The Insurance Minefield ~ Chapter 2

Allg: Leashes for snowboards have been around for years. They seem to have gone out of fashion but I have always had one on my board. Long enough to be extended into a carrying strap if I need to do some hiking and do not want to put it on my back. As long as you have it adjusted correctly it is not a problem and does not get in the way when riding.

If they are going to help people stay safe from flying boards, not really a bad idea for everyone to use them.

I'm not sure how you can lose a snowboard whilst in use, perhaps one of the J2ski snowbaorders can help with this. The bindings, generally don't seem to have a release, unlike alpine ski bindings. At least the snowboard bindings, I've used didn't release. I can totally understand resorts wanting riders to use a leash, it seems sensible. Out of bounds, there is a risk that the board could suck you down in an avalanche slide.

Bandit: It is more to do with when you take your board off and on, something you must do quite often when boarding. There is a chance that it will get away from you. With a leash on this is less likely to happen. I always put my leash on first before doing anything else. When riding you cannot very easily loose your board unless your bindings break, but it can happen. As for avalanches, not sure it would help much.

As there does seem to be some confusion as to how to interpret the wording used by the Insurance companies regarding avalanche levels, here is a guide to what the Avalanche scale says. The details are taken from the document with the following link.
http://avalanche.state.co.us/pub/images/Publications/Greene_etal_issw06.pdf and reproduced in another thread on J2ski.

The real problem as I see it is trying to get the Insurance companies to use the same wording so that it is clear for all to understand. Maybe in the future they will start to do this.


Avalanche Risk Scale
Every modern ski resort will issue notices (bulletins) indicating the level of Avalanche Risk for each day. These risk levels are generally quoted from a five-point scale of increasing risk (of avalanche).

If you plan to ski or snowboard off-piste it is essential that you understand the Avalanche Risk Level for each local area and plan your skiing accordingly.

Five Levels of Avalanche Risk
The following Table summarises the five levels of Avalanche Risk. Note the absence of a Level Zero - there is NEVER zero risk of avalanche; except when there is no snow at all. We use the term "skier" below to indicate anyone on the snow - skier, snowboarder, climber or walker. Avalanches don't choose.

Avalanche Risk Level French Flag U.S. Color Code Snowpack Stability Avalanche probability
1 Low Risk Generally well bonded and stable. Triggering is possible by groups of skiers on a few very steep extreme slopes. Small natural avalanches (sluffs) are possible. 'Yellow Flag'
2 Moderate Less well bonded on some steep slopes, otherwise generally well bonded. Triggering is possible by groups of skiers, particularly on steep slopes. Large natural avalanches may occur but are not likely. 'Yellow Flag'
3 Considerable Moderately to weakly bonded on many steep slopes. Triggering is possible, even by individual skiers. The bulletin may indicate many slopes which are particularly affected. Medium and occasionally large natural avalanches may occur. 'Yellow and Black Flag'
4 High Weakly bonded in most places. Triggering is likely, even with single skiers, on many steep slopes. Frequent medium or large sized avalanches are likely.'Yellow and Black Flag'
5 Very High
(Extreme) Weakly bonded and largely unstable. Numerous large natural avalanches are likely, even on moderately steep terrain.
'Black Flag'
The What, Where and What to do
The following are taken from the U.S. Avalanche Danger Descriptors and give a useful summary of each level - and how you should adapt your off-piste route planning accordingly.


Danger Level Avalanche Probability and Avalanche Trigger Degree and Distribution of Avalanche Danger Recommended Action in the back country
WHAT WHY WHERE WHAT TO DO
1 Low Risk Natural avalanches very unlikely. Skier-triggered avalanches unlikely. Generally stable snow. Isolated areas of instability. Travel is generally safe. Normal caution advised.
2 Moderate Natural avalanches unlikely. Skier-triggered avalanches possible. Unstable slabs possible on steep terrain. Use caution in steeper terrain on certain aspects (defined in accompanying statement).
3 Considerable Natural avalanches possible. Skier-triggered avalanches probable. Unstable slabs probable on steep terrain. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain.
4 High Natural and human triggered avalanches likely. Unstable slabs likely on a variety of aspects and slope angles. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Safest travel on windward ridges of lower angle slopes without steeper terrain above.
5 Very High
(Extreme) Widespread natural or human triggered avalanches certain. Extremely unstable slabs certain on most aspects and slope angles. Large destructive avalanches possible. Travel in avalanche terrain should be avoided and travel confined to low angle terrain well away from avalanche path run-outs.

snowcrazy2005 wrote:They seem to have gone out of fashion but I have always had one on my board. Long enough to be extended into a carrying strap if I need to do some hiking and do not want to put it on my back. As long as you have it adjusted correctly it is not a problem and does not get in the way when riding.

If they are going to help people stay safe from flying boards, not really a bad idea for everyone to use them.

It is a worrying trend. I have seen several snowboards flying down runs, but it seems even rentals are issued without leashes now. Until the last several years, lifties and ski patrol were always instructed to stop people without leashes from riding. It would be an interesting court case, if a resort rental board, especially one used by a student under instruction, struck, and seriously hurt someone.

BTW, I still use a leash.

bandit wrote:I'm not sure how you can lose a snowboard whilst in use, perhaps one of the J2ski snowbaorders can help with this. The bindings, generally don't seem to have a release, unlike alpine ski bindings. At least the snowboard bindings, I've used didn't release. I can totally understand resorts wanting riders to use a leash, it seems sensible. Out of bounds, there is a risk that the board could suck you down in an avalanche slide.

Bandit,
Snowcrazy is right, about when one is likely to lose a board. In that Ski and Board magazine article Tony Cardwell, on behalf of the British Association of Ski Patrollers, says;
"The danger period seems to be when boards are being carried and get dropped, are being put on or taken off, or are being misused."

Trencher,
That's very strange, that some hire shops don't supply a leash any more with the snowboards. Maybe it's because they're cheaper without the leash? I'm glad to hear you use one :D

Ally

Sorry to diverge here, but... it's easily done, especially in these days of digital cameras, with people taking their board off to take photos. A friend was out for the first time on a custom made race deck. He thought his board was secure against a tree at the side of the run, while he took photos. It slipped, and went down the hill backwards. At first he was very concerned it would hit someone, but luckily for someone, but not for him, it smashed in to an equipment shed. It was not a pretty sight.

I think the most important function of the leash on the snowboard is to remind the user of the potential for this kind of mishap.

As for liability, I would have thought you would have show why a safety device, that once was deemed mandatory, is no longer necessary. That might be hard to do in court, after someone has been injured.

Cross posting here to the forum run by HAT Henry's Avalanche Talk. Scroll down to the entry for 16th November by Henry. This relates to the claim refused by Fogg Insurance after the death of two young snowboarders in Tignes. Quite shocking to read and very sad for the parents. Henry has looked at the case with his technical advisor, avalanche expert Alain Duclos, who has come to a very different conclusion from that of the Insurer.

Personally, I'm pretty certain I would not now buy Fogg Insurance, although I was a customer many years ago.

http://www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/which-insurance-policy-works-best-you