Ski accident - paralysis - help required!

Hi

I am a lawyer based in London. I have been contacted by a man who is sadly now paralysed from the waist down further to an accident at Saas Fee some years ago.

I am looking for anyone who can offer any expertise regarding the saftey regulations in Switzerland for the construction of Snow Parks and jumps?

My client attempted to clear two jumps one after the other in the Fun Park. He describes himself as a novice jumper. The jumps were about table top height and he says they was only about 3 to 4 metres gap in between them. He cleared the first jump without any difficulty but wanted to bail out before the second. He found he did not have chance to bail out because of the proximity of the jumps to each other and he went into the second jump in an incorrect position. He lost control and landed heavily on his spine causing devastating injuries.

Any anecdotal help regarding how to clear jumps and the usual distance between jumps would be helpful.

Thank you for your time.

Becky

Your post seems so naive that I'll assume you are genuine and it's not a joke.

You need to understand firstly that ski resorts are not Disney Land theme parks. Skiing and boarding are adventure sports where to a great degree participants take responsibility for what they do. Like any adventure sport, these activities are dangerous without training, experience, and a measure of common sense. Ski resorts have plenty of disclaimers and warnings to make you aware.

It sounds like he was in a terrain park, not a fun park (often just referred to as "the park"). He deliberately attempted the jump, and didn't have enough speed to make the landing. Unless the local hospital records show a lot of other people were injured on that feature in the same way, I would think your client showed a lack of judgement. That type of jump, where the hit and the landing are separated by a void (this sounds like what is described, not two separate jumps), is generally avoided by beginners because it is obvious to most, that falling short of the landing might be injurious.

Having said that, I am very sorry for your client. I think we generally in our society don't prepare young people to understand and evaluate risk, and to know when they are not in an amusement park.

Here Here

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I guess I am naive as I have only skied myself a handful of times and am just trying to understand a set of circumstances as explained to me by a third party.

I do appreciate your reply. Sadly this man was a very fit and active 50 year old who had been skiing for 26 years.

Thanks again for your time.

Becky

Becky33 wrote:I am a lawyer based in London.

Would we be correct in assuming you are a "personal injury lawyer" usually engaged on a "no win, no fee" basis?

...

Regardless, let me say that (like everyone here, I'm sure) I have immense sympathy for your client and wish him the fullest recovery possible.

Your description (and the subject line you used for the thread) imply that his misfortune was an "accident".

Becky33 wrote:My client attempted to clear two jumps one after the other in the Fun Park. He describes himself as a novice jumper. The jumps were about table top height and he says they was only about 3 to 4 metres gap in between them. He cleared the first jump without any difficulty but wanted to bail out before the second. He found he did not have chance to bail out because of the proximity of the jumps to each other and he went into the second jump in an incorrect position. He lost control and landed heavily on his spine causing devastating injuries.

So, as a "novice jumper", was he under instruction or had he taken instruction in the park?

From your description (quoted above for posterity), it looks pretty clear that your client simply misjudged his jump.

Becky33 wrote:Any anecdotal help regarding how to clear jumps and the usual distance between jumps would be helpful.

[Warning - the following uninformed opinion does not constitute advice, so don't sue me - thanks]

As a novice jumper myself (i.e. I'm crap in the park :lol: ), I'm not sure "anecdotal help" is any use; but speed, stance and balance are all important. The key thing, surely, is practice; starting small and slow and gradually building height and speed?

But there is no "usual distance" between jumps - their spacing, size and shape should cause the jumper to pick an appropriate speed and line. Two jumps close together might be meant to be taken very slowly as part of a beginner's section, or they might well - as Trencher observes - be designed to be taken as a single jump (take off from the front-side of the first, land on the back of the second).

Hi

I am a PI lawyer, but one with a good helping of integrity! I think my client might be the first to say this indeed was an accident and he wishes to God that he had not made the decision to attempt the jump while waiting for his wife and friends. He wasn't under any instruction.

The reason why I am seeking a bit of guidance from people who know more about this subject than I do is that the jumps were demolished the very next day and I was just wondering if any significance should be attached to this?

I just checked the name given to the park and here is the exact description-

"Freestyle Park"
A paradise for all types of freestylers. We have kickers, rails, boxes and transitions in all shapes and sizes to suit all skill levels, from beginners to pros, not to mention a unique yet challenging half-pipe! The whole park is groomed daily by our specialist team to ensure top conditions.

Accidents like this remind us it is a risky sport - but really good fun at the same time!!

Becky33 wrote:with a good helping of integrity!

:thumbup:

Becky33 wrote:the jumps were demolished the very next day and I was just wondering if any significance should be attached to this?

I think your answer may be here...

Becky33 wrote:The whole park is groomed daily by our specialist team to ensure top conditions.

Depending on the weather, it's quite possible for jumps to be re-made very regularly - warm weather can cause the jumps to start collapsing, cold weather can cause them to ice up, fresh snow can cause ruts, skiers polish the run-up and the ramps, etc.

I might have the location wrong but I'm pretty sure I once watched half the park at Verbier being flattened and rebuilt over lunch, so it does happen.

Thanks for your help Admin Man - I really do appreciate your guidance in this matter.

Best regards,

Becky