Randall

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Donald Randall brings this personal injury action seeking damages for injuries suffered while skiing at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (“Mammoth”). Defendant Mammoth now moves for summary judgment.

I.

In May, 1997 Randall, a professional ski instructor, came to Mammoth Lakes, Cali- forma to participate in the United States Ski Association (USSA) National Coaches’ School. The USSA contracts with Mammoth to use portions of the ski area for training and practice sessions of the Coaches’ School.

The incident that gave rise to this lawsuit occurred on May 11, 1997, the last day of the Coaches’ School. Randall alleges that as he was skiing downhill, he crashed into a set of artificial ridges, which he variously characterizes as “snow walls,” (ComplJ 5), and “whoop-de-doos,” (Pl.’s Mem. in Opp’n to Mot. for Summ. J. at 2). Randall describes the snow walls as “long ridges, about a foot and a half high, spaced several feet apart,” which “are larger than the natural irregularities that occur on an ungroomed [ski] run.” (Id.) Randall alleges — and for present purposes the court accepts as given — that whoop-de-doos “are designed for a specific…