Thinking the same thing.It's hard to imagine gummies are more of an issue than alcohol, imho.
paging @VickiK , @mustski , @skibum4ever , @WaterGirl to name a few.Does anyone have an LA Times subscription? Maybe you can copy and paste the original article? I thought accidents were super secret and resorts didn't release the stats. I'm glad that somehow the Times got them though!
I can see the original article, but it has several pages. It appears that LA Times got some stats from a state database of hospital visits.Does anyone have an LA Times subscription? Maybe you can copy and paste the original article?
You're right about that. The article also says:I thought accidents were super secret and resorts didn't release the stats.
A ski patrol at Alpine Meadows told me 2-3 years ago that they were given instructions to be more restrict on those speeding at beginner zone. And he himself had taken away someone's pass. I wish all the ski patrols could be more proactive on enforcing mountain safety. But they are also mostly volunteers with the only benefit of a free ski pass.because I ski more beginner terrain, I see a lot of obliviousness
During that same period, the number of skiers and snowboarders remained essentially unchanged in California, according to industry data.
This! There is no doubt that the Ikon resorts have been impacted by crowds - primarily on the weekends but there are also midweek increases. The biggest problems are on the beginner and intermediate terrain with the combination of crowds and low skill levels. I see this at Big Bear resorts and also at Palisades Tahoe. I can't speak to Mammoth because I only ski it in spring.I am very skeptical of this assertion, and we have no way of knowing if it's true. I think we may have talked about this here--ski resorts say visits are flat, but meanwhile, all of us are contending with more crowds when we ski. It is a fact that the areas in the WA Cascades are busier than ever; we see this in the fact that vehicle reservations are now required in places and parking lots regularly fill when they didn't used to. I suppose California could be different, but I don't see why it would be. So I personally wonder if the slopes are more crowded and that also contributes. Of course it would be terrible for business to admit that. Then they might have to do something like pay more ski patrol. Much easier to blame skiers for eating gummies.
From my observation, the Epic and Ikon resorts in Tahoe are definitely getting busier than before, but some small independent resorts are seeing less traffic. So it's also possible that the total skier/rider population didn't change much, where they go has changed.It is a fact that the areas in the WA Cascades are busier than ever; we see this in the fact that vehicle reservations are now required in places and parking lots regularly fill when they didn't used to. I suppose California could be different, but I don't see why it would be.
Really great points about redistribution of people! We went to Northstar for the first time a couple months ago. It was so packed that we hated it. I was super tense when skiing because there were people everywhere. The next day we went to Sugar Bowl instead. It was a night and day difference!Another Tahoe area resort Sugar Bowl limits the number of passes they sell each year as a way of crowd control. I went there 2 days during the spring break last year and didn't feel it was significantly more crowded than 3 years ago when I was there.
I thought that “skier visits” are up, but number of participants is relatively flat…which would explain more crowding, and more visits would mean more injuries. Maybe alcohol, gummies or action cameras play a part…but I doubt they can attribute the full 50% rise in injury to those reasons alone.I am very skeptical of this assertion, and we have no way of knowing if it's true. I think we may have talked about this here--ski resorts say visits are flat, but meanwhile, all of us are contending with more crowds when we ski.
There are so many “skiers” who are really just straightliners. The only place I’ve seen a “no straightlining” sign is at Beaver Creek. Equipment and grooming is excellent; unfortunately, this seems to encourage many skiers to Be overconfident and ski way too fast. I’m amazed there aren’t MORE accidents from out of control speedsters.According to a report by the LA Times, California ski accidents are up nearly 50 percent over the last two years – statistics that news reports have attributed to a rise in GoPro use, selfie stops, and “THC-laced gummies.”
I saw a similar [big & orange] sign at Alyeska this past week…first time I’ve seen a sign like that.The only place I’ve seen a “no straightlining” sign is at Beaver Creek.