I don’t feel okay about this .
How come every time I’ve had a close call from behind in the past 10 years they complain that I was “weaving” back & forth? When did linking turns in the falline become bad behavior?
I couldn't agree more.Neither do I. Martinez clearly doesn't understand that if he has to yell "left, left, left" in that manner he's already at fault. And I'm not sure the prosecutors did either - or didn't think the jury would, anyway.
That and the fact that Ron was such a skilled skier, I'm betting he was skiing in a strong position, often called the power position because its hard to be taken out when skiing in a strong position.Judging by the vast difference in injuries, I would guess the snowboarder was going fast and t-boned LeMaster.
I mean if that description posted was accurate, it’s a pretty clear violation. All he had to do was slow down.
The description of turning as “weaving” makes it sound like a drunk driver on the highway.
Exactly.Did I miss something?
- Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
- People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
Windmill is intermediate blue terrain on the upper half of eldora.Do we know what terrain this happened on and if it's plausible that Lemaster was drilling on a slope generally used as a bit of a straightline runout? Not that it would excuse it of course but might help explain how it happened and prosecutor's perception.
I somehow doubt it because of Lemaster's experience.
I was looking into the terrain and early season conditions last fall. I annotated this map showing what runs were open the following day, assuming they were probably the same. The collision happened on the Windmill run.Do we know what terrain this happened on and if it's plausible that Lemaster was drilling on a slope generally used as a bit of a straightline runout? Not that it would excuse it of course but might help explain how it happened and prosecutor's perception.
This has happened to me more than a few times in the past couple of years, more likely on weekends. In fact last Saturday at the top Siberia. I was obviously linking short turns down the left edge & this guy decided it was a good idea to straightline between me & those giant bumps. Missed me by inches & kept straightlining till he was out of site. He was a skier btw & probably hadn’t had time to reach terminal velocity but it still would’ve been a mess if he had clipped me. Lots of straightling on that pitch, it is pretty steep, not groomed very wide & has an inviting run out to bring it back under control. I think most of them don’t have the skill to make turns on that pitch but they do have the balls to go straight.I couldn't agree more.
I have described an incident that happened about 4 years ago at Arapahoe Basin where a skier straighlined skiing over the backs of my skis.
Actually, they kind of do. One of my friends that patrols that is her job. Pictures, measuring tape laser rangefinder, etc. certainly there is less evidence than on a paved road, but there is some evidence.Ski patrol and first responders aren't CSI and there's no such thing as tire tracks. Ron's buddy presumably didn't see the perp or the collision or there would be at least one witness statement.
Thanks. I'd assumed that they captured some data to put into accident reports particularly with serious injuries or fatalities but imagined it varied by resort and resort policy as well as training of the individuals concerned. Very difficult I imagine to estimate incoming speed or level of control from ground level evidence particularly as tracks are rapidly skied over and the immediate vicinity trampled.Actually, they kind of do. One of my friends that patrols that is her job. Pictures, measuring tape laser rangefinder, etc. certainly there is less evidence than on a paved road, but there is some evidence.
Not difficult at all. Level of control was insufficient to avoid objects or people ahead of him. Q.E.D.Thanks. I'd assumed that they captured some data to put into accident reports particularly with serious injuries or fatalities but imagined it varied by resort and resort policy as well as training of the individuals concerned. Very difficult I imagine to estimate incoming speed or level of control from ground level evidence particularly as tracks are rapidly skied over and the immediate vicinity trampled.
I don't know if wearing a rearward dashcam would actually help for those hit i.e. would the perspective be adequate to convey the physics involved - roads have the advantage of lane markings etc
100%. Gee, how much force is required to fracture a spine... HmmmmGiven the facts that are available, I think a decent accident reconstruction expert could reach legitimate conclusions about what occurred, forces etc.
The sheer extent of LeMaster’s injuries and death make this such a horrible and serious case.
I couldn't agree more.
I have described an incident that happened about 4 years ago at Arapahoe Basin where a skier straighlined skiing over the backs of my skis. He stopped down hill of me to yell at me for "turning in front of him". @SkiNurse was skiing with me at the time and helped me to explain the code.
He disagreed with our understanding of the responsibilty code so we exchanged information and agreed to meet at Patrol so we could get discuss with them.
He got there ahead of me because he was not making as many turns as I was
I walked into patrol to hear, "No sir, if she was down hill of you, it was your responsibilty to avoid her. It is the uphill skiers responsibility stay in control and to avoid the down hill skier."
This guy apologized and we actually ended up skiing with him for a bit.
I'm still not sure how neither of us crashed.
I cannot disagree with this. For this reason, I really try to stayout of the parks when I am free skiing. Yes, there is usuall some good unskied corduroy between the features but jsut as I don't want a freestyler poping out of the woods and possibly hitting me, I don't think its right for me to go into basically what is a closed course or area getting in their way. I wouldn't do it in a closed race course, why would I do it in a well marked terrain park?the reason may be the park rats are very comfortable going straight and fast, in the park they know no one will be in their way in the park everyone looks uphill before dropping in so they think everyone below them is looking up hill checking for traffic it's scary out there
I cannot disagree with this. For this reason, I really try to stayout of the parks when I am free skiing. Yes, there is usuall some good unskied corduroy between the features but jsut as I don't want a freestyler poping out of the woods and possibly hitting me, I don't think its right for me to go into basically what is a closed course or area getting in their way. I wouldn't do it in a closed race course, why would I do it in a well marked terrain park?
I think the guys wanted a thrill Or they just couldn't cope with the controls.This has happened to me more than a few times in the past couple of years, more likely on weekends. In fact last Saturday at the top Siberia. I was obviously linking short turns down the left edge & this guy decided it was a good idea to straightline between me & those giant bumps. Missed me by inches & kept straightlining till he was out of site. He was a skier btw & probably hadn’t had time to reach terminal velocity but it still would’ve been a mess if he had clipped me. Lots of straightling on that pitch, it is pretty steep, not groomed very wide & has an inviting run out to bring it back under control. I think most of them don’t have the skill to make turns on that pitch but they do have the balls to go straight.
I mean if you’re gonna straightline at least have enough pride to grab a reasonable tuck!
The week before was a snowboarder on Shirley Lake, scared the crap out of everyone who saw him!
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I think the mindset contributes. Very positive thinking and a lack of fear from frequent failures they have walked off from.after being hit afew times and having too many close calls to remember I have thought long and hard about this , after being chased down by some one who angrily accused me of getting in his way he asked me why skiers turn so much, I think a good percentage of people do not know the rules, the reason may be the park rats are very comfortable going straight and fast, in the park they know no one will be in their way in the park everyone looks uphill before dropping in so they think everyone below them is looking up hill checking for traffic it's scary out there
He was probably looking for someone to vent his emotions on without repercussions. There are a lot of themI think the mindset contributes. Very positive thinking and a lack of fear from frequent failures they have walked off from.
Years ago at Loveland, some bro brah from Team Summit stopped and said I was on his "line" on the edge of the run (freestyle snowboard); he got very close and threatened to hit me. I wanted him to make the first move so I could hit him as hard as possible with minimal legal repercussions. He opted to ride away with really shitty technique; he would have zero shot at any real speed on crap snow.