Ski Safety Blog

New Jersey is the first state across the country to pass a mandatory helmet law requiring minors to wear helmets on the slopes. Those who fail to do so will face a fine of $25 for the first violation a $100 fines after that. Senator Anthony Bucco says that after years of discussion the legislation was signed by NJ Governor Chris Christie and took effect November 1, 2011, though most NJ resorts will not open until late December.

The National Ski Area Association (NSAA) encourages helmets for all skiers, citing studies that show helmets can reduce head injuries by 30-50%, and may be the difference between a major and minor injury.

New Jersey ski resorts like the Hidden Valley Club in Vernon, NJ say the burden of compliance to the new law will be on the parent more than local law enforcement. Resort Services Director Shannon Heidebrecht says the resort will not play a big role in enforcing, leaving that up to the local police department.

Hidden Valley Club says they have started an awareness campaign for the new helmet law on their website, through email blasts and will have signage at ticket counters but helmets are already a familiar site on the mountain. The race program requires members to wear them and helmets have been strongly recommended to minors taking lessons at the resort.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:37 PM | Permalink

A beginning snowboarder died Sunday in what authorities called a "freak accident" when she fell on a run at Mountain High ski resort in Wrightwood, California. The victim was wearing a helmet when she fell forward at about 4 p.m. on a run she had already descended successfully several times during the day, authorities said.

The snowboarder was taken to San Bernardino Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead about 5:30. She as at the resort with friends, but no one else was hurt in the incident. The fall was described as "head over heels" which resulted in the fatal internal injuries.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 1:04 PM | Permalink

Two men died today after accidents on Colorado ski slopes, the first Colorado fatalities of the new ski season. Both fatalities occurred at Vail Resort properties.

A 62-year-old Vail doctor, Dr. Charles Tuft, died after he lost control and went over an embankment on Vail Mountain during the resort's opening day. The accident happened just after 10 a.m., on the Gitalong Road, a beginner trail between the Columbine and Bear Tree trails, the resort said. Dr. Tuft was a specialist in emergency medicine. He was a doctor at Vail Valley Medical Center and president of the Alpine Mobile Physicians. Tuft, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to Vail Valley Medical Center by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

Just a few hours after the fatal accident at Vail, a 20-year-old snowboarder hit a tree on Northstar, an intermediate trail at Breckenridge Ski Resort.

The Summit County Coroner's office identified the victim as Evan Massini from Westbrook, Conn., a student at the University of Colorado at Boulder who was snowboarding with roommates. Massini was also wearing a helmet, but the trauma of the collision left him with massive internal injuries and he died at Breckenridge Medical Center.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:49 PM | Permalink

Pro skier Jamie Pierre died Sunday snowboarding in Utah after an avalanche swept him over rocky terrain and cliffs. An accident summary from the Utah Avalanche Center said Pierre and his partner were riding the terrain at Alta and Snowbird even though neither ski area was open or had conducted any avalanche control.

Surprisingly, neither boarder had any avalanche gear, and though they had set off an earlier avalanche while boot packing, the pair continued. . The 38-year-old skier was known for risk-taking behavior, like the 2006 jump at Targhee, which was, at the time, a world record.

Pierre triggered a 14- to 20-foot soft slab immediately upon entering a northwest-facing slope in the Gad Valley, which they accessed via the Peruvian Cirque near Snowbird. Avalanche danger on Sunday was rated as considerable to high.

Snowbird was technically closed to hikers and skiers at the time of the avalanche, and signs were posted that warned that the resort was closed. An announcement that appeared on Snowbird's website stated that due to mountain conditions and winter preparation, no on-mountain hiking is permitted. Alta also closed its boundaries on Sunday. The accident report from the Utah Avalanche Center stated that investigators heard of over 10 human-triggered avalanches on the day of the fatality, primarily in the upper elevation terrain in the unopened Alta ski area.

The tragic Utah death is an early-season reminder to check and understand avalanche conditions before venturing into the backcountry or even while accessing terrain at unopened ski resorts. And always have the appropriate gear when venturing into the back country.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:46 PM | Permalink

This year, Arapahoe Basin whens the first-to-open prize for the ski season. Arapahoe Basin ski area opening day for the 2011-2012 ski season was Thursday, October 13, 2011. The ski area was only closed 100 days since last season ended on July 4, 2011.

And, following a week of round the clock snowmaking, Loveland opened a day later on Friday, October 14th. Catwalk, Mambo, and Homerun opened with an 18 inch base and tree-to-tree coverage to make a nearly 1000 vertical foot run at a length of almost a mile.

And with the pulse of winter storms moving across the state, two more Colorado ski resorts are set to start the season. Keystone and Copper Mountain open their seasons tomorrow. Beginning on Saturday, Wolf Creek will be running lifts seven days a week. The 2011-2012 ski season is definitely here!

Posted by Linda Chalat at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Everyone loves being the first down a beautiful pristine slope with no tracks. For a price, Aspen Skiing Co. will provide that experience to you a few friends. SkiCo is offering an "Ultimate Ski Pass" that will let you have unlimited first tracks before chairlifts open to the public -- for $25,000.

The exclusive passes also will allow holders to meet members of the U.S. Women's Ski Team when they race in Aspen on Thanksgiving weekend. The passes also buy a breakfast with Aspen native Bill Marolt, president of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

And when Ultimate Ski Pass holders are ready to ski, they can bring up to three friends. They can take a private tour of the four ski areas of Aspen-Snowmass with a member of Skico's management team and ride along on a snow-grooming mission. They also can take a "behind-the-scenes tour" with the ski patrol.

The pass is transferable and valid at Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk. It's the third year the ski resort has sold the high-priced ski passes. Aspen Skiing Co. is offering 18 of the passes this season and but has only sold one.

The Ultimate Ski Pass benefits more than just the few who can afford it. The passes raise money for public schools in the Roaring Fork Valley and support events tied to World Cup ski racing in Aspen.

Posted by Linda Chalat at 11:57 AM | Permalink