Death At Jay Peak

[Smasandian]

While I don't know about the stats but I always felt press and people's opinions tend to sway towards what happening at that moment.

For example, a rash of skiing deaths happen, press are more likely to go out of their way to cover later skiing deaths that year and make a bigger deal of it because that's what's in people's minds.

Another example when Hurricane Katrina happened, the press covered storms more frequently even though some of them were not a big deal.

This could be the case why we are seeing more deaths. Maybe there isn't more but because Sarah Burke's accident or other contributions, the press are more likely to cover it because it gains more hits/sells papers.

This might not be the case but I always felt that it's usually is.

 

[bobbutts]

Lift serviced, moderately steep or steeper with flat icy conditions is pretty high on the danger list in my book. Lots of things can go wrong, and recovery/self-arrest is hindered. Awful to see people get hurt let alone killed out there RIP

 

[vdk03]

Right before the impact, you'll notice that the skier's left ski flies way out to the left. I don't know what the skier hit, but he hit something throwing him off balance.

First time I watched it I also thought he just skied right into the tree. It wasn't till you mentioned this and I went and watched it again that I saw his ski get hung up. :-o

 

[steamboat1]

http://blog.ctnews.com/snowzone/2012/02/11/skier-dies-at-mount-snow/

 

[drjeff]

http://blog.ctnews.com/snowzone/2012/02/11/skier-dies-at-mount-snow/

Having skied Ridge less than 30 min before this tragic accident happened last Monday, I can say that the snow surface was perfectly machine groomed freshly manmade packed powder. There was some in and out flat light depending on where the clouds were last Monday AM. From what I have heard, he was skiing with a group of friends that included EMT's so he likely had medical attention as quickly as possible.

Made it an interesting ride home last Monday when my 6yr old son was telling me how he had seen the ski patrol bringing a guy down on the sled with a man on top "punching the guy in the stomach"

 

[Glenn]

Note the author's capitalization of the entire word in, "WAS wearing a helmet".

I think a lot of people, author obviously included, are under the impression that somehow wearing a helmet makes one impervious.

I agree. That in itself can be dangerous.

 

[drjeff]

I agree. That in itself can be dangerous.

And if you've ever seen Glenn on the slopes you'd get this! (BTW I almost didn't recognize Mitz today since she didn't have any BLUE on!

 

[Glenn]

She was rockin' new ski pants today. :lol:

 

[makimono]

Nice Monday Morning QB'ing, there. :roll:

There is nothing wrong with his line choice. I've certainly skied significantly tight lines. Right before the impact, you'll notice that the skier's left ski flies way out to the left. I don't know what the skier hit, but he hit something throwing him off balance. I can't imagine someone would carry that much speed into the trees without having much experience skiing trees in fresh snow. When skiers are uncomfortable, they tend to slow down and go side to side more.

Looks like he tagged the first huge pine with his right shoulder or hip, like he was going around a break-a-way slalom gate. :blink:

 

[drjeff]

She was rockin' new ski pants today. :lol:

As opposed to the new pants or coat she'll be rocking NEXT week

 

[Glenn]

Equipe in Rawsonville had some good deals yesterday. I even picked up a set of running sneaks. Although, 50% off $600 wasn't a good deal on a Killy coat. IMHO... :lol:

 

[drjeff]

Equipe in Rawsonville had some good deals yesterday. I even picked up a set of running sneaks. Although, 50% off $600 wasn't a good deal on a Killy coat. IMHO... :lol:

Yah, a few rounds of full priced beers at the Station beats 50% off a Killy coat anyday in my book!

 

[MommaBear]

For a professional major newspaper, the capitalization of an entire word for emphasis very lame. But whether a skier or rider is wearing a helmet during an accident should always be included because it is something news readers want to know. It is the first question asked if the information isn't included in the article.

As I was reading the original article aloud to my son, just before I read the sentence about the snowboarder wearing a helmet, my son says "he probably wasn't wearing a helmet". He was surprised when I read that he WAS. Guess we'll have a few more discussions on how the helmet is helpful, but won't keep you totally safe.

 

[BigJay]

Anyone know what trail? It said it was a black diamond, wouldn't surprise me if it was Jet or Haines, they've been rinks all year.

RIP... sad to see all the deaths recently but it always happens during crappy winters due to the hard fast conditions. That's why no matter how bad the coverage is I stay on the natural stuff anytime it's open. Not as easy to get going too fast and slip on ice. I'd rather break a leg hitting a tree in the woods then kill myself on a steep icy groomer.

You have to be kidding... Jet has always the best snow of all groomers... Haynes glacier was awful saturday but sunday it was OK. There is a lot more ice and the blue squares (Northway, Goat Run, etc) then in the Jet area...

...and the snowboarder fell on the can-am and went into the trees.

 

[BenedictGomez]

...and the snowboarder fell on the can-am and went into the trees.

Upper or Lower?

 

[riverc0il]

Upper Can Am can be treacherous when it is slick. Can Am may be the trail I ski the least at Jay. Nothing I can't stand more than a steep scraped off trail on which everyone throws their skis sideways and scrapes it down to frozen groomer tracks. Ick. Lower part is pretty flat but also has the park. Since they didn't mention the park, it seems likely it was the upper section.

 

[catskills]

RIP sad to hear all these deaths.

Reality is that 4 deaths per week over 10 weeks would bring us to our normal average of about 40 deaths per ski season. Majority of deaths are skiers rather than snowboarders.

 

[C-Rex]

What surprises me is the number of deaths where people are wearing helmets, but they don't say what the cause of death was. I know that's kind of a violation of privacy but it'd be useful to make the sports safer. If the person was wearing a helmet and died of a head injury, then the effectiveness of helmets gets called into question. But it doesn't really matter if you break a leg, sever an artery, and bleed out.

 

[Smellytele]

What surprises me is the number of deaths where people are wearing helmets, but they don't say what the cause of death was. I know that's kind of a violation of privacy but it'd be useful to make the sports safer. If the person was wearing a helmet and died of a head injury, then the effectiveness of helmets gets called into question. But it doesn't really matter if you break a leg, sever an artery, and bleed out.

Most reports of death seem to be internal injuries with or without a helmet.

 

[kingdom-tele]

What surprises me is the number of deaths where people are wearing helmets, but they don't say what the cause of death was. I know that's kind of a violation of privacy but it'd be useful to make the sports safer. If the person was wearing a helmet and died of a head injury, then the effectiveness of helmets gets called into question. But it doesn't really matter if you break a leg, sever an artery, and bleed out.

I hesitate to even make a comment. Death of anyone, especially someone enjoying recreation is devistating and at a minimum should have a deeper impact on people than trying to deduce error, trail names, gearing, or trauma.

it is my understanding that wearing a hemlet doesn't exempt anyone from potential head injury, I think they do dissapate forces better than just your skull though, maybe they are more "effective" in that regard only.

appreciate your days.