rfreeman

I decided to go to sugar mountain, nc despite the lack of snow and warm weather because I have been itching to use my new ctx. I'm going down my first run of the season on my new board as a start to see several grassy patches. Most are easy to go around, but suddenly an unavoidable unmarked patch of large rocks and gravel comes in my way. I see my board spark and I fall down while clenching my fists. I look at the board and as expected there are large deep gouges in the base and edges have more spurs than smooth area. Of course the damage to my board is much less important than the potential risk of injury on these rocky spots, but my question is, do they have any liabilty? I feel that if temperatures are too high for them to make enough snow to cover rocks, they simply shouldn't open that trail.

linvillegorge

The waiver you agree to when you purchase your ticket is pretty damn bulletproof.

It sucks riding in the south. That's just the way things are. If those patches were in the middle of runs though, you'd think they'd try to do something to mark them.

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rfreeman

Is it a waiver you automatically agree to by purchasing the ticket? I don't remember signing anything. Patches in the middle of the trail no joke.

lonerider

Yea, just buying the lift ticket means you agree to it. There is basically no way you can convince a court. Most mountains try to mark bare spots with poles although spots can show up at like 2:15 in the middle of the day so it is impossible for them to mark all of them. Also snowboarders tend to knock down the pole so they can jump over the rocks.



Back in the day, we rode at Sunday River the first week it open (Oct 23)... there was so little snow that you had reload at the mid-station (or down-load) as there wasn't really any snow on the bottom half on the mountain. For lunch my friends decided to ride down the second half of the mountain... hoping from snow patch to snow patch and eventually riding the last quarter of the way completely on mud (basically everyone in the lodge watched them come down). They decided to do it again at the end of the day... except this time there was a pileup and the last guy leaped ot of the way... and busted his right knee on a rock. He took some advil, drove us 4 hours home in his stick driven car... and found out his tore his kneecap and was out for 4 months.

It is basically the rider's responsibility to pay attention and keep control of where you are going.

In some countries... they don't really even mark out of bounds or cliffs very well (sometimes it's just a few scattered poles with no sign) because they assume people "look before they leap"... which actually works... except if the person is drunk... or an American

WasatchMan

Sorry man, you're out of luck.

You are snowboarding natural terrain, you have to expect natural features here and there.

snowvols

Dude you are missing out on the best part about Sugar! There are so many fun rock/grass patches that involve drops that you just ollie over. That is the only thing that keeps me sane if I ever ride there.

Rider161

maybe you were on the trail that was being converted to their extreme rock course.

readimag

Yeah glad that sport did not take off, if you read the back of your ticket it will spell out everything you signed for when you bought your ticket. You cant sue them if something happens from another person or you hit a tree bla bla bla list goes on. I have been to sugar and it does suck, but at least you have some place to ride near you, and trust me it is like this in CO also before the base to a good level.

Grizz

I can't believe this is even a post.

Sack up and own your choice to go riding in shitty conditions and the inherent risks involved.

rfreeman

Ive never read the back of the ticket, but always assumed it said something like "We are not liable for anything under any circumstances ever.....eff you, go snowboard." Ive hit many rocks before, thats part of snowboarding, I know that. I would never complain and try to get a ski resort to pay for damages to my board because of one random rock. Im just frustrated that they would not mark these areas, or better yet keep that trail closed. Its not like they weren't aware of it. I talked to ski patrols and lift operators who all acknowledged they shouldnt be open.


Well it was kind of a trip report. Now you know not to go to Sugar Mountain. Hitting rocks is an inherent risk of snowboarding, but when one part of the trail has more rocks than snow is no longer risk, it is inevitable. They should mark the spots, keep the trail closed, or maybe even tell you "there are a lot of rocky areas, watch out."