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From: lowell@fluke.UUCP (Lowell Skoog)
Newsgroups: net.rec.ski
Subject: On Crashing and Burning
Message-ID: <938@vax1.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Mar-85 16:39:22 EST
Article-I.D.: vax1.938
Posted: Mon Mar 18 16:39:22 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Mar-85 06:29:17 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 46


Statistics:  So far this year (through February), there have been 
    twenty-nine fatalities at ski areas in the United States.  Of these, 
    two were avalanche-related.  Eight were outside area boundaries.  The 
    rest were in-area collisions.  In half of these, the skier hit a fixed 
    object like a tree or a lift tower.  In the other half, two skiers 
    collided.

Editorial:  Due to equipment improvements, many of the injuries 
    traditionally associated with skiing have been reduced.  Boot-top 
    fractures, twisted joints, and ski whiplashes are less common than 
    they used to be.  Collisions, on the other hand, have increased.

    To some extent, the newer equipment is to blame.  With good boots, 
    reliable bindings, and ski brakes, inexperienced skiers are tempted 
    to ski faster than they should.  This is only part of the problem 
    however.  Experienced skiers have been involved in many crashes.

    The biggest contributor is trail grooming.  In the last few years, 
    ski areas have become much more thorough and skillful at trail 
    maintenance.  Better skiing is the result, but unfortunately, skier
    attitudes have not kept pace with the change.  People are skiing
    faster than ever before.  At high speeds, even the best skiers 
    cannot avoid unexpected obstacles.

    If you want to keep yourself and your friends from getting hurt, if
    you want to keep insurance rates from driving lift prices even higher,
    use some common sense:

    o   Ski so that you can avoid obstacles, both expected and unexpected.
	Demand that other skiers do the same.  Report offenders to the ski 
	patrol, and encourage the patrol to pull their tickets.

    o   If you insist on skiing faster than you can control, stay away 
	from other people.  Stick to runs reserved for fast skiing.  
	Wait for the run to clear.  Ski the sides.  Have a friend act as
	a spotter on jumps, rolls, and blind corners.  Remember that 
	speed gives you no rights.  Everyone downhill of you has the 
	right of way.  Don't take anyone with you when you crash.

    Skiing gives a feeling a speed and exhilaration like no other sport.
    Unfortuately, the ignorance and/or arrogance of some skiers threatens
    to spoil this.

					Lowell Skoog, PSIA-NW
					Seattle, Washington