 Poster: A snowHead
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After two successive days of near-collisions during women's World Cup ski races - one of which involved Olympic medallist Michaela Dorfmeister - the International Ski Federation (FIS) is under pressure to put an end to the risks.
The threat of fatal or catastrophic injuries to racers who collide with course workers or officials is serious and historically proven. At St Moritz, over the weekend, two serious incidents occurred:
1. In Saturday's downhill, Anne Marie Mueller of Norway nearly collided with an Italian trainer.
2. In Sunday's downhill element of the 'super-combination' event, Michaela Dorfmeister very nearly collided with a course worker aiming to fix a gate. She even had to lift a ski to avoid disaster.
Several racers in the finish area watching the TV monitors were reported to have been furious.
''This must never happen again,'' said Renate Goetschl, Dorfmeister's teammate. ''It's complete madness.''
Dangers can occur due to misinterpreted radio signals from the race directors to those along the course. In the Dorfmeister case it appears that there was confusion over the timing of a TV commercial break, when workers have a few minutes to repair the course.
This report from Associated Press.
Any comments, or suggestions as to how the system can be made as foolproof as possible? Presumably there will be detailed public comment from the FIS shortly.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I notice that all the incidents reported are on the women's circuit. Are the men's and women's circuits operated by different organisations? Or is it simply coincidence?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Skiers fault, they were uphill and travelling too fast, they should be dragged through the courts. FIS circuit and no FIS rules! 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I imagine that had they been ordinary skiers and not racers then those near-misses would have been collisions. How many of us have had near death experiences with race training schools especially those containing French kids.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It is from the Austrian papers. The man who misheard the instructions on the radio is 65 years old and has been working as a course worker for over 30 years.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| David Goldsmith wrote: |
Dangers can occur due to misinterpreted radio signals from the race directors to those along the course. In the Dorfmeister case it appears that there was confusion over the timing of a TV commercial break, when workers have a few minutes to repair the course.
Any comments, or suggestions as to how the system can be made as foolproof as possible? Presumably there will be detailed public comment from the FIS shortly. |
In principle you could provide the race directors/controllers with the ability to transmit a danger - racer on course or safe - course clear status message to the course workers radios which illuminated a red or green indicator lamp as appropriate (you could also have similar red/green indicator lamps positioned at various places down the course to inform anyone without radios). Workers should only go onto the piste if the green light is illuminated.
However, the cost of developing such a specialised system may be thought excessive.
Any thoughts?
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Alastair Pink, The concept of electronically controlled 'signaling' linked to start gates /elapsed times/ electronic beams/manual override/ GPS/ even TV schedules is not expensive as it's all old technology .... to the sports discredit that such ideas haven't been implemented.
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I totally agree. Red/green signalling is unambiguous. Radio speech certainly isn't.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Just seen footage of Dorfmister's near miss. It's her last season but if she hadn't of reacted quickly enough and ridden on the inside side it could of been her last race, maybe even her last turn. I doubt the old guy carrying the shovel would of survived.
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Perhaps yellow and red said the colour blind sparky
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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CEM,
It was Regine Cavagnoud
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1025063671035_20472871/
On German TV last night they interviewed Dorfmeister and the old chap who went across the course. (I was drinking a few beers and playing cards and it was on in the background so I didn't get every detail). Do remember the old guy saying that he had been given a signal that there was a 3 min commercial braek while they sorted out a fallen gate.
All credit to them though, the old guy was very apologetic and Dorfmeister said she was glad they were both OK.
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You know it makes sense.
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DB,
thanks for saving my failing brain 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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CEM,
I forgot too. I just knew the date (because it was my birthday) and that she was French. Thank google.
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FAQ
