Schumacher in hospital in serious condition

[mcbeee]

The report mentioned they were skiing "off Piste", I take it that means out of bounds or something similar??

It seems a great number of deaths and injuries occur while skiing "out of bounds" or "off the trails". We lose a couple of folks every year in the Rockies just west of me. I don't know how many are caused by collisions with less competent skiers but perhaps there could be a qualification system to ski "off trail". Pass a test, get a different tag colour and off you go, ski off trail. Get caught without the right tag and out you go, down to the parking lot and home. Just an idea,It might work.

A few yrs back I was in a hospital room after getting my neck fused and shared for a couple of days with a nice fellow from the UK, poor bugger hit a tree at Lake Louise and broke his back. All strapped into a frame until he was stable enough to transport back to the UK. I think he did all right after he got home, but it happens here all the time, you can't drive an F1 car without a license and dodging trees on a steep slope at 40mph is not for the unqualified IMHO.

(Not saying Michael hit a tree or was doing anything wrong, just a bit of a segue here )

 

[MrPT]

The report mentioned they were skiing "off Piste", I take it that means out of bounds or something similar??

It seems a great number of deaths and injuries occur while skiing "out of bounds" or "off the trails". We lose a couple of folks every year in the Rockies just west of me. I don't know how many are caused by collisions with less competent skiers but perhaps there could be a qualification system to ski "off trail". Pass a test, get a different tag colour and off you go, ski off trail. Get caught without the right tag and out you go, down to the parking lot and home. Just an idea,It might work.

The problem is that off piste areas are inherently unbounded and if you take on the responsibility of policing them, you also need to take on some liability. It's more manageable to say that people are fully responsible for their safety and the results of their actions when they ski off piste, up until the point when they need to call on mountain rescue, who fortunately have a much broader remit and a correspondingly higher expectation regarding operating costs (heli pickups are insanely expensive, for example, and their cost could never be absorbed into the price of passes for skiing within patrolled areas).

 

[richarddaviesgb]

An accident like this could happen anywhere on the piste. He could have hit his head on any rock/tree/hard ice. Off piste is dangerous but that's why we do it to a degree. Mostly though, it can be quite safe with the proper precautions. Indeed, my most serious falls have been on piste. Skiing is a dangerous sport, you have to go equipped. Not only physically but mentally too. Know the ground you're skiing on, if you don't go with someone who does.

Saw from the news things a looking up, may they continue to do so.

 

[ZermattV]

Good choice - James Cracknell made some very similar and valid points on 5live this afternoon- looking forward to donning mine on Scottish slopes in the Morn.

Enjoy and stay safe.

Blown backwards off the hill this morning all lifts closed it was a brief day on the hills

 

[pvr]

An accident like this could happen anywhere on the piste. He could have hit his head on any rock/tree/hard ice. Off piste is dangerous but that's why we do it to a degree. Mostly though, it can be quite safe with the proper precautions. Indeed, my most serious falls have been on piste. Skiing is a dangerous sport, you have to go equipped. Not only physically but mentally too. Know the ground you're skiing on, if you don't go with someone who does.

Saw from the news things a looking up, may they continue to do so.

Off piste you are more at risk of an avalanche though, and with the risk of additional hidden obstacles I would rate it rather a lot more dangerous to ski on. Think of the Dutch prince that died last year, or Prince Charles's friend of course as well. There are of course many on piste accidents as well, but I for one would not go off piste as it is not monitored (nor am I good enough for that type of skiing).

 

[Toe-side]

Ive looked at were the accident took place. Just between the Biche and Mauduite a blue and red run so he was only 'just off' piste. You can see the piste markers on the photo link. Know the area well.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/michael-schumacher-ski-accident-see-2974203
He has been very unlucky and was certainly not extreme skiing. Its a thing that a lot skiers do, take a little detour to hit a jump or have some fun.
Slightly more encouraging news on his status today which is good.

 

[Talksthetorque]

Off-Piste for fresh Pow or tree-runs. Plus it feels a bit naughty.

But unless you plan well it normall ends up with a walk back uphill to get back on track at some point....

 

[richarddaviesgb]

An accident like this could happen anywhere on the piste. He could have hit his head on any rock/tree/hard ice. Off piste is dangerous but that's why we do it to a degree. Mostly though, it can be quite safe with the proper precautions. Indeed, my most serious falls have been on piste. Skiing is a dangerous sport, you have to go equipped. Not only physically but mentally too. Know the ground you're skiing on, if you don't go with someone who does.

Saw from the news things a looking up, may they continue to do so.

Off piste you are more at risk of an avalanche though, and with the risk of additional hidden obstacles I would rate it rather a lot more dangerous to ski on. Think of the Dutch prince that died last year, or Prince Charles's friend of course as well. There are of course many on piste accidents as well, but I for one would not go off piste as it is not monitored (nor am I good enough for that type of skiing).

You're right PVR, off piste is more dangerous but that wasn't quite what I was getting at. I was in La Plagne only a few days before which is in the same area (just round the corner of the valley) and the snow conditions were very similar. Off piste the snow was crusted hard pack with barren patches. In short, knee breaker stuff. The conditions on piste weren't all that much better at the time though. Hard pack snow (racer heaven) with barren patches and subject to severe freeze/thaw conditions (racer hell). I lost skis a couple of times due to unseen rocks but thankfully didn't quite fall. If I had though, I could have hit my head and end up in the same situation.

Off piste can actually be fairly safe with the right education and precautions. Some of my best days have been spent in beautiful powder. Getting a guide and getting out in the back country can be amazing.

 

[pvr]

Isn't December time generally the worst time for snow conditions though? It was always known as "the poor man's season" as the prices were generally lower as well reflecting the poor snow.

I have never considered going at this time of the year (also because I am not experienced enough to tackle the high difficult runs that would have snow).

 

[richarddaviesgb]

Not always.
Previous 2 years have been epic! So much snow that they had to close the lifts due to the amount coming down. Start of the season is often cheaper as not so many can go and staff are not always fully up to speed.

In Belle Plagne it used to be brilliant as there was always enough snow but most of the resort was open. Last 2 years though has followed the rest of the 3 Valleys and only opened about 25% of the runs yet still charge 75% of the normal lift pass. Bit of a con really, I won't be going for start of the season again but if you're a beginner or novice, then it is actually better value than normal season.

 

[DR-Z]

Isn't December time generally the worst time for snow conditions though? It was always known as "the poor man's season" as the prices were generally lower as well reflecting the poor snow.

Hardly - I'm currently renting a chalet in Grand Massif area, and it would have been half the price next week. New year is an expensive time.

BTW, the snow's great!

 

[pvr]

I meant pre-Christmas, as that is the cheapest part of the skiing season. Next cheapest month is march.

 

[Oakandacorns]

Saw on the news today Schumacher's agent saying a journalist had dressed as a priest to try and get access to the guy. The media can be just crazy can't they??!