It's Official, This Is Colorado's Deadliest Season - Snowboarding Forum

AcroPhile · 03-16-2012, 04:43 PM

Sad news, Colorado now has 18 fatalities so far this ski season. Matthew Bowers's death is 18th of Colorado ski season, most deadly on record - Denver News - The Latest Word Shitty year for snow and safety this year.

A death at loveland made number 17 and this latest one at Crested Butte is the 18th one. It's only halfway through March and if things keep on going at this pace were set to break 20 before the end of the season. What's to blame this season? Is it the terrible snow?

**killclimbz** · 03-16-2012, 05:17 PM

Going by memory, it seems to me that the seasons that I remember having a high number of deaths we typically below average years. Though the last time it was set in the mid 00's I don't necessarily remember that one being a bad one.

Probably has to do with the fact people are skiing angry because of the lack of snow and not getting their powder fixes. I've certainly noticed that hitch hiking on Berthoud Pass is way tougher this year than in years past. Everyone is pissed...

Flick Montana · 03-18-2012, 08:52 AM

It's not the snow. That's like saying road fatalities are caused by bad weather. Let's be honest, it's bad drivers.

This is a dangerous sport. You have to be prepared and you have to be riding at the level where you're comfortable. As bad as I feel for all the people who lose their lives in these accidents, there are almost always ways it could have been prevented.

Winston · 03-27-2012, 05:21 PM

How were most of these deaths caused?

poutanen · 03-27-2012, 05:31 PM

From memory, of the non-avalanche related deaths I've heard about in the last few years, most of them involve someone colliding with a tree or another person. That means that all of us aren't abiding by rule #1 of the alpine responsibility code (ski/board in control).

I'll admit that one of my thrills is blasting a groomed run right next to the trees. If not there, then I'm right in the trees albeit going a fair bit slower.

I could easily be the next statistic...

snoeboarder · 03-27-2012, 07:04 PM

it really has been a tough year for resort deaths, the snow was hard and unforgiving most of the season here. like he said above running into trees off the trail seems to be the biggest cause and its always mentioned if someone is or isn't wearing a helmet, 90% of the times they are. tree wells, collisions with other obstacles, falling from lifts from medical conditions, employee accidents and obviously avalanches all play a part. i've heard so much this year its spooky but sobering at the same time. i read First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine | The ski and snowboard world at your keyboard daily and it was like one after another this year. backtrack and you'll see.

03-16-2012, 04:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
AcroPhile Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 629	It's Official, This Is Colorado's Deadliest Season Sad news, Colorado now has 18 fatalities so far this ski season. Matthew Bowers's death is 18th of Colorado ski season, most deadly on record - Denver News - The Latest Word Shitty year for snow and safety this year. A death at loveland made number 17 and this latest one at Crested Butte is the 18th one. It's only halfway through March and if things keep on going at this pace were set to break 20 before the end of the season. What's to blame this season? Is it the terrible snow?

03-18-2012, 08:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Flick Montana Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beech Grove, Indiana sigh Posts: 4,168	It's not the snow. That's like saying road fatalities are caused by bad weather. Let's be honest, it's bad drivers. This is a dangerous sport. You have to be prepared and you have to be riding at the level where you're comfortable. As bad as I feel for all the people who lose their lives in these accidents, there are almost always ways it could have been prevented. __________________ Zombie Nation Gear: Rome Design 165 / Rome Arsenals Rome Anthem 158

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03-16-2012, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,174	Going by memory, it seems to me that the seasons that I remember having a high number of deaths we typically below average years. Though the last time it was set in the mid 00's I don't necessarily remember that one being a bad one. Probably has to do with the fact people are skiing angry because of the lack of snow and not getting their powder fixes. I've certainly noticed that hitch hiking on Berthoud Pass is way tougher this year than in years past. Everyone is pissed...

03-27-2012, 05:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Winston Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 11	How were most of these deaths caused?

03-27-2012, 05:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
poutanen Resident Creep-o-saurus Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 3,485	From memory, of the non-avalanche related deaths I've heard about in the last few years, most of them involve someone colliding with a tree or another person. That means that all of us aren't abiding by rule #1 of the alpine responsibility code (ski/board in control). I'll admit that one of my thrills is blasting a groomed run right next to the trees. If not there, then I'm right in the trees albeit going a fair bit slower. I could easily be the next statistic...

03-27-2012, 07:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
snoeboarder Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Utica, NY Posts: 825	it really has been a tough year for resort deaths, the snow was hard and unforgiving most of the season here. like he said above running into trees off the trail seems to be the biggest cause and its always mentioned if someone is or isn't wearing a helmet, 90% of the times they are. tree wells, collisions with other obstacles, falling from lifts from medical conditions, employee accidents and obviously avalanches all play a part. i've heard so much this year its spooky but sobering at the same time. i read First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine \| The ski and snowboard world at your keyboard daily and it was like one after another this year. backtrack and you'll see.