Ski Helmets

AllyG wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Its all about being aware on the slopes, they do not teach that in ski school.

Hi Ian,
I don't like to contradict you, but I have been taught this subject by some of my ski instructors (the better ones, generally speaking). Like, for example, the good ones get you to line up below each other when they stop the group, so that if someone falls as they come in to line up they don't knock anyone else over. And they teach you to be very careful at piste junctions, crossing drag lift lines, not to stop in the middle of the piste, and they insist on making sure you can control your speed. The super good ones make sure you understand and obey the basic right of way rules on the piste.

And if someone in the group is ski-ing dangerously then it's quite likely that another group member will tell them off, even if the instructor doesn't.

Good group lessons become progressively difficult during the week, and no-one should be ski-ing out of control because if they can't cope with the skill level required any decent instructor will either make the lessons easier or move them to a lower group.

I do think there should be a way of penalizing idiots who keep ski-ing out of control - something like speeding tickets where they get their lift pass taken off them for a day or a week. The slopes would be much safer then for the rest of us and people like Charlie_95's friend wouldn't get hurt.

Ally

Ian Wickham wrote:
what I am talking about is
awareness around you whilst skiing, the comparison I would make is possible driving a car the skill
which is knowing what the other idiots around you are going to do, skiing is no different .........
You see an awful lot of skiers just focused on what they are doing with out any idea what others are up to on the piste, so with a touch more confidence and a higher amount of awareness on the piste
it is possible to keep your self saver and avoid the idiots. 8)

OldAndy wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:
what I am talking about is
awareness around you whilst skiing, the comparison I would make is possible driving a car the skill
which is knowing what the other idiots around you are going to do, skiing is no different .........
You see an awful lot of skiers just focused on what they are doing with out any idea what others are up to on the piste, so with a touch more confidence and a higher amount of awareness on the piste
it is possible to keep your self saver and avoid the idiots. 8)

Agree Ian, with your driving analogy some call it defensive driving and it's about assuming that others are idiots and will do the least expected, most daft and incomprehensible action possible.
Skiing is similar and defensive skiing works! Doesn't reduce the pleasure, doesn't slow me down, doesn't become an obsession with what's going on to the detriment of my enoyment - just keeps me out of trouble on crowded pistes - and I don't scare slower people when I am skiing fast!
Not sure it can be taught though, may be an experience thing and a state of mind.
Somethings do help :thumbup:
The ski instructor swearing in excellent but accented English at my son as he set of in front of a chain of tiddlies on a blue run without looking first was a clear learning moment for him :roll:

Iceman wrote:First sign of winter? Leaves fall off trees, snow? Nope, the helmet thread rears its ugly head ;)