19 replies to this topic

[tahoeistruckin]

Happpend at The Canyons.

http://www.parkrecor...rce=most_viewed

Crash critically injures Park City man
Patrick Parkinson, Of the Record staff
Posted: 01/13/2009 04:54:14 PM MST


A Park City snowboarder was in intensive care Tuesday after he was struck Friday by a snowmobile a resort employee was operating at The Canyons, an attorney for the victim said.
The accident, which occurred near the bottom of the Golden Eagle chairlift, critically injured Snyderville Basin resident John Everett.

"I don't think anybody plans on being hit by a 500-pound snowmobile as they are snowboarding down a run during normal business hours, in fair weather," said John Flynn, a lawyer in Arizona who may help represent Everett in a lawsuit against The Canyons. "I don't think a snowboarder has a chance against a snowmobile."

But the snowmobile was nearly stopped when Everett collided with the machine, said Mike Goar, managing director at The Canyons.

"It was in an approved location and being operated consistent with our standard practices," Goar said. "We certainly are going to be very sensitive about trying to lay blame out of sensitivity to the family."

Still, Flynn described the collision as "catastrophic" and "unbelievable."

Everett, who was taken to the hospital in a medical helicopter, works at 350 Main and is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys rock climbing and mountain biking.

"John was catastrophically injured," Flynn said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

When asked if Everett might be paralyzed: "They're very serious injuries," Flynn replied.

"Right now, obviously our focus is tending to John," the attorney said.

But lawyers in Utah will consider filing a lawsuit against The Canyons, Flynn said.

"I'm engaging local counsel," Flynn said.

"I'm putting together the necessary team to make sure [the family is] taken care of, and to protect their interests."

A spokesman for The Canyons claimed that guests sometimes collide with snowmobiles at ski resorts.

"This kind of thing has happened at other resorts," said Tim Vetter, a vice president at The Canyons, in a telephone interview.

But rules govern how resort employees must operate snowmobiles on the hill, he said.

"There are real specific guidelines," Vetter said, adding that he did not know who was operating the snowmobile at the time of the crash.

Everett would likely have a strong case against the resort, however, should he choose to sue, Flynn said.

Park City resident Jason Crobarger, who is close friends with Everett, said injuries the man suffered are severe.

"I just spent three days in the hospital with Johnny," Crobarger said Tuesday. "He got crushed."

Calls placed to Talisker Corp., the parent company to The Canyons, were not immediately returned.

[aug]

Indeed Mr. Flynn is an ambulance chaser who at the moment has a very good case against The Canyons. Snomobiles in the ski areas are a vital tool to ski patrol and lift maint.. In my eyes , the use of snowmobile in ski areas is driven by the high demands of the current customer base, with the constant need to have maintenance, and first aid personell available with in certain time constraints to satisfy the customers needs (IE stalled lift , Injured guest). I agree that sno mos are an accident waiting to happen on ski slopes during operating hours, however with out this mode of transportation a modern ski area would be logisticly screwed.

[k2skier]

It's sad when anyone gets hurt on the hill, especially when it's against a machine. Most resorts used to groom during the day also, but not much any more, mainly because of collisions that have occurred. My question would be; if he didn't see the machine why couldn't he hear it? This is one big reason why I will never have headphones/ear buds in while skiing or boarding!

[SkiBachelor]

k2skier, on Jan 14 2009, 11:08 AM, said:

It's sad when anyone gets hurt on the hill, especially when it's against a machine. Most resorts used to groom during the day also, but not much any more, mainly because of collisions that have occurred. My question would be; if he didn't see the machine why couldn't he hear it? This is one big reason why I will never have headphones/ear buds in while skiing or boarding!

The snowboard may have been wearing head phones, a common practice among skiers and riders these days.

[2milehi]

SkiBachelor, on Jan 14 2009, 12:18 PM, said:

The snowboard may have been wearing head phones, a common practice among skiers and riders these days.

And if the rider was deaf - last I checked hearing wasn't a requirment for skiing/riding.

[k2skier]

The reason I bring up listening to music is because it's a lot harder to stay safe on the slopes with not being able to hear any outside noises, like something as simple as "on your left" while being passed on a narrow run. Not being able to hear a noisy snowmobile makes a sport that has inherent risks even more risky. If he was deaf, then maybe going slower would be a good idea, or stay in the middle of the run, you'll rarely find a sled in the middle of a run.

[tahoeistruckin]

k2skier, on Jan 14 2009, 12:57 PM, said:

The reason I bring up listening to music is because it's a lot harder to stay safe on the slopes with not being able to hear any outside noises, like something as simple as "on your left" while being passed on a narrow run. Not being able to hear a noisy snowmobile makes a sport that has inherent risks even more risky. If he was deaf, then maybe going slower would be a good idea, or stay in the middle of the run, you'll rarely find a sled in the middle of a run.

So was the boarder blind?? Or did the 'bil pop' out of the trees? Like skiers and boaders are known to do.
Many times i'd be on the side of the diesgnated run to my lift, and a skier would pop out of the trees in front of me. Brakes don't fail me now.

I agree the guy is an amblance chaser. Makes me wonder if he was actually a witness.

This post has been edited by tahoeistruckin: 14 January 2009 - 01:38 PM

[2milehi]

Best not to draw conclusions before knowing all the facts.

[mikest2]

Does The Canyons run flags and sirens on their sleds ?

[lastchair_44]

Not to be rude, but flags and sirens just make you look good to your insurance provider. I don't know what it is, but snow machines on ski runs during operating hours attract people to them. I've heard of people running into parked snowmo's before this incident. Hopefully the guy that was injured makes it out alright, and the guy he hit doesn't lose his job.

On the topic of skiing with music, I'm not a big fan either. I mean is it really a good idea to listen to music while you're riding your bike, sharing the road with cars? Policy here for our operators is if they get caught skiing/riding with headphones or ear buds in, they're probably headed down the road.

[Vinny 2 Shoes]

In Colorado, don't the signs about encountering snow making equipment or snow groomers include something about snowmobiles? Not sure if I'm fabricating that memory, or if there are similar warnings in Utah?

[floridaskier]

The sign is something like "Machinery may be encountered on ski runs at any time"

[towertop]

In the 25+ years of riding a snomobile at ski areas I had one person hit me. I say hit me, because I was on my way to a down lift, towers out, must make a visual on the tower. Tower was in the terrain park... need I say more. I saw this kid coming at me I was stopped! I knew he was going to hit me. Lucky for me a ski patrol was on the down lift sitting just above me and was able to give a statement. But I agree with Aug, we are an accident waiting to happen.... But without my tools we may as well shut the lifts down and let people hike!

[Skiing#1]

that is terrible.

I never thought about between the skiers, the snowboraders and the snowmobilers on the ski slope area related to accidents. I have seen the snowmobiles with the highlight orange flags.

I am profoundly deaf (hear nothing). I do tend to see carefully. Some snowboarders crashed into me. They don't realize I can't hear...they yelled or screamed at me. There is nothing we can do. I encourage them to take responsbility if they are behind me or others...Avoid them. Some of my friends teased me to wear an orange vest and says "I am Deaf Skier" I laughed so loud.

My brothers, sisters, my son (all are hearing) and I often drive snowmobile up to the cabin on ski slope area. We keep on the side of the slope, keep slowly driving when the skiers and the snowborders are around, and we always stop at the merge area and check the skiers and the snowboarders before we go across. I will tell my parents and my silbings to get the highlight orange flags for our snowmobiles.

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 20 January 2009 - 10:20 AM

[skier691]

Skiing #1... I am suprised that you can drive your sled up the ski slopes. maybe its different on National Forest Land but on our slopes you cannot drive your personal sled on oe near. Wheres the regulation, do you think you have the run of the area??? In MI, you have to run a flashing red light, a beeper, and a orange flag, all after a couple tragic events here in MI. Sled usage and traffic at my area is way down from the way it once was.

[Skiing#1]

You are right. Ski patrols, ski resorts and National Forest don't allow any people use snowmobilies on the ski slopes. The ski patrols did stopped us several times and asked us to leave. We told them that we have the cabin up there and they allow us use snowmobiles on the ski slopes. There are only five cabins (high area) on the ski slopes as well as there are two cabins at the low bottom. Now they don't allow any new building cabins no more. One of cabins belongs to my parents when they bought it 37 years ago, and there was no rules and nice flexible but today there are more rules and stricts like they don't allow us riding tubes on the ski slopes at night when ski lifts are closed but they let us riding tubes at half pipe area at night only, ok with them. Or no snowmboiles on ski slopes at night. At the cabin, a couple live next door cabin, the couple live there all round years. Ski resort let their truck and second car park inside ski resort's garage. They use snowmobiles all the times.

Summer time, Forest Rangers don't allow any people ride bikes or ATV or any auto on ski slopes, too. They put gates to keep people out (not allow them drive on the proptery). We have key to open the gate and drive on dirt road up to the cabin. Also no pets, too. NO DOGS!!! Last summer, my daughter and her husband brought their dog there and they hiked up to the lake. Ranger saw them and told them...no dogs or they can be fined.

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 20 January 2009 - 06:02 PM

[Peter]

At Crystal, people who have cabins up at Gold Hills frequently ride snowmobiles up there during operating hours. I know the cabins are within a tiny section of private land surrounded by National Forest that is left over from mining. I think there is some stipulation that the government is required to allow access through National Forest to private land that is surrounded by it.

[Skiing#1]

My parents' cabin is located on ski slope at Brighton. Insteresting Crystal and Brighton are same sister and brother (same company).

[Andoman]

skier691, on Jan 20 2009, 04:39 PM, said:

Skiing #1... I am suprised that you can drive your sled up the ski slopes. maybe its different on National Forest Land but on our slopes you cannot drive your personal sled on oe near. Wheres the regulation, do you think you have the run of the area??? In MI, you have to run a flashing red light, a beeper, and a orange flag, all after a couple tragic events here in MI. Sled usage and traffic at my area is way down from the way it once was.

someone should tell alpine valley, pine knob, and mt holly that because they'll rip up the center of the slopes without any of those things on the sleds.

[pp492]

Andoman, on Jan 21 2009, 09:03 AM, said:

someone should tell alpine valley, pine knob, and mt holly that because they'll rip up the center of the slopes without any of those things on the sleds.

The state of Michigan has a new ordinance that has told them:

http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.a...=LG&RngHigh