Hi All,
Firstly what a fantastic forum ........ just a huge shame that I've found it as a result of being bored and stuck in a motel room in Calgary waiting for my 65 year old Dad to recover from his ski accident injuries.
He has a collar bone broken in 3 places, 6 broken ribs (down his back), a very bruised lung (pulmonary contusion) and a fractured pelvis. We were due to fly back to the UK from Canada Sat 10th March, the accident happened on Thurs 7th (thankfully towards the end of our holiday). He is unable to fly until his oxygen exchange increases sufficiantly for any airline to allow him on board. Our insurance company have been amazing and are taking care of all our arrangements (his hospital bills, my motel bills, taxi fares etc etc) and will be flying a medic out to accompany him home once he's fit enough to make the repatriation back home to the UK - a 9hr flight will feel like 90hrs with that amount of broken bones for sure!!
I really am not interested in getting into the ski vs boarder debate, I believe in much of what has been said on these boards in so far as there are just as many reckless skier as boarders, and that everyone is equally entitled to enjoy the slopes. My only opinion (and the Canadian medics agree) is that the boarding accidents do seem to result in more severe injuries than when just skiers are involved (yes, Dad was taken out by a boarder travelling at high speed, out of control and unable to stop or turn around my Dad who was casually traversing across an easy blue run). No injuries to the boarder, but he stopped, assisted at the scene, gave all his details and was hugely upset by the incident. Just unfortunate he was such a huge guy, hence the extent of Dad's injuries.
We are both good skiers having skied yearly together for 25years ....... at 65yrs old he ski's well within his limits and is very careful on the slopes. Luckily he is in amazing health as he swims, cycles, hikes regularly, he's fitter than I am!!. This just seems to be one of those unfortunate things that can happen when participating in a reasonably risky sport. It's certainly not put me off, however Dad's a little touch and go at the mo whether he'll want to ski again which would be a huge shame if he decides not to as he adores it.
Well that's my story - as mentioned I am literally stuck in a motel in a not very nice area of Calgary close to the hospital and am spending my mornings with my laptop for company and the afternoons at the hospital with Dad trying to encourage him to get better soon!! We are hopeful to fly this weekend, maybe early next week dependant upon his recovery rate over the next few days. At least I have lots and lots of ski reading to do on these boards to keep me occupied - a very grateful find!
Sorry to join these boards with a sad story, I'll be back hopefully with something more positive to contribute over the coming days / weeks / months / years!!
KP Ski
Fed up in Calgary ........
Login
Sounds an alright idea in theory, but the money/time/effort in that would be huge!!
Many people, alarmingly, "learn" to ski with no lessons at all, relying on the "good ski teaching skills" of their husband/wife/father etc. how would anyone know that they werent a decent skier that can ski black runs competently, without examining them first??
To Create or Answer a Topic
Started by KP Ski in Ski Chatter 14-Mar-2007 - 13 Replies
KP Ski posted Mar-2007
Everything in moderation except moderation itself!
Admin
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
Hi KP and welcome to j2ski - so sorry you've joined us in such circumstances.
That sounds like a truly dreadful accident and is a reminder of the dangers that are inherent in our sport but sometimes out of our control. All of us here wish your Dad the swiftest possible recovery - sounds like he's in good hands.
And if anyone needs advice on where to stay in downtown Calgary...
That sounds like a truly dreadful accident and is a reminder of the dangers that are inherent in our sport but sometimes out of our control. All of us here wish your Dad the swiftest possible recovery - sounds like he's in good hands.
And if anyone needs advice on where to stay in downtown Calgary...
The Admin Man
Bennyboy
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
Yeah welcome to the forum!!
Sorry to hear about your dad and I hope he recovers as fast as is physically possible!!!
Sorry to hear about your dad and I hope he recovers as fast as is physically possible!!!
KP Ski
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
Thanks for your good wishes folks.
This is almost a full time job dealing with the insurers, the hospital, my Dad, my family on the phone and the logistics of getting Dad & I home!
At the mo the hospital is not appreciating that Dad in fact has to get home to Spain where he lives ..... a 9hr flight to the UK is one thing, but by the time you add on a few hours stop over in London and the onward journey he could go 24hrs without medical assistance and his lungs and broken bones are too bashed up for that just yet although the doc's are saying he can fly this Sunday. Hmmmm.
The insurers are quite happy to fly out a medic to fly with him but we need written confirmation from the consulting doctor to confirm this recommendation before the insurers begin to make repatriation plans. This is proving difficult!!
My quest to get us home continues, and I cant quite believe I have such an extended stay in Canada ....... my employers have been great this week but are already asking "when" will I be back in the office! I simply don't have an answer yet! Mid next week I guess.
I really should check out the other threads for some easy reading ...... am permanently knackered with this!!
KP
x
This is almost a full time job dealing with the insurers, the hospital, my Dad, my family on the phone and the logistics of getting Dad & I home!
At the mo the hospital is not appreciating that Dad in fact has to get home to Spain where he lives ..... a 9hr flight to the UK is one thing, but by the time you add on a few hours stop over in London and the onward journey he could go 24hrs without medical assistance and his lungs and broken bones are too bashed up for that just yet although the doc's are saying he can fly this Sunday. Hmmmm.
The insurers are quite happy to fly out a medic to fly with him but we need written confirmation from the consulting doctor to confirm this recommendation before the insurers begin to make repatriation plans. This is proving difficult!!
My quest to get us home continues, and I cant quite believe I have such an extended stay in Canada ....... my employers have been great this week but are already asking "when" will I be back in the office! I simply don't have an answer yet! Mid next week I guess.
I really should check out the other threads for some easy reading ...... am permanently knackered with this!!
KP
x
Everything in moderation except moderation itself!
Salski
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
Hi KP Ski - good wishes to your Dad - I hope your journey home goes well & that over time he makes a full recovery and doesn't decide to hang his skis up for good. I work in a physio department & met a girl a couple of years ago who broke her back in a skiing accident. She went on to make a full recovery & hesitantly decided to go back on the slopes. She just booked a short break, booked an instructor who she'd had lessons with in the past & who she trusted, & went back to a resort where she knew the slopes well. She said she did feel nervous, but was so glad that she hadn't given up skiing. Hope your Dad gets back out there too!!
Something like this brings it home how important it is to have good medical insurance - I can't believe people ski without it, but I know they do!! A friend of mine had a minor accident in Austria earlier in the season which resulted in a fractured collar bone. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where the Dr. said they needed to operate. He was rather 'out of it' but insisted that his partner telephone their insurance company to inform them of the accident before he signed the medical consent forms.
The insureres asked if they were at a private or a state hospital, which they had to ask about as they didn't know - it was just a hospital (a private one it turned out). The insurance company told them that they would only cover expenses incurred at a state hospital, so as he was able to walk, they transferred to the nearest state hospital, where he was told that an operation wasn't necessary!
From their experience, they concluded that you should always try to contact your insurers immediately to inform them of what has happened - before you've received any treatment. (I appreciate that this isn't always practical)! You should always have your insurance details with you on the slopes - or at least your policy number & the necessary contact phone numbers. It's also made them much more aware of the small print, & the sort of questions you may wish to ask when buying a policy.
Like you KP Ski - I don't have an issue with skiers or boarders - generally there's room for us all, but I do have an issue with people who are out of control & who clearly need to take lessons to learn some valuable techniques, rules of the road & manners. There's nothing clever about straight lining a blue run in a tuck position feeling invincible :x I'm sure j2skiers are far too sensible for this - but in my experience there are increasing numbers of (dare I say it?) generally middle-aged men, wearing black, body armour & helmets who ski like this, clearly forgetting that there are often large numbers of skiers wearing 'L' plates on blue runs. Anyhow, thats another issue, the point of my message was to say 'get well soon KPSki's Dad'.
Something like this brings it home how important it is to have good medical insurance - I can't believe people ski without it, but I know they do!! A friend of mine had a minor accident in Austria earlier in the season which resulted in a fractured collar bone. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where the Dr. said they needed to operate. He was rather 'out of it' but insisted that his partner telephone their insurance company to inform them of the accident before he signed the medical consent forms.
The insureres asked if they were at a private or a state hospital, which they had to ask about as they didn't know - it was just a hospital (a private one it turned out). The insurance company told them that they would only cover expenses incurred at a state hospital, so as he was able to walk, they transferred to the nearest state hospital, where he was told that an operation wasn't necessary!
From their experience, they concluded that you should always try to contact your insurers immediately to inform them of what has happened - before you've received any treatment. (I appreciate that this isn't always practical)! You should always have your insurance details with you on the slopes - or at least your policy number & the necessary contact phone numbers. It's also made them much more aware of the small print, & the sort of questions you may wish to ask when buying a policy.
Like you KP Ski - I don't have an issue with skiers or boarders - generally there's room for us all, but I do have an issue with people who are out of control & who clearly need to take lessons to learn some valuable techniques, rules of the road & manners. There's nothing clever about straight lining a blue run in a tuck position feeling invincible :x I'm sure j2skiers are far too sensible for this - but in my experience there are increasing numbers of (dare I say it?) generally middle-aged men, wearing black, body armour & helmets who ski like this, clearly forgetting that there are often large numbers of skiers wearing 'L' plates on blue runs. Anyhow, thats another issue, the point of my message was to say 'get well soon KPSki's Dad'.
The plan is.... there's no plan!
Pavelski
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
Just finished reading all the messages about KP father's accident.
It is the positive tone of all the messages that I find wonderful. All mention that it is not an issue of boards vs. skis but of out of control persons. That is the issue. We should all "pressure" the ski industry to adopt some form of proactive program to "sanction" out of control persons.
Allow me to illustrate.
I was a ski patrol coordinator in a large ski center and after several serious accidents we ( all patrollers) met the management and proposed a "sanction system" in which an out of control person ( regardless of speed) would be warned and a felt marker X would be placed on ticket.
If "caught" a second time , the ticket would be taken away! Seems fair and acceptable.
It was done for two weeks! Some skiers complained and ski center told all ski patrollers to stop practice. NO COMMENT!!!!
That year one person died on very slope where the first sanction was given!!!
The ski industry will have to establish some rules of conduct WITH PENALTIES or else our politicians will do so!
Another solution.
Ski tickets can have varied colors to indicate "permission" to ski more difficult terrain. This would motivate all persons to master basic competences and also learn limits!
Let us be honest, it is dangerous to go to double diamond ( very very steep slopes) if you have not mastered basic techniques! Skiing down such a slope does not make you an "expert" skier!
"Extreme" seems to be the most over used term in skiing ads, skiing movies etc.... There is going to be a major reaction from skiers soon if all skiing partners do not provide some form of proactive safety programs.
We all know there is a global problem, yet the ski industries ( stores, ski companies, instructors, patrollers, ski centers) does very little. I realize I am creating a "controversy" but this issue needs to be placed on the public place so that in coming years we do not hear, "we did not know" !
The acrobatic national teams only allow skiers to perform certain stunts once the skier has shown mastery of basic stunts. In my country a motorcycle driver must start with a lower cc, motorbike at 600 cc. before getting a 1,000 cc race bike.
There are many examples of such gradual increasing "privileges" on sports.
If you examine skiing statistics you will note more deaths, more serious injuries every year
The ski industry at this point does not want to face its responsibility very much like the airline industry. I predict very soon that the various governments will impose conduct rules!
It is an issue of unruly irresponsible persons who have no idea what damage can be done. Ignorance is not an excuse!
The famous and well known ski rule that the person in the upper section of the hill is responsible to avoid others below is no longer valid.
My daughter in law , who is a fanatic skier is also a lawyer and works as ski consultant to the government. I know they are looking into this!
Wake up ski resorts!
Wake up ski companies!
Wake up ski patrols !
As skiers get older they will demand more safety and protection.
Why not start the ball rolling by listing some of the safety options that could be adopted. Every year ski centers meet and we could present to them our suggestions!
On next message I will provide my 10 "safety rules"
Please help me continue this list and I promise to present it to national ski organizations and international ski organizations at their annual meetings.
That is the positive power of the net!
It is the positive tone of all the messages that I find wonderful. All mention that it is not an issue of boards vs. skis but of out of control persons. That is the issue. We should all "pressure" the ski industry to adopt some form of proactive program to "sanction" out of control persons.
Allow me to illustrate.
I was a ski patrol coordinator in a large ski center and after several serious accidents we ( all patrollers) met the management and proposed a "sanction system" in which an out of control person ( regardless of speed) would be warned and a felt marker X would be placed on ticket.
If "caught" a second time , the ticket would be taken away! Seems fair and acceptable.
It was done for two weeks! Some skiers complained and ski center told all ski patrollers to stop practice. NO COMMENT!!!!
That year one person died on very slope where the first sanction was given!!!
The ski industry will have to establish some rules of conduct WITH PENALTIES or else our politicians will do so!
Another solution.
Ski tickets can have varied colors to indicate "permission" to ski more difficult terrain. This would motivate all persons to master basic competences and also learn limits!
Let us be honest, it is dangerous to go to double diamond ( very very steep slopes) if you have not mastered basic techniques! Skiing down such a slope does not make you an "expert" skier!
"Extreme" seems to be the most over used term in skiing ads, skiing movies etc.... There is going to be a major reaction from skiers soon if all skiing partners do not provide some form of proactive safety programs.
We all know there is a global problem, yet the ski industries ( stores, ski companies, instructors, patrollers, ski centers) does very little. I realize I am creating a "controversy" but this issue needs to be placed on the public place so that in coming years we do not hear, "we did not know" !
The acrobatic national teams only allow skiers to perform certain stunts once the skier has shown mastery of basic stunts. In my country a motorcycle driver must start with a lower cc, motorbike at 600 cc. before getting a 1,000 cc race bike.
There are many examples of such gradual increasing "privileges" on sports.
If you examine skiing statistics you will note more deaths, more serious injuries every year
The ski industry at this point does not want to face its responsibility very much like the airline industry. I predict very soon that the various governments will impose conduct rules!
It is an issue of unruly irresponsible persons who have no idea what damage can be done. Ignorance is not an excuse!
The famous and well known ski rule that the person in the upper section of the hill is responsible to avoid others below is no longer valid.
My daughter in law , who is a fanatic skier is also a lawyer and works as ski consultant to the government. I know they are looking into this!
Wake up ski resorts!
Wake up ski companies!
Wake up ski patrols !
As skiers get older they will demand more safety and protection.
Why not start the ball rolling by listing some of the safety options that could be adopted. Every year ski centers meet and we could present to them our suggestions!
On next message I will provide my 10 "safety rules"
Please help me continue this list and I promise to present it to national ski organizations and international ski organizations at their annual meetings.
That is the positive power of the net!
Max Cottle
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
Hi Guys
I wholeheartedly agree with Pavelski, infact I suggested similar in the skier snowboarder debate in anothe thread. I think that boarders and skiers should have to take proficiency tests to allow hem to ski Red and Black runs.
I don't think that you should stop people going fast but I do think that they should be equal to the task on that particular slope before they go fast or even ski it.
I don't think that Skiers should have their ski passes taken from them out right if they are out of control but instead they should be given the option to do some etiquette and safety training. If that is refused then take their pass.
How practical this is in the scheme of things I don't know but I do know that something has to be done.
I don't even want to start on the amount of people who are drunk on the slopes in any one day.
Cheers
Max
I wholeheartedly agree with Pavelski, infact I suggested similar in the skier snowboarder debate in anothe thread. I think that boarders and skiers should have to take proficiency tests to allow hem to ski Red and Black runs.
I don't think that you should stop people going fast but I do think that they should be equal to the task on that particular slope before they go fast or even ski it.
I don't think that Skiers should have their ski passes taken from them out right if they are out of control but instead they should be given the option to do some etiquette and safety training. If that is refused then take their pass.
How practical this is in the scheme of things I don't know but I do know that something has to be done.
I don't even want to start on the amount of people who are drunk on the slopes in any one day.
Cheers
Max
Bennyboy
reply to 'Fed up in Calgary ........' posted Mar-2007
I think that boarders and skiers should have to take proficiency tests to allow hem to ski Red and Black runs.
Sounds an alright idea in theory, but the money/time/effort in that would be huge!!
Many people, alarmingly, "learn" to ski with no lessons at all, relying on the "good ski teaching skills" of their husband/wife/father etc. how would anyone know that they werent a decent skier that can ski black runs competently, without examining them first??
Topic last updated on 22-March-2007 at 15:05