Hit-and-run snowboard accident on the mountain
Dr. Doug Pitman’s excellent opinion piece in the March 4 Whitefish Pilot noted that excessive speed and poor judgment are significant contributing factors to injury and death on ski hills.
On Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 23, I was skiing with two friends down Toni Matt, onto Bench Run, and then down Corkscrew. Without any warning, I was hit from behind by a high-speed skier and slammed down onto the hard-packed snow, resulting in a trip by ski patrol to the Big Mountain Clinic, and from there by ambulance to the emergency room at North Valley Hospital. A CAT scan revealed two fractures of the pelvis, fortunately not requiring any surgical procedures.
The skier who hit me never slowed down or looked back, according to the friend who was skiing behind me (who narrowly escaped being hit as well) and could only identify the skier as someone “wearing a red jacket.” This was on a sunny day on a wide-open slope with virtually no one else on it, and we had been making predictable, controlled, medium-radius turns. My friend stated that the skier was going straight and didn’t seem to make any effort to avoid me.
Only last month, my friend Brett Tallman, an expert skier and former racer and coach (and a Whitefish native) related his story of suffering badly bruised ribs after being knocked down by a high-speed snowboarder who ran across the front of his skis — again not stopping or looking back following impact. Based upon other reports I have heard, these are not just two isolated incidents.
I have been skiing for more than 65 years, and began skiing on Big Mountain the winter of 1948-49. I raced throughout my high school and college years and taught skiing professionally on Big Mountain over the years beginning in 1960, plus I taught skiing in the French Alps one season and once headed up a ski school. However, this is the most serious injury I have suffered during all these years. I give the ski patrol and personnel at the Big Mountain Clinic high marks for the professional skill and care I received.
In the early 1990s, I was hired as a consultant by Big Mountain management for several new programs, including development of a program for seniors. I wrote an article in collaboration with a physician in which we spelled out the fun and benefits to be derived from this great sport. Included were the results of our research that demonstrated that skiing at that time was safer than many sports, such as bicycle riding, horse-back riding, and skating.
I then worked with the head of the Flathead County Agency on Aging designing a program which never materialized due to fears expressed by a number of seniors that they didn’t wish to take on the added risk and complications that might result from injury at this stage of life.
I commend Big Mountain management for their decision to provide free skiing for those of us over 70 years of age. However, the increasing reckless and irresponsible behavior of a few is cause for concern, not only for seniors and the parents of small children but for everyone who wants to enjoy this wonderful mountain without fear.
There is no question that going fast can be exhilarating and fun, and there are many who know how to ski and ride fast and can do so safely and under control. And there are a small number of collisions that are unavoidable. But hit-and-run drivers on our highways face serious consequences, and the same should hold true for hit-and-run skiers and snow boarders.
As a victim of a hit-and-run skier, not only do I face the loss of the remainder of the ski season, but also the impact on my work and many additional adjustments. This, coupled with the pain and discomfort, a period on crutches, no driving for a period of time and medical expenses, are not my idea of fun. I shudder knowing it could have been much worse.
I appeal to everyone on the slopes to show more consideration to your fellow skiers and snowboarders, and to be more aware of the harm you can do to others by acting irresponsibly.
Gerald Askevold lives in Whitefish.