owner of RCR is a Lawyer.  When all of this was happening, and without himself having much, or any extensive knowledge of terrain parks, he made a call to stop building jumps.  Although still a "financial" one, it has an overtone that can and was presented as a "safety" decision for guests, as it was.  He did not want his Resort Group (RCR) or himself in the spotlight for causing a guest to have a similar outcome - With the out of court settlement for huge dollars understandably a president had been set and that would not be something anyone / any business would like.  On top on this lawsuit - This had ALL the resorts insured under Can West Ski Association watching, and also caused their insurance rates to increase due to the attention / claim / ect that this lawsuit caused. 

I share this because I think its important to know what could have been the reality behind the decision, as it was not immediately clear at the time, or presented as such.   

  This changes nothing in the present plan for what we would all like - I believe that the changes in park designs, signage, and many years of resorts around the globe successfully implementing progressive public parks gives security in knowing what can be done.  

   LASTLY -  Remember we are being the collective "squeaky wheel", but we  need to remember the people we are speaking with are all just doing their job.   If you are going to call the office, or go in for a visit with your local management to let them know how you feel - be respectful. That person is doing their job. Maybe those managers also want change - and they will be much more receptive to working with all of us in a way that is positive moving forward.  If you are going to write that email, or drop a comment card then do the same.    

This is about changing what is offered so guests who buy a day ticket or season pass at RCR have access.  We all want change. Change so EVERYONE can have FUN and Progress in a safe and controlled Freestyle Terrain Park. THAT is the end goal.