[139]*139Johnson, J.
Plaintiff, who was injured when he collided with a post during an amateur ski race, appeals the superior court’s order granting summary judgment to defendants, the ski area and its agents, based on releases he signed. We conclude that the releases were void as contrary to public policy, and reverse.
Plaintiff, an experienced skier, purchased a pass at Killington Ski Area for the 1990-1991 season, as he had for several previous seasons. To obtain the pass, plaintiff signed a document that released Killington and its employees and agents from all liability for any injuries resulting from the ski area’s negligence. Similar release language was included on the back of the season pass signed and worn by pass holders, including plaintiff.
During the 1990-91 season, plaintiff also participated in an amateur “Ski Bum” race series held at Killington Ski Area. The recreational races were open to persons of all skiing abilities, except that skiers with collegiate or professional racing experience were barred from the competition. On January 16, 1991, after completing the second race in the competition, plaintiff signed an entry form for the race series and paid an entry fee to Killington Ski Club. The back of the entry form included language releasing Killington and its employees and agents from any liability for personal injury resulting from Killington’s usual activities.
On March 6,1991, as he was completing another race in the series, plaintiff was seriously injured when he struck a wooden post marking the finish line of the race course. Plaintiff sued Killington, Ltd., its employee Steven Miller, and the Killington Ski Club, alleging that defendants negligently designed and erected the race course by (1) installing permanent posts at the finish line, (2) laying out the course so that competitors were guided into one of the posts, (3) setting the last gate too close to the posts, and (4) failing to provide adequate padding for the posts. Following the parties’ submission of various motions, memoranda, and affidavits, the superior court granted summary judgment to defendants, ruling that the agreements plaintiff signed unambiguously released defendants from liability for injuries resulting from their negligence. Further, the court ruled that no special relationship existed between the parties, and that public policy did not require invalidation of the releases.
In his original brief on appeal, plaintiff argued that the superior court erred by granting defendants summary judgment because there were material facts in dispute as to (1) whether the language of the releases and the circumstances surrounding plaintiff’s signing of [140]*140the releases apprised plaintiff that he was releasing defendants from liability for any injuries caused by their negligence, and (2) whether the documents released Miller or the Killington Ski Club from liability. On September 8, 1995, the same day Killington filed its responsive brief, this Court issued Dalury v. S-K-I, Ltd., 164 Vt. 329, 330, 670 A.2d 795, 796 (1995), in which we held that an exculpatory agreement signed by season pass holders and relieving a ski area of all liability for injuries resulting from the ski area’s negligence was void as contrary to public policy. The parties then filed supplemental briefs concerning the applicability of Dalury to this appeal.
As a prehminary matter, we reject Killington’s argument that plaintiff waived his public policy argument on appeal by failing to raise it during the trial court proceedings. We have often stated that “[w]e will not reverse a lower court when a party’s failure to raise some matter below denied the court an opportunity to consider it.” Duke v. Duke, 140 Vt. 543, 545, 442 A.2d 460, 462 (1982). Here, however, the public policy issue was addressed, albeit briefly, and rejected by the superior court. In its motion for summary judgment, Killington argued that “[pjublic policy is not concerned with a person’s decision to go ski racing.” Plaintiff responded, in part, by arguing that contractual exclusions of negligence liability are disfavored and must be strictly construed. The superior court expressly determined that “no public policy exists which should invalidate the waivers.” In short, although the public policy issue was not debated or considered in depth by the parties or the trial court, it was raised and ruled on, and thus we may consider plaintiff’s claim of error on appeal.
We now turn to the merits of the public policy issue, which is dispositive of the appeal. Acknowledging our holding in Dalury, Killington concedes that its season pass releases are void, but contends that Dalury does not preclude enforcement of the race registration release plaintiff signed. According to defendants, Dalury does not control here because this case, like Douglass n Skiing Standards, Inc., 142 Vt. 634, 459 A.2d 97 (1983), involves ski racing rather than recreational skiing.
The plaintiff in Douglass was a professional skier injured during a professional skiing competition. As a condition to entry into the competition, the plaintiff had been required to sign an agreement releasing the defendants from liability for any injuries he might sustain as the result of his participation in the competition. We held that notwithstanding the absence of the word “negligence” in the
[141]*141release, the terms of the exculpatory agreement unambiguously demonstrated the parties’ intent that the defendants were to be held harmless for injuries to the plaintiff caused by the defendants’ negligence. Id. at 636-37, 459 A.2d at 98-99. The issue of whether the release violated public policy was neither raised by the parties on appeal nor addressed by this Court. See Dalury, 164 Vt. at 331 n.1, 670 A.2d at 797 n.1 (noting that Douglass upheld release signed by participant in freestyle skiing competition based on clarity of language rather than public policy, and declining to address whether such releases are void as contrary to public policy).
Public policy was at issue in Dalury, however. In that case, notwithstanding our acknowledgement that the ski industry does not provide an “essential public service,” we struck down as contrary to public policy exculpatory agreements requiring season pass holders to release ski areas from liability for injuries caused by the ski areas’ negligence. See Dalury, 164 Vt. at 330, 335, 670 A.2d at 796, 799. In arriving at this decision, we considered, among other factors, that (1) the ski area operated a facility open to the general public, (2) the ski area advertised and invited persons of every level of skiing ability onto its premises, (3) the ski area, and not recreational skiers, had the expertise and opportunity to foresee and control hazards and to guard against the negligence of its employees and agents, (4) the ski area was in a better position to insure against the risks of its own negligence and spread the cost of the insurance among its customers, and (5) if ski areas were permitted to obtain broad waivers of their liability, incentives for them to manage risks would be removed, with the public bearing the cost.
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[139]*139Johnson, J.
Plaintiff, who was injured when he collided with a post during an amateur ski race, appeals the superior court’s order granting summary judgment to defendants, the ski area and its agents, based on releases he signed. We conclude that the releases were void as contrary to public policy, and reverse.
Plaintiff, an experienced skier, purchased a pass at Killington Ski Area for the 1990-1991 season, as he had for several previous seasons. To obtain the pass, plaintiff signed a document that released Killington and its employees and agents from all liability for any injuries resulting from the ski area’s negligence. Similar release language was included on the back of the season pass signed and worn by pass holders, including plaintiff.
During the 1990-91 season, plaintiff also participated in an amateur “Ski Bum” race series held at Killington Ski Area. The recreational races were open to persons of all skiing abilities, except that skiers with collegiate or professional racing experience were barred from the competition. On January 16, 1991, after completing the second race in the competition, plaintiff signed an entry form for the race series and paid an entry fee to Killington Ski Club. The back of the entry form included language releasing Killington and its employees and agents from any liability for personal injury resulting from Killington’s usual activities.
On March 6,1991, as he was completing another race in the series, plaintiff was seriously injured when he struck a wooden post marking the finish line of the race course. Plaintiff sued Killington, Ltd., its employee Steven Miller, and the Killington Ski Club, alleging that defendants negligently designed and erected the race course by (1) installing permanent posts at the finish line, (2) laying out the course so that competitors were guided into one of the posts, (3) setting the last gate too close to the posts, and (4) failing to provide adequate padding for the posts. Following the parties’ submission of various motions, memoranda, and affidavits, the superior court granted summary judgment to defendants, ruling that the agreements plaintiff signed unambiguously released defendants from liability for injuries resulting from their negligence. Further, the court ruled that no special relationship existed between the parties, and that public policy did not require invalidation of the releases.
In his original brief on appeal, plaintiff argued that the superior court erred by granting defendants summary judgment because there were material facts in dispute as to (1) whether the language of the releases and the circumstances surrounding plaintiff’s signing of [140]*140the releases apprised plaintiff that he was releasing defendants from liability for any injuries caused by their negligence, and (2) whether the documents released Miller or the Killington Ski Club from liability. On September 8, 1995, the same day Killington filed its responsive brief, this Court issued Dalury v. S-K-I, Ltd., 164 Vt. 329, 330, 670 A.2d 795, 796 (1995), in which we held that an exculpatory agreement signed by season pass holders and relieving a ski area of all liability for injuries resulting from the ski area’s negligence was void as contrary to public policy. The parties then filed supplemental briefs concerning the applicability of Dalury to this appeal.
As a prehminary matter, we reject Killington’s argument that plaintiff waived his public policy argument on appeal by failing to raise it during the trial court proceedings. We have often stated that “[w]e will not reverse a lower court when a party’s failure to raise some matter below denied the court an opportunity to consider it.” Duke v. Duke, 140 Vt. 543, 545, 442 A.2d 460, 462 (1982). Here, however, the public policy issue was addressed, albeit briefly, and rejected by the superior court. In its motion for summary judgment, Killington argued that “[pjublic policy is not concerned with a person’s decision to go ski racing.” Plaintiff responded, in part, by arguing that contractual exclusions of negligence liability are disfavored and must be strictly construed. The superior court expressly determined that “no public policy exists which should invalidate the waivers.” In short, although the public policy issue was not debated or considered in depth by the parties or the trial court, it was raised and ruled on, and thus we may consider plaintiff’s claim of error on appeal.
We now turn to the merits of the public policy issue, which is dispositive of the appeal. Acknowledging our holding in Dalury, Killington concedes that its season pass releases are void, but contends that Dalury does not preclude enforcement of the race registration release plaintiff signed. According to defendants, Dalury does not control here because this case, like Douglass n Skiing Standards, Inc., 142 Vt. 634, 459 A.2d 97 (1983), involves ski racing rather than recreational skiing.
The plaintiff in Douglass was a professional skier injured during a professional skiing competition. As a condition to entry into the competition, the plaintiff had been required to sign an agreement releasing the defendants from liability for any injuries he might sustain as the result of his participation in the competition. We held that notwithstanding the absence of the word “negligence” in the
[141]*141release, the terms of the exculpatory agreement unambiguously demonstrated the parties’ intent that the defendants were to be held harmless for injuries to the plaintiff caused by the defendants’ negligence. Id. at 636-37, 459 A.2d at 98-99. The issue of whether the release violated public policy was neither raised by the parties on appeal nor addressed by this Court. See Dalury, 164 Vt. at 331 n.1, 670 A.2d at 797 n.1 (noting that Douglass upheld release signed by participant in freestyle skiing competition based on clarity of language rather than public policy, and declining to address whether such releases are void as contrary to public policy).
Public policy was at issue in Dalury, however. In that case, notwithstanding our acknowledgement that the ski industry does not provide an “essential public service,” we struck down as contrary to public policy exculpatory agreements requiring season pass holders to release ski areas from liability for injuries caused by the ski areas’ negligence. See Dalury, 164 Vt. at 330, 335, 670 A.2d at 796, 799. In arriving at this decision, we considered, among other factors, that (1) the ski area operated a facility open to the general public, (2) the ski area advertised and invited persons of every level of skiing ability onto its premises, (3) the ski area, and not recreational skiers, had the expertise and opportunity to foresee and control hazards and to guard against the negligence of its employees and agents, (4) the ski area was in a better position to insure against the risks of its own negligence and spread the cost of the insurance among its customers, and (5) if ski areas were permitted to obtain broad waivers of their liability, incentives for them to manage risks would be removed, with the public bearing the cost.
Killington argues that setting courses for local “Ski Bum” races is neither a service of great importance to the public nor a matter of practical necessity for any members of the public. Addressing the various factors set forth in Dalury, Killington states that there is no evidence in the summary judgment record that (1) defendants invited the general public to participate in the “Ski Bum” race series, (2) a substantial number of people participate in the event, (3) the racers cannot inspect or influence the course layout, (4) Killington is able to obtain liability insurance to cover such events, (5) members of the public cannot obtain insurance that would cover them for injuries incurred while participating in amateur ski racing, or (6) safety of these events would improve if racers were told that the ski area would assume responsibility for its own negligence.
The Killington Ski Club adds that Dalury’s public policy concerns are far less compelling here because (1) plaintiff had the opportunity [142]*142to view the layout of the course, which was obvious and open, (2) ski racing is not a necessity, (3) the race series is not a business suitable for public regulation, and (4) persons entering competitions know that they will be pushing themselves to the limit, thereby creating greater risks than if they were merely participating in recreational skiing. In the Club’s view, if we were to invalidate the ski competition release based on public policy, we would discourage citizen participation in amateur competitions by dissuading people from organizing or administering such events for fear of incurring liability for the inevitable injuries that would result.
We conclude that the public policy concerns that formed the basis for our holding in Dalury apply with equal force under the facts and circumstances of this case. 164 Vt] at 333-34, 670 A.2d at 798 (ultimately, determination of what constitutes public interest must be made considering totality of circumstances in any given case against backdrop of societal expectations). The Club’s arguments concerning the nature of recreational ski racing are similar to the arguments we rejected in Dalury. Moreover, the factual distinctions between Dalury and this case cited by defendants are minor compared to the obvious similarities.
For instance, it is undisputed that the recreational race series in this case was open to the general public, particularly persons with limited or no experience in competitive skiing; indeed, skiers with collegiate or professional racing experience were barred from the races. Cf. id. at 334, 670 A.2d at 799 (pointing out that ski area was open to members of public with every level of skiing ability). As in Dalury, defendants, not the recreational skiers participating in the races, had the expertise and opportunity to maintain and inspect their premises, to foresee and control hazards, to train their employees in risk management, to guard against the negligence of their agents and employees, and to insure against the risks and spread the increased cost of insurance among race participants or all skiing customers. See id. at 335, 670 A.2d at 799. Our statement in Dalury that “[i]f defendants were permitted to obtain broad waivers of their liability, an important incentive for ski areas to manage risk would be removed, with the public bearing the cost of the resulting injuries” is no less true here. Id.
Like other ski areas, Killington has a race course open to members of the general public who ski at its facility. Given our analysis in Dalury, Killington could not require recreational skiers to sign releases barring them from suing Killington for injuries incurred on [143]*143the public race course as the result of Killington’s negligence. Such exculpatory agreements are void, whether the ski area uses them to avert suits by recreational skiers testing themselves on the ski area’s public race course, or, as here, by recreational skiers participating in an amateur race controlled by and held at the ski area. In short, we see no salient distinctions between this case and Dalury.
The dissent, on the other hand, does find a significant distinction between recreational skiers competing in a ski area’s amateur race series and recreational skiers skiing the ski area’s trails or public race courses outside a competition. But in making this distinction, the dissent overstates the scope of our holding. We have not, as the dissent suggests, required race promoters to eliminate all the hazards inherent to ski racing or otherwise face liability for any injuries that result from those inherent risks. To the contrary, “a person who takes part in any sport accepts as a matter of law the dangers that inhere therein insofar as they are obvious and necessary.” 12 V.S.A. § 1037. Assumption of risk remains as a defense.
Rather than requiring race promoters to eliminate all inherent hazards, we are simply allowing plaintiffs the opportunity to show that a ski area’s negligence caused their injuries. The dissent would allow ski areas to escape liability by requiring recreational skiers to waive their right to sue for injuries resulting from the ski areas’ negligence, not from risks inherent to the sport. Thus, for example, if a racer were injured upon striking a shovel accidently left on the course by race promoters, the release signed by the racer would bar suit against the promoters. Our opinion does not suggest that defendants were negligent or even that plaintiff has made out a prima facie case of their negligence; rather, we hold only that the releases plaintiff signed are void as contrary to public policy, and thus the trial court erred by granting defendants summary judgment based on the releases.
Reversed and remanded.