SnowHound

So I was out boarding today and I so happen to be riding my park board (O-Matic Todd Richards)and I was making some pretty good speed when I noticed a skier in front of me making long sweeping turns.

Since I was up on the persons left and the skier started making a right turn I figured I would ride right past them on the left side.

As soon as I do that the skier suddenly decides to turn left going much slower than I was so I had to bank left on my toe edge (I ride goofy)really hard to avoid a collision.

As soon as I do that I realize that if I don't stop or turn quickly I'm going to eat it on the side of the mountain. So with that in mind for a split second I try to bank hard right on my heal edge where of course I catch my edge and up in the air I go.

After a second of silence (I assume flying through the air) I land on my lower back, hit the back of my head on the ice ( I wear a helmet) and when I stopped the pain was IMMENSE. I hit with such violence that if I had anything in my bowels at the time I would have shat and sprayed myself all over the place. I have never felt anything like that before.

Anyway, I'm laying there for a few minutes completely stunned and surprised not one person even stopped, I got myself together and finished the run.

I've been boarding for a while and I guess I'm a little pissed at the skier for making a sudden sloooooow turn left but also upset at myself as I feel it was my fault. Although I'm glad no collision occurred and I was trying my best to avoid that at all cost.

I also feel like if I was on my never summer SL the edge would have held better and I may have made the turn rather than feeling like edge the gave out on me but I suppose that's what I get for trying to bomb down the hill on icy hard pack on a much softer board.....

Oh well.. other than that it was a great day on the mountain... All I have to do now is rest my sore back and somewhat of an achy head and get back out there next week...

Has anything like this ever happened to any of you guys before? Does it shake your confidence at all?

linvillegorge

Shit happens on the hill. You're right that it was ultimately your fault, but I completely understand your frustration about the situation.

Your post pretty much sums up why I stay off of groomers at all cost. I take groomers to get to the chairs to the places I want to go (blacks, back bowls, etc.) and then take groomers at the end of the day to get back to the bottom of the hill. That's about it.

visibleinks

Sounds like you are on the east coast too.

Yea, you really have to watch other people and be careful when passing. Sometimes you just have to either ride the mountain early or late to be able to really bomb and go fast safely.

It's always better to check your speed and slow down and give a wider margin. Whoever is ahead of you always has the right of way, even if they are going slow and wide.

on wearing a helmet, saw a kid break his in half today.

Ezkimo

Welcome to keystone colorado where the slowest run of the day is the run to the park. Its a battle for survival on that damn green. Like 4000 people all doing huge left and right turns. But from my perspective, it sounds like you were ridin a little out of control for the situation. I know what you mean though, fucking skiiers (haha).

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crazyface

i was hit by some guy on a board earlier this year. it was probably my 3rd or 4th time out this season. i was cutting across the run on my heel edge to get to the chairlift. i was just going across, completely blind to what was uphill, when i hear someone baove me yell. i looked up and saw this guy coming straight at me. he ran into my front foot and knocked me over. the guy went flying and i asked him if he was okay. i rode past him and saw he was riding a burton vapor. i had to laugh because he spent $1000 on a board without being able to ride it very well.

Gaper9001

I think the main problem is the east coast, I wouldn't ski except 5 days a year when there is actually snow. I am pretty sure there are more gapers too.

Cool_As_Cakes

happens all the time everywhere. the worst part is that these types of people usually have no idea where they are going. I tend to ride on the outer 10% of groomed trails to avoid such occurances but sometimes they are just unavoidable.

I am always looking around so I know who is where in relation to myself so those things don't happen. I wish other folks would use that simple safety measure too. Oh well though

v-verb

Maybe get checked out at hospital if you're still hurting. Especially your head

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SnowHound

I used today as an example for my son on why I always make him wear a helmet as well even though that vast majority of his friends don't. Helmet or no riding, that's my family rule on the slopes.

Plus the fact that I really have to get back to defensive riding again. I'm typically super careful with my head being on a swivel but perhaps I got a little cocky after successfully landing several jumps and hitting some boxes for the first time in a long time!

I typically avoid the weekends here in MN because I feel the hills are too small from the amount of people crowding on them. I almost feel like it's a dang obstacle course out there.

I suppose that gives me all the more reason to take a mental day off from work and go boarding during the middle of the week.

Thanks for the responses so far!

Ghost_Rider_X

this is one of my pet peeves. if you're cutting across the trail you should be VERY aware of what is uphill. i understand its ultimately the person downhill who has the right of way, but the downhill person has the responsibility to look uphill before making erratic moves such as cutting across the entire trail. you wouldn't change change lanes without looking behind you...would you?