Investigation into Reaction Time in Skiing Accidents

AllyG wrote:

bandit wrote:There is a proven self arrest technique which has been in existence for many years. It is routinely taught to skiers who take higher level and off piste instruction.

And it is?

You need to turn yourself over to face the slope. Then do a press up. As you are now presenting less sliding surface to the snow, you will slow down.

If you are not strong enough to hold the press up, go up onto your elbows and dig your boot toes in. If your skis are still on, get them below you as they have a braking action with the edges.

No parachute or fancy gadgets needed as they would probably get in the way and cause you injury.

Thanks Bandit :D
I was actually afraid to try digging my skis into the snow, in case they didn't come off and I broke my ankle. I remembered someone wrote on here once about how skis only come off if the pressure is applied in the right direction, and I wasn't at all sure that they'd come off. I seemed to be going very fast, and my instructor was no help at all - I shouted that I'd fallen over and he just got out of the way.

Maybe I need to practise this standard technique of yours in case it happens to me again and I don't have my skis on.

Ally

Hi,

The reaction time is zero.

If there was a reaction time, there wouldn't be an accident.

Wow, this is interesting. It's the same argument as air bags and avalungs in my opinion. At an applied but exceptionally rare occasion they may be of use, but 99.99999% of times simply useless and expensive. Even another gadget to give people confidence they don't deserve to act upon.

I am actually considering an Avalung after this weekends snowboarding, only because I found myself traversing to a closed and unpisted black run in Engelberg with a level 3 avalanch warning in place and loving it so much I did it again. There was a 10ft wall of snow cut into the traverse and evidence of 3 slides above. I understood the risk and took it, but had I an extra margin of safety I'd have used it. Difference here is that is a preventative measure not a corrective one. Correction depends on reaction, and that is the point of the OP. I don't think there is enough time in most cases. If there is, skill is likely a better option. For those without skill, education is the far better option.

Tino, I went skiing with someone, who'd put his Avalung on underneath his jacket :shock: I did mentiion it, and he moved it )

If you are thinking Avalung, then it's time to think about a Transciever as well. It's all well and good to be able to breathe whilst under avvy debris, but how will anyone know where to start digging?

bandit wrote:Tino, I went skiing with someone, who'd put his Avalung on underneath his jacket :shock: I did mentiion it, and he moved it )

If you are thinking Avalung, then it's time to think about a Transciever as well. It's all well and good to be able to breathe whilst under avvy debris, but how will anyone know where to start digging?

you are totally right of course, and I'm thinking of going whole hog on the avalanche safety. But as a predominantly solo rider the benefit it questionable for most forms of safety. Need some mates ;)

on the positive side, Engelberg after a fall of snow is the best place I have EVER snowboarded. If you like off piste it is heaven, just like the marketing claims. Never had so much fun standing up :)

I'm still trying to work out if the OP is interested in our views on reaction time, or just his ridiculous idea of a parachute for skiers?

If you want to measure reaction time, you cant. Its in someones head, and everyone is different.

Putting a parachute on a skier will either knock them over, take them somewhere they dont want to go, or take another skier out with all the gear coming out of the other persons backpack.

Avoiding accidents is impossible. We can all claim to have done well on skis or in our cars, but it only takes some idiot a fraction of a second and youre dust. You can be sensible and vigilant, and put a lot of faith in your fellow skiers as well.

But seriously, a parachute?


Purrrr leeeeeez.

This project seems to be one where a solution has been proposed, without the problem being adequately defined. That is entirely opposite to how a manufacturer would operate.

Even assuming the OP's proposal, there is no definition of "reaction time". You have to define the two events between which the reaction time is to be measured.

As skiers, we are all aware of the many different ways that accidents can occur. Sometimes, the reaction time is zero, you have been wiped out. On other occasions, there is suffiecient time to shout something like, " Ooooouuur, fecme, shheeeeeeeet, blady, blady, Moooouuuuuuuumeeeee."

So, say seven seconds.

That would seem to be a starter for Bandit's solution. Or possibly, Trenchers. As a definite NON-classical guitar/banjo player, I would have to have a go for Bandit's way.

Damn, does that mean, I have to add press-ups to the exercise routine?