Comments on: Quest for a risk-free playground

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:46:04 +0000

I dont have any stats, but I have been skiing since 1975.
While skiing accidents are common, actual deaths are very rare.
Lately snowboarders outnumber skiers, and the demographics have changed as well, which may account for any increase in accidents.

By: Melvin H.

Melvin H. — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:45:18 +0000

As I recall, the number of skiers had remained steady but the number of deaths (and injuries for that matter) had risen. Mind, we’re not talking about some ridiculous increase–say, by a factor of 50 or 100–but the actual number had risen.
If anyone out there knows where such numbers can be found, I am more than willing to be corrected.

By: Jim Collins

Jim Collins — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:16:35 +0000

Melvin,
Has the percentage of deaths increased or has the number of skiers increased and the percentage remained the same?
One death in a million looks pretty good when you only have ten thousand people skiing, but when you have one hundred million skiiing…..

By: Melvin H.

Melvin H. — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:27:12 +0000

Haven’t we seen this at ski areas, where despite marked and rated trails, groomed slopes, poles that support lifts being padded, fenced off areas, out-of-bounds areas marked, breakaway skis, helmets, etc. . . . The number of deaths at ski areas has increased?