Schumacher Accident Investigators Report

Crash investigators looking in to the circumstances surrounding Michael Schumacher's accident on the slopes of the 3 Valleys 11 days ago have reported back with their initial findiungs.

In a press conference they confirmed Schumacher fell and hit his head on a rock when skiing between two pistes, rated easy and intermediate respectively. He was approximately three metres from the nearest groomed piste.

They say that Schumacher's ski speed, the piste conditions and piste signage were not contributing factors. They also said that he was skiing on rental skis described as "almost brand new."

In response to questions from journalists, the lead investigator said he could not say whether Schumacher was "careless," but said his team planned to carry out a full reconstruction of the accident with the aid of helmet-camera footage from Schumacher's helmet which they are going through "image by image."

The investigator said the camera footage was crystal clear and high quality although the helmet was described as Longer in one piece" following the accident.

The investigation is standard practice after a serious accident on the slopes.

Michael Schumacher was placed in an induced coma after the accident and is described as currently being in a "stable but serious" condition in a hospital in Grenoble.

His wife Corinna has now asked media and fans to leave the hospital grounds in order to take the pressure off doctors, surgeons and other hospital employees.

Rental skis?

Seems odd for a man of his means

Regardless though lets just keep hoping / invoking the help of whichever deity you're cmfortable with that he pulls through

For someone who does not own skis (and probably never will), it doesn't seem that odd to me. If you go the right ski shop, you can hire near brand new high end skis every time you go on holiday and also change the ski type depending upon the prevailing conditions and the type of skiing you will want to do. Therefore ultimate flexibility.

I too never have an dprobably nevr will own my own skis

BUT

You'd think that with Mr Schumacher's money he probably skis several weeks in a year (he is described as an accomplished skiier in all the reports) and thus I'd have thought he'd have his own

He's not short of a bob or two now is he?

Not important, indeed irrelevant given the greater story, I was just musing

I'm surprised he was only 3 metres from the edge of the piste! The way they described him as ski-ing 'off-piste' I thought he was miles from the piste!

Let's hope he makes a full recovery.

3 metres from the edge of the piste IS off piste Ally. This is where many people get it wrong, thinking that just bobbing off the edge is ok, but it is technically off piste. Off piste is not back country or touring miles from anywhere.
Ally, would you ever ski 3 metres from a piste and think you were fully insured and ok?

Yes Tony, I would, because I am insured to ski off-piste without a guide :)

I don't see having rentals as an issue. I have six pairs of skis in Niederau, and still elect, on occasion, to go for a rental. It isn't a high cost life style choice, hence not something that would impact on Schumacher any more than the rest of us.

On the off piste issue, many of us have dipped off piste between runs. In particular, I have done this in Zermatt, Lech and so many places. I believe this is just a really unfortunate accident, the kind, that in slightly differing circumstances, could have occurred to any of us.

My mate was killed in Niederau, slipping backwards off an edge, and fracturing his skull. I look after his grave, and so am constantly reminded of mountain accidents.