Life time bans for out-of-bounds skiers.

[rafterman]

Putting their own lives at risk but also rescuers.

Absolute morons.

Ski resorts seek to tackle risk-takers, but 'there's no way we can watch everybody' January 3, 2009

By IAN BAILEY

VANCOUVER -- Operators of two B.C. ski areas yesterday promised new zero-tolerance measures after cases in which skiers and a snowboarder entered out-of-bounds areas, with a particularly brazen incident yesterday at Grouse Mountain, north of Vancouver.

But officials conceded there are no foolproof ideas for imposing safe snow practices on people inclined to break the rules.

Yesterday afternoon, three skiers and a snowboarder ducked under a boundary-area rope at the Grouse Mountain ski area, and entered an avalanche-prone area, ignoring orders from the mountain's safety patrol to get out.

Before long, the RCMP and North Shore Rescue Team were on the scene, and a helicopter search tracked down the four B.C. men - two 25-year-olds and two 24-year-olds. They have been banned for life from Grouse Mountain, and will be billed for all costs, now being tallied, related to the incident. Their names will also be circulated to all ski resorts in British Columbia.

"People never learn," said William Mbaho, communications manager for Grouse Mountain.

"Boundary markers exist for a reason. It's for their own safety," he said.

Grouse Mountain has occasionally taken similar measures, but is now adopting a "zero-tolerance" policy on all such violations, he said.

Doug Forseth, operations vice-president for the Whistler-Blackcomb resort - where a snowboarder and skier died either New Year's Eve or the first day of 2009 after violating areas deemed off limits due to avalanche risks - promised new, tough measures and the possibility that violators could lose season passes worth up to $1,800.

But he acknowledged it is nearly impossible to police all customers, noting that yesterday, for example, there were about 65 patrol people to monitor 20,000 people skiing and boarding at the resort. "There's no way we can watch everybody," he said.

Mr. Forseth says it's a mystery to him why people take such risks.

Pascal Haegeli, a postdoctoral fellow at Simon Fraser University, who has studied avalanche safety, has been involved in studies specifically trying to crack the mystery.

He is just finishing work on a study in which researchers surveyed about 400 such risk-takers as they entered and left forbidden areas in British Columbia and Alberta.

He said many violators are aware of the risks, and relish them. Also, they rationalize the dangers because they don't often run into trouble.

"Despite the high number of fatalities in the last few days, there are a lot of people going into the backcountry. They're able to enjoy the backcountry and come home safely," he said.

 

[rama putri]

I wouldn't bother rescuing them. I was a ski patroller for 4 years and these idiots are same ones that laugh in your face when you ask them politely to stick to the open trails. They are also the same ungrateful SOBs when you risk your ass to get them out of a trouble. Let Darwin take it's course.

 

[Aardvark154]

Some people just don't have the brains the Lord gave an Armadillo. When you know that an area is avalanche-prone and that avalanche conditions are high why on earth do you go there, most particularly when you put others lives at risk and not just your own. And if you spend time in the back country take the time to learn how to read terrain and attempt to avoid danger.

 

[Rockslinger]

I was a ski patroller for 4 years and these idiots are same ones that laugh in your face

It is almost pre-ordained. Every Winter, 10 people will die skiing and 10 people will die because their snowmobile crashed through the ice. Every Summer 10 people will drown including one who dived in to save his dog when the dog is more than capable of saving himself.

 

[a 1 player]

It is almost pre-ordained. Every Winter, 10 people will die skiing and 10 people will die because their snowmobile crashed through the ice. Every Summer 10 people will drown including one who dived in to save his dog when the dog is more than capable of saving himself.

Very true.

 

[a 1 player]

Some people think they're good when in reality they're not, they need to face reality once in awhile.

Another one of my issues. **sigh**

 

[spankingman]

Ski Idiots

My son was a Firefighter at Big White in BC and told us stories of the rich kids who thought they could always flaunt the laws get in trouble and then EXCPECT to be helped as though it was there divine right Let them flounder and have the parents pay up.

 

[RTRD]

I am...

I wouldn't bother rescuing them. I was a ski patroller for 4 years and these idiots are same ones that laugh in your face when you ask them politely to stick to the open trails. They are also the same ungrateful SOBs when you risk your ass to get them out of a trouble. Let Darwin take it's course.

...glad you said it, but that is pretty much my thinking as well.

 

[tboy]

I wouldn't bother rescuing them. I was a ski patroller for 4 years and these idiots are same ones that laugh in your face when you ask them politely to stick to the open trails. They are also the same ungrateful SOBs when you risk your ass to get them out of a trouble. Let Darwin take it's course.

I totally agree with your here rama, I have been advocating for years that our various rescue services should let those that flaunt safety get themselves out of the trouble they got themselves into.

I mean, how many times we hear stories about people needing to be rescued from dangerous situations and their family members tell the media: they really wanted to go and even after repeated warnings they just wouldn't listen?......

I think it is awesome that the authorities in question are billing the idiots for the costs of the S and R teams.....kudos to them!!!

 

[pepsiman]

I think this should be the rules.... if some one decides to sail around the world in a dingy and needs to saved >. Bill that person for the rescue .
If some one wants to dog sled to the north pole and needs rescue >> send them the bill .