When did skiing become so dangerous?
When did skiing become so dangerous?
I’m not talking about the Winter Olympics, Lindsey Vonn’s broken leg or even the tragic avalanche deaths of back country skiers in California. I’m talking about regular “in bounds” skiing at resorts on marked trails.
I was skiing in Lake Tahoe early this season and it was not crowded. I am a very accomplished skier but have become more cautious as I age. I still ski black diamonds and do speedy turns (channeling my inner Mikaela Shiffrin) when I am nearly alone on a slope and no one else is around me. Otherwise, I’m just out to cruise around and NOT get injured.
I had forgotten how difficult that is these days until a snowboarder zipped by mere inches from the tips of my skis. A few minutes later, a skier did the same thing. Sometimes, you can’t help this when slopes are crowded. This wasn’t the case, and it happens all of the time at every resort now.
I rode up the lift with three 20-something males regaling one another with stories about intentionally skiing/boarding as close as they could to unsuspecting skiers at high speeds just to scare them. This was sport to them.
A few runs later, another too-close encounter. I pulled over beside one of the resort’s “Yellow Jacket” Rangers. They’re the cops of the slopes and have authority to pull someone’s ticket or pass if they break rules. I asked him why they don’t stop this behavior and he told me point blank that he got yelled at by his boss for doing that. He said they’re not allowed to chase after wild skiers/boarders or raise their voices or lecture patrons anymore because the company doesn’t want to lose customers!
This behavior goes on across the country at every resort now, including here in Pennsylvania. The Ranger went on to tell me it’s hopeless to sue resorts after an accident with their layers of lawyers defending liability release waivers, and that it’s nearly impossible to find the person who wiped you out or to sue them for medical costs.
When I learned to ski in middle school, the first thing instructors pointed out was the “skiers code of conduct” – always ski in control. The skier in front of you always has the right of way. Those rules are posted at every resort. The problem is, now no one follows or enforces them.
I still truly love to ski and plan to keep doing it as long as I am able. However, I now keep my head on a swivel and, often, hold my ski poles just a little farther out to my sides for protection in case someone gets way too close.
Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.