Skier error cause of most accidents

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 501, 31 August 1993, Page 4 (Supplement)

Skier error cause of most accidents

There have been 13 helicopter evacuations from Turoa Skifields this season and between 10 and 100 injuries per week, despite the Ski Patrol's best efforts to make the skifields as safe as possible for alpine enthusiasts. That's because patrollers can't control skier error, the biggest cause of skifield injuries, according to Turoa Ski Patrol director Alistair Moore. A ski patroller's day begins at 6am when the first safety checks and

condition evaluations are done. The ski patrol is responsible for mountain safety in all its forms, and includes everything from the placement of safety signs and cautions, to avalanche control and mountain closure. In avalanche control the Ski Patrol may have to set off explosives to remove instability, or undertake *ski cutting', where they break away small unstable areas by skiing over them. Because of the prevention work of the patrol, most injuries can be blamed on skier error. The largest proportion of accidents occur at beginner to intermediate level, and the conditions, and type of activity largely determine the type of injury. Even in the past 10 days Alistair said he has noticed a change in the types of injury sustained.