Greg Doda: His words. - Snowboarding Forum

**killclimbz** · 04-09-2009, 10:53 AM

Greg Doda is the young man who straightlined Laramie Bowl at Jackson Hole, down a run with plenty of other skiers/riders, lost control, collided with a young woman and killed her. There was a lot of outrage over this, as he was simply being a selfish idiot. I personally think he should have gotten a lot more jail time than he did. He got off easy.

Greg was a kid when this happened (16) an obviously feels quite a bit of guilt at this. So in the long run, this is something he's never going to forget and always feel regret over. Sad to say, but many people end up taking their own lives after an incident like this.

More info on the accident here.

Greg did write a great summary of what happened, the consequences he's faced, and his beliefs since. I don't agree 100% with him, but this is something everyone should read. Reeling it in a bit on the slopes, especially at the resort is not a bad thing. Especially if people are around. I was involved in a collsion over 15 years ago that was my fault. Fortunately it wasn't as tragic as this, but it still sucked. Take some time to read this.

Quote:

Unthinkable Tragedy from One Unthinkable Moment
By Greg Doda
On a bright, crisp winter day in February 2005, my decision to snowboard too fast
tragically killed Heather Donahue. In an instant, my actions left a husband without his wife,
parents without their daughter and a sister without her soul mate. Heather Donahue’s death
irrevocably changed the lives of the people who loved her as well as my life and the lives of the
people who care for me. Everyday I struggle to cope with overwhelming remorse. Once I reveled
in the joy of a fast ride, but I now realize the razor-thin line that separates pure exhilaration from
tragedy. I have learned the importance of snowboarding responsibly every second of every ride.
All deaths are tragic, but Heather Donahue’s was particularly heartbreaking because her
life had been one of purpose and meaning. She was just 29 years old and had grown up in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Heather had chosen to become a veterinarian because of her love of
animals. She received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University and completed her
graduate studies at Colorado State University-College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences. In 2004, she returned to Massachusetts for an internship in Emergency Medicine at
Tufts University. Heather was a leader of several organizations devoted to the care of animals.
She was in Jackson, Wyoming with her husband and family on a ski vacation when, tragically,
my irresponsibility in straight lining in Laramie Bowl destroyed the life of this benevolent
woman.

Rest of the article is here.

Flick Montana · 04-09-2009, 12:49 PM

It's not like everyone who snowboards doesn't know the rules. He violated them out of stupidity and a greedy desire to either show off or get his adrenaline fix. He was grossly out of line if he was traveling upwards of 40mph. I've never been on that run, but I also feel he must have been incorrect in saying he could not have avoided the crash.

I hope he is being honest about feeling shame and grief for what he did. It's the most just part of his punishment.

jmacphee9 · 04-09-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flick Montana

It's not like everyone who snowboards doesn't know the rules. He violated them out of stupidity and a greedy desire to either show off or get his adrenaline fix. He was grossly out of line if he was traveling upwards of 40mph. I've never been on that run, but I also feel he must have been incorrect in saying he could not have avoided the crash.

I hope he is being honest about feeling shame and grief for what he did. It's the most just part of his punishment.

honestly though, this kid was 16 i think he said. not an excuse but at that age you dont always think things through, he could of been a great kid as far as i know that made a really big mistake.

04-09-2009, 04:07 PM

I don't know how I feel about that essay he wrote....

Some parts seem to have a definite "homework" vibe(e.g. His use of statistics), yet in other spots when he talks more about his personal feelings he sounds a lot more sincere.

Hard to tell though, at least his use of statistical data shows he spent some time on research , but his description of his personal feelings could be "coached".

I think the kid is still riding? - If it were me, I don't think I would ever strap in again...

burritosandsnow · 04-09-2009, 05:10 PM

Brighton is so full of little cuts and jibs that drop off the trail and then shoot you back into the trail blind. Ive always taken the time to stop wait and make sure my way is clear before hitting these things. Many times as im waiting to hit things others will just come barreling through and hit them with little or no speed checks or visuals. Normally its no big deal and they keep going occasionally they have near misses with others. It does alot of times seem to be one of two groups.. either younger kids that just dont fully understand consequences or some older old school guy with flames on their beanies that you see drinking beers in the lift lines lol. Nothing wrong with straight lining a bowl as long as the way is clear ( which obviously wasnt the case ) but you gotta have some degree of control when theres others around. Theres very very little on the mountain ( even on an epic pow day ) that wont be there the next run so no need to run over everyone else for that awesome line, box, bowl whatever...

RVM · 04-09-2009, 05:30 PM

His essay seemed contrived.

There is supposed to be a video of the incident floating around. Has anyone seen it?

BurtonAvenger · 04-09-2009, 06:09 PM

From what I remember and this was a few years ago there was an incident between him and Donahue that led up to the crash. I believe words were exchanged and he was actually trying to scare them for what they said. Almost a violent reaction type scenario.

04-09-2009, 06:19 PM

RIP.
Thats another reason why I will never bomb.

04-09-2009, 06:22 PM

“The impact knocked Donahue out of her gloves, skis, poles, hat, goggles, neck warmer and catapulted her about 25 feet down the hill,” Teton County sheriff’s Investigator Mike Carlson wrote, based on an interview with Donahue's husband, who witnessed the crash.

In addition to the jail time, Day imposed one year of probation; 240 hours of community service, 80 of which must be done at a facility caring for animals; and about $4,000 in fines and victim’s compensation, $2,000 of which must go to Donahue’s favorite charity at Tuft's University, where she went to veterinary school. He also must write an article about the incident and snowboarding safety for a national magazine.

Can't find anything about any altercation or "snow rage" - but who knows.

I bomb - but never in traffic.

04-09-2009, 12:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Flick Montana Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beech Grove, Indiana sigh Posts: 4,168	It's not like everyone who snowboards doesn't know the rules. He violated them out of stupidity and a greedy desire to either show off or get his adrenaline fix. He was grossly out of line if he was traveling upwards of 40mph. I've never been on that run, but I also feel he must have been incorrect in saying he could not have avoided the crash. I hope he is being honest about feeling shame and grief for what he did. It's the most just part of his punishment. __________________ Zombie Nation Gear: Rome Design 165 / Rome Arsenals Rome Anthem 158

04-09-2009, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
RVM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central California Posts: 515	His essay seemed contrived. There is supposed to be a video of the incident floating around. Has anyone seen it? __________________ There is no substitution for human competition.

04-09-2009, 06:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,045	From what I remember and this was a few years ago there was an incident between him and Donahue that led up to the crash. I believe words were exchanged and he was actually trying to scare them for what they said. Almost a violent reaction type scenario. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

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04-09-2009, 04:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
jimmybonzai Guest Posts: n/a	I don't know how I feel about that essay he wrote.... Some parts seem to have a definite "homework" vibe(e.g. His use of statistics), yet in other spots when he talks more about his personal feelings he sounds a lot more sincere. Hard to tell though, at least his use of statistical data shows he spent some time on research , but his description of his personal feelings could be "coached". I think the kid is still riding? - If it were me, I don't think I would ever strap in again...

04-09-2009, 05:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
burritosandsnow Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: slc utah Posts: 928	Brighton is so full of little cuts and jibs that drop off the trail and then shoot you back into the trail blind. Ive always taken the time to stop wait and make sure my way is clear before hitting these things. Many times as im waiting to hit things others will just come barreling through and hit them with little or no speed checks or visuals. Normally its no big deal and they keep going occasionally they have near misses with others. It does alot of times seem to be one of two groups.. either younger kids that just dont fully understand consequences or some older old school guy with flames on their beanies that you see drinking beers in the lift lines lol. Nothing wrong with straight lining a bowl as long as the way is clear ( which obviously wasnt the case ) but you gotta have some degree of control when theres others around. Theres very very little on the mountain ( even on an epic pow day ) that wont be there the next run so no need to run over everyone else for that awesome line, box, bowl whatever...

04-09-2009, 06:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
fuzzysnowboard Guest Posts: n/a	RIP. Thats another reason why I will never bomb.

04-09-2009, 06:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
jimmybonzai Guest Posts: n/a	“The impact knocked Donahue out of her gloves, skis, poles, hat, goggles, neck warmer and catapulted her about 25 feet down the hill,” Teton County sheriff’s Investigator Mike Carlson wrote, based on an interview with Donahue's husband, who witnessed the crash. In addition to the jail time, Day imposed one year of probation; 240 hours of community service, 80 of which must be done at a facility caring for animals; and about $4,000 in fines and victim’s compensation, $2,000 of which must go to Donahue’s favorite charity at Tuft's University, where she went to veterinary school. He also must write an article about the incident and snowboarding safety for a national magazine. Can't find anything about any altercation or "snow rage" - but who knows. I bomb - but never in traffic.