Child falls from chair at Nashoba

[playoutside]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/30179686/detail.html

Hope she is ok. Thoughts and prayers.

Those of you with young children, please remind them to be careful when they are riding the chair. Fortunately falls don't happen very often. I saw a child fall at Sunday River several years ago and I hope never to see that again.

 

[4aprice]

Boy this seems like an epidemic. Nashoba, Ward, Camelback and I heard Belleayre too. All with in a short time period too. Be careful on the lifts out there.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[snowmonster]

Every time a ski school instructor asks me to take up a child with me on the lift, I always oblige but get scared deep inside. I always worry that the kid will slip off or fall. I pull the bar down as soon as everyone gets comfortable and pull up the bar at the last possible second. I hope this kid pulls through quickly and is back on the slopes soon.

When I was at Whistler last month, I was lining up on one of the chairs when everyone started yelling to stop the lift. There was a kid dangling from the chair about thirty feet up. His dad(?) was holding him up. The lifties yelled for five volunteers and ran out with a mattress-like contraption to catch the kid. As the people ran up the hill, the kid was pulled back into the chair and the crowd cheered. Scary.

 

[hammer]

Hate to say it but I wonder how many times the younger school program kids are allowed to ride the lifts on their own when they really shouldn't be...I used to be nervous about that when my kids were in the programs.

 

[thetrailboss]

I've seen a kid dangling from a chair at Pats Peak and it is scary. Parents need to be with their kids. Folks also need to teach kids to not be afraid to ask that the chair be slowed if they need it to for loading (or to not ride lifts they aren't ready for) and to scoot way back in the chair.

 

[hammer]

I've seen a kid dangling from a chair at Pats Peak and it is scary. Parents need to be with their kids. Folks also need to teach kids to not be afraid to ask that the chair be slowed if they need it to for loading (or to not ride lifts they aren't ready for) and to scoot way back in the chair.

Pats Peak has three side-loading lifts which (with the exception of the slower Valley Double) aren't for the meek...I've seen adults take a fall from the Vortex double (and had one close call myself).

I was always with my kids when they were younger, but in the school programs they group a number of kids with one instructor, and the kids do spend some time free skiing as well.

Not sure what would be practical to do in the case of this accident.

 

[legalskier]

Every time a ski school instructor asks me to take up a child with me on the lift, I always oblige but get scared deep inside. I always worry that the kid will slip off or fall. I pull the bar down as soon as everyone gets comfortable and pull up the bar at the last possible second. I hope this kid pulls through quickly and is back on the slopes soon.

I was asked the same thing a couple of weeks ago and did what you do. Then I put my ski poles in front of both of our midsections, parallel to the safety bar, which acted as a second safety bar. I explained it to the child who was fine with it. There was no way he could slip under two safety bars.

 

[SkiFanE]

I was asked the same thing a couple of weeks ago and did what you do. Then I put my ski poles in front of both of our midsections, parallel to the safety bar, which acted as a second safety bar. I explained it to the child who was fine with it. There was no way he could slip under two safety bars.

This. I usually have my poles in my hand on the opposite side where kid sits...so if he's sitting on my right...have poles in left hand, grab kid's torso with my right..pick kid up while the poles in left hand go across torso to act as a safety bar. This is my 6yo's 5th season on skis, so I'm experienced. I definitely worry about him going up with strangers, but at SR they ask people before putting a kid with them - I always take one if I can. I'm also a scaredy cat and want the bar down longer than any of my kids lol, so wait until last second. Also..if you have ANY discomfort about taking a kid, just say no, everyone is better off.

My fear with kids riding alone is not so much the ride, but I worry if the lift stopped for 10-15 mins you have a load of kids that HAVE to stay still. I know my lil kid could easily slip under bar if he turned quick to look at something or harass another kid on the lift (haha).

 

[Cornhead]

I was in line at Bolton, there was a Father with two young boys ahead of me. The Father asked me if I minded riding up with the odd Son out. No problem, the chairs were icy, the kid slid off the chair, I grabbed him by the top of his pants and pulled him back onto the chair. It was before we lowered the bar. We weren't that high off the ground, he probably would have been alright if I hadn't caught him, but you never know. I would have felt terrible if he fell.

 

[Black Phantom]

There should be a height and weight requirement on chairlifts.

 

[SkiFanE]

There should be a height and weight requirement on chairlifts.

Naw..as long as parent is there, all good.

 

[marcski]

Naw..as long as parent is there, all good.

Agreed. When young, its a lot easier to ski down than ride the lift up! I've been lifting my girls and putting them on the summit chairs since they've been three or four. With that said, I'm also very neurotic when it comes to riding the lifts and will always keep my poles out in front of their torso's when the bar is up. In fact, when I load, I put my poles out in front of her torso, wrap my other arm around her and then grab the other end of the poles so I have them with both hands at either end and then I have her grab my poles in the middle with both hands and that is how I give her a slight boost or lift to get her butt on the chair if the chair has a high seat height. I find its much easier on my back as opposed to having to twist and lift her at the same time. Although, now that they're getting older and bigger, I don't need to help them as much.

 

[wa-loaf]

Agreed. When young, its a lot easier to ski down than ride the lift up! I've been lifting my girls and putting them on the summit chairs since they've been three or four. With that said, I'm also very neurotic when it comes to riding the lifts and will always keep my poles out in front of their torso's when the bar is up. In fact, when I load, I put my poles out in front of her torso, wrap my other arm around her and then grab the other end of the poles so I have them with both hands at either end and then I have her grab my poles in the middle with both hands and that is how I give her a slight boost or lift to get her butt on the chair if the chair has a high seat height. I find its much easier on my back as opposed to having to twist and lift her at the same time. Although, now that they're getting older and bigger, I don't need to help them as much.

My 8 year old is tall enough to get on the chair by herself now. A couple weeks ago we were at Loon and riding the beginner double. That was her first time riding a chairlift on her own. I still have to pick my 5 year old up. I didn't make a big deal about it and just pushed her ahead and said there ya go ... she did great. The lifty had been putting the safety bar down for her on each ride. He forgot once and she was twisting herself around to try and pull it down. Made me and her really nervous. I reminded the guy about it on every ride after that.

 

[snowmonster]

I remember that some resort in CA has a device where the child wears a vest that has a magnet to keep the kid on the chair.

 

[marcski]

My 8 year old is tall enough to get on the chair by herself now. A couple weeks ago we were at Loon and riding the beginner double. That was her first time riding a chairlift on her own. I still have to pick my 5 year old up. I didn't make a big deal about it and just pushed her ahead and said there ya go ... she did great. The lifty had been putting the safety bar down for her on each ride. He forgot once and she was twisting herself around to try and pull it down. Made me and her really nervous. I reminded the guy about it on every ride after that.

You're bolder than me, Jens. I haven't let my almost 9 y.o. (her b-day is Fri) ride a lift without an adult yet.

 

[playoutside]

Not sure I know how to prevent this. I just like to know the parents who ski try to educate the kids for the day they are on their own. There are many kids who never ski with their own parent which just compounds the issue.

I was skiing at Nashoba last Thursday and was still there when buses started to arrive. My last run of the day, I got in line behind 2 little girls skiing alone. They told me I could ride the triple with them. They were in 2nd grade, there as part of an after-school program and were allowed to ski alone before their lesson. They were very careful about the chair, but it really made me think. Whenever I ride with a kid I'm paranoid they will slide from the chair. They also shared lots of info with me about where they ski, where they are from, how they usually ski with their parents in VT on weekends, etc. I really hope creeps don't take up skiing.

I skied alone as a child -- my parents didn't ski. I was dropped off after school by a mom with the other 5-7 year olds and left to take a lesson and ski until dinner time when another mom would pick us all up. (It was the 70s, we did lots of stuff unsupervised) We lived a mile or so from the ski area. It only had a t-bar and rope tows so I never had to deal with the chair danger until I was in my teens. I never skied with an adult except for the hour or so spent with the instructor. The "adult" was probably a teenager. Times sure have changed.

My friends who I learned with have talked about this and we know we were fine, but we think of the things that could have happened. Those who have kids still won't let them ski alone until they are in HS.

 

[wa-loaf]

You're bolder than me, Jens. I haven't let my almost 9 y.o. (her b-day is Fri) ride a lift without an adult yet.

Didn't really have a choice.

 

[SkiFanE]

Not sure I know how to prevent this. I just like to know the parents who ski try to educate the kids for the day they are on their own. There are many kids who never ski with their own parent which just compounds the issue.

I was skiing at Nashoba last Thursday and was still there when buses started to arrive. My last run of the day, I got in line behind 2 little girls skiing alone. They told me I could ride the triple with them. They were in 2nd grade, there as part of an after-school program and were allowed to ski alone before their lesson. They were very careful about the chair, but it really made me think. Whenever I ride with a kid I'm paranoid they will slide from the chair. They also shared lots of info with me about where they ski, where they are from, how they usually ski with their parents in VT on weekends, etc. I really hope creeps don't take up skiing.

I skied alone as a child -- my parents didn't ski. I was dropped off after school by a mom with the other 5-7 year olds and left to take a lesson and ski until dinner time when another mom would pick us all up. (It was the 70s, we did lots of stuff unsupervised) We lived a mile or so from the ski area. It only had a t-bar and rope tows so I never had to deal with the chair danger until I was in my teens. I never skied with an adult except for the hour or so spent with the instructor. The "adult" was probably a teenager. Times sure have changed.

My friends who I learned with have talked about this and we know we were fine, but we think of the things that could have happened. Those who have kids still won't let them ski alone until they are in HS.

I learned 1970 at Nashoba - same deal as you, but took bus after school on half days, my parents didn't learn to ski for a few more years. But there was no chairlift then, tows and t-bars. I do have anxiety about my kids, but my 11yo has been riding lift with buddies for a couple years. Have to cut the cord sometimes I suppose. My lil one was capable of riding a chairlift at 3yo...just had to do it. He's been in the ski program since he was 4yo and being lifted on by strangers.

 

[BenedictGomez]

There should be a height and weight requirement on chairlifts.

Or that someone could invent something lift-related for improved child safety. I dont even have kids and this is scary to think about.

 

[drjeff]

My 8 year old is tall enough to get on the chair by herself now. A couple weeks ago we were at Loon and riding the beginner double. That was her first time riding a chairlift on her own. I still have to pick my 5 year old up. I didn't make a big deal about it and just pushed her ahead and said there ya go ... she did great. The lifty had been putting the safety bar down for her on each ride. He forgot once and she was twisting herself around to try and pull it down. Made me and her really nervous. I reminded the guy about it on every ride after that.

My 8yr old daughter we let ride most lifts solo if she wants. She has shown my wife and I countless times that solo she can lower and raise the safety bar AND height wise she looks more like a 10yr old! My 6yr old son we just started letting ride the beginner lift at Mount Snow solo only when my wife and I are watching - both of them have literally over a thousand chair rides over their ski careers and right from Day 1, proper lift safety has been taught and reinforced to them. Just our own preference, and i'm well aware that my kids aren't exactly the typical kids when it comes to lift riding experience