Helmets

Skiing these days has become different to what it was (say) 20 years ago.

Firstly, there are more people.

The lift queues are shorter and people are skiing rather than queueing and sitting on lifts.

The restaurants are expensive so people spend less time not skiing.

As it's a pretty expensive sport, people try to get more out of it - and ski more.

Snow boarding has appealed to a younger generation who now go boarding as a day break (Eg. local nationals)

These days, limb injury has gone down the league table as a result of improved ski bindings releases.

Speed has increased.

Styles of sking such as boarding and carving cause people to zig zag across the slope. This makes it more likely that they will cut in front of another person going downhill in a straighter line.

Collisions between two skiers/boarders produce the most harmful injuries. Impact speed can be in some cases twice that of a person falling over on their own.

Collisions result in the worst neck and head injuries.

A helmet becomes more and more necessary as a result of the above.

Do I wear one? No. But maybe I should. I always look left and right up the hill before making a turn to ensure that I do not cut somebody up, even though it is the uphill skier who has to ensure they do not run into somebody.

The day will come - I'm sure of it - when we will all have to pass tests etc to be allowed on certain runs, you'll have indicators/turn signals on your arms or ski poles. There will be traffic lights at intersections and maybe the odd roundabout or two.

Hopefully, by then, I'll be a bystander commenting about 'in the olden days.... we never had to do all this.....' (And my son and daughter will be cringing and thinking 'Dad - just go home - you're so old fashioned!!!')

Meercat wrote:Styles of sking such as boarding and carving cause people to zig zag across the slope. This makes it more likely that they will cut in front of another person going downhill in a straighter line.

Glad someone else can see this as an issue. As greater numbers learn to carve on skis, this will need to be addressed in skiers safety codes. I would say though, that the responsibility rest with the person comming from behind to see that someone in front is carving.

I have watched groups of instructors taking carving clinics and it only after collisions and near misses that they start to space themselves out safely. The safety aspects of carving should be the first thing taught.

1 It is very difficult to anticipate the timing and return traverse speed of someone carving below you. This makes passing problematic.

2 It is very difficult to safely carve near another carver. If you happen to transition toward each other, the combined speeds at collision are horrendous.

3 Carving turns is commiting to a given course, like being on rails. It is often impossible to make last second changes in direction. therefor you must allow more room around others, especially if thier movements cannot be predicted.

Trencher

Trencher,

I agree with you entirely. Added to the issues of carving are boarders who also enjoy the wide sweeping turns and they are hindered by their (NECESSARY) posture which makes it difficult for them to glance up hill at times.

Yes, the person 'behind/up hill' is responsible for avoiding a collision, but two skiers carving - one from the left and one from the right are in danger of meeting right in the middle when they are close to max velocity.

Combine this with crowded runs and the recipe for disaster is complete. Actually, in a way there comes a point where 'critical mass' is reached and skiers/boarders cannot carve across the piste because it's just too crowded to even start a wide sweep. At this point one of two things happen. Either the skier/boarder gives it up as 'too much hassle' or - risks are taken.

I'm unable to provide a solution to this problem - and I worry that the point will be reached where rules and regulations are introduced to protect people - and with that goes part of the pleasure of snow sports - the day we all have to buy a ticket to use a run at a particular time and then wait 30 minutes for your next 'allotment of skiing/boarding'.

I'm surprised that the beuaraucrats (sp?) in Brussels have not yet stuck their noses in - but they probably will in, I guess then next 10 years.

And rule No. 1 will be - you must wear a helmet.

Meercat wrote:Skiing these days has become different to what it was (say) 20 years ago.

Excellent summary of how things have changed - thank you! Santa's bringing me a shiny new lid for Xmas...

Since my original enquiry about helmets the subsequent comments have been very instructive. Although the sample of replies is by no means an objective one it is interesting to see the high level of support for helmets from experienced and regular skiers on this list.

I decided to wear a helmet for the first time last season, in my 26th year of skiing, after seeing a skier collide with another and subsequently crash into rocks at the side of the piste. He received serious head injuries.

I have the feeling that helmets for adults will become far more common during the next few years.

Geoff Smith

However careful you are, sooner or later someone else will crash into you. Last year I was standing still on the edge of an unbelievably empty piste with only three other people in a space 300m long by 30m wide. And yes, you guessed it - I was taken out by someone who decided to do some fast carving and "sorry, sorta lost it". That was it for the next two days of my holiday. Unbelievable. Without a helmet it would have been the end of my skiing for the entire season, given the wipe-out.

Bottom line is accidents do happen, I'd rather be wearing a helmet than not.
I've seen a couple of high velocity collisions where people have been really lucky to have got away with minor injury.
Totally agree that the changing techniques have increased the likelihood of collisions happening, most of the near misses you see are people travelling at similar speed who accelerate out of a turn and their turns intersect.
Add to all of this that fact that mountain etiquette is rarely taught these days and the problem just gets worse.

Blimey, a 4 year bump :shock: