Not another run-in with ski patrol...Blue 3/8...hero snow..empty

GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Wrong..actually since I've been in the database since December..I have been trying to avoid the patrol but they hide around blind corners and such..yes they set up speedtraps and since they are too slow to catch me..they radio to patrollers at the bottom..Realize that Blue mountain has...gasp..190 ski patrollers..now they're never all out at once but for a little PA mountain..there are alot of them.

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GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

I have been trying to avoid the patrol but they hide around blind corners and such..yes they set up speedtraps and since they are too slow to catch me..they radio to patrollers at the bottom..

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gmcunni said:

get a reversible jacket, switch it up before you get to the bottom :lol:

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Dr Skimeister said:

I've never been to Blue, don't have any personal knowledge with anyone involved, but after reading too many pages of this my conclusion is that there are a lot of people there that seek lots of attention.

One thing I am curious about is whether the ski patrollers at Blue are in fact part of the National Ski Patrol?

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Blue Mountains Ski Patrol is a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Ski Patrol System , one of the largest winter rescue organizations in the world.

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RootDKJ said:

From:http://www.skibluemt.com/SkiBlue/info/skipatrol/ski-patrol.aspx

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GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Hey All,

I'll let others cover the ski conditions..but it definitely turned into hero snow this afternoon and I skied at Blue mountain for a total of 30 runs and 5+ hours..after the snow softened to buttery corn..I had some of my best non powder turns of the season...I freaking love hero snow and today was awesome..I skied with NazarethSkier, Root, Toast, and some jibhonks were in the house.

Due to early morning showers and the time change..the mountain was dead..no liftlines at all and often times there were alot of completely empty chairs going up. Around Noon..Root went down Paradise and I went down Challenge..Halfway down there was a ski patroller skiing on the right side and I skied by on the left side..a full 20+ feet away..I checked my speed before the falls as I always do and waited at the bottom for Root. Well about 15 seconds later the patroller I passed looked at me like I was an alien..all funny and with a tilted head. The conversation went like this..

SP: Do you know how fast you were going down Challenge
GSS: Probably about 60
SP: That's insane if you hit a tree you could die
GSS: Isn't Challenge a Double Diamond..extremely difficult run for experts only
SP: Yes but you shouldn't ski that fast
GSS: Mark Miller and Johann Buckley said I can ski as fast as I want as long as it's not on Burma or Paradise
SP: Well I'm only saying it for your safety
GSS: If you are so safety conscience than why aren't you wearing a helmet
SP: It's my choice what I put on my head.
GSS: But you should set an example

Then I got on the lift with the patroller..Root was on the chair behind but may have got some audio on his camera..Anyway we argued back and forth the entire lift ride..and I kept bluntly saying...Joel, I have been skiing for 20 years....Joel is there a slow skiing sign on Challenge..Joel I am aware of other skiers and riders..and he was bringing kids into it...By the top he was pretty tense..but then he got on the lift with me and Root again and he sort of apoligized and shook my hand..then I went back into it again...but there was no sense reasoning with him. I wasn't even going to post his name until the following event occured about an hour later.

Root and I decided to ski a final run down Paradise..it turned out that Joel and another Patroller were doing speed control on a empty and I mean empty..like crickets chirping and shit..almost eerie Paradise..maybe 5 people top to bottom..so I went really slow by the patrollers and on the bottom section I opened it up a bit..not hauling but I would say cruising speed appropriate for a 80 yard wide run...I didn't even know we were being chased...So me and Root took off our boots and then the two ski patrollers said to stop and we both said..."We're leaving"..Joel..asked..you got my name earlier, I forgot your..and I said my name was Juan..that got him a little steamed and Root told the patroller inches away not to touch him. So I walked to my car..I was followed by the other patroller who threatened to call the State Trooper..for what??? But anyway I ended up driving home in my ski boots but I still think the patroller got me and Roots plate #'s. I did nothing wrong today...nothing at all. It was a great day..the liftees were friendly, security/ski check were friendly, the patrons were happy and 95% of the ski patrollers were lapping up the wonderful spring snow..but seriously...fast skiing on Challenge..and threatening to call the cops for skiing Paradise at way less than cruising speed.

I really enjoy skiing at Blue..it's close to where I live, the lifts are fast, snowmaking is good and I happily fork over $500 to ski there each season. When relatives visit I take them to Blue, I help organize www.paskiandride.com days at Blue...and people on www.alpinezone.com have tried out Blue for the first time because I like the mountain so much...but..I'm embarrassed for the management to allow the ski patrollers to rule with an iron fist..it's rediculous. I have skied all over North America and never had issues with the ski patrollers.

Just one more thing that I will add...over on the TruTV message boards a Firefighter and Paramedic wrote the following..

http://boards.trutv.com/showthread.php?t=1613

As a FireMedic (Firefighter and Paramedic), avid skier, and past ski patroller, I was excited about the show when I first heard about it. I watched the first few episodes at Crystal Mountain and was impressed with the show. When the switched over to Blue Mountain, the differences were obvious. The lack of professionalism of the Blue Mountain Patrol is glaring. Even ignoring their overzealous medical care, their whole attitude incredibly elitist and self-serving. It's clear that they get off on enforcement and have some need to feel special. The tickets are just ridiculous, if you have someone causing trouble, punch their pass, or pull it, but a ticket, what egomania. The whistle really throws it over the edge, I've seen it used to escort a toboggan down, but playing cops & robbers with a whistle as a siren. Why don't they get some flashing lights for their helmets? Ski Patrol, is about helping people, keeping the mountain safe, and enjoying your free season pass. Don't get me wrong, some of the patrollers seem like really good-hearted people, but the guy in charge is obviously setting a negative tone. You wouldn't find me skiing at Blue Mountain.

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1) Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
2) People ahead of your have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
3) You must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
4) Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
5) Always use devices to help prevent run away equipment.
6) Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
7) Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

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GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

I'm just really glad that we'll be having a meeting this weekend...and that management is aware of the way we were treated.

Am I wrong to call these ski patrollers out on the internet??? My Dad thinks one of them might end up being a wacko and come after me violently like road rage...oh well the damage is done..

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mondeo said:

Calling them out on it is one thing. Continuously throwing tantrums is another.

My money is on them not doing this to someone who had several arguments with them before. If you had a problem with them, you should have discussed it with them calmly first, and then gone to the GM and head of SP and had a rational conversation. Arguing, picking fights with comments about helmets and exaggerated speeds, taking pictures of getting a ticket, etc., is all going to get you on their bad side. It's like dealing with getting pulled over. Be polite, and you're more likely to get out of a ticket. Be a jerk, and the cop is more likely to find a second ticketable offense.

I think you've shown pretty clearly that you're an attention whore. If you had just put that tendancy aside and dealt with the issue calmly and quietly, it most likely wouldn't have gotten to this level.

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SkiDork said:

A already sorta said that and got an answer here:


=================================================
Originally Posted by SkiDork
I don't know if this has been said before, but here's a question: If it had gone this way, could the whole thing have been avoided?

SP: Do you know how fast you were going down Challenge
GSS: Not sure
SP: Pretty damn fast, if you hit a tree you could die
GSS: Isn't Challenge a Double Diamond..extremely difficult run for experts only
SP: Yes but you shouldn't ski that fast
GSS: Oh, yeah, OK cool. Sorry about that dude, I'll try to slow down in the future. Thanks.

Or would he have still come at you? You sorta fanned the flames a bit...


GSS Answer:

Sure, but Joel was so rude to me that it was impossible for me to keep my cool..anyway I'll file an official complaint about him with management later this afternoon..hopefully he gets a talking to and is more cordial to paying customers..

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Geoff said:

I've seen the same guy going nuclear at Needles Eye when people duck the rope when the corral is completely empty. What a tool.

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RootDKJ said:

From:http://www.skibluemt.com/SkiBlue/info/skipatrol/ski-patrol.aspx

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billski said:

Why does that photo make them look domineering and bad-@$$? Like they are sneering down upon me from up high. Doesn't look like the kind of people I want to tend to my wounds. Maybe accompany me in a dark alley, but I'd be a bit distrustful of them sledding me down the hill.

Even if I hadn't read this thread I would have the same comment.

These boys and girls need to cheer up a bit. C'mon, smile pretty please?

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billski said:

Why does that photo make them look domineering and bad-@$$? Like they are sneering down upon me from up high. Doesn't look like the kind of people I want to tend to my wounds. Maybe accompany me in a dark alley, but I'd be a bit distrustful of them sledding me down the hill.

Even if I hadn't read this thread I would have the same comment.

These boys and girls need to cheer up a bit. C'mon, smile pretty please?

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mondeo said:

Feel good ski patrol with Smiling Happy People as a soundtrack doesn't sell reality shows. Saving lives and cracking down on rif raff is serious business. And intense.

I'm guessing 90% of the patrol is fine and are trying to look out for people who may get spooked by someone "flying" by at 25mph, a few cross over the line, and GSS acts in an incendiary manner. A lot of the incidents I hear GSS complaining about are on Paradise, which is marked as a slow zone for its entire length. Slow zones are about comfort, not safety.

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billski said:

This reminds me of the whole "community policing" fad that is coming back around at the cops in the cities. Cops are discovering that getting out of their cars, getting to know the regulars goes a long way towards keeping the peace. Might work here too. Rather than busting on them, keep a repoire with them. We know who you are, where you live what you like to do, that stuff. Work with them people!

I learned a long time ago that I hate being an enforcer - I'm real bad at it. Get some "ambassadors" to do this sort of stuff and let patrol do what they are trained to do, drop ropes (er, uh, save lives.).

Or, maybe, GSS just wants to be on TV

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