Common Decency

[billski]

Because of this sort of bedlam, I've become much fussier about where and what trails I will ski on. Anything that even reeks of moderately crowded I flee from. Too many incidents; I'm out there to have fun. Of course I'm skilled enough that I can ski most anything and that gives me a lot of choices.

Steve made a good point when we were discussing Jay and green trails yesterday. His point was that beginners should avoid skiing greens at Jay because their greens are where faster trails empty into, a formula for disaster. To generalize, looking at a resort's map in advance (I always do then when selecting a destination for a mixed skill group) can help, somewhat mitigate that. Areas where greens are cloistered for example is a good target for beginners. I know this is somewhat tangential to someone out there freeskiing after Nastar, you don't "pick" your resort that way.

It's not a panacea and there are still bound to be issues, but at least with some planning, and good "defensive driving" techniques suggested by others can go a long way.

I really like helping out at a yard sail, but more often than not, I get a wide range of reactions. For the most part, people are embarrassed, upset and a little sore. I try to leave them with a word of encouragement.

 

[Euler]

To me the point is not to figure out whose fault it was or how to avoid collisions in the future, but simply the fact that a collision occured and one of the parties was content to move alonbg without bothering to stop and see if the other was OK.

I had an experience like this last year - I was skiing behind my kids, essentially protecting them from uphill skiers/boarders on a steep pitch and sure enough I was knocked flat over by an out of control snow slider. The kid got right up and moved along down the hill without a word to me. No matter if it was my fault, his fault, nobody's fault... the thing anyone with a shred of common decency would do is to say "are you all right?" after a collision. It really is troubling that it seems to be rather common for people to be willing to ski away without a word after a hard collision like this.

 

[crank]

There is a thread over on Epic about intentional collisions. Perhaps you were his intended victim?

 

[dmc]

There are laws in some states that say you HAVE to stop after a skiing collision...

 

[awf170]

Wachusett is awesome...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOPQxoiTklg

 

[hiroto]

i guess gone are the days of helping people up if they get knocked down or have a yard sale?

Last season at Kmart, I saw a kid slid off side of the trail and got stuck in the snow. There was an adult male ahead of him who I assumed was his father, but he was already down hill from him, so I took my skis off and help him get back up on the trail.

The kid just took off without saying anything, and his dad, watching the whole thing from down below, also didn't even acknowledge my existence and took off with his son. :sad:

 

[jack97]

Wachusett is awesome...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOPQxoiTklg

Yup, things happen with new skier/riders packed in a crowded trail.

 

[jack97]

The kid just took off without saying anything, and his dad, watching the whole thing from down below, also didn't even acknowledge my existence and took off with his son. :sad:

I would say just keep it up, these acts of decency goes a long way. Others may see it and understand.

I have always helped out when a yard sale occurs downhill. My daughter has seen me do this plenty of times, last season, she has helped others.

 

[RENO]

There's just a lot of A-Holes out there skiing/riding unfortunately. Happened to me before. I can't imagine just taking off after hitting someone? That's why I love midweek so much. Lot less crowded. Unfortunately, can't always ski just midweek.

I also agree with jack97's response to hiroto, better to be like that and stop to try to help than some jerk who will blow snow in your face and continue on. I always stop for stuff like that, pick up a pole, lost ski, etc... and would hope that someone will do the same for me. Even when I mountain bike I stop to see if someone needs help. What, are they gonna lose 5 seconds of their precious time and 2 vertical ft by stopping?:-?

 

[Warp Daddy]

Way 2 many a holes out there these days >

I'm GLAD you are whole and able to continue !

I very seldom almost never stop a run but wheni do i always go to teh side and FACE UP HILL WHY ???( see first sentence )

 

[RENO]

Way 2 many a holes out there these days >

I'm GLAD you are whole and able to continue !

I very seldom almost never stop a run but wheni do i always go to teh side and FACE UP HILL WHY ???( see first sentence )

I don't stop much when I ride. I like to just go top to bottom most of the time. If I do stop, I like to hide behind a lift tower or tree when I stop! Why? See Warp's first sentence above!:lol:

 

[Phildozer]

Scarely story. I've been lucky that I never got hit like that so far. Phildozer, did you hear him coming? It would help if you know a split second earlier if somebody is screaming toward you, but I'm concerned that my hearing is somewhat compromised by wearing helmet.

Never heard the guy coming. One minute I'm talking to friends the next minute I'm on my back.

Best part is his board took a pretty decent chunk out of the top of my skis. A little something to remember the incident by.

 

[Phildozer]

I'm GLAD you are whole and able to continue !

Ironically, I did continue but it looks like his "love tap" will be moving up the date of my knee surgery.

Living on Motrin!

 

[The Sneak]

Places like wachusett are full of ignorant gapers. It's just how it is. Bandanna-wearing, cigarette-smoking-in-the-lift-line idiots.

I wish it weren't so. I'm an elitist!

 

[Warp Daddy]

Nah you're a REALIST !!

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

There are laws in some states that say you HAVE to stop after a skiing collision...

Really? Interesting. Not doubting it in the least, but I'm curious to check these out. Which states?

 

[Euler]

Really? Interesting. Not doubting it in the least, but I'm curious to check these out. Which states?

In Vermont, the law is that you must stop and exchange info if there is an injury caused by the collision. Of course, if one doesn't stop, one will never know if there is an injury...

 

[dmc]

In Vermont, the law is that you must stop and exchange info if there is an injury caused by the collision. Of course, if one doesn't stop, one will never know if there is an injury...

Washington State too... I remember seeing a list...

I just got finished debating some asswipe (swiftskier?) about this on the NELSAP board...

Guy was involved in an accident didn't stop and bragged about it... horrible...

 

[billski]

Washington State too... I remember seeing a list...

I just got finished debating some asswipe (swiftskier?) about this on the NELSAP board...

Guy was involved in an accident didn't stop and bragged about it... horrible...

Statutes are only as good as their enforcement. Or the stupid criminal

 

[dmc]

Statutes are only as good as their enforcement. Or the stupid criminal

I've chased people down and reported them to ski patrol before..
Once a killington the patroller said he couldn't do anything... I told I'd take care of it and he went after the guy... (I'd never pull a Spanky from KZone move..)

I'm lucky to be friend with tons of patrollers at Hunter.. Had some crazy guy come after me once after i yelled at him for cutting my line from a standstill on the side of the trail... He didn't look up before starting.. He was in a pack of very aggressive eastern euro types...

So I saw some patroller friends and just stood with them and thumb my nose at the jerk...


yeah... I'm an ass...