The Skiers Code

kappcity06

This sort of goes long with my thread about racers taking up an entire trail. Not to tote my own horn but someone really needs to be trying in order for them to pass me. More often I have to pass many people on the way down the hill.

I ski the code to the best of my ability and if someone cuts in front of me I will throw on the brakes…if the cut off was bad enough they will get a dusting of snow on them as well.

When I attempt to pass someone who in my opinion is making particularly wide and erratic turns my primary mode is to hug the side of the trail and try to time my pass so they are on the opposite side but sometimes it does not work out that way.

In a particular situation where I am passing someone and there is less than 6 inches between me and the edge of the trail, I just put out my fist and if the person doesn’t realize I’m there they are going to get a stiff arm that will most likely knock them down. When I am as far over as possible and the person still insists on making these turns I will not be forced off the trail. 

Anyone comment on my interpretation of this area of the code?

dcapbtls

<p>Since you asked……….I think you are advertising your ignorance for all to see.</p><p>That person below you, who you are attempting to pass is your responsibility, regardless of what kind of turns he/she is making.  Stating that you will pass with your fist up, or going into it with the mindset that you will knock the person down is unreasonable and dangerous.</p>

rickbolger

What code are you reading?    

NewEnglandSkier13

I agree that it is very annoying when you are trying to pass someone who is taking up the entire trail, BUT they do have the right of way.

kappcity06

im not rear ending them

they are side swipping me

kappcity06

and its the 

Responsibility Code | NSAA - National Ski Areas Association

rickbolger

That was a rhetorical question.

If you read #1 and #2 of your link – I’m assuming you know the definition of the word AVOID used in #1 and #2 –  you’ll understand why it was a rhetorical question, and you’ll also understand why I’d yank your pass if I owned the ski area.  Beyond that, you’d better hope I didn’t notice the stiff arm.

But I don’t own a ski area so you’re in the clear!

PS:  Very last item in the complete, unpublished skier’s code:   Karma’s a bitch    

kappcity06

Skiers never die

they just go downhill

and downhill i will go

kappcity06

<font face=“Arial, Verdana”>at what point am i considered “ahead” of the person ive passed</font>

People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

<font color=“#333333” face=“Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”>cause in ski racing its just to the bindings so if they clip my tails then im ahead…</font>

NELSBEER

We can complain about a lot of things (I think we had a thread on this last year):  

lift line cutting & clogging

colorful inappropriate language 

racers going too fast in the wrong places

poor park etiquette

boarders & skiers (“kids”) speeding thru beginner areas

a few tipsy skiers

boarders blocking trails

people skiing/boarding thru classes (standing or moving)

food quality & price

unsupervised little kids weaving thru big park features

littering: Bottles, cans, cigarette butts, candy wrappers.Cell phones, credit cards & season passes as well… 

…but the thing I hate to hear most is “Oh s^%$” followed by the loud thud of one person hitting another person (or a tree/hazard) at speed. Nothing ruins a good day quicker!    

The Skiers Code is meant to be a set of starting parameters for a skier or boarder, sort of like English Common Law is the basis for our legal system. If we all learn to temper our skiing and boarding with a little common sense and respect using old fashioned practices like yelling “on your right” or slowing down for inept skiers or crowded areas we can keep the accidents (and insurance premiums) down.

We all get annoyed by stupidity at times; talk to the patrol, the area courtesy desk or mountain ambassadors about it. If they hear the same thing too many times, they will work on it.

My personal favorite threat (as a patroller) is, “Do you want your mother/coach to hear about this?” Those RFID tags make it real easy to find out who most of the kids are. 

ski_it

Can you move this discussion over to AZ so I tell you what’s really on my mind? No?

Ok, then your mindset is<font size=“7”>WRONG</font><font size=“5”> WRONG</font> <font size=“3”>WRONG</font> WRONG <font size=“1”>WRONG</font>

DrJeff

<blockquote class=“Quote” rel=“kappcity06”><font face=“Arial, Verdana”>at what point am i considered “ahead” of the person ive passed</font><div style=“font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal;”></div><div><ol style=“font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 18px 25px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);”><li>People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.</li></ol><div><font color=“#333333” face=“Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif”>cause in ski racing its just to the bindings so if they clip my tails then im ahead…</font></div></div></blockquote> For the code, and this comes straight from my discussions I’ve had with friends who are on the Mount Snow Ski Patrol and also friends who are also ambassadors at Mount Snow (basically this is the standard that you’ll be held to if they see you violating it, and at other areas it may be different), for you to be completely past them and as such then assuming the “ahead” position, your tails need to have not just cleared the tips/tip of the downhill person’s skis/board, but have cleared them by enough so that they would then have enough space to safely stop should you suddenly stop immediately upon passing them (3 to 5 feet is the rough number I heard discussed)

I can tell you from 30+ years of skiing at Mount Snow, that especially in times of limited terrain and higher on trail volume, the ski patrol and ambassadors will take an even more aggressive stance about keeping all skiers and riders under control and safe.  They’d much rather you get “mad” at them for telling you to slow down (and the reality is that if they’re asking someone to slow down that you’re probably going too fast FOR THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE AND HILL CONDITION regardless of what you feel) than have to take you, or someone else down in a sled because a collision occurred

When in doubt, err on the side of safety.  Most people get that concept sooner or later

riverc0il

Anyone comment on my interpretation of this area of the code?

</blockquote>

If you have to stiff arm someone that you are passing, then you aren’t following the code. If you are passing someone, then you have the ability to plan the pass. If you can’t safely pass (that includes anticipating potential erratic turns), then you need to slow down and not pass until the way is 100% clear. If you are passing someone and counting on them using peripheral version to see you and avoid you, then you are not following the code.

If I start getting annoyed that I can’t find a good passing lane/time, then I stop and wait 20 seconds or so and let the person get way ahead of me so I don’t have to worry about it. It isn’t their fault that they are going slower than me, using the full trail, and making erratic and unpredictable turns. As the skier attempting to pass, that is my problem and my responsibility to deal with appropriately. 

steamboat1

Not having to ski weekends anymore is a great thing. Pretty much don’t deal with this bull crap anymore.

joshua_segal

Anyone comment on my interpretation of this area of the code?

</blockquote>