maxi_sopez Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Truly awful story, incredibly sad. But whats really shocked me is she was skiing fell over got up laughed it off then fell ill...Im going skiing next week and seriously now considering wearing a helmet. What are peoples opinions, do you wear helmets when skiing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Yeah, I was shocked by this too. Not just because it was Natasha Richardson either, although by all accounts she was a sweet woman. When I used to ski I never wore a skid lid, although it's every bit as dangerous as motorcycling or just plain cycling, but for different reasons, of course. The professionals wear them, and it certainly wouldn't do any harm to at least wear a bicycle helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pancake Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Truly awful story, incredibly sad. But whats really shocked me is she was skiing fell over got up laughed it off then fell ill...Im going skiing next week and seriously now considering wearing a helmet. What are peoples opinions, do you wear helmets when skiing? If you were taking a moutian bike down hill one afternoon, would you wear a helmet? of course you would, and I see the 2 being the same kind of thing. Sure, snow is "softer" than mud, but the impact pressure when you hit it even a small speed is enough to bugger the old noggin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Truly awful story, incredibly sad. But whats really shocked me is she was skiing fell over got up laughed it off then fell ill...Im going skiing next week and seriously now considering wearing a helmet. What are peoples opinions, do you wear helmets when skiing? WEAR A HELMET. I cannot recommend this enough. I took my eldest son on a skii course between Xmas and Noo Year. The first day he stayed in the ski school whilst I went skiing. What I saw on the pistes was enough to make me go straight round the shop and buy him a helmet before the next day. You may a be considerate skiier, but dont assume everyone else is and pay for that mistake with your life. Did you hear about the German govt. minister that killed a Slovakian mother because he turned abruptly across a piste into her path ? What I dont understand is what the hell Natasha Richardson did. She was on a beginners slope, FFS. I am wondering if she had a anneurysm on the way already and the crash just triggered it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxi_sopez Posted 19 March, 2009 Author Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Yeah thats what i dont get, how you can hurt yourself on a beginners slope...You cant really pick up any speed....weird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 It is mandatory for kids to wear helmets here. I wear one when snow-boarding. They should just make it mandatory for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Yeah thats what i dont get, how you can hurt yourself on a beginners slope...You cant really pick up any speed....weird She banged her head, it can get pretty icy and it is as hard as concrete. It is bad but even a seemingly innocuous fall can cause a small tear in the brain tissue or a bleed. Then it depends on where in the brain the injury is or where in the brain the increased pressure is exerted. It is just plain bad luck on her part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niemster Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 I did my ski instructor training in Tremblant where she fell and went down that particular slope many times over the 3 months i was out there and when reading about the accident it just seems like a one in a million chance of that happening, very upsetting. In terms of helmets it is advised if you are new to the sport or not very confident but i will never wear one, my teachers didnt and there is no proof they help much unless you are purposely doing stunts, jumping or going off piste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint in Paradise Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Very sad news though from such what appears to have been only a very small fall Only simple people don't wear a helmet, if wearing one means you get ridiculed from so called "friends" then they are not very good friends. Of course you could tell them it's only to keep your ears warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MongoNeil Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 I'm flying out to the Alps on Sat and a bit unnerved by this story. I got a helmet last year and though I'd look a right tit and would feel really uncomfortable. I soon got used to it and forgot I was wearing it in the end, still looked a tit mind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint in Paradise Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Better to be a live "tit" than a dead cool person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamilton Saint Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 I did my ski instructor training in Tremblant where she fell and went down that particular slope many times over the 3 months i was out there and when reading about the accident it just seems like a one in a million chance of that happening, very upsetting. In terms of helmets it is advised if you are new to the sport or not very confident but i will never wear one, my teachers didnt and there is no proof they help much unless you are purposely doing stunts, jumping or going off piste. They don't help if you fall and bang your head on icy snow? Would Richardson be alive now if she'd been wearing a helmet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 I did my ski instructor, training in Tremblant, where she fell and went down that particular slope many times over the 3 months i was out there and when reading about the accident it just seems like a one in a million chance of that happening, very upsetting. In terms of helmets it is advised if you are new to the sport or not very confident but i will never wear one, my teachers didnt and there is no proof they help much unless you are purposely doing stunts, jumping or going off piste. :smt017 Clarifification required please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 :smt017 Clarifification required please? You know full well what Niemster's saying Hamster. And there isn't any need for and addedd comma. This isn't TMS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Saint Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Just got back from boarding on tuesday, i have never worn a helmet, but would suggest it is a very clever option to do so. It's not only about landing on snow as mentioned, being hit by others or, banging your head on trees and rocks are equally as potentially dangerous. So, wear one if you can. Do as i say not as i do. I think that in the future it may well be the law, or that your insurance will not cover you if your not wearing one. For those who have not yet experienced the thrills of the mountain on board or ski, go while your body allows you, its f@£kin brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 19 March, 2009 Share Posted 19 March, 2009 Just got back from boarding on tuesday, i have never worn a helmet, but would suggest it is a very clever option to do so. It's not only about landing on snow as mentioned, being hit by others or, banging your head on trees and rocks are equally as potentially dangerous. So, wear one if you can. Do as i say not as i do. I think that in the future it may well be the law, or that your insurance will not cover you if your not wearing one. For those who have not yet experienced the thrills of the mountain on board or ski, go while your body allows you, its f@£kin brilliant. I would encourage those Southampton based people who think they may be keen to ski or snowboard, to have a go on the dry slopes within the Southampton area. For those that don't know, there are different slopes at the Sports Centre, and at Calshot there is a big gradual slope, and is very good for learning on. I used to keep up my skills on the dry slopes, and it's quite nice to know that good snow is both faster and more responsive. Icey snow is bloody hard and unresponsive. Guess where you can be injured more easily..? Sadly, my back won't let me ski anymore, and my knees are crap anyway. I can still sail like a bugger though, so I'm satisfied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 (edited) I went on a ski trip to Austria when I was at Hampton Park school. I felt sorry for one particular tree that stood on its own at the bottom of a fairly simple starter run of about 200 metres.... It got whacked time and again. I was watching from the top. Some girl called Abigail ploughed straight into it first of all and while she was disentangling herself a massive guy called Chinni hit the tree so hard all the snow fell off it! I was curled up with laughter... Chinni had an excuse. He had size 14 feet and the best the renta-boot place could do was size 12 so he was squashed into them. Problem was he was massive and momentum meant he couldn't steer or snow plough to a stop very easily in size 12 boots. Twas funny. RIP to Natasha though. Edited 20 March, 2009 by TopGun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 I would encourage those Southampton based people who think they may be keen to ski or snowboard, to have a go on the dry slopes within the Southampton area. For those that don't know, there are different slopes at the Sports Centre, and at Calshot there is a big gradual slope, and is very good for learning on. I used to keep up my skills on the dry slopes, and it's quite nice to know that good snow is both faster and more responsive. Icey snow is bloody hard and unresponsive. Guess where you can be injured more easily..? Sadly, my back won't let me ski anymore, and my knees are crap anyway. I can still sail like a bugger though, so I'm satisfied. All those who went to Tauntons in the 80s will know that Mr Insole led the skiing trips and he insisted on students doing prep work at the sports centre before the big off to Switzerland or wherever. He didn't like me anyway and had a right fit at me when I attempted to use one of those little lifts at the sports centre cos I fell off at the start. He reckoned I'd been boozing at lunch time which was totally wrong (for once)! Our relationship got no better on the trip I'm sad to say. Prejudiced teachers do exist and it spoiled my hol a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff leopard Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 I soon got used to it and forgot I was wearing it in the end, still looked a tit mind... What you need is a Flight of the Conchords style hair-helmet also available, gloves that look like hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 Skiing is f**king dangerous. I am facing shoulder surgery next month due a fall I had between Xmas and new year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint francis Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 Knee jerk reactions to tragic circumstances don't often result in sensible rules and regulations. I'm not sure everybody wearing a helmet is necessarily the way forward, but I don't know the statistics. I'd be interested to know whether fatal head injuries are more likely from skiing than many other sports or even as a pedestrian crossing the road. Of course skiing sensibly and within your limits reduces any risk even further. Personally I like to feel the wind in my hair when I ski without feeling the need for OTT protective equipment, but you do what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuRomseySaint Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 I bet Natasha Richardson didn't start the week thinking she'd be outlived by Jade Goody :shock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robsk II Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 Sad news, of course, but in any case such as this, I still think it's odd as there are thousands of tragic deaths every day, mostly of people who've had worse lives, and many younger, than this woman. I know the media needs to focus on a few of the stories, but it's still a reflection of the somewhat perverse nature of our society to focus on celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 Sad news, of course, but in any case such as this, I still think it's odd as there are thousands of tragic deaths every day, mostly of people who've had worse lives, and many younger, than this woman. I know the media needs to focus on a few of the stories, but it's still a reflection of the somewhat perverse nature of our society to focus on celebrity. This is what I thought, but I couldn't be arsed to articulate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuRomseySaint Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 These Natasha richardson jokes are harsh, stop taking the piste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 If what you meant was "she's not really very famous considering the column inches is she?" I heartily agree. The whole family are a bit "nearly" for me... Also, helmets outside pro-skiing and pro-biklists are for gheys and womens, as any fule no. We'll be wearing them in case of falling birds, meteorites and haycorns next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 I ski a fair bit and don't wear a helmet. Several reasons, cost, comfort and having to transport the f**king thing accross Europe/Atlantic being the main ones. Lot of negatives for something which probably wont do any good in 90% of accidents. With regards to compulsory helmets, I think it's a tad OTT. It would be interesting to compare the % of road users killed in accidents each year to those killed in ski/boarding accidents. I'm not sure, but I reckon road users come off worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 With regards to compulsory helmets, I think it's a tad OTT. It would be interesting to compare the % of road users killed in accidents each year to those killed in ski/boarding accidents. I'm not sure, but I reckon road users come off worse. Possibly not as a percentage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Posted 20 March, 2009 Share Posted 20 March, 2009 Possibly not as a percentage. Not sure. 2,943 Road deaths last year. If we assumed for a second that everyone in Britain used a road vehicle at some point, that's 2,943/61,000,000 - 1/20727 people killed. According to this article, there is 1 death for every 1,000,000 lift tickets purcased. If you assume that each person only purchases one ticket, it's statistically a lot safer than a car. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/07/us/high-profile-skiing-deaths-put-spotlight-on-head-injury-prevention.html?pagewanted=1 I guess it all comes down to how you ski/board. According to the same article, about 60% of all ski fatalities involve a tree. So if you stay on the piste and control your speed, you can't avoid half the danger. You can fall over running, playing football and indeed most sports, and hit your head just as hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamilton Saint Posted 22 March, 2009 Share Posted 22 March, 2009 I ski a fair bit and don't wear a helmet. Several reasons, cost, comfort and having to transport the f**king thing accross Europe/Atlantic being the main ones. Lot of negatives for something which probably wont do any good in 90% of accidents. With regards to compulsory helmets, I think it's a tad OTT. It would be interesting to compare the % of road users killed in accidents each year to those killed in ski/boarding accidents. I'm not sure, but I reckon road users come off worse. Lots of positives, though, for the other 10%? There was a time when motorcyclists didn't have to wear helmets. Is it a better thing now, do you think, that it's mandatory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 22 March, 2009 Share Posted 22 March, 2009 You know full well what Niemster's saying Hamster. And there isn't any need for and addedd comma. This isn't TMS. Oh dear! caught the pedant in full flow! Two! It must be BOGOF time! :smt083 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_bert Posted 22 March, 2009 Share Posted 22 March, 2009 Yeah thats what i dont get, how you can hurt yourself on a beginners slope...You cant really pick up any speed....weird The only thing I can think of is that there was something dormant in her head. The fall must have triggered something resulting in a truely horrific end of a life. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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