Petition in Whistler Calls for Action on Out of Control Skiers as Concerns Rise in Other Resorts

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted June 1, 2026

The online petition has been launched by Dr. Christina Williams from Vancouver, who has skied at the Canadian resort for many years.

The petition calls on Whistler Blackcomb and its parent company, Vail Resorts, to:

Increase safety personnel.
Mandate safety education.
Aggressively revoke passes for reckless behaviour.

Dr Williams was hit from behind by a speeding rider in the resort, suffering a broken leg and ankle.

She said it was the third time she had been hit while on the slopes in this season alone.

“I can understand if I fell on a difficult run but this [accident] was totally avoidable,” Dr Williams said.

“I was skiing in my little line and to be sent flying from behind has massive consequences.

“It’s like a highway that doesn’t have police monitoring.”

We post the petition in full as the end of this article.

Whistler, Canada. Image c/o PlanetSKI

The COO of Whistler, Belinda Trembath, said in a statement that “Our mountains welcome skiers and riders of all ages and abilities, and we are deeply committed to ensuring that every visit is enjoyable, comfortable, and safe.”

“We ask all guests to adhere to the Alpine Responsibility Code, and safety personnel reinforce this on our slopes.”

Here at PlanetSKI we have recently reported on people skiing and snowboarding out of control and have received much feedback from readers.

It seems the courts in Europe are taking a stronger position.

Last month on May 13th a British skier was convicted at the Albertville Criminal Court after a serious accident on the slopes of Tignes in France on February 7th, 2024.

The accused was on a black slope on the Grande Motte glacier in Tignes and collided with another skier at the intersection of two runs.

The victim suffered life changing injuries with internal bleeding and a serious head injury.

The Petition from Dr Williams:

Since Vail Resorts bought Whistler Blackcomb there has been a noticeable decrease in number of safety staff enforcing excess speeding on crowded runs suitable for beginners.

This has resulted in increasing numbers of injuries caused by collisions.

Some life changing, that is a broken neck and multiple surgeries later the person still cannot stand up straight.

I myself have been hit three times this season alone; the last one resulting in a broken leg/ankle.

Instructors working on the mountain have also been seriously injured.

The impact was very forceful because he did not “see me” and as a result could not stop.

The person who hit me felt bad about it but the damage was done.

This incident and conversations with many friends who have similar concerns prompted me to start this petition.

Whistler’s Emergency Department noted that there has been a significant increase in collision accidents in the last few years.

At the same time there has been a noticeable lack of Safety Staff volunteers on the mountain and lack of enforcement over reckless skiing, particularly in busy areas and designated slow zones.

It is so bad, that even experienced and expert skiers find it daunting and nerve racking to ski during busy times; such as skiing out at the end of the day.

The situation is so bad that ski school has had to create its own blocked off run for teaching.

We are requesting that measures are taken by Vail and Whistler Blackcomb for next ski season to improve safety on the the mountain.

Below are ways that this could be done:

1. Increase Safety Staff. Currently there are so few that at many times both mountains cannot be staffed. Number of staff needs to sufficient to properly monitor safety.

2. Enforce the Alpine Responsibility Code. This means monitor reckless skiing and create consequences. In the past dangerous skiing could mean having one’s pass taken away.

3. Instruct Children Instructors. Children’s instructors have been regularly seen having their students jump over roads in congested areas. This is dangerous behaviour and is teaching them the wrong message.

4. Create speed traps. One method would be to cordon off areas in such a way as to force riders to slow down with Large Signs indicating that this is a speed controlled area with consequences for speeding.

5. WB / Vail consider publishing accident data (i.e. number of injury reports on mountain)

Please help us to request the above actions by signing this petition, WE BELIEVE IT WITHIN OUR RIGHTS TO DEMAND VAIL RESORTS GIVE PRIORITY TO OUR SAFETY.

Dr. Christina Williams, Vancouver BC.

See here for more on the petition in Whistler from Pique News Magazine.

Update:

Others have commented on the petition:

Ray, Vancouver – “I was hit on the trail leading to the Red Chair on Whistler that caused a lot of deep bruises and muscle tears that took almost 2 months to heal.

“The safety and attention to safety on Whistler Blackcomb is almost none existent and pretty much just a free for all up there.

“I see lots of people wearing yellow safety jackets but I have yet to see them do anything about unsafe boarders or skiers on the mountains.

“They seem to like to put up signage and barriers as there only line of defence.”

Grant, Summerland – “I was struck from behind on Pony Trail 200 feet from the Red Chair lift line, with enough force to completely tear my right should rotator cuff tendons.

“This required surgery and months of rehabilitation.

“The surgeom was unable to attach two of the four tendons rendering my right arm partially disabled.

Ian, Delta – “I have skied at Whistler for 50 years and worked on the Ski Patrol in the 1980’s.

“I have noted far more close calls recently and have had a number of friends hit and injured by speeding skiers/boarders.

“Vail should feel an obligation to take reasonable measures to reduce these obvious risks.

“Speed limits, speed control measures and signage with visible monitoring and real consequences are necessary, and should be a minimum standard for any responsible organization.”

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