Plan lift exits with those sitting beside you.

Skiing is a thrilling sport for beginners and experts alike, but no matter what a skier's skill level, safety should always be the number one concern. Because of the speed many skiers reach, a ski slope can be a particularly dangerous place for those who are incautious or inattentive. To stay safe on the mountain and make sure that the day ends without accident, every skier should know the basic rules of safe conduct.

After spending several years doing research for an electronics and materials science company in Silicon Valley, Californian Adam Tanous moved to Ketchum, Idaho in 1992. Today he is the copy editor and arts editor for the Idaho Mountain Express and a member of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol. Here he offers some important ski safety tips:

• Be aware of what's uphill.
  One important tip that Tanous recommends is to always look uphill before you start out onto the slope. Just as it is with driving a car, you want to know what kind of traffic is behind you.
  
• Yield to the ownhill skier.
  It's also important to remember that the downhill skier always has the right of way, so don't cut off or interfere with a skier who is in front of you.
  
• Coordinate exits from lifts.
  When riding up on a lift, talk to the people on your chair so that you know which way they're going when they get off. If you cross paths off the lift, it could lead to an immediate collision. If you're planning to head away from each other, you should all go straight forward until you can safely turn.
  
• Move to the side to stop.
  There are some places that are safe to stop and take a break, and others that are not so safe. Stopping right in the middle of a run is a bad idea; it's much better to ski to the side edges of the run and rest there.
  
• Let falls happen.
  If you're starting to fall, Tanous would recommend just letting it happen. A lot of people get hurt when they try to recover from a fall, and this is a major cause of injuries.
  
• Cross skis as a distress signal.
  If you're injured on the mountain, cross your skis in the snow by sticking one ski into the snow and crossing it with another one, making a big upright X. This is a universal signal that tells others that you need help.

For more information about skiing and ski safety, check out the following organizations or websites:

Sun Valley Resort
www.sunvalley.com

SkiSafety.com
www.skisafety.com

National Safety Council: Ski Safety
www.nsc.org/skisafe

Skinet.com
www.skinet.com/skinet

Skiing Magazine
www.skiingmag.com