Leash law opinions

[WakeboardMom]

Have you ever seen a runaway ski or board on a groomer? They can easily reach speeds in excess of 40 mph. I've seen them fly into the parking lot and seriously damage cars, I've seen them smash into the lodge building and splinter things (mostly not the skis) into a zillion skis.

Interestingly enough, we saw a runaway board Sunday at the bottom of Pickaroon at Loon. Freakin' scary to say the least. I have no idea what happened, or how one would avoid that problem, but if it takes a leash, then I guess a boarder should deal with it.

 

[Cannonball]

It is absurd. This has been a thread here in the past (or maybe it was another forum). The concept of preventing runaway skis and boards is obviously a good one. No one would argue that. But the way snowboard leashes work does virtually nothing to prevent a runaway board. I have NEVER seen a board come off of a rider in a fall. I have NEVER seen a board fall from a lift. The most typical scenario for a board to get away from it's rider is when you have both feet out and are starting to strap in at the top of a hill; such as coming off a tram or out of an upper mountain lodge. But these short little leashes they sell can only be attached after you are strapped in already. So the leash does nothing. The only type of leash that would actually serve a purpose is the old style that was long enough to keep on your leg even when the board was completely off your feet. But even then nobody wore them that way.

I won't wear one. I have been hassled many times (particularly at Cannon). Depending on my mood I have two answers to the lifty question "do you have a leash?" 1) yup, it's under my pants, 2) nope, bye! (get on lift while they scratch their head). I have explained this directly to Cannon management and told them that I will immediately start wearing one the second they can give me a reasonable explanation as to why I should.

 

[jack97]

Back when I use to ski at wachusetts, a leash was required. During peak hours, I use to see lifties check the boarders. not sure what the current policy is, its been a while.

IMO, its a way to get all boarders on the same page making sure they don't goof around when they are not strapped in. the times I see runaways are when they are carrying the boards to and from the racks.

 

[rocojerry]

Step-ins and Flow bindings, good idea for 1-million times they come loose...

A friend of mine had a binding break during the day and he was able to rig it to still ride... but having his left foot holding the whole board without a leash, he almost lost it on the lift....

Standard Two Strap bindings, leash law = useless.

 

[dmc]

IMO, its a way to get all boarders on the same page making sure they don't goof around when they are not strapped in.

I've been snowboarding since 1988... And I've NEVER lost a deck.. Haven't used a leash in a decade...

And i goof around... thats for sure...

 

[jack97]

I've been snowboarding since 1988... And I've NEVER lost a deck.. Haven't used a leash in a decade...

And i goof around... thats for sure...

iirc, that year when wa wa was enforcing this, they had several runaways, one was close to the margic carpet. I think the owners had to place this policy..... makes people feel safe about things. Never said it was fair.

 

[dmc]

iirc, that year when wa wa was enforcing this, they had several runaways, one was close to the margic carpet. I think the owners had to place this policy..... makes people feel safe about things. Never said it was fair.

WTF is going on there that makes snowboarders take off their decks on the hill?
A normal 2 strap binding setup just doesn't come off... and to have 2 bindings come off? Come on... How could that happen unless someone takes the board off?

Ridiculous... I don't ride to make people feel safe.. If snowboarders need straps then alpine skiers should too..
I saw so many gapers looking for skis this weekend.. I'd hate to hit one of those things under the snow.. It doesn't make me feel safe... waaaaah waaah

 

[witch hobble]

This was a pet peeve of mine during the years I spent as primarily a boarder.

Runaway equipment = Operator error

Which is not to say that a runaway ski or board is not a dangerous thing.

Non releasable bindings, properly worn (whether snowboard or tele), should not require a leash. The bindings themselves are the necessary "retention devices". And anyway, the leash is attached to the binding, not to the ski or board itself, so in the event of some sort of binding/board interface failure, the board is gonna go anyway.

For a slightly dangerous control experiment: go back to the same lift operator with someone who has (for no logical reason) unscrewed and removed the brake from a pair of Salomon bindings. See if anyone notices.

All that having been said, I have not been harassed about this in many years. Perhaps it is my arrogant, stand-offish demeanor.

 

[dmc]

All that having been said, I have not been harassed about this in many years. Perhaps it is my arrogant, stand-offish demeanor.

Whats funny about this is it's Plattekill... Thats supposed to be the cool place... not the up your a$$ for some stupid antiquated rule...

 

[2Planker]

I've been the Patroller who had to take care of a guest who was hit by a "runaway board".... It is a law, and last I heard she's going after him to the full extent of the law... Get over it, w/ the cost of your gear, what's $10 more for your or someone else's safety. I broke a ski brake, and had to pay $90 to get it fixed (poorly).

 

[witch hobble]

Whats funny about this is it's Plattekill... Thats supposed to be the cool place... not the up your a$$ for some stupid antiquated rule...

Could just be some old liftie they pulled out of mothballs from 1989, getting off on giving boarders a hard time. Might not be management policy.

 

[catskills]

Its NY State Law Article 18. If you don't like it call your local politician. Not much the NY ski area or the liftie can do about it. Its the law. :smash:

18-101. Legislative purpose
The legislature hereby finds that alpine or downhill skiing is both a major recreational sport and a major industry within the state of New York................................

18-104. Duties of Passengers.
To wear retention straps or other devices to prevent runaway skis;

Reference following links
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/safetyhealth/sh54.shtm#54.4
http://www.belleayre.com/company/policies/article18.htm

 

[dmc]

18-104. Duties of Passengers.
To wear retention straps or other devices to prevent runaway skis;

And just what exactly is a strap then? Is is to hold the boot in - maybe - um - retain it?

It's their crusty old interpretation of the law...

 

[dmc]

I've been the Patroller who had to take care of a guest who was hit by a "runaway board".... It is a law, and last I heard she's going after him to the full extent of the law... Get over it, w/ the cost of your gear, what's $10 more for your or someone else's safety. I broke a ski brake, and had to pay $90 to get it fixed (poorly).

If I broke one of the four straps that holds my feet to my deck... I'd replace it as well..

 

[witch hobble]

I've been the Patroller who had to take care of a guest who was hit by a "runaway board".... It is a law, and last I heard she's going after him to the full extent of the law... Get over it, w/ the cost of your gear, what's $10 more for your or someone else's safety. I broke a ski brake, and had to pay $90 to get it fixed (poorly).

I've actually been the patroller who responded on his snowboard, removed it, set it off to the side of the trail with the high backs dug securely into the snow, and as I was assessing the injured skier, another skier skied (imho) far too close to the scene and clipped my board, flipped it over sent it hurtling downhill. Would you support me(or the mountain I worked for) being held liable if it had hit someone further down the hill? Thankfully it didn't. Do you think snowboarders should have to walk around leashed to their board at all times?

In the incident you referenced, did the board come detached from it's rider during the act of boarding?

 

[witch hobble]

18-104. Duties of Passengers.
To wear retention straps or other devices to prevent runaway skis

In the modern era, we call those devices "bindings".

 

[dmc]

In the modern era, we call those devices "bindings".

yeah... But some skiers love to impose BS on riders for some reason.. They don't think things through...

Hundreds of skis fall off and fly through the air every day... I bet you could count on one hand the amount of boards that fall off someones feet in a day...

 

[dmc]

I've actually been the patroller who responded on his snowboard, removed it, set it off to the side of the trail with the high backs dug securely into the snow, and as I was assessing the injured skier, another skier skied (imho) far too close to the scene and clipped my board, flipped it over sent it hurtling downhill. Would you support me(or the mountain I worked for) being held liable if it had hit someone further down the hill? Thankfully it didn't. Do you think snowboarders should have to walk around leashed to their board at all times?

In the incident you referenced, did the board come detached from it's rider during the act of boarding?

why does it matter? it's obviously the snowboarders fault...

 

[witch hobble]

why does it matter? it's obviously the snowboarders fault...

Oh yeah. The Cold War. I forgot all about the threatening snowboard menace.

 

[dmc]

Oh yeah. The Cold War. I forgot all about the threatening snowboard menace.

Snowblading must've become unpopular again... We're starting to feel the heat... haha...