VTrider
04-30-2000, 10:52 PM
I've been riding a board at Tuckermans religiously since the Spring of 1990. Much of what I consider 'words of wisdom' i've learned from others, but mostly through my own 'experience'. I'm a true believer in the concept of 'learn from your mistakes', but after the events I saw this weekend, I'm hoping that what I'm about to post will prevent some of these misfortunes.
http://timefortuckerman.com/ubb/eek.gif <--- This is what that snowboarder probably looked like when he saw his board breaking the sound barrier as it shot off over the headwall without him on it. Then to the amazement of me and a hundred others on the lunch rocks watched as the guy slid down out of control (mistake or act of desperation) only to luckily catch himself on a 'shrub' before catching impending 'hospital air' with his body.
Moral of this story: Hike with your board on your backpack. I know when I'm ascending a 50+ degree in variable snow conditions, the last thing I want to worry about is holding onto my board. Every season, I see boarders hiking up using their board like a big 'ice pick' - not too smart if you ask me, this only leaves your 'foot holds' support you, if you slip don't think your going to support your weight by digging your board in the snow - not only will you fall - that board will turn into a potentially deadly projectile. That poor guy, was still up over the headwall wondering how he was going to get down when I left at the end of the day. About an hour after this incident, from the top of Left Chute I heard the lunch rock crowd start yelling, I looked down only to see yet another board - this time 'torpedo-ing' straight down and into a group of people - the board never made it through the group - it must have been going over 60 mph. When I got down, I heard that a volunteer SkiPatrol woman was hit by it and received an arm injury - don't know the extent/how bad? Judging by what I saw she's lucky to still be in one piece.
Well that was just my .02c - Hopefully this will make some people think? I've noticed that the 'tips' section was 'empty', it would be nice to see more people's input here.
Have fun & Be safe....
-VTrider
http://timefortuckerman.com/ubb/eek.gif <--- This is what that snowboarder probably looked like when he saw his board breaking the sound barrier as it shot off over the headwall without him on it. Then to the amazement of me and a hundred others on the lunch rocks watched as the guy slid down out of control (mistake or act of desperation) only to luckily catch himself on a 'shrub' before catching impending 'hospital air' with his body.
Moral of this story: Hike with your board on your backpack. I know when I'm ascending a 50+ degree in variable snow conditions, the last thing I want to worry about is holding onto my board. Every season, I see boarders hiking up using their board like a big 'ice pick' - not too smart if you ask me, this only leaves your 'foot holds' support you, if you slip don't think your going to support your weight by digging your board in the snow - not only will you fall - that board will turn into a potentially deadly projectile. That poor guy, was still up over the headwall wondering how he was going to get down when I left at the end of the day. About an hour after this incident, from the top of Left Chute I heard the lunch rock crowd start yelling, I looked down only to see yet another board - this time 'torpedo-ing' straight down and into a group of people - the board never made it through the group - it must have been going over 60 mph. When I got down, I heard that a volunteer SkiPatrol woman was hit by it and received an arm injury - don't know the extent/how bad? Judging by what I saw she's lucky to still be in one piece.
Well that was just my .02c - Hopefully this will make some people think? I've noticed that the 'tips' section was 'empty', it would be nice to see more people's input here.
Have fun & Be safe....
-VTrider