Shredding the East Coast

On New Years Eve I went snowboarding at a local hill after getting 50 cm of fresh snow. I thought it would be an awesome way to end a rather challenging year, however 2016 had to go out with a bang. I was on my final run of the day heading for the car and got hit by an out of control skier. I ended up with no major injuries, thank god but I did end up with a severe neck and back muscle bruising, a bad headaches which has lasted over five days and a huge black and blue on my calf muscles. I walked away and am very thankful I did, but my snowboard was severally damaged. This isn’t the first time I have been hit by an out of control skier but this is by far the worst. He scratched the whole top of my board since his skis went on the nose and inside sections of my board and somehow wrapping around my legs.

It frustrates me because anyone who owns skis or snowboards knows the cost associated with owning such equipment. My board cost $1,000 for just the board and in an instant an out of control skier destroyed it. I know when we hit the hills we take on all liability and I realize the risk involved in doing an ‘extreme sport’ like snowboarding, but to what extent are we fully responsible. If I was driving my car and drove to close to someone and scratched there door I would be fully liable so why is it so different on the hill?

Driving home with a horrific headache and my neck in pain this is what I asked myself. Why should I be responsible for this man flying out of control down the hill and hitting me and ruining my snowboard and New Years Eve? If you’re like me you shop around and find the perfect setup and spent a lot of money on it. I just can’t wrap my head around how we can’t hold the skiers and snowboarders on the hill who severally damage our gear responsible.

All and all I am just happy I was able to walk away without any broken bones or severe injuries.

xxx

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