Latest posts for the topic "metro paper 13th jan"

metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:26:17 GMT

Read an article in the metro today that says that the british would like breath tests on the slopes as drinking an issue on the slopes, speed limits on the pistes with speed cameras to enforce it and helmets for all skiers.
I tried to link the article but my i.t. skills not up to it.
My humble opinion is helmet debate has been flogged to death here and let's agree its a personal choice. I think if every one followed the code of conduct on the slopes it would be fantastic and like driving if you take a defensive attitude there's never an issue. It does not say where this information has come from but its like the nanny state on steroids.
Does anybody think drinking and speeds a huge issue or has got worse in recent seasons?

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:35:26 GMT

Personally, no. I don't think I have ever seen anyone drunk on the slopes, or over a legal limit. Speeding, define it? Fast clearly out of control, see it quite a bit. Fast, tme thinnkin gee that guy is fast - all the time.

How would it be enforced? Ski patrol with blue light on their head?

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:36:29 GMT

This will never get up there with lids because everyone knows that wearing a lid is the right thing to do....

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:50:03 GMT

Sounds daft to me, i too have never encountered anyone drunk on the slopes.....

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:02:11 GMT

I've actually come across quite a lot of drunk skiers in Mayrhofen. Germans and Dutch mainly who go up the mountain in large groups of men, drink in the sun all day, and then ski off mid afternoon.
In fact I was crashed into by a Danish guy who was off his head. He tried to ski a hard red which had moguled badly, got it wrong and hurtled through the air at 50mph straight towards me. Luckily all that was damaged was my pole, but another 3 inches the other way and that would have been my skiing days over.
He was totally drunk, thought it highly amusing, but paid me 50 euros for some new poles.

Personally I dont see it often enough to think its a big problem, despite that incident. I always think I am aware enough to spot bad skiers or dangerous people, drunk or not, and give them a wide berth. But that incident made me realise, just like driving, that no matter how conscious and aware you are, someone else can always mess things up for you.

My personal opinion is you cannot enforce drunk skiing laws. Maybe if people report bad skiers to lifties they can do something to get them off the slopes: Ive seen people in Italy had lift passes confiscated for messing about.

As for helmets, dont get me started!!! Its a matter of personal choice and thats the way it should be. Although I do think beginners should be made to wear them, along with bright orange bibs so we all know where the numpties are, and maybe a bell that rings when they ski on their helmets, or a flashing light like a pistey basher...... just kidding :wink:

Speeding.....what is speeding? There is no limit. Dangerous skiing is one thing, skiing fast is different. I like to ski fast, but I only open up when I can see the slope in front is clear and its safe to do so. It can scare timid skiers when someone flies past them at high speed, and I do think sometimes good skiers like to show off a bit and fly past people and shower them in snow for what might seem a laugh, but if someone steps out......well, we all know the score.

In summary, I dont see any of these points being any more relative than they ever have been before, and its just a newspaper filling some space with a little bit of sensationalism.

If you are good enough to ski fast, enjoy it but be safe. Always think of others.

If you want to have a beer or a wine with lunch, why not. I dont personally enjoy drinking whilst skiing, I like to drink after a days skiing, but as long as its not done to excess......

And give people the choice of wearing a helmet or not. Those that feel wearing a lid makes them indestructible or immune to harm, you're wrong. Those that do it for their own safety, fair play. Those that dont wear a lid, thats up to you and you do what you're happy with.

Lets all try to carry on enjoying our skiing without turning it all of a sudden into a problematic past time that needs journalists sticking their unwelcome noses into.

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:06:21 GMT

Tony_H wrote:
Speeding.....what is speeding? There is no limit. Dangerous skiing is one thing, skiing fast is different. I like to ski fast, but I only open up when I can see the slope in front is clear and its safe to do so. It can scare timid skiers when someone flies past them at high speed, and I do think sometimes good skiers like to show off a bit and fly past people and shower them in snow for what might seem a laugh, but if someone steps out......well, we all know the score.

And give people the choice of wearing a helmet or not. Those that do it for their own safety, fair play.

Totally with you on the speeding :thumbup:, also the lid - that is why i wear one ;)

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:07:18 GMT

Tony_H wrote:
As for helmets, dont get me started!!! Its a matter of personal choice and thats the way it should be. Although I do think beginners should be made to wear them

As it is with Skydiving.
Beginners start with helmets and can only jump without one after acheiveing 200 skydives. Unless you jump in the states then you can wear what you want.

But the problem with Skiing is their is no central body that governs the sport and sets the rules.

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:08:17 GMT

Sorry :oops:

Lid conversation is starting ;)

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:11:39 GMT

Iceman wrote:Sorry :oops:

Lid conversation is starting ;)

Agreed. Lets leave it there. For the 300th time.

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:19:20 GMT

:thumbup:

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:06:17 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:

Tony_H wrote:
As for helmets, dont get me started!!! Its a matter of personal choice and thats the way it should be. Although I do think beginners should be made to wear them

As it is with Skydiving.
Beginners start with helmets and can only jump without one after acheiveing 200 skydives. Unless you jump in the states then you can wear what you want.

But the problem with Skiing is their is no central body that governs the sport and sets the rules.

Is there a speeding and drinking problem in skydiving?

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:16:51 GMT

Could be a speeding problem...depends on the gravity of the situation I guess! )

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:40:19 GMT

Brucie wrote:Is there a speeding and drinking problem in skydiving?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:34:44 GMT

I would agree that drinking is generally not a problem on the slopes and do not see the need for nanny style interventions by the authorities. however, I seem to recall somebody saying that in the event of an accident, breathalysers may be produced in some areas :shock:

Speed, or as some have said, is a different matter. I have no problem with somebody bombing down a quiet slope where the risks are minimal, assuming the person has a reasonable level of ability. What is not acceptable, in my view, is people flying down extremely busy slopes because they are frustrated with slow beginners and there is far too much of this in Europe. :evil:

On my recent trip to La Plagne, I was taking the run down from Centre to 1800 at the end of the day. It was so busy, we actually had to queue up just to get onto the run (there's a narrow bridge at the start of the run) :shock:. The run is primarily used as a means of getting down to the lower village and most people took their time, effectively kiing the run at the pace of the slower skiers.

However, a few hotshots sped down the sides and could not, in my opinion, have reacted quickly enough if a beginner suddenly veered into their path :x They are relying on inexperienced skiers to ski in a a rational and controlled manner. This is not a reasonable assumption and does lead to accidents :x :x :x

It might be no harm at all if there was at least some supervision of the more outrageous behaviours :wink:

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:40:14 GMT

Does that mean with the speeding cameras, some form of license plating system would be introduced for skiers - if so I'm guessing that you would have to pay a charge for your license plate and if so all together through paying toward the country that you're skiing in, we could solve the Euro problem!!!

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:03:56 GMT

Brucie wrote:

Snapzzz wrote:

Tony_H wrote:
As for helmets, dont get me started!!! Its a matter of personal choice and thats the way it should be. Although I do think beginners should be made to wear them

As it is with Skydiving.
Beginners start with helmets and can only jump without one after acheiveing 200 skydives. Unless you jump in the states then you can wear what you want.

But the problem with Skiing is their is no central body that governs the sport and sets the rules.

Is there a speeding and drinking problem in skydiving?

There are a few that like a drink but in general i was responding to Tony suggesting beginners should wear lids.

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:19:34 GMT

Tony_H wrote: If you are good enough to ski fast, enjoy it but be safe. Always think of others

Consideration of others and safety are always top of my list, some people are totally inconsiderate and think they own the slopes without giving a thought to other people on the mountain. That's just rude.

Do America and Canada have ski patrols for service and safety? Sure I remembered seeing speed police on the slopes there, was a looong time ago though.

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:33:30 GMT

personaly, i dont have a problem with people going fast! as long your doing it at the right time and place, and you can stay incontrol, theres no problems! but at the same time, theres always that one doughnut!

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:57:08 GMT

Absolutely, I love finding a run where I can let rip, as long as it's safe to do so, and it's not on a nursery slope. The majority of skiers are considerate, but like you said there's always someone that has to go too far.

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:59:56 GMT

NellyPS wrote:Absolutely, I love finding a run where I can let rip.

I know what you mean, I usually feel a bit like that after lunch myself!!!

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:04:57 GMT

Brucie wrote:

NellyPS wrote:Absolutely, I love finding a run where I can let rip.

I know what you mean, I usually feel a bit like that after lunch myself!!!

Hmmm, bad choice of wordage.

Bit of extra speed though :shock:

Re:metro paper 13th jan

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:25:41 GMT

Most of the problem with people skiing fast stems from not understanding the skiers code. Unless they are starting out from a real stop (not a short pause between turns) without looking uphill, or merging from a side trail without looking uphill, everyone below/in front of you has the right of way PERIOD/FULL STOP. There are no exceptions, as much as some people try to convince themselves that there might be. And even with those technical exceptions, only an idiot would ski fast near a merging run that is not clear, or near any stationary human being.