rmsmith 1 #1 March 8, 2003 COLORADO SPRING, Colo. - Shaggy-haired Sonny Bono once sang, "There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb." An accident on a mountain was what killed him. When Bono skied into a tree and died in 1998 on a Nevada slope, the impact shook the ski industry and, a top industry leader said, overnight changed how the media portrayed skiing. The death of Bono is the reason people learned two snowboarders became the 12th and 13th snow riders to die this season in Colorado. "It all changed with Bono and Kennedy," said Michael Berry, president of the Denver-based National Ski Areas Association, referring to the deaths of Bono and Michael Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy died a few days before Bono after he slammed into a tree at Aspen while catching a football as he skied down a run. "A couple years before that (1994-95), we had a record number of deaths nationwide (49), and I didn't get one call from the media, not one," Berry said. Is the angst justified? Ski safety experts say even with the upward trend in ski deaths during the past decade, skiing is far less dangerous than many other sporting activities. Forty-five skiers or snowboarders died in the 2001 season in the United States. Many more died the same year while swimming (1,200), scuba diving (91), boating (701), and bicycling (800), government statistics say. So why all the angst about a few, admittedly tragic, deaths in a sport with more than 10 million participants? People have become increasingly risk-averse, Berry and others within the ski industry said. To put it bluntly, they demand to be warned about every risk. They want them removed. If they aren't, and people are hurt, they'll cry and sue. Technology -- good, bad Colorado Springs' Pat Pfeiffer has an unusual perspective on the changes in the ski industry -- and in skiers. Pfeiffer, 75, and husband Bill, 78, a former ski patroller, started their four children skiing at an early age. The technological advances that made skiing more fun have a downside, Pfeiffer said. Fast chairlifts put more people on the slopes, creating crowding and increasing fatigue. Groomed runs -- which customers demand -- allow faster skiing. The new generation of shaped skis -- shorter and built to turn more easily -- can give skiers a false sense of expertise. She said the real change might be in the mindset of skiers. "When I was learning how to ski, I didn't go to the top of the mountain," Pfeiffer said. "Now I think a lot of people go up and attempt things they shouldn't attempt." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #2 March 8, 2003 i remember a great joke from a friend in the industry that year... What do the Dems and the Repubs have in common? 1 extra lift ticket each. ____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nubain1 0 #3 March 8, 2003 I heard on the radio the other morning that with the death of a skier last week that was hit by a snowboarder that it has brought the death toll to 14 for the year for Colorado alone.Nothing was said on the total for the country.It would be interesting to find out. On a differant note when I was at admin my last shift there was some people there that was on light duty from ski/snowboard accidents.I overheard one of the stupidvisors saying that the insurance needed to be changed for people that woorked C shift because of all the accidents.I just looked around and smiled and told them that I did'nt want to hear anymore shit from them about my skydiving.Then come to find out that my shift sup had made a couple of AFF jumps and was telling me that he wanted to get back into finishing it up.So we talked for a while about it and I think he's going to go back.It would be nice to no tbe the only one in the company that jumps.That way he can catch some of the hell I get from admin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsled92 0 #4 March 8, 2003 Iv'e been skiing since I was 3 and riding Motorcycles since I was 4 (13years =dirt/18 street&track). I have seen the level of hazard change do to people with the "ME FIRST" attitude. The reason I sold my SuperBike(limited/stock) & Touring bike is because Soccer Moms in Mini van on Cell phones. Skydiving is safer (Iv'e never had to avoid a soccor mom while jumping) While skiing you have a large number of fools=the AssClown folk, that ski and snow board in places way beyond their abilitites(how dumb to hit a tree!) see photo below (& I'm sticking to jumping) _______________________________ If I could be a Super Hero, I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year. http://www.hangout.no/speednews/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #5 March 8, 2003 QuoteSoccer Moms in Mini van on Cell phonesAnyone who talks on a cell phone while driving is plain old stoopid... but I think all the soccer Moms out there deserve thanks for helping our kids take part in their chosen sports. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
