Welcome Back STARS-Covid-19 Update

Hello STARS:

Are you enjoying this weather? I hope you love snow because we have plenty of it. Mountain High will open on Thursday, November 12th and the mountain has never looked this good for an opening day. I hope you get up here before our STARS program begins on January 6, 2021.

This year our program will have a different look and feel this season due to the pandemic. We want all Seniors to be healthy and safe, and that being said the following will be our Covid-19 protocols for our Senior STARS Program:

The Senior program STARS values and prioritizes the health and safety of its seniors, guests and staff. We will demonstrate this commitment to our management by implementing the following operating best practices for the 2020-21 winter season, or for as long as needed, scaled appropriately in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Skiing and snowboarding provide low risk outdoor recreation opportunities for many Seniors in Southern California. The following will illustrate on how we do just that:

Face coverings, including neck gaiters, goggles, gloves or mittens, and helmets are standard pieces of skiing or snowboarding gear.

Long-standing skiing and snowboarding etiquette requires guests to respect one another and give space between themselves and other skiers and riders. Safe skiers leave space between other skiers.

It is up to every individual, both ski area employee and guest, to do their part to help protect the health and safety of our skiing and snowboarding community.  Seniors will be made aware of their obligations, including the requirement to wear a face covering and keep physical distancing at all times.

All lessons to be booked online, in advance. STARS program will be limited to an average of five students in a class. Lesson times and length remain the same.

Physical distancing will require a more hands off lesson, no helping seniors up, no hand holding or dancing down the hill. No riding on double or triple chair with Seniors. We may want to ride the chair ahead to coach the Seniors off their first lift experience. We will keep the reservation information by class to facilitate possible contact tracing. Masks may make verbal communication more difficult requiring more demonstrations.

Senior STARS will be ski/board ready from their personal vehicles and report to assigned instructor area. STARS 

participants may not congregate.

Seniors check-in will be outside at the Foggy Goggle by Chair 1 and 2 where they will meet with their assigned instructor.

All Seniors will adhere to social distancing with all seniors wearing masks.  Face masks are required at all times.

Program subject to cancellation according to COVID 19 State, County and Federal Guidelines

So, make sure you are getting ready for the season as January 6, 2021 is just around the corner for our

1^st clinic of the season and our 12^th year.

 Ski u Later,

 Bill

STARS Clinics Cancelled -March 18th and 25th

 Hi STARS:

We are incredibly disappointed to suspend the STARS program this season. I have shared with you at all clinics we want you to be safe and healthy and not only your health and safety but to all our instructors as well.

Decisions like this are very hard but we need to focus now on how we use this moment to inspire our friends and neighbors to be safe and healthy too.

Some may think we are over-reacting; some may think we should have acted even sooner.  We just hope everyone understands that we are sorry for any inconvenience and we are doing the best we can in light of circumstances that were unexpected and beyond our control.

Ski you soon,

Bill

STARS Clinic- Wednesday, March 18th

Hi STARS:

Rain has moved out for today at Mountain High with temps in the mid 40’s but we will still have plenty of snow for the 10th Senior clinic on Wednesday, March 18^th.

 

Yes, next Wednesday, March 18th will be our 10th clinic for this winter season. We have had over 500 Seniors that have participated in our program so far this season, and their comments have been all positive. The weather will be great as we expect to have NEW snow fall on Monday and Tuesday, so our skiing and riding will be fantastic! 

 

STARS Luncheon: We will be having a luncheon after our STARS clinic around 12:10 pm. The cost for the luncheon will be $5.00. I know Food and Beverage will be putting on a great spread with a Mexican theme so all I need you to do is RSVP by this Monday morning. By Monday, I will then have a good idea how many Seniors will be skiing and riding on March 18th.

 

What a season it has been! With unlimited amounts of natural snow, conditions were excellent all season. Snowmaking and our Groomers always kept skiing and riding conditions above the standard. They both did an outstanding job!

 

Attached is our group photo from our first clinic this season and you can see all the other photos from our clinic at 

 

http://seniorprogramstars.blogspot.com

 

Hope to see you next Wednesday…

 

Ski u later,

 

Bill