Should ski patrollers be required to wear helmets???

[sledhaulingmedic]

Possibly true. But you have to realize also, that a LOT of ski patrollers are volunteers, not paid employees.

Although Workers' Comp laws vary by state, the volunteer patroller is an "Agent of the Corporation" in most instances. There have been several cases where volunteer patrollers were injured and the mountain was held liable. The old days of the Patrol being a separate entity is long gone. The mountain management absolutely has the right to dictate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.

I've worn a helmet for over ten years now. I do believe patrollers should set a good example, as well as take any available steps to protect themselves. I do prefer that personal choice not be infringed, so I did vote no. That being said, I do believe helmets are a good idea.

Police, EMS and Fire are currently dealing with the new requirement to wear High Visibility Work Wear on Federally funded Highways. Sounds like a good idea, right? First incarnation of the Federal Reg required a vest so large, it covered the cops' gun belts. Not really an increase in safety there. Now, our Fire Department has to put on the High Vis vest over our Turnout coat, but only if we're not actively involved in Firefighting. Then as soon as we're done, we need to put it on. It was all well intended, it just was not very well thought out.

Just curious, GSS: If all the patrollers at Blue are like those Ski Nazi's on the Ski Patrol show, don't you think they'd be safer with sparring helmets? (Some of that non-sense made me embarrassed to admit I'm a patroller)

 

[RootDKJ]

back in '94 on Spring Break, a bunch of us went skiing in VT for the week (stowe, K, Bush etc) my roommate was a beginner skiier and doing pretty good wedge turns on easy greens when he hit some ice, fell, smacked his head and was takend down in the wagon then to the ER with a massive concussion......just takes 1 little bonk and your skiing days could be over or worse...i wear mine religiously....who would ride (road or mtn) without a brainbucket?? not me....even though it dont work so well sometimez...i'll keep the brain i got....

I was telling GSS on the lift today, that 7 years ago, I had just started to ski again and while going off a little booter (that I had hit ok on the previous run) I botched the landing and smacked the back of my head on a nice patch of ice. The first thing I said to my self was "damn, that's why I see lots of people wearing helmets these days" Never skied with out once since.

 

[2Planker]

Possibly true. But you have to realize also, that a LOT of ski patrollers are volunteers, not paid employees.

As a 25 year patroller (both full time and volunteer) the volunteers are indeed covered by Workman's Compensation. It obviously is state regulated, but at our resort, they pay all your medical expenses if injured on the job. They do not pay your regular salary while out of action from your "day job" though. Plus our patrollers are reassigned to desk duty or working the clinic if they can't ski - You still need to get your 25 days in, if possible.

 

[gorgonzola]

i think they should be required as ambassadors of the mountain - but we're talkng blue. last year my buddy was trying to do some helmet cam footage (another advantage!) on barneys and was having technical difficulties so we were stopped off to the side. this rather large patroller snoplows over with a lit cigarette to see if we'er ok - we just looked at him and started cracking up, where was tru-tv then? only at blue.... tonight the ticket scanner at the valley lodge looked like a hit man!
i only started wearing a helmet when my kids started and figured if i'm making them do it i should as well.

 

[Johnskiismore]

If the mountain provides the patrollers helmets then yes, it keeps them safe and sets an example

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

.... Tonight the ticket scanner at the valley lodge looked like a hit man!
.

lmbfao!!!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Just curious, GSS: If all the patrollers at Blue are like those Ski Nazi's on the Ski Patrol show, don't you think they'd be safer with sparring helmets? (Some of that non-sense made me embarrassed to admit I'm a patroller)

I was thinking they should give them tasers for people violating the skiers responsibility code. All the people from the ski patrol show who were ejected by the Blue mountain ski patrol deserved to be ejected...skiing with a bow and arrow, mouthing off to a ski patroller and hit and runs are not to be tolerated.

 

[2Planker]

Hmmmm That might work. Now that Tazers are legal in most states (Not NJ, NY, MA or RI though)....

How about Paintball guns ? That would make the slow zone offenders easy to spot by the lifties, and then stop them from getting on the lift.

But seriously folks, You may be able to outrun a patroller, but you ain't gonna' outrun his Motorola.

 

[ski63]

2 points.....

Ski patrollers are some of the most important people on the hill and the most visible. I agree that I have never seen a patroller ski recklessly but while in uniform they are obligated to set a good example in today's ski/snowboard environment. So...a helmet should be part of the uniform.

As far as a sense of false security, I freely admit the fall I referred to was partially due to the poor judgement I used that first year with a helmet.

 

[RootDKJ]

i think they should be required as ambassadors of the mountain - but we're talkng blue. last year my buddy was trying to do some helmet cam footage (another advantage!) on barneys and was having technical difficulties so we were stopped off to the side. this rather large patroller snoplows over with a lit cigarette to see if we'er ok - we just looked at him and started cracking up, where was tru-tv then? only at blue.... tonight the ticket scanner at the valley lodge looked like a hit man!
i only started wearing a helmet when my kids started and figured if i'm making them do it i should as well.

was this a kinda heavyset guy with a cheesy mustache?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

was this a kinda heavyset guy with a cheesy mustache?

That sounds like about 30 percent of the people on epicski..

 

[Geoff]

For those who talk about helmets being hot for spring skiing..most good helmets have nice vents like the Giro Fuse which can be found online for $50..and you can remove the earflaps to make it similar to a bike helmet..when I start mountain biking in the spring, I'm getting a full face helmet..

Here is a good example....here in PA, there are no motorcycle helmet laws. I'd say 3/4 of motorcyclists wear one and the other 1/4 don't. I bet 100% of bike cops wear one..not only are they keeping their brains intact but are setting a good example..

If you still want to wear your headband...try this example. Grab a melon..and drop it on the kitchen floor from shoulder height..Grab another melon..stick it in a ski helmet..then drop it on the kitchen floor..which melon would you rather have as your head..

No way I'm ever going to wear a helmet when it's spring mush bumps.

 

[RootDKJ]

It's interesting to note the percentage differences between AZ and PASR on this topic

Yes
PASR - 68.75%
AZ - 52.5%

No
PASR - 31.25%
AZ - 47.5%

 

[hardline]

when i first started riding back in MASH i got one. then the first day back in the woods after wearing a helmet i was lovin it. no longer did the trees thwak my head or grab hat and goggles.

 

[GolfingOwl]

Absolutely. Ski resorts or the organization that certifies them should require it. Motorcycle and bike cops are required to wear helmets. The personal choice argument doesn't fly in a workplace situation. When they are not working, the can do whatever they please.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

was this a kinda heavyset guy with a cheesy mustache?

Hey, hey, HEY! Don't be dissin' cheesy mustaches! (Or mullets)

 

[RootDKJ]

Hey, hey, HEY! Don't be dissin' cheesy mustaches! (Or mullets)

never....but I think I saw this guy...and he, well, looks interesting


well maybe not the mullet:-o:wink::flame:

 

[ski9]

GSS is a gay moron.

That came off a tad mean, Andy.

I'd vote yes just because most everyone I ski with is doing something that really should include protection by a helmet. There are plenty of gentle bowls out west where the nearest tree is a couple hundred yards away, but not in these parts...

I've been thinking of switching over to a goalie mask, though...

 

[ski9]

It's one thing if you're out skiing with friends, then sure, it's personal choice, though I still say you're a moron for not wearing a helmet, but when you're getting paid by the mountain, who has to pay workers comp, etc, you should be required to wear a helmet. At that point it shouldn't be personal preference.

At my mountain, I'd make them wear helmets If anything, it sets a good example for all the idiots who aren't.

You're a gay moron x2.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It's interesting to note the percentage differences between AZ and PASR on this topic

Yes
PASR - 68.75%
AZ - 52.5%

No
PASR - 31.25%
AZ - 47.5%

I'm guessing it's because AlpineZone has a much older average age. Younger people are used to rules and regulations..older people generally follow the rules less and are more stubborn and set in their ways..Just my guess..