Skier wrong to trash snowboarders
I am truly sorry that Ms. Levy has been hit and injured three times by other snow riders on this mountain, I am even more sorry that all these incidences involved snowboarders. It seems to me Ms. Levy is loving to use this fact to perpetuate the already tarnished image of people who choose to strap their feet onto one plank.
I am a 27-year-old female snowboarder. I have been riding a board for almost 10 years now and in that time have only been directly involved in three accidents with other snow riders. All three were skiers and none were my fault. I, too, wear a helmet and advocate their use wholeheartedly.
Did it ever occur to Ms. Levy that she might have been the one at fault in one, if not all, of these accidents? Probably not. She is correct that you must watch people from behind, as it states in the etiquette rules of the mountain. These people have the right of way. However, other people’s actions are hard to interpret sometimes, especially when coming up behind someone on an area that may be narrow or densely populated. They may make an abrupt, unnecessary 8-foot S turn right in front of you, and you most likely will hit them.
As a snowboarder, I find it not only important to look forward, sideways, and for cross traffic while riding, but also to check out what is going on behind me and how many people are back there. This gives me a good idea of the area I have to maneuver in.
On an overcrowded catwalk or funnel to a lift I always tell people I am on their right or on their left, in such trying to ensure I am not taken out by some skier who tries to make that infamous 8-foot, unnecessary S turn right in front of me as I am trying to pass them. I do not travel at a super sonic speed when in these situations. I just have the upper hand in that, I live here, this is my mountain and I know how to get around easily, I go faster, and straighter on catwalks than most tourists here.
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Obviously, Ms Levy, you are wrong and offensive to assume and state that skiers are the only ones who have any sort of understanding of etiquette on the hill. It would probably do you well to take a look around you when you ski and make sure you have enough room to your sides and to look behind you, as best you can, when turning to make sure you are not going to cut someone off, which is probably exactly what you are doing when you get in these accidents.
In closing, I would like to state that it is people like you Ms Levy – angry, close-minded and accusatory – who make an experience on Vail Mountain unpleasant for many of us. When you have an accident, it is an accident. There are skiers as well as boarders that do not stop to see if their collidee is all right, that do not apologize, and are more than happy to rip you a new one instead of letting an explanation or apology in edgewise. So please, Shelley, give us a break, and think before you make or write such baseless, general and offensive words again.
I am certain it is not the increasing number of snowboarders that is decreasing skier safety but the number of people, on skis or boards, that are too ignorant to take other people’s safety and well-being into consideration.
Irish Boston
Vail
Tell everyone
Living very close to the Berry Creek road, I see the people using this road. A lot of the users are Hispanic. If they could understand that misuse of this area could cause them to lose the privilege, they might also work more at keeping it clean.
Many of my neighbors, and my family, in the Moonridge subdivision clean up this road constantly. We can fill up a couple of trash bags in just a short walk. The depressing part is within two weeks or less it looks as if no one has cleaned up at all.
Everyone who uses this area should be responsible enough to pick up their own trash. If not, it should be closed. I love having this access in my back yard, but that doesn’t outweigh my love of seeing clean mountains.
As for the part in your story about the road being driven on to early in the spring, it is driven on all winter. No matter what time of year, or the conditions of the road, people are always driving on the road. The seasonal closure is a great idea.
Todd Williams
Modest proposal
Wow. We’ve killed a bill that would have allowed Eagle County residents to buy conservation easements to save a long-disputed parcel of land from developers.
And we’ve passed a bill that will allow CDOW officials or agents to shoot problem bears.
I would like to offer a compromise. Let’s pass a bill that will allow CDOW officials or agents to shoot problem developers instead. Then we’ll all be happy.
Courtney Diehl
