Ski areas ponder new safety steps

DENVER, April 9 (UPI) -- Ski industry leaders say they expect resorts to take steps to increase safety on the slopes after what has been a record season for deaths in Colorado.

Seventeen skiers have died in Colorado this winter, topping the record 16 killed in 2001-2002.

Michael Berry, head of the National Ski Areas Association, told the Denver Post that resort operators will likely do something in the off-season to improve safety.

"We have a history of responding proactively to these anomalies," Berry said. "Maybe we'll head into next season with more aggressive messaging or more trailside signage. We just need to be careful we don't create another set of problems."

The Post said the statistics don't appear to show a pattern in the fatalities that will lead to a definite fix. Nine of the deaths involved people who hit trees on the perimeters of groomed slopes.

Among the suggestions are leaving an ungroomed buffer to keep skiers away from tree or having Ski Patrol members pull the lift tickets from reckless customers.