How would you handle this?

[Mapnut]

Not true. I have no issue whatsoever with polite, respectful teenagers and treat them no differently from how I treat polite, respectful adults. People who are victims of racial prejudice are offered no such benefit of the doubt.

Furthermore, a teenager is an "adult-in-training" and it's appropriate to help them learn. I see plenty of adults (especially drivers) who were obviously never scolded for rudeness when they were young.

To the people who said "accidents happen, just chill", we have a skiers' responsibility code, and when you run into someone below you it's always your fault, so an apology is always called for.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

tape in an ipod?!! :smile:

Ok, ok...I just buy them I don't use them....maybe you can help me figure out how I am supposed to get one of my albums in that little disc player in my car?

 

[thetrailboss]

I think that people are now missing the point. Folks are focusing on the "teenager part" and not the main point which Mapnut stated:

To the people who said "accidents happen, just chill", we have a skiers' responsibility code, and when you run into someone below you it's always your fault, so an apology is always called for.

Intentional or unintentional, such behavior is not appropriate on the slopes. True that one accepts the hazards of skiing or riding, and that many people of various abilities and ages are on the slopes. But neither of these provides a license for one to crash into people.

We all have a duty of care on the slopes and when someone fails to do so, they need to be reminded of that duty or, at the very least, they need to recognize that they have failed to do so and at least apologize. In the original scenario put forward, if the person was apologetic to the wife, then that would be a different story. But clearly there was no apology or any effort to remedy to problem.

We should aim to live and ski/ride in a civil society. We all have a duty to make this happen.

 

[dmc]

So I turned and faced these guys and said, loudly: "You mean he ran into you and never even apologized!" He replied, "maybe you didn't here me but I did apologize, I'm sorry". To which I replied "you made sure she felt you, make sure she hears you apologize."

That would've been enough for me.. I would've accepted the apologie

 

[dmc]

To the people who said "accidents happen, just chill", we have a skiers' responsibility code, and when you run into someone below you it's always your fault, so an apology is always called for.

No way... if someone comes in from the side at high speed or jumps into a line then I believe it's the that persons fault...

Too many people use this "rule" as a crutch to do whatever the F they want to do...

Don't sleeze lines... Look uphill before you enter a line and don't come sweeping into someones line from behind....

I've had people jump in my bump lines while I'm skiing and I've hit them and I've told them it wasn't my fault and I don't give a crap what they say...
I've had people sleeze my line from behind... and end up in front of me and I've hit them and it's not my fault as well...

 

[Jean-Pierre Skier]

To the people who said "accidents happen, just chill", we have a skiers' responsibility code, and when you run into someone below you it's always your fault, so an apology is always called for.[/QUOTE]

I don't mean to highjack this thread, but can we talk about this rule in the skier's responsibility code?

I can't tell you the number of times I'm skiing a line of bumps down the side of a trail and somebody just bails from the center of the trail and makes a bee-line for my side of the slope. There's no way I could have foreseen the radical direction change that person has taken at that very instant. If they had just looked up the hill for a moment, they wouldn't have skied directly into my path. Now, I always manage to veer away from them, and I accept that I'm in a better position to make an evasive manoever, but in terms of assigning blame in the event of contact how is this my fault?

 

[Jean-Pierre Skier]

No way... if someone comes in from the side at high speed or jumps into a line then I believe it's the that persons fault...

Too many people use this "rule" as a crutch to do whatever the F they want to do...

Don't sleeze lines... Look uphill before you enter a line and don't come sweeping into someones line from behind....

I've had people jump in my bump lines while I'm skiing and I've hit them and I've told them it wasn't my fault and I don't give a crap what they say...
I've had people sleeze my line from behind... and end up in front of me and I've hit them and it's not my fault as well...

DMC - You're preaching to the converted, man!

 

[dmc]

DMC - You're preaching to the converted, man!

Your one of the few... watch how this turns ugly quick...

 

[Jean-Pierre Skier]

Your one of the few... watch how this turns ugly quick...

I'm wearing teflon underwear today.

 

[Greg]

No way... if someone comes in from the side at high speed or jumps into a line then I believe it's the that persons fault...

Too many people use this "rule" as a crutch to do whatever the F they want to do...

Don't sleeze lines... Look uphill before you enter a line and don't come sweeping into someones line from behind....

I've had people jump in my bump lines while I'm skiing and I've hit them and I've told them it wasn't my fault and I don't give a crap what they say...
I've had people sleeze my line from behind... and end up in front of me and I've hit them and it's not my fault as well...

Your one of the few... watch how this turns ugly quick...

No. I agree with you. It's not always the uphill slider's fault. I always do a check over the shoulder when changing lines or at trail merges. In fact, I worry more about skiing in front of somebody than I do someone randomly wailing into me from behind.

 

[cbcbd]

It never hurts to apologize and you should always do it if you think you did something wrong - in life, not just on the slopes, period.

But the real question is - if you were skiing with a buddy and not your wife, and the buddy got "hit" the same way and didn't really care, would you stand up for him and make whoever hit him apologize?

People get over-protective of their significant others and kids, it's natural.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Yup...DMC has it right..the code has changed...it's now the "ahead" skier/rider not the "downhill" skier/rider that has the right of way.

 

[Marc]

Why does it matter that it was a young kid on a snowboard. If it was an older man ( say one much bigger than you) who did the same thing would you and those on the board who agree have done the same thing? I bet not. I'm not a big fan of jackass teenagers but I also don't have a big heart for older people who act paternalistic all the time. If it was an older man (or another woman) I'm willing to bet none of you would have said a thing. I've been run into plenty by older jerks and young jerks and guess what- I find the younger kids WAY more likely to say sorry and ask if everything is ok. So...don't give me this "teenagers can be obnox. sometimes" as a justification for asking for an apology. I just think you are all conditioned to think that you are right all the time whenever a teenager is involved. Maybe he did say sorry and your wife didn't hear. Maybe he's just learning. Maybe "I was almost wiped out" was a little dramatic. Maybe he tripped. My point is - I think you all responded the way you did because you have a preconceived notion of a snowboarding teenager that judges this kid before anything happens. Remove that, change the actor and guess what..."oh it was just a little mistake."
whatever...I have to go learn tax.

That's awfully presumptuous of you. Just because you have an axe to grind is no reason to take it out on UHK. If there were parts of his story that seemed missing or unclear, perhaps the next step is to ask for clarification of the event rather than assume the worst of UHK and continue your lecture from there.

 

[AdironRider]

Frankly I think you overreacted to the teen who hit your wife. It doesnt sound like he was being a wise ass or anything. He said he apologized (whether you heard it or not) and didnt come off as an asshole to you afterwards, despite you talking down to him.

It really actually grinds my gears when people act like you did frankly. You have to understand that skiing involves sliding at a high rate of speed on frozen water. Accidents are going to happen. In your situation it sounds as if he was trying to skid up to his friends, goofed a bit and hit your wife. She didnt even fall over or was hurt in any way, if she had this would be a different story, but in reality she got bumped a bit and nothing more - whats the big deal? A simple watch out or something next time should be all you needed to say, you dont need to be a dick about it. As Riv said, talking down to someone after a situation like this never helps the situation, might not make things worse, but sure leaves the door open for a negative confrontation to ensue.

 

[Grassi21]

I would have smashed him in the teeth, no questions asked. JUST KIDDING.

One skill I picked up from my Dad was the art of "the look." I find the look is usually enough to say you F'ed up without having to get into a verbal altercation. There was a time in the past when I would have HAD to say something. Its just not worth it anymore.

 

[2knees]

I dont know, maybe i'm just seeing it from a different angle, but the guy came skidding into the lift que, ducking the ropes, and somehow uphillklimber overeacted? dont see it. Yeah accidents happen, people trip and catch edges. which is exactly why you shouldnt come skidding into any lift que. Just ski to the back and get in line like a normal person.

 

[dmc]

I just keep thinking about a helmetcam video a guy on the Killington board put out last year..
Some guy clipped his wife and he chased the guy down and yelled at him and continued to pursue the guy after he got to the lift... he was being a total asswipe to the guy and the guy apologized...

 

[andyzee]

Here's the skiers responsibility code. No, the down hill skier is not always right. Looking at it, as DMC says, if a skier is entering the trail, it is also his responsibility to look up.

1. It is your responsibility to stay in control so that you can stop or avoid objects and other people.
2. The people in the front have the right away. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
3. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or where you are not visible from above or from around the bend
4. Whenever you are starting down a hill or merging, look behind you and yield to others.
5. Carry all needed devices to prevent runaway equipment..
6. Obey all posted signs and warnings. Stay out of areas marked out of bounds. These signs are meant for you. You are not exempt. Stay safe and obey the signs.
7. Before using a lift learn how to load, ride, and unload safely.

I like the last one, how do you learn without using?

 

[andyzee]

I just keep thinking about a helmetcam video a guy on the Killington board put out last year..
Some guy clipped his wife and he chased the guy down and yelled at him and continued to pursue the guy after he got to the lift... he was being a total asswipe to the guy and the guy apologized...

Hehe, Spanky protecting his woman

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I dont know, maybe i'm just seeing it from a different angle, but the guy came skidding into the lift que, ducking the ropes, and somehow uphillklimber overeacted? dont see it. Yeah accidents happen, people trip and catch edges. which is exactly why you shouldnt come skidding into any lift que. Just ski to the back and get in line like a normal person.

I agree with 2knees, there was most likely a Slow Down, Congested Area type sign that the snowsport enthusiest in question either didn't see or ignored. Personally, if it's an accident I don't pay much attention to it.