English Skier Fined by Swiss Court After Piste Collision

An English skier has been fined 45 days income by a court in Vaud after a collision with another skier in 2005.

He was found to have broken Articles 2 and 3 of the FIS Code of Conduct.

The collision took place on a blue piste in the resort of Leysin, and neither man can remember the circumstances of the collision. The other party suffered 45% loss of hearing after the accident. The only witness was a friend of the injured man.

Article here in French from magazine 24Heures..

http://www.24heures.ch/vaud/actu/skieur-condamne-su-freiner-2009-02-11

My apologies if my French comprehension is not up to the job.

Well done the Swiss, lets hope a few more countries get tuff with the idiots 8)

One of the comments made by the avocate for the English fella, was that speed was not a factor.

Also it's 4 years since the accident and the only witness is a friend of the Swiss guy.

There is a question outstanding about the Englishman avoiding a snowboarder.

Apparently the Judge visited the slope to see the lay of the land. Pistes vary a bit in their shape each year from my experience, a bit of window dressing by the Swiss Court?

Agree that the eejits need to be dealt with though.

I think it opens the door for all sorts of law suits (certainly if this is one of the first settlements?!)

If no party seems to place blame or remember what happen it should just be written off and cleared as a life lesson IMO.