🚀 go-pugleaf

My daughter is on the ski team at her high school and they had to
attend a mandatory safety meeting sponsored by the area ski patrol
last night. I had to drive her there and ended up listening to the
presentation.  There were a few major points I thought would be of
interest to net.rec.ski-ers.

Basically, about 40-50 cents of each ticket sold last year was for
insurance.  Ticket prices have gone up dramatically this year, partly
due to the fact that insurance now accounts for $1.50 - $2.00 of each
ticked sold. It seems that, nationally, ski accidents are on the
decline but the severity of the accidents is increasing.  Some ski sites
are not opening because they can't get insurance.  The story was told that
one operator did not have insurance last year and said he'd give the
site to the first accident claim that came along.  Well, someone is now the
proud new owner of an uninsurable ski site.  Anyway, The Mt. Hood Area
operators are instituting a new safety program this year which has attracted
some national attention.  Other areas are watching closely how it works and
some are also inaugurating these measures.

The mountain will be watched closely.  If you are observed skiing in an
unsafe manner, your ticket will be confiscated, you will be forced (?) to
watch a safety flick and then be given a test.  You will then have a bright
(red, I think) vest to wear and you can then ski the remainder of the session.
Everyone will see you and know that you have violated safety rules.
That's the first time.  They will also take your name and circulate it with
the other area operators.   If you repeat any time during the season, you 
will be removed from the slopes immediately and all skiing privileges at 
all area sites will be unavailable to you the remainder of the season.
Sounds extreme, but they said they are getting serious about safety.
One student asked what happens if you don't pass the test?  The answer?
"If you can't pass the test, you'll never make it through high school".

The number one thing they will be watching for is reckless and out of 
control skiing.  This means -  fast (tucked) skiing in an area marked for 
slow skiing, skiing downhill such that you would endanger someone else
below you even if that person were to change course (remember, the uphill
skier is supposed to be able to avoid those downhill.  The uphill skier is
always at fault in a collision.  If you are going too fast to stop when 
someone pulls in front of you, then you are not in control for the 
conditions.), and doing maneuvers which endanger others.  This means
things like jumping cliffs and having someone else watch and imitate
you. If that person gets hurt, then you are liable(I know, try and prove
it).  Anyway, that is the professional paid ski patrols talking, not me.

It was mentioned that at two of the resorts, if you go beyond the marked
boundary, you are on your own. (National Forest Land).  If you go into
an avalanche zone then you are in trouble because you also jeopardize the
patrol that has to rescue you.  If you go out of bounds at the third
site (Meadows) then you go to jail and get fined $500.  (County laws,
not resort rules)

There were other points mentioned, but those were the key items.
They summed it up for the kids by saying, "When you are on the course 
racing, go all out for speed through the gates and have a good time.
But when you are on the slopes, slow it down."  

The above rules apply to everyone on the mountain.  Members of ski 
teams are supposed to know better and they don't get off as easy.  
Their suspension comes faster.

They expect other resorts around the country to start resorting to these
types of measures,also.

What do you people think???  Has anyone run into (almost run into) you
from above and then cussed you out because you were "in their way"
and so it was "your fault"?