Safety on Slopes: Suggestions

KP below ( whose father was hit while skiing) provides for all of us a chance to make a difference.

We, the world community of skiers can start a grass roots movement to make skiing more safe! I promise to present your list of suggestions to all national and international ski organizations. I will also pass along this subject to all the ski sites that have the same concern. I will also submit this list to major ski magazines so that in 2008 you will be able to read your suggestions!

The goal is not to focus on negatives, but rather to suggest practical safety options which will render skiing safer! This involves all skiing participants and should be a comprehensive program regardless of country!

Here are my suggestions.

1. Stores must have some form of literature ( published by ski companies and ski centers) to inform new skiers of their responsibility. Yes I know there is a skier"s code, but it is never "actively" presented and discussed to new skiers.

2. Stores should provide to all new skiers a "skiers card" which identifies the level of skier competency.

3. Stores should have videos of "potential skier" issues such as;
-doing tricks in parks with no helmet or wrist guards.
- skiing fast in beginner zones
- skiing in woods
etc..


4. Ski instructors should be told that they do not only teach skiing, but that they are "representatives " of the ski center. They have duty to politely discuss with skiers "safety issues"

5. All new skiers should have a "free" safety ski course at all ski centers.

6. Ski industry ( all partners) must tone down "problem ski behavior"!
- going under ropes ( a major problem in print media)
-glamorizing cliff jumping, "extreme skiing" and near death experiences
-going higher, faster, wilder etc....
-in appropriate skiing in "learning sections"
-promoting self-centered behavior which cause others to hurt.
-promoting "heroes" that are "anti-social", self centered and dangeropus to others.

Side bar comment
Ski industry has not looked at the figures and will soon regret its "extreme" orientation in its promotional material! In 2010 the vast majority of skiers will be in the 40-50 age range. They will have the money and they will decide where and how to ski! There is a ski company that has changed it complete ski image and ski products to "answer" one type of skier. Its market share has gone down. Its profits will soon diminish. It will be too late. Wake up!!!!

7. New skiers should NOT be allowed on certain slopes, unless they show basic ski mastery. When you buy car, can you just hop in and drive in streets? When you compete in many sports do you go to elite level right away? Imagine in some countries even marriage has pre-established conditions.

8. Ski centers MUST have a more proactive safety program. At all levels!
I still see ski instructors allow their 15 students to sit ACROSS a ski run while they teach! I would not allow them to pass my level 1 certification course!

I still see lift attendants watch the chair lift not telling persons to move on at top, thus causing skier bootlenecks !

I still see ski patrollers helping physically injured skiers, yet make no comment of skiers that clearly are afraid near cliff, mentally deranged etc....

9. Look at your ski magazine. Analyze the pictures you see! I understand to sell a product,,, pictures must be "dramatic" but what is the limit!!!!!! I am not talking about good taste here, but of safety!!!!

10. The last point is perhaps the most damming for the ski industry! Ski deaths are seen as "events" which must be hidden or not discussed since they are bad for the ski industry. Rather than look at causes and document conditions of accidents, then make changes, the ski industry deals with issue as "unfortunate" incident! At year end conference all I hear is how to make more money! How to attract more skiers! What new gadgets we can introduce to get "new " clients! New water parks. New video rooms! New vibrating ski lifts with music! etc....

We as skiers must demand a safe ski area and not blame the skier or boarder ( yes they are the immediat cause) , the issue is larger than one or two idiots.

I challenge the ski industry to show me the proactive programs they have! ( not the PR they give out at every ski incident about wearing more helmets). The issue is more comprehensive than just ski equipment!
Let me finish with an analogy with motor bike safety.
The typical immature rider ( regardless of age) will spent; $800 on leather suit, 60$ on leather gloves, $300 on leather steel toe boots, $700 on high tech helmet, $10,000 on 1,000 cc ( if not more ) racing bike.

But spend $200 on preventive bike accident course!!! NO!!!

It does not matter how much protective equipment you have, if your mind is not set of "safety mode"!

Help me get more suggestions. I am sure you are more experienced and more knowledgeable on this topic.

And the list grows...

Here's my offering for on piste rules:
Most, if not all, are the sort of things you would do if you were driving a car or riding a bike. All suggestions are derived from personal experience.

1. Only stop at the side of a piste unless it's an emergency or you're sure there's room.
2. Try and check over your shoulder before you pull over to stop-avoids cutting up the person behind.
3. Maybe we should consider hand signals to show we are pulling up or to the side.
4. Never stop just below a really icey patch..people will end up trying to stop over the ice and pile into you.
5. Look behind you before you start back onto the piste.
6. Assume the person infront is likely to do something unexpected.

And finally...
If you are a good skier in your early 40s, skiing with teenagers who are obsessed with the snow park, never ever succumb to the temptation to match them over the jumps. You won't bounce. A broken arm, helicopter ride, quite a lot of pain and weeks of day time tv may be the consequence..... :roll: :? . And all those people I guided round the 3 valleys last season would say I was a naturally cautious careful skier. We all have our stupid moments!
Yours,
in a sling
Perty

good comments Pavelski.

It has always irked me that so little consideration is given to safety by so many people, the resorts and the rest of the industry. Like so many things these days, money makes the decisions.

While local politicians are concerned for safety, bussinesses that attract people to an area are often protected. The ski area liabilty laws in the US demonstrate that. As Pavelski suggest though, this is so short sighted. Skiing and snowboarding are perceived by the general public as dangerous sports and the statistics support that belief. If these easily avoidable collisions were removed from the statistics, then skiing would look a great deal safer. Just the knowledge that the ski industry takes safety seriousely would help to allay the fears of potential skiers.

In the case of motorcycles, goverments did get involved over the last thirty odd years, with restrictions, training requirements and safety campaigns. I think don't goverment will get involved in ski safety for the reasons I gave above.

One problem is that people who are safety concious anyway will take note of the skiers resposibility code, but people who are not or are totally ignorant of the risk, treat the code like the small print on your ticket at a theme park. I'm sure many parents who drop thier kids off at a ski area believe they are doing just that, dropping them off at a theme park.

The ski industry might not like it, but it's time for a safety campaign and it would look a lot better for them if they were coordinating it.

It would be far better to have some proactive measures to increase safety, than laws like the Colarado law where having a collision through being out of control can be a criminal offence (goverment getting involved in a dumb way, as most people are ignorant of that law)

Trencher

I agree 500% with all of the above!! Implimentation will be slightly more difficult than the agreement of us safety concious skiers/ boarders!! A united voice will help the cause.

My only add to Pavelskis list is:

For the ski slopes to insist on proof of insurance before issuing a lift ticket. It will not prevent accidents but will at least look after those who are unfortunate enough to have been involved.

Please now bare with me whilst I beam us a few years ahead ....................

Can you imagine if ski patrols / mountain rescue / instructors etc were to carry breathalisers? I guess the lawyers would rub their hands in making a lot of money from alpine sports!

Also, I wonder if technology would actually faciltate speedometers on ski's and speed cameras on runs that act as speed cameras?? Anyone found excessing the ski speed limit on a given run would be subject to the various ideas previously mentioned - maybe a point system could be implimentated........ too many points and your lift pass is confiscated?

Sorry, getting tired now...... I shall revert back to reading rather than posting!!

Keep up the fab work folks.

KP

P.S Perty my sympathies ...... yes we all have our daft moments, stay out of the snow park in future!!!! Hope your sling is not causing you too much trouble, sounds like your injury should heal in time for next years season!!

Some form of limited liability insurance could be included in the price of a lift ticket. An extra couple of dollars/pounds could provide a good cushion for the victim of an accident.

Trencher

The ski patrol / ski slope medics rescued my Dad from the hill and gave him fantastic care whilst we waited for the ambulance to take him to hospital ....... this is one bill we nor our insurers have been asked to pay ...... therefore we gather this service IS already inc'd within the cost of the lift pass?

KP