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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Vail Giving Out Speeding Tickets?

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kshaughn
Posts: 510 - Karma: 4,574
This may or may not (it probably is) be the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen- Vail resorts are now giving out 'speeding tickets' to people who are skiing/snowboarding too fast. Apparently if you get multiple warnings you have to take a safety class with them before you are allowed to get your pass back. What ever happened to the times when ski patrol standing by the slow signs would just yell at you to slow down? I feel like giving people actual tickets and making them take a class is going a bit too far, but what do I know.

10 years ago
575 28
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S.M.G
Posts: 446 - Karma: 1,450
2014 was the year of police militarization controversy. Power structure imbalances ain't going anywhere soon. This is some glorified rent-a-cop complex bullshit.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE
10 years ago
19 9
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bleevus
Posts: 1308 - Karma: 2,049
Old news. Ive been getting those for years.
10 years ago
45 1
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
tell ya what, get me on radar and have a top speed leader board and i might give you some business!
10 years ago
42 1
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.Morton
Posts: 443 - Karma: 1,559
RubberSoultell ya what, get me on radar and have a top speed leader board and i might give you some business!


Haha they should make a small leader board that they put at every slow area and have a little disclaimer that says something like "it is not recommended that you go fast and you WILL receive a ticket if caught... but these are the top speeds".
10 years ago
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tommyk141
Posts: 266 - Karma: 1,333
damn, no more bombing mad groomers
10 years ago
35 2
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theabortionator
Posts: 52501 - Karma: 173,015
It goes both ways. For the most part they don't hassle you on most trails. Some trails are the main way down and people straightlining can be bad news.

Are you going to hit anyone. Probably not, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of idiot kids out there that will. This camp my dad worked at when I was a kid, we used to ride bikes around all summer. Used to be all about cruising around the place on my bmx. Maybe 5 years ago they banned bikes. It sucked but people were running over old people because parents suck and breed stupid children. It was a liability and they had to axe it.

So it's understandable in the sense that they're a huge company trying to curb the accidents where somebody with there family gets run down by an out of control kid that can't ski/ride for shit but just straight lines everything.

On the other side there is a serious bit of rent a cop mentality. Give some people a little bit of "power" and they just can't handle it. Happens with patrol as well as the safety people. People just love to be in charge of something. You could go not even that fast down a 100% empty trail and have one of those guys freak out.



I hope judges will stop letting people sue for ridiculous amounts of money for the stupidest bullshit and maybe the world will return to normal. When life can just go on semi hassle free. One can dream right?

I'm just happy that the parks are still going strong across the board.
10 years ago
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Andrew_M
Posts: 410 - Karma: 4,047
This has been a thing for as long as I can remember... It's lame, but necessary, if you're looking to bomb groomers go during the week, if you can't do that bomb one that doesn't inhabit a large population of texans, seeing people get hurt is a bummer and 99% of the time it's not the speeders fault but the resort is just trying to keep people safe.
10 years ago
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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,832
$160 for a ticket...only to get it pulled by a yellow jacket. Never going to Vail. I'll just keep straight-lining 60MPH down these little Midwest mountains.
10 years ago
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Tazer
Posts: 17 - Karma: 90
This just reminds me why I love skiing in Europe. They just straight up don't give a shit.
10 years ago
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kemosabe
Posts: 449 - Karma: 1,309
what is the penalty of a speeding ticket?
10 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38023 - Karma: 128,742
can someone please get a crew with gopros and get into some hot pursuits all over the mountain? it could go horribly wrong, or could be the best thing ever.
10 years ago
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270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
Vail should win the award for worst mountain in CO.
10 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
DeebieSkeebiescan someone please get a crew with gopros and get into some hot pursuits all over the mountain? it could go horribly wrong, or could be the best thing ever.


Candide and crew! Aha that would be the most awesome thing ever. Does Vail even have terrain below these slow zones that would allow for a sick pursuit though?
10 years ago
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Radda
Posts: 368 - Karma: 1,299
these are the same buggers who charge 150 for a lift ticket right
10 years ago
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ggfski42
Posts: 651 - Karma: 700
My roomie and I were skiing around the back bowls at Vail not too long ago, and we got on the lift behind two cops. I mean two actual uniformed police officers on skis, it was fucked.
10 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
DeebieSkeebiescan someone please get a crew with gopros and get into some hot pursuits all over the mountain? it could go horribly wrong, or could be the best thing ever.


To add to this, whoever the skier ballsy enough to do this could send a backflip over a patroller, while flipping them off Top Gun/Maverick style.

/shitthatwillneverhappen
10 years ago
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
I kind of want to go to Vail/Breck just to straightline Riva Ridge/Born Free/4 O'Clock and get into a yellow jacket police chase and film it. I don't really give a shit if I get banned, I wouldn't go to their shitty resorts anyways except for that reason.
10 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
NinetyFourpatroller


Correction, yellow jacket/mall cop.

caucasian_chadI kind of want to go to Vail/Breck just to straightline Riva Ridge/Born Free/4 O'Clock and get into a yellow jacket police chase and film it. I don't really give a shit if I get banned, I wouldn't go to their shitty resorts anyways except for that reason.


/shitthatmighthappen?
10 years ago
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
NinetyFourCorrection, yellow jacket/mall cop.



/shitthatmighthappen?


I'd say it's a distinct possibility if I'm ever down that way again. The "ever down that way again" part is the problem, I really have no reason to travel to Colorado, and I don't think the results would be as good if I didn't do it at Vail or Breck.
10 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52501 - Karma: 173,015
NinetyFourTo add to this, whoever the skier ballsy enough to do this could send a backflip over a patroller, while flipping them off Top Gun/Maverick style.

/shitthatwillneverhappen



I backflipped over the head park douche at one of the first mountains I worked at after I quit. My pass was hotlisted, bumpin 2 pac, still shredding. Tbatty filmed it but no idea what the hell it'd be under if it even still exists these days.
10 years ago
7 0
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,299
Lol. Mall cops on the hills now. Half the fun of skiing is going fast?

People need to learn the difference between skill and recklessness. I shouldn't get yelled at for skiing fast while in control and making proper turns. If there's gapers, well, gaping, or doing giant s turns on a steep trail (not that that exists here) I shouldn't be yelled at for passing them. I'm sure it's worse for park riders too. And despite people on here claiming nobody can turn, I'm sure plenty of people on here can rip turns just fine. But a park skier making fast turns would probably get in trouble, whereas anybody else wouldn't. Slow sign use is rampant now too. Let's just make the whole hill a beginner zone guys!

Are these "yellow jacket" safety patrol people different from ski patrol (the people who save you when you're hurt etc)? I always think of ski patrollers out west as really good skiers and cool guys compared to people where I ski, where I feel like I could out ski them. The cool guys would give me a thumbs up for airing into a run then ripping nice turns while they guys at my hill would try and pull my pass.
10 years ago
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,299
Also, I believe it was at Blue in PA, but they literally had a speed limit sign. It had a numerical value on it, as if I have some sort of internal speedometer, not counting ski tracks or something of that nature. Patrol had no radar gun either, and i'm sure their speed estimation isn't any better than mine.
10 years ago
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lurking
Posts: 2227 - Karma: 6,875
DrZoidbergAre these "yellow jacket" safety patrol people different from ski patrol (the people who save you when you're hurt etc)? I always think of ski patrollers out west as really good skiers and cool guys compared to people where I ski, where I feel like I could out ski them. The cool guys would give me a thumbs up for airing into a run then ripping nice turns while they guys at my hill would try and pull my pass.


Yeah. Ski patrol is generally chill, but yellow jackets are just a bunch of garbage skiers and boarders with sticks so far up their asses that if you are going even remotely "fast" they lose their shit and it makes no sense. I've witnessed the rare occurrence of yellow jackets leaving their posts and they are primarily garbage and I assume they just are power-crazed jealous gapers.
10 years ago
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casey_cope
Posts: 675 - Karma: 3,398
This isn't really that new for Vail. Last year I got one of those for jumping over a slow sign in the middle of an empty run. was not pumped.
10 years ago
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Substitute
Posts: 1378 - Karma: 2,275
Fuck vail. I have never been there but fuck vail.
10 years ago
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toastyteenagers
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 6,793
how do we screw over passholders

how about making more arbitrary rules to pull passes

yeah that sounds good
10 years ago
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rtl32
Posts: 679 - Karma: 1,161
DrZoidbergLol. Mall cops on the hills now. Half the fun of skiing is going fast?

People need to learn the difference between skill and recklessness. I shouldn't get yelled at for skiing fast while in control and making proper turns. If there's gapers, well, gaping, or doing giant s turns on a steep trail (not that that exists here) I shouldn't be yelled at for passing them. I'm sure it's worse for park riders too. And despite people on here claiming nobody can turn, I'm sure plenty of people on here can rip turns just fine. But a park skier making fast turns would probably get in trouble, whereas anybody else wouldn't. Slow sign use is rampant now too. Let's just make the whole hill a beginner zone guys!

Are these "yellow jacket" safety patrol people different from ski patrol (the people who save you when you're hurt etc)? I always think of ski patrollers out west as really good skiers and cool guys compared to people where I ski, where I feel like I could out ski them. The cool guys would give me a thumbs up for airing into a run then ripping nice turns while they guys at my hill would try and pull my pass.


It's gotten to the point where some of the slow signs are actually dead in the way of people on the trail, and with creek as crowded as it is that becomes a huge problem. With half the resort as flat as it is at creek, I will lose my shit if I ever have another patroller yell at me for going fast. Patrollers here are such shitty skiers, I mean they might save my ass one day if I get fucked up but that doesn't save them from the fact they are douchey off duty fireman who don't make enough at their real job to support themselves. I mean one time a boarder patrolman bumped me in one of his retarded huge turns across the entire trail (the flat part of canyon actually!) when I was in front of him and then he chased me all the way down to the bottom to yell at me. The funny part is, I was able to get to the bottom, put two pairs of skis in their bag, and start walking down the stairs to the lodge before he finally reached me. I've seen yellow jackets in the lodge but none on the actual hill yet so I'm hoping they don't have anybody out there.

Regarding vail, are there at least continuous runs that don't have slow zones after every single corner and bump? Like where I ski every single intersection is a slow zone, and every single turn, and every single flat part. It's literally so stupid but I guess it's needed for all the stupid urbanites from the city to not kill everybody on their way down.

Fuck stupid people, and the people that have to keep stupid people from being stupid and not doing it well.Tthat's really what it comes down to, because your stupid ass hit another person and injured both of you, and the resort got sued, now I can't ski how I want.
10 years ago
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,744
Let 'em try to catch me...
10 years ago
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
caucasian_chadI kind of want to go to Vail/Breck just to straightline Riva Ridge/Born Free/4 O'Clock and get into a yellow jacket police chase and film it. I don't really give a shit if I get banned, I wouldn't go to their shitty resorts anyways except for that reason.


somone i was skiing with did this on riva ridge at vail, minus the gopro. he had a day ticket and it was his last day. he even evaded the yellow jackets and booked it to the car
10 years ago
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bnewbs6
Posts: 1919 - Karma: 1,463
I absolutely hate this shit. But I understand it. I think it should be more focused around the really packed runs and the runs that you have to take to get down. Like at park city, coming down from payday during Christmas break is the gnarliest run on the mountain. There's millions of people there and going fast is just dangerous. Vail needs to focus more on these high traffic areas rather than the entire mountain.
10 years ago
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kemosabe
Posts: 449 - Karma: 1,309
SubstituteFuck vail. I have never been there but fuck vail.


Not being sarcastic at all. that logic is on point right there
10 years ago
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bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
I get yelled at almost every time I go to keystone even while making massive carves blatantly in front of them. Seems like the best strategy is to act like you don't see them and just keep skiing by.
10 years ago
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Filmore
Posts: 460 - Karma: 861
if i ever pass a patroller or yellow jacket (dont see those much in WA) i make a point to exaggerate a pizza directly in front of them to show them that i am "in control"
10 years ago
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Static
Posts: 8588 - Karma: 4,098
Dobber$160 for a ticket...only to get it pulled by a yellow jacket. Never going to Vail. I'll just keep straight-lining 60MPH down these little Midwest mountains.


No, they don't fuck with day ticket skiers, just pass holders.
10 years ago
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Here's my thoughts on this:

We all just read a thread about a kid who was skiing at his comfort level and was blindsided into trees before being airlifted out of the resort with injuries that could have killed him.. and from the sounds of it, he wasn't at fault. Even with the confidence that most of us have on our skis, there are a lot of people on the hill who do not know what they are doing. When these two types of skiers are forced to share a narrow run, you better believe that injuries will happen if both parties are pushing their limits.

I think the yellow jackets are annoying as the next person, but if it prevents more serious injuries, I don't really have a problem with it. There are places on the mountain that allow you to crank out turns down the hill, but when conditions are rough, there's no reason to be blasting in a slow zone.

I just hope they don't take it too far, this should definitely only be for the extreme cases- like people bombing blind turns or packed runs.
10 years ago
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
i always just slarve sideways down the whole trail going really fast. if they say anything, i just say, well i was in a turn the whole time, what more do you want?
10 years ago
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bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
DiabeetoHere's my thoughts on this:

We all just read a thread about a kid who was skiing at his comfort level and was blindsided into trees before being airlifted out of the resort with injuries that could have killed him.. and from the sounds of it, he wasn't at fault. Even with the confidence that most of us have on our skis, there are a lot of people on the hill who do not know what they are doing. When these two types of skiers are forced to share a narrow run, you better believe that injuries will happen if both parties are pushing their limits.

I think the yellow jackets are annoying as the next person, but if it prevents more serious injuries, I don't really have a problem with it. There are places on the mountain that allow you to crank out turns down the hill, but when conditions are rough, there's no reason to be blasting in a slow zone.

I just hope they don't take it too far, this should definitely only be for the extreme cases- like people bombing blind turns or packed runs.

I see your point but I respectfully disagree. Skiing is a dangerous sport and horrible freak accidents are always going to be present whether people are skiing 30mph or 60 mph down groomers. There comes a point where a very slight decrease in risk of an accident is not worth being hassled at keystone on a daily basis.

As for taking it too far, they've definitely already done that in comparison to every resort that I've been to that isn't owned by Vail. If you're wearing any "park" looking clothes and skiing remotely fast than slow patrols eyes are instantly glued to you even if you're making solid carves. The craziest part is they completely disregard if there's other people around you. You can be going the only person in the entire area, skiing by the trees and they'll still yell at you to slow down. Overall fuck Vail.
10 years ago
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dvx100
Posts: 1884 - Karma: 4,821
Technically, if you wanted, you could fight the ticket saying your version of "speeding in a slow zone" is different from ski patrols.
10 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38023 - Karma: 128,742
NinetyFourCorrection, yellow jacket/mall cop.



/shitthatmighthappen?


I work at Vail@PC and would love to see guys bombing down runs while rentacops chase you. Just dont hurt any guests and youre golden.
10 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38023 - Karma: 128,742
DeebieSkeebiesI work at Vail@PC and would love to see guys bombing down runs while rentacops chase you. Just dont hurt any guests and youre golden.


oh and do it next year with the two.mtns connected so we can do mountain-to-mountain persuits
10 years ago
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roddy116
Posts: 10654 - Karma: 7,734
I make rude gestures to every yellow jacket i see.
10 years ago
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rpl
Posts: 135 - Karma: 363
I got one of those when some cocksucker old fuckwit on a power trip lied in his report to get my pass taken at breck last year.


NEVER EVER STOP FOR SLOW PATROL... they will fuck you over
10 years ago
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,168
Hit 58.4 mph on a Minnesota hill (ski tracks confirms), ski patrol stopped me and said that I was stupid for going that fast but smart for staying on the edge of the run and how it was crazy that I stayed in control at that speed. No pass pulled, gave me a fist bump and told me to be safe, I agreed that It was dangerous and I don't want to do it again.
10 years ago
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781
jiminy peak had security chase me into the parking lot because I laid out a backflip in a "no invert" terrain park.
10 years ago
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life_is_hood
Posts: 503 - Karma: 1,993
We could make a "one of those days" vail resorts edition where candide hits one side booter/gaps one roller and gets his pass pulled forever
10 years ago
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Steezy_Peazy
Posts: 411 - Karma: 1,146
Eastern.SkierHaha they should make a small leader board that they put at every slow area and have a little disclaimer that says something like "it is not recommended that you go fast and you WILL receive a ticket if caught... but these are the top speeds".


You can only avoid a fine..... If you make it onto the board. Don't go fast enough? Do not pass go, pay us 200 dollars.
10 years ago
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
tommyk141damn, no more bombing mad groomers


naw in all seriousness, if theyre at all reasonable about this, speeding tickets will only be something that happens in certain slow zones that get lots of traffic

ive been "pulled over" before at a big resort for threading the needle through some gapers pretty fast. i didnt notice him til i was on a huge flat with nowhere to go so i just talked my way out of it. this'll probably just make them a little more likely to do this and then give you a ticket, because in my case, what were the options? either take my pass or give me a little lecture and i apologize.

theyre never gonna start nailin you for blasting down normal runs, that'd be retarded. and if they do that you'd lose em most likely if you had any business going that fast in the first place
10 years ago
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steeze4days
Posts: 358 - Karma: 1,945
DeebieSkeebiescan someone please get a crew with gopros and get into some hot pursuits all over the mountain? it could go horribly wrong, or could be the best thing ever.


I'm down.
10 years ago
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_salty_
Posts: 672 - Karma: 1,034
Vail is the real troll first 145$ lift tickets, then speeding tickets got to love their sense of humor
10 years ago
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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,832
DeebieSkeebiesoh and do it next year with the two.mtns connected so we can do mountain-to-mountain persuits


This sounds like a good idea for a movie.
10 years ago
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