Deadly collision

Ski's or snowboards either way - it just seems like a young person thing.<br><br>Last year my brother and I were going down Queens at Crystal. He was behind me. I happened to glance back to see where he was when a yellow streek came rocketing down the hill from the side. No turns or any attempt to avoid anyone. The boarder in this case launched my brother 10 feet down the hill. Fortunately he wasn't hurt. All he got for his trouble was a mumbled "sorry", which is more then most folks get.<br><br>All too often I see kids skiing/riding too fast and too close when passing people. Like most I've had to make emergency maneuvers to avoid them. A couple of times they've caught my elbow for thier trouble. Bad habit I know, but I spent a good part of MY youth playing hockey.

My 3 young skiers don't ski that way! They take lessons.<br><br>

It's not only the young people out there with bad etiquette. I see lots of adults skiing out of control and they weigh more than the kids. Most of our near mishaps are from adults skiing with their heads you know where. Actually I dont think that the people are out of control so much as they dont give a hoot about anybody elses safety. It;s a global problem of people not being cognescent(???) about the other people around them. Whether it be skiing or driving or walking down the sidewalk. This is the me first era and damn everyone else. Sorry about the rant,but I dont think its a lack of ski schooling that makes these people act like fools. <br> T

Speaking of ski schooling...<br><br>Perhaps part of the problem is also the quality of the ski schools. They don't seem to be teaching common courtesy. Cases in point from this weekend: <br><br>-An instructor was lecturing his class while taking up the entire lift line (both sides) of the wild side lift at Snoq West. He didn't even tell his class to make room when skiers would come by. When I approached him he thought i was crazy.<br><br>-Classes of snowboarders sitting down in the middle of narrow trails at Central and West (Gold Nuggett and Wild Side trail???) taking up the entire trail.<br><br>Michael

Well, you can add me to the list of folks who have been plowed down by snowboarders. Mine happened underneath the Forest Queen chair at Crystal. I was skiing pretty fast when a boarder came at me, riding perpendicular to the fall-line. He completely took me out and then took off. I was left screaming every curse word I ever learned and then shortly discovered I had severed my ACL in half. The guy was never caught.<br><br>I agree with many of the strings of comments above: it's really not a snowboarder thing, but it sure does feel that way sometimes. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the "blind spot" argument many often use to rationalize the collisions....<br><br>~Lara

This past Thursday, @ Crystal, I witnessed two unfortunate accidents. Both were 100% skiier involved. No snowboarders. One, was two skiiers colliding, and another was a skiier solo accident. <br><br>In my opinion it boils down to maturity, learning proper technique, IE: speed control, controlled turns, awareness of who is around you, when to back off, to look up hill when entering a run, not exceeding your abilities, getting out of the back seat and letting your skis work and not let the skis work you. <br><br>I would advise everyone to take lessons. Learn about nice carved turns that let you stay in control. I'm talking about snowboarders also. Everyone should practice speed control. But, that comes with maturity. <br><br>The most important thing to remember is when coming up on a slower rider, give them the right of way. Slow down, try to anticipate what they will do and avoid them however you can. Never assume a rider will move one way just because they did previously move that same way. <br><br>Oh ya. And don't drink and ride.