Skier in Jackson Hole arrested for skinning

What decade are you in?

I just have to quote myself here.  Are there really still snowboarders stopping in large groups in the middle of runs where they cannot be seen from the uphill skier?  (And Keith I hope you know what an uphill skier is).  I haven't seen this since the '80s.  Maybe I've been lucky.

In fact let me just say that I remember the exact moment that I went from worrying about snowboarders in front of me to worrying about snowboarders behind me.  I was stopped above one of the parachute runs at Steven's Pass circa 1990.  It was pretty firm and suddenly this snowboarder just flies past me, in a left hand turn, makes a right hand turn halfway down the parachute and disappears around the corner.  I remember saying out loud to myself that maybe there is something to this snowboarding thing.

It was that snowboarder's inflection point halfway down the parachute that coincided with my inflection point concerning respect for snowboarding.  And I just don't see them clogging up runs anymore.  And I could give a flying flock if someone wants to skin up the side of a run. 

Hi Billy,

Thanks for the invite, but I couldn't possibly ski / ride with you and your crew: 50mph is too fast for me on either skis or board.

We do have season passes for Alpental, so I may ask for you to just meet up and chat / have a beer or Helen's famous Bloody Mary.

What I was trying to say is: my car can go 100 mph but it's not safe and / or legal to do so, at least not on regular public streets. I can go to a race track and do it there. It doesn't matter if I am as good a driver as Senna, if I go down Bellevue Way clocking the measly 50 mph - I will be in trouble. (and I am not saying that ski runs should be as regulated as public streets - just that skiing 50 mph on a blue run where recreational skiers of different abilities and awareness are present sounds too fast and potentially dangerous.)

Your original post seemed to read like 'get out of my way or be hurt by the ski ninja' and it was ironic to compare skinning up with driving the wrong way, while later in the same post you said you sometimes ski blind.

I am glad that you haven't had an accident for all this time, and sincerely hope you continue the same way. Thank you for the years of help preventing injury and loss at our beloved Alpental!

Cheers
Ivo

If we can ease off on the profanity, that would be great.  Hiding it in $% etc doesn't make it any less obvious.  Lots of kids/family, etc come here.

Right on bro.

Skinning uphill at a open ski resort is,
like driving the wrong way on the freeway.

I have never heard of this analogy put in in such simple terms. I like comparison...not that I agree with it....

www.skilaw.com/ski_collision_list.html

Toni Rusnak v. Matt Walker
If uphill skier negligent, then he may be liable for collision

729 N.W.2d (Mich. App 2006)

Facts

While skiing at Boyne Mountain Ski Resort, Matt Walker, the uphill skier, collided with Toni Rusnak, the downhill skier. Defendant Walker contended that under Michigan's Ski Area Safety Act (""SASA"), MCL 408.321 et seq., he could not be held liable because skiers assume the risk of a skier-skier collision. Plaintiff Rusnak claimed that Walker should be liable because the SASA also imposes on each skier a duty "not to act or ski in a manner that may contribute to his or her injury or the injury of any other person."

The Court resolved this contradictory language by striking a balance. It recognized that while skiing, "sometimes accidents happen." However, "if it can be shown that the collision resulted from a violation of the Act [by breaching a prescribed duty], than the violator is to be held liable." Thus, a skier in Michigan assumes the risk of being hit by an uphill skier, but if the uphill skier was negligent, he or she may still be liable.

Future litigation from Michigan will likely clarify the extent to which this case will limit liability of uphill skiers who collide with skiers below. Until then, this case tends to indicate the courts will be willing to entertain the affirmative defense that an uphill skier was skiing in control and at his ability level, despite the fact of a collision.

Now this is what I am thinking. This doesn’t mean for anyone…but it does set a record that the resort is not liable. Thanks!

This issue also has to consider the number of uphill skinners .
Although I understand the argument regarding a solo skinner being not much of an obstacle to avoid..... where do you draw the line?
Solo skinner at side of a green run versus 3 skinners marching up the middle of a busy run?
If you allow one... whats to stop 3 doing it??
How do you police it?...... yet another thing for Patrol to have to be on the look out for?
Recent thread regarding Crystal had 3 skinners, close together kick turning up one of the busiest runs at Crystal on a busy weekend day.
No matter how you feel about public access and capitalistic ski area management.... I'm sure even the die-hard right to earn your turner would agree that is neither safe nor sensible if they are being reasonable.
I think ski areas that have BC bowls adjacent to the resort where access is only practicable through the resort should have a designated skinner allowed zone..... Like the unofficial route up Quicksilver to Silver Basin. Same if they develop Bullion Basin but as to skinners having the right to go anywhere they want to ..... NO.