jdmccright

Me and my friend were in NC riding New Years and one of the ski patrol came up to my friend and told him he could not ride the lift because he did not have a leash. She also said it was NC state law to have one. After a little research I could not find any laws regarding snowboarding in NC, also there was no rules posted on said matter at that mountain. So my question is why are skiers allowed to have flying projectiles on there feet while snowboarders are getting harassed about a string on our feet.

CheeseForSteeze

I don't know about the legal requirements in NC or elsewhere for that matter as they pertain to leashes. I've seen signs that say riders must maintain control of their equipment at all times to prevent runaways which may imply the use of a leash, if necessary. I think by purchasing the lift ticket, you may be obligated (legally) to comply with ski patrol in matters concerning safety, but I think that probably only concerns things which present an imminent danger (i.e. unsafe behavior) and I'd be hard pressed to believe the absence of a leash constitutes an "imminent danger".

So I find more than a little hard to believe there are any state laws regarding leashes. The resort can certainly require one as a rule, though. I just have never seen any resorts which do so.

tlake2568

Hey JDM,
I believe some states actually DO have regulations on leashes. Regardless, its always a good idea... Leashes prevent boards from becoming beaming boards of DEATH *DUH DUH DUHHHHHH*

It could also vary from mt. to mt. Check with Guest Relations at the resort, and they usually have an answer. Don't bother asking ski patrol, as they usually like to make up their own rules sometimes.

snowvols

Thing about it is that all mountains in NC are on private land. They can set the rules the way they want. I am guess you were at Cat? That was the only place that used to bust my chops for a leash. I used to have a mop string I found on the floor and tied it to my binding and boot and that was good enough for them.

Toecutter

Skis have brakes (i.e., a device to prevent runaway equipment).

david_z

Michigan has such a law and every year I think someone starts a thread just like this one so there are a few other states that require them, too. Most resorts don't bother checking, though. I have a small one that I just clip from one part of my binding to the other. Pants cover it up. If anyone gives me shit about it I will clip to my laces but it almost never happens.

As for skis, the "brakes" on the ski bindings are sufficient; our law says that your equipment must have some sort of restraint to prevent runaway skis/boards. Ski "brakes" are good enough to stop most skis most of the time. There is no equivalent for boards, though, so that's where the leash comes in. Ski blades also require leashes unless they're mounted with real ski bindings. Usually, they're just the cheap-o hardboot binding without DIN or any sort of real tension adjustment and they don't have the "brakes" (like the ones shown below).

Attached Images

skiblade.jpg (19.1 KB, 151 views)

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ShredLife

yeaaa, but they don't really work that great... i watched a ski patroller drop a ski trying to get it on at the top of a lift and it went 100 yards or so down the mountain. it only stopped because it flipped over and sideways.

in over 20 years of riding the only time i've seen a runaway snowboard was when someone's board that they were not attached to got loose from the halfpipe area at Bachelor and ran all the way down to the wall of the rental lodge... and exploded

leashes for snowboards are retarded, and only the functionally retarded would really get any use from one. when resorts around here would fuck with you for not having one we would just use a shoelace or something to clown them... a mop string hahaha that's sick

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Toecutter

100 yards is a long way! That ski incident was out of the norm though. Usually the ski stops within a few yards (unless you totally tomahawk and your stuff catapults everywhere). Most falls are not so dramatic. I bet >99% of the time the ski brakes work great.

I saw a runaway board last season at Bachelor. The wind blew it off of the rack outside the upper lodge and it took off down the slope. A bunch of people tried to get to it but couldn't. I bet the owner came out of the lodge and thought someone stole his board!

Edit: I meant that skis usually end up within a few yards of the skier. Once a ski hits the snow though, it usually comes to a stop within inches. Try it out: find someone from whom you can borrow a ski, then try to make it slide as far as you can down a hill.

david_z

Most of the time they do. Think about all of the ski yard sales that you've ever seen. How many times have you seen someone have to walk all the way to the bottom of the hill/mountain or even 100 yards downhill to retrieve a lost ski? Normally, they have to walk back uphill or the ski(s) are only a few yards away from the crash site.

I totally agree that board leashes are retarded. The only time I've ever seen a board come off is when it was intentionally removed from the feet. I.e., the person would've unstrapped his leash anyways.

But ski brakes do work most of the time

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ShredLife

well they don't work on ice and i guess that's pretty much all we get to ride anymore

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