Skiing Accidents.

[Khandro]

Skiing accident deaths are now expected every ski season. Famous skiing deaths include actress and wife of Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson and singer/actor/US Congressman Sonny Bono. Ski accidental deaths and serious injuries can happen to even the most experienced skier.
We tend to hear only about accidents incurred by the famous, - at the moment M. Schumacher and A. Merkel, but with hundreds, if not thousands of accidents, happening to 'ordinary' people, shouldn't the danger be pointed out more emphatically? It seems there is a huge recreational industry doing very well depending on what must be the most dangerous activity on earth.

[joggerjayne]

snags ...

You may be right. It seems a bit unclear.

The Meribel ski rescue staff said he was skiing fast.

A German newspaper said he wasn't.

Is there a definitive report?

[Khandro]

jj; wouldn't you agree that at any ski resort, crutches and plaster are not an unfamiliar sight?
baldric; No one is suggesting that people should be wrapped in cotton wool. Skiing is a dangerous activity and should be seen as so.

[Baldric]

Been there, ^^^ done that in RM's, wouldn't do it nowadays, too aged ;-(

[joggerjayne]

Khandro ...

I'll meet you half way.

I agree it's dangerous. You're somewhere up in the mountains, on a steep slope (sometimes), in unpredictable weather conditions (sometimes), and several km away from medical assistance (sometimes).

But, I think the danger is pointed out.

I think the misunderstanding perhaps is how new skiers think it works. They imagine a ski lift taking you a few hundred yards to the top of a hill, and then you ski down in the sun, back to the bottom.

In reality, the lifts can take you a few kms up and dump you somewhere in the freezing mountains, in a blizzard, with a slightly dodgy map.

[Khandro]

jj; Agreed. Also the difference between skis and mountain bikes (sorry you were injured) is that skis don't have brakes.

[ToraToraTora]

"It seems there is a huge recreational industry doing very well depending on what must be the most dangerous activity on earth. " - what a sheltered existance you must lead! Sliding down a mountain with a couple of floor boards on yer plates is always going to have afew risks attached but hey, so does walking on the pavement with moronic cyclists buzzing you. I wouldn't say it's the most dangerous activity on earth though. I'm pretty sure more people got injured in the January sales this year.

[Khandro]

Tora; "Pedestrians are more likely to be injured or killed in collision with a motor vehicle than in collision with a cycle, even if they are walking on the verge or footway (pavement). This is all the more surprising because, unlike driving, most cycling takes place where there are high levels of pedestrian activity." (source; CTC). Have you ever been skiing?

[ToraToraTora]

Yes I have been skiing and I survived!