Speed Question

[Phildozer]

In light of recent events, I tender the following question:

"Do 'ski slow' trails actually work? What constitutes 'slow skiing'?"

 

[Marc]

No, and whatever the patrollers say it is at the time.

Any other questions?

 

[ski_resort_observer]

In light of recent events, I tender the following question:

"Do 'ski slow' trails actually work? What constitutes 'slow skiing'?"

Work? Ya mean providing a safer environment for beginning skiers? I think just like most things in life they work pretty well but not all the time. Just like speed limits on the roadway.

Maybe someday there will be zero tolorance. Imagine ski patrolman perched on towers armed with some laser device that can dissable but not harm any skier/rider at anytime to their choosing as they are watching over the slope like an eagle eyed lifeguard waiting to zap anyone who skis too fast or doing some other activity deemed harmful to the other skiers/riders.

Which is better...that or what we do today to enforce the rules on bunny slopes?

 

[Sparky]

There are several "slow ski" areas at Jiminy. One in particular is manned by "Safety Patrol" during busy days, and that one is effective. Other areas are enforced if there happens to be a Patroller in the area. It seems to be just like any other speed limit, some will take notice and others don't seem to care if they jeopardize anybody else’s fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for letting them run, but you have to pick where you let them go. Through the middle of a Skiwee class isn't the place. I don't like rules any more then anybody else, but there is an element out there that either does not care or is to dumb to pick the right place to satisfy the need for speed.

 

[Boss_Man]

I think you hit the nail on the head Sparky. The fact is if we all had common sense and the ability to use it we would realize the need to slow down without the signs even there. However, many of our skiiers and boarders that are new to the slopes are ignorant of the Skiier Responsibility Code or even what a big Orange "SLOW" sign means.

Slow signs have their place along with liability forms and caution the floor is wet signs. They work but so does alittle well placed common sense.

 

[BeanoNYC]

The fact is if we all had common sense and the ability to use it we would realize the need to slow down without the signs even there. However, many of our skiiers and boarders that are new to the slopes are ignorant of the Skiier Responsibility Code or even what a big Orange "SLOW" sign means.

Wow you can say that again. I'm the first to slow down in a "non-slow-riding area" if need be, but the first to turn it up in a "slow-riding area" if it's empty. I just can't understand that many people can't police themselves on these matters.

 

[trackbiker]

The fact is if we all had common sense and the ability to use it we would realize the need to slow down without the signs even there. However, many of our skiiers and boarders that are new to the slopes are ignorant of the Skiier Responsibility Code or even what a big Orange "SLOW" sign means.

Wow you can say that again. I'm the first to slow down in a "non-slow-riding area" if need be, but the first to turn it up in a "slow-riding area" if it's empty. I just can't understand that many people can't police themselves on these matters.

My son got a "speeding" warning on his first ski club night this year. He was upset because he said the slope was empty. (I was glad.)
I won't race him unless the slopes are empty and tell him why. I know that he and his friends are racing all night. I know that teenagers are going to race anyway, so I told them to pick less skied slopes and to change the finish from "the bottom" to the beginning of the slow skiing area.
Besides being safer, that's where he can tuck tighter and longer, and ends up beating me!

 

[catskills]

Just an FYI. I just got back from skiing 10 days at Jackson Hole. With the deep pow folks were hucking 30-40 footers and skiing out out of the landing. Anyway the only injury our group saw was a tibia/fibula fracture with the bone sticking out of the leg and blood on the snow in the middle of a very wide groomer run. This guy in his mid 30s was doing some high speed groomer carving and lost it. Although JH has awesome steep trails with cliffs and chutes, its the high speed that can be your worst enemy. Fortunatly he didn't take anyone else out when he fell.

If you could take a picture of this guy and hang it up, I think it would help reduce speed more than a slow sign.

 

[Marc]

Just an FYI. I just got back from skiing 10 days at Jackson Hole. With the deep pow folks were hucking 30-40 footers and skiing out out of the landing. Anyway the only injury our group saw was a tibia/fibula fracture with the bone sticking out of the leg and blood on the snow in the middle of a very wide groomer run. This guy in his mid 30s was doing some high speed groomer carving and lost it. Although JH has awesome steep trails with cliffs and chutes, its the high speed that can be your worst enemy. Fortunatly he didn't take anyone else out when he fell.

If you could take a picture of this guy and hang it up, I think it would help reduce speed more than a slow sign.

No, it wouldn't. Showing gory videos to kids in driver's ed and in school about drunk driving doesn't do anything to curb that problem.

Hell, I've extricated victims from some of the most horrific crashes you could imagine and I still speed. But I am smart about when, where and how I do it. I feel I'm better at controlling and judging my risk to myself and others better than the traffic "engineer" that decided on those limits.

It's all about sensibility and personal responsibility.

 

[ski_adk]

Jiminy's slow zone towards the bottom of Left Bank is somewhat laughable. I was there on Sunday and there was NOBODY below me. I was carving some nice, quick turns, 100% in controll and not speeding at all and I still got the "Slow down...slow down...SLOW DOWN!!! NOW!!!" from the patroll lady.

I didn't get my pass clipped or anything, but geesh, am I gonna have to sideslip this darn area when day-skiing there?

 

[bigbog]

....

Just like keeping to a safe speed when in traffic....even though engineers design auto engines to push 150mph+...so too with ski bases allowing wanna-be experts to approach World Cup speeds....you should obey regulations, or simply sign up for available times on the race-course schedule. The speeders aren't your one-time offenders...if they could be thrown out of the resort, you'd then see a distinct improvement....IMHO, the 8am-3pm speeders AREN'T the good skiers at the races! The problems are caused by a lack of testicular fortitude to yank their passes permanently...for fear that big daddy will come with lawyers....
As Scot Schmidt once remarked something to the effect that..."Anyone bringing lawyers Should Be Shot..."
...after all my ramblin'...agree with Sparky

$.01

 

[Sparky]

Jiminy's slow zone towards the bottom of Left Bank is somewhat laughable. I was there on Sunday and there was NOBODY below me. I was carving some nice, quick turns, 100% in controll and not speeding at all and I still got the "Slow down...slow down...SLOW DOWN!!! NOW!!!" from the patroll lady.

I didn't get my pass clipped or anything, but geesh, am I gonna have to sideslip this darn area when day-skiing there?

I think everone above has been echoing the same sentiment, if people behave reasonably we would not have to put up with these rule, but they don't. If there is no one on the trail in front of you, you should be able to do what you want. It's just to bad that there are so many people that don't use their head. That's how we end up with these rules(again I don't like rules any more then anybody else). Don't take it out on the patroller, she's been standing there for half a day (not skiing) dealing with skiers/riders that don't care if anybody is in there way or not.
Most of use didn't go into skiing so we could ski like you have to drive in a mall parking lot at Christmas time, but there are places that you just have to get patiently through so you can get to the good stuff. Ther are enough well feed lawyers in the east, we don't need to make things any better for them.

 

[NYDrew]

I think slow skiing signs are more like ski with care signs.

I do slow down to a speed at which I can stop on a dime, but I would definately not consider these speeds slow nor do i think the beginners I am skiing past think so either.

I consider colliding with another skiier/rider the ultimate taboo, even more pathetic then rear ending someone at a red light, so while the speed may not be all that slow, they are slow enough to avoid any collision.