Investigation into Reaction Time in Skiing Accidents

Isn't there also a possibility of the parachute deployment causing veering or lifting of the person which could move them into a position of more severe danger. So, the initial collision is avoided but a greater hazard is created.

I'd say the time frame from that "oh sh*t" moment to crashing is generally about 1 second, if not less. I generally relax when I feel myself go, thus minimising risk of injury.

On motorbikes, you can get jackets that inflate upon impact, although they're very expensive, and once deployed, the jacket is useless. Some you can plug into the bike, which monitors the speed, and thus would only inflate at crashes over a certain speed.

Not sure a parachute would help..

You could go on youtube and watch some ski crash clips to see how people fall?

Parachute? Are you kidding me?????

As an experienced skydiver i can tell you that the deployment time of a chute is always going to be too long to be useful. Couple that with reaction times of the skier in actually activating the chute and you have a non starter im afraid.

1 second deployment? That sounds way off....How are you deploying? pilot chute? springs? some kind of rocket charge????? I really can't see it as you still have to rely on forward speed to fill the canopy.

I think that you would be better looking towards the front of the skier....maybe an airbag type of thing.

Sorry to be so negative, i do applaud you in trying to improve safety.

This just all seems like a lost cause to me buddy, sorry. Hope it all goes well for you.

There are still big problems with airlines in Europe accepting Avalanche Airbag Rucksacks, even though they are listed as safe in the IATA regs. I can see a charge deployed chute having all sorts of problems for the ski charter industry and their carriage restrictions :shock:

Maybe he is on to a looser but they said electricity would never catch on and the Write brothers were on to a looser. How many of you have the knowledge to rule it out completely, after all the ejector seat in a fighter jet deploys in less then a second.

Give the guy a break and answer his questions and let him do his research, it is not a business idea it is a collage project

The only time I ever crashed and had any significant time to realise I was going to crash was a couple of seconds at the most. Most of the time it comes as a surprise, I am trying to avoid someone's mistake or my own, but usually i am tumbling before i realise it

Maybe you should approach some extreme skiers where such a device might be more use. There are people who combine skiing with parachuting

mark203 wrote:Maybe he is on to a looser but they said electricity would never catch on and the Write brothers were on to a looser. How many of you have the knowledge to rule it out completely, after all the ejector seat in a fighter jet deploys in less then a second.

Give the guy a break and answer his questions and let him do his research, it is not a business idea it is a collage project

The only time I ever crashed and had any significant time to realise I was going to crash was a couple of seconds at the most. Most of the time it comes as a surprise, I am trying to avoid someone's mistake or my own, but usually i am tumbling before i realise it

Maybe you should approach some extreme skiers where such a device might be more use. There are people who combine skiing with parachuting

I agree Mark, give the guy a break ....... my concerns are when we are taught to ski they do not cover awareness and I think it plays a hell of a big part in avoiding accidents, when I ski with Little W I am
Always on her case about looking over her shoulder and being aware of her surroundings, looking out for trouble.
It should taught at ski school but I see no evidence of this.

I was taught to look over my shoulder on the dry ski slop in Rossandale but when I took lessons in Livigno the instructor kept telling me not to worry about people coming behind me, it is there problem I was told.