Tips for Skiing Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Susanna Huh, MD MPH for the COVID-19 Action Coalition

Every winter, our family looks forward to the thrill of downhill skiing. Skiing can be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an outdoor sport in which face coverings are the norm, and even in the lift line, the equipment itself promotes social distancing. But we have to do more to make skiing safe this year.

Without these extra measures, we risk repeating ski resort outbreaks similar to what happened last winter in Austria. Thousands of infected skiers gathered at Ischgl, resulting in a super-spreader event that reached more than 40 countries on five continents and infected more than 6000 people.

But we now know a lot more about how to stop the spread of the virus. In New England, ski resorts are open for business but have modified operating guidelines to protect customers and staff from COVID-19.

The current skyrocketing rates of COVID-19 across New England and the country mean it’s likely that there will be infected people — who don’t yet know they’re coronavirus-positive — in the lift line with you. Adhering to safety guidelines is crucial to enjoying skiing safely and keeping resorts open. Follow these rules:

1. Stay local and avoid flying. If traveling out of state, make sure you understand and comply with the travel requirements (including testing and mandatory quarantines) both for the state you are traveling to and for your return to your home state. If possible, choose a resort close enough that no bathroom breaks are required along the way.
2. Prepare your gear and buy passes ahead of time. Buy your ski pass online. This is vital because many resorts are limiting the number of passes sold each day. Get all your ski gear, including things like hand-warmers and toe-warmers, ahead of the trip. Purchase a portable bottle of hand sanitizer and extra masks to keep in your pocket.
3. Get to the resort in your own car. Avoid shuttle buses and don’t share your car with anyone outside your own household.
4. Limit time in lodges and shared indoor spaces. Boot up at your car and use it as your base. Go to the bathroom before leaving your lodging to minimize the use of public restrooms.
5. Follow safe eating practices. Bring your own lunch and snacks or eat at off-peak times to limit the time waiting in line to purchase food. If you are eating with non-household members, do it outside, stay at least 6 feet apart, and mask up anytime you are not eating. Don’t share food.
6. Limit contact with non-household members on the lift or in line. Do not board the lift with non-household members, and don’t eat or drink in the lift line, where you are likely to be with many other people, any of whom might unknowingly be infected (including yourself). Avoid the gondola and stick to open chair lifts.
7. Wear a mask with at least 2 layers. This is a requirement at many ski areas. Not all face coverings are equal. Single-layer gaiters may not be protective. If using a gaiter for warmth, wear an actual 2- or 3-layer mask underneath. Some gaiters now contain built-in masks or are specifically designed for protection. Other good options include masks recommended for running, cycling, or working out. Avoid ski masks with ventilation holes. Carry an extra mask or two in your pocket in case your mask gets wet.

Above all, adhere to the ski resort’s guidelines, and listen to their staff. Skiing will be different this year. It might be a little less convenient, and the fun and comradery of indoor après-ski gatherings aren’t possible. But if we plan our trips and follow resort guidelines, we can still get out on the mountain and enjoy the thrill of the run. And isn't that what skiing is all about?

The COVID-19 Action Coalition (COVAC) is a Massachusetts-based physician-led, grassroots non-profit that advocates for evidence-based public health practices. Dr. Susanna Huh is a pediatric gastroenterologist and Co-Founder/President of COVAC.

The views expressed in this article are the authors’ own and do not reflect the official opinions of the institutions at which they work.