Smoking while skiing

[IdahoSkiGirl]

I know a thread has previously been posted about smoking at resorts (I think last winter) but it is a topic that really came to my attention today. As I came out of the lodge from lunch there was a group of skiers puffing away, just 2 feet from the door. I found it annoying that I had to pass through their smoke. Then standing in line for my first run after lunch, two girls lit cigarettes and smoked on the way up the chair. Again, I was annoyed that I had to smell their smoke.

I understand the powerful addiction of tobacco, I’m actually a program manager for a tobacco cessation program. Seeing all of these smokers today made me start thinking… many resorts have policies regarding smoking (obviously the resort I was at today has no such policy).

I am curious…

How do you feel about smoking at your resort(s)?
Does your resort(s) have any policies regarding smoking?

 

[persee]

I'm very antismoking in public places. I don't mind if someone wants to smoke and poison their lungs, but they shouldn't do it someplace where I'm forced to inhale it.

 

[Jilly]

Well public places in Canada don't allow smoking. And there are restrictions on how close to a building you're allowed to smoke. Usually not at the front door. But there is no rule/law about chair lifts or lines. Definitely not allowed on the gondola. That said, peer pressure usually works pretty good around here. "Do you really need to blow that s@#t in my face!!" or "You want to ruin all this fresh air with that cancer stick!!"

 

[Little Lightning]

Here in Colorado, at least in Summit and Eagle counties there is no smoking in the lift lines or on the chairs.

It might be a statewide smoking ban because there was no smoking in Steamboat also.

The occasional smoker will be standing outside of a building puffing away in the cold.

 

[snowbunny1976]

I just can't believe anyone still smokes these days. It's expensive, inconvenient, and not to mention unhealthy.

It always surprises me though when I see kids picking it up... I didn't think it was "cool" anymore. It was starting to make its way out of style when I was in HS in the early 90's!

 

[Robyn]

I have been so thankful that resorts don't allow smoking here in Colorado but there is that odd occasion when I can tell someone in a chair in front of me is smoking and it's definitely unpleasant. Thankfully the smoking ban in effect for the entire state doesn't allow smoking with in 15 feet (I think that's the number) of an entrance to a building so I rarely have to deal with that anymore.

 

[Quiver Queen]

At the industry Demo Days at Stratton (VT) this last week I was appalled at the number of smokers outside the lodge, at the booths, and in the lift line. Usually I see, maybe, one smoker every ten ski days, but at the DD I saw at least a dozen. Funny thing, the vast majority were snowboarders. What gives????

 

[astridhj]

In Norway you're not allowed to smoke at public places, which I'm grateful for. And haven't really seen many people smoking while skiing here.

In Austria on the other hand, you could smoke everywhere, and people smoked in lines, in lifts, in the cafes, just about everywhere. It surprised us all, since we're not used to people smoking everywhere they want to any longer.

 

[Quiver Queen]

Hooray for Norway!!

 

[jeskahk]

I'm so glad that we passed a smoking ban in Colorado. It has made restaurants so much more pleasant. It's almost weird for me now to see people smoking.

It always makes me curious to see people smoking while they're participating in an athletic activity. I'm not sure why you'd do something that so negatively affects your performance let alone your health!

 

[Jilly]

Most Canadian provinces have smoking bans in public places. And usually not within 20' of the entrance to buildings. Its great to go out to eat and not have somebody blowing smoke at you, or coming home smelling of smoke. Cabs are included here in Ontario, so I'm not sure if that could be applied to chairlifts as a public conveyance.

 

[IdahoSkiGirl]

I’m glad so many places have policies. One reason I like skiing so much is for the physical activity and I last thing I want to smell is cigarette smoke. It just seems ironic that you would smoke while skiing…I don’t think I have ever seen someone stop to smoke while hiking…I guess there is a first for everything!

There are many resorts in Idaho that have policies against smoking in lift lines and on the chairs. I wish my local resort would consider having some type of policy.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Black Mountain ski area (Maine) does not allow any smoking anywhere as soon as you turn into the parking lot.

 

[Kano]

I’m glad so many places have policies. One reason I like skiing so much is for the physical activity and I last thing I want to smell is cigarette smoke. It just seems ironic that you would smoke while skiing…I don’t think I have ever seen someone stop to smoke while hiking…I guess there is a first for everything!

There are many resorts in Idaho that have policies against smoking in lift lines and on the chairs. I wish my local resort would consider having some type of policy.

It always seems weird to me to see people smoking on the lift, or in the parking lot, or out front of the lodges.

What surprised me today was finding butts in the middle of the trail on Nugget! (and I don't mean the boarders with the low-riding pants!)

Kano

 

[Liz1281]

from the point of view of an ex-smoker...

Yeah, it bothers me when people smoke near doors and in lift lines, where you can't really get away from it.

But it doesn't bother me when people are smoking way off to the side where you might catch an occasional whiff of the smoke when you walk by but you're not really forced to breathe it.

What I really hate is the self-righteous people who'd walk up to you (as you were standing way off to the side not bothering anyone) and start chiding you for smoking... I personally think it's as rude as walking up to an overweight person in a restaurant and berating them for eating a bacon cheeseburger...

 

[persee]

Well my problem is when people smoke in a place where you are forced to be near their smoke (and resultant carcinogens) and can not get away other than to give up your own enjoyment/presence in a place. So in lift lines, on the lift, in the lodge, just outside the doors, in the bathroom, etc. I have no problem if you want to go off out of my way and smoke the cancer, just don't do it someplace where I need to be if I'm going to fully utilize the resort. Part of my severe anti-smoking mentality does come from the fact that I'm asthmatic and a bit of smoke could completely ruin my day if my lungs react badly.

 

[atlantiqueen]

I rode the chair this weekend with three young guys - we weren't ten feet along when all 3 lit up! YUCKO! Naturally, as a reformed smoker (19 years this September!) I am totally obnoxious about smoking j/k I did however ask them politely if they wouldn't mind not smoking on the lift with me as I am asthmatic (true). They were good enough to "butt out".

I am surprised, however, at the number of people who light up in line and on the lifts. I think of skiing as an active, healthy sport and smoking just seems counterintuitive.

 

[IdahoSkiGirl]

It always seems weird to me to see people smoking on the lift, or in the parking lot, or out front of the lodges.

What surprised me today was finding butts in the middle of the trail on Nugget! (and I don't mean the boarders with the low-riding pants!)

Kano

After hearing that a lot of other resorts have some type of policy, I really think I am going to write a comment to the local resort I guess change needs to start somewhere

 

[shelbyr]

Thanks Idaho Ski Girl for getting this thread going! I was with you that day we encountered all the smokers, and when we almost missed our chair because someone just HAD to light their cigarette before getting on their chair, that was the last straw! :yell: I think we should start a petition and turn that in to the administration and see what they think.

 

[SueNJ]

I was skiing at Camelback in PA several weeks ago, and someone got hurt on one of the wide, easy runs called Meadows. A group of about 6 ski patrollers and a couple of people who must have been skiing with the injured person were either clustered around or tending to the person, and after two patrollers finally took the person off the mountain on the toboggan, the rest stayed around for a bit. After they left, I skied down the run a little later and was shocked to see a dozen or so cigarette butts on the snow, right where they were standing. Go figure!