Vermont’s ski resorts are some of the perfect slopes in the Northeast, and for many families, skiing with kids is a winter tradition. But before you load the car and head for the lifts, it’s important to understand the legal issues that can arise when minors are involved. Vermont has specific laws, and common resort practices, that affect waivers, rentals, ski lessons, and supervision.

Vermont Liability Waivers: What They Mean for Your Child

Vermont ski areas typically require parents to sign liability waivers for lift access, rentals, or lessons. These documents are designed to limit the resort’s responsibility for injuries, even those involving staff mistakes.

Considerations to consider include waivers for minors, which are common, but Vermont courts scrutinize how clear, specific, and reasonable they are. Some waivers attempt to protect the resort even from its own negligence, language parents should read carefully. Vermont’s “inherent risks of skiing” statute already protects ski areas from many typical skiing hazards, making waiver language especially important.

Even if you’re excited to get on the mountain, take a minute to understand what you’re agreeing too. Remember, it can matter after an accident.

Rental Equipment: Duty to Properly Fit and Maintain Gear

Vermont shops and resorts have a responsibility to ensure rental equipment, especially bindings are properly adjusted and maintained.

Legally, improper equipment-setup can create liability if a child’s bindings aren’t released properly, equipment fails due to poor maintenance, staff rushes the rental process or ignores size/weight information

Because many rental forms also contain their own waivers, it’s crucial to hold onto your paperwork if equipment may have contributed to an injury.

Ski Lessons and Instructor Obligations

Ski school is a common choice for Vermont families, but it also creates a duty of care for instructors and resort staff. From a legal standpoint, instructors must supervise children reasonably for their age and skill level. Children should not be taken on terrain beyond their ability and class sizes must allow safe oversight.

If a resort fails to follow its own safety procedures, it can become a factor in determining liability, even with a signed waiver. If your child is injured during a lesson, note names, weather conditions, and class size; these details matter later.

Parental Supervision and Responsibility

Even though Vermont resorts have a duty to operate safely, parents still share responsibility when skiing with children. Courts may consider whether a child was skiing terrain appropriate to their ability, whether safety gear, especially helmets were used and most importantly, how closely the parent was supervising the child

Parents aren’t expected to prevent all injuries, but exercising reasonable care strengthens any legal claim if something goes wrong.

In Conclusion

Skiing with kids in Vermont is a great way to enjoy winter, but just make sure you understand the legal landscape before heading downhill. Being aware of waiver language, rental responsibilities, lesson safety, and supervision expectations can help protect your child and your rights.

If your child is injured on the mountain, The Brown Law Firm is here to help. With experience in Vermont and Alaska ski-related cases, they can guide you through what to do next and help you understand your legal options.