Does the "skiers code" need to be updated?

[Savemeasammy]

I've taught my girls it is all about self preservation and self awareness, not just on the slopes but in life.

The skier/rider code isn't going to help anyone if you end up in the meat sled.




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Right. I try to teach my kid about awareness on the hill. Know what is going on around you, and do your best to ensure your own safety. Stop in places that make sense, that offer visibility for others on the trail. Make sure it's safe to start down the trail (i.e. look uphill, etc), and be cautious about passing others. Common sense trumps the code.

I've only had 2 notable collisions over the years. Once was at Cannon. Me and another kid (decades ago!) bumped into each other after some sort of trail merge. I didn't see him, and I don't think he saw me. I stopped to make sure he was ok. No harm, no foul. It's tough to know who was "at fault". The second was at Alpine Meadows. I was skiing a bump run at a pretty good clip. I finished into the run-out where someone was apparently traversing directly across. His skis went right over mine, and I cleaned his skis right off. I stopped and made sure he was ok... Who was at fault? Me, because he was "ahead" of me? Him, because he was entering my trail (so to speak)? Again, no one was hurt, so it wasn't an issue. Code aside, you have to use common sense. IMO the person below should be making damn sure that no one is coming down the trail before traversing across. In a situation like that, it is difficult to stop quickly or otherwise make an evasive maneuver (because my intention is to stop in the runout area). The point? Although it's reasonable to have some sort of code in place, the code ultimately isn't going to protect you. That responsibility is your own. Look out for yourself!

 

[tnt]

I've always thought of it like the rules of boating or even the rules of the road.

The boat over taking the slower vessel is responsible for the vessel ahead. this is solely - and logically - because that vessel is the only one that can consistently effectively lessen the chance of collision.

Sure, the stand on vessel might do something stupid, but that's just the way it goes.

Same with a car - you are behind a car, you have the greatest effect on the odds of a collision. Sure, we've all been caught short by t yo-yo in front of us who slams on the brakes, but a vast majority of the time, the car - or boat - over taking or following the car ahead can control the situation and avoid collision.

the car or boat being followed has drastically less control over the situation - less visibility, attention forward rather than aft - rightfully so! eyes on the road, right? - and attention on other forward cars or boats.

Seems to me skiing is the same way.

 

[buellski]

I'm going to mount a bicycle bell to one of my poles!

 

[Cheese]

But every now and then, you come up behind some one, who inexorably just does the totally unexpected without warning.

I think this is where credit should be taken even though no one ever offers it. Let's face it, we avoid a lot more collisions than we have so there's something to be said for that. There's a difference between a person that's skiing/riding above their level and continually winds up in collisions and someone who has a couple misjudgements in a lifetime of skiing.

Example: I collided with a teen skier who was trying to ski uphill on a cat path. Since his plan was to ski uphill, he came around a blind corner at a high rate of speed. My pace allowed safe stopping distance for stationary objects but not enough for one coming towards me.

• Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

I was totally at fault as I was in violation of the first two lines of the code. However, as far as I'm concerned this represents a single collision in 45 years of skiing therefore I'm taking credit for 4 decades of collision free skiing. Most auto insurance companies offer "accident forgiveness" so I'll play that card here.

 

[Nick]

Is there any good history on the skier responsibility code? I.e. when it was created, when it was last amended, etc.?

 

[C-Rex]

Hey everybody, guess what!!! No matter how perfect a code you come up with, and no matter how many times you make people read and acknowledge it, accidents will still happen. Sometimes it will be one guys fault, sometimes it will be the other. Sometimes it will just be an honest accident. There will always be self absorbed douchenozzles that could care less about anyone else, and nothing you can make them read will change that. We on this forum are the tiny minority that get it. We love sliding on snow to a point where we discuss it on the internet, for god's sake. WE are not the problem. The best you can do is set a good example, educate people when the chance arises, and don't let dipshits ruin your day on the snow.

 

[dlague]

Hey everybody, guess what!!! No matter how perfect a code you come up with, and no matter how many times you make people read and acknowledge it, accidents will still happen. Sometimes it will be one guys fault, sometimes it will be the other. Sometimes it will just be an honest accident. There will always be self absorbed douchenozzles that could care less about anyone else, and nothing you can make them read will change that. We on this forum are the tiny minority that get it. We love sliding on snow to a point where we discuss it on the internet, for god's sake. WE are not the problem. The best you can do is set a good example, educate people when the chance arises, and don't let dipshits ruin your day on the snow.

Well said!

 

[dmc]

All true but as long as beginners and parents are enabled to use the Skier Responsibility Code as some sort of shield to allow them to do whatever the F they want as long as they are in front of someone on a trail - this whole thing is just BS...

We all know what to do.. And how to avoid people.. Well - many of us do here..

 

[bigbog]

Pretty soon, to preserve out life's saving from lawsuits, we're going to have to have directional signals(arrows) on the backside of our helmets...as our ears & hearing are now covered and insulated from the outside air.
As in driving...the guy in front has the right of way, as long as they act within code.... Maybe a limited range network will work for ear/micro-phones for expressing that "On Your Left/Right" greeting most of us learned years ago.... More electronics:roll:

 

[dmc]

Maybe we can have signal drones flying above us....

 

[steamboat1]

All true but as long as beginners and parents are enabled to use the Skier Responsibility Code as some sort of shield to allow them to do whatever the F they want as long as they are in front of someone on a trail - this whole thing is just BS...

We all know what to do.. And how to avoid people.. Well - many of us do here..

Everyone uses the code or at least they should. Not just beginners & parents. Don't ever leave Hunter, you fit right in there.

 

[Abubob]

 

[tnt]

All true but as long as beginners and parents are enabled to use the Skier Responsibility Code as some sort of shield to allow them to do whatever the F they want as long as they are in front of someone on a trail - this whole thing is just BS...

We all know what to do.. And how to avoid people.. Well - many of us do here..

I don't think people use it as a shield. Honestly, I have never heard anyone say "don't worry about it son/daughter....just ski....the people above you have to yield to you...."

The skier downhill from you is uphill from the next guy. He's got to keep his eye on the trail in front, both for his own skiing and for his responsibility to the skiers below him on the mountain.

And yeah, people are going to turn sharply, stop suddenly and do all sorts of wacky things. And speaking for myself, I know I have done those things too, and still do occasionally. I'm betting every skier does.

I don't really understand the complaint, or what an alternate version of the code would look like.

"Uphill skier has the right of way, so be sure to signal every turn and look up hill before turning or stopping?"

And so then the skier up hill from me, to whom I must yield to, is down hill from next skier, to whom he has to yield to, who is down hill to the next guy.....and next thing you know, we're all standing on the side of the trail looking uphill waiting for the guy at the top to ski down.....

 

[witch hobble]

Is there any good history on the skier responsibility code? I.e. when it was created, when it was last amended, etc.?

The ski industry created it in the 60s(I think) to educate and encourage personal responsibility. Not quite as cynical, but similar to the beverage industry's famous crying Indian commercial shaming litterers and deflecting their own part in the process.

 

[dmc]

I don't think people use it as a shield. Honestly, I have never heard anyone say "don't worry about it son/daughter....just ski....the people above you have to yield to you...."

A shield to protect them for blame and deflect onto the other person..

 

[Cheese]

All true but as long as beginners and parents are enabled to use the Skier Responsibility Code as some sort of shield to allow them to do whatever the F they want as long as they are in front of someone on a trail - this whole thing is just BS...

Beginners are very likely to make an out of control move. When you're assessing the risk/reward of a pass, this should weigh heavily on the risk and warrant caution. The same applies when parents are skiing with their children. Now you're assessing a more difficult pass (two skiers/riders) and at least one of them is a child. The risks for the pass should have increased even further. Perhaps at that point the best thing to do is just stop at the side of the trail and let them have their turn. If you decide to accept the risk and collide with either the beginner or parent, you've earned a good speaking to and should take it while offering apologies. Realistically a pass is just a lack of patience on our part so why shouldn't we be held accountable?

 

[bigbog]

Abubob has the cycling version nailed...View attachment 9644
That's a lotta stuff....:lol:

 

[Bene288]

A shield to protect them for blame and deflect onto the other person..

That's exactly it. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions.

 

[AdironRider]

I find it funny the comparisons to driving. If someone cuts you off they are at fault, both in the eyes of the law and insurance. With the insurance point lets not confuse a company trying to get out of paying with actual accountability for arguments sake. Also, in the court of law, does the skier responsibility code carry any water whatsoever other than preventing liability for the resort itself? Im thinking no.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Reason #1001 to wear a helmet. Skiing into the branches along a trail to get around slow skiers.