 Poster: A snowHead
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In a tragic accident, a snowboarder died after being crushed by a piste basher late on Saturday afternoon in Les Collons in the canton of Valais. The 23-year-old was knocked over by the vehicle. The driver, who failed to realise that he had hit anyone, crushed the young woman with his next manoeuvre....Source: http://www.lenouvelliste.ch/fr/news/valais/ecrasee-par-une-dameuse_9-76067
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How awful 
A couple of weeks ago I was skiing in a white out and could hear the piste bashers moving around. It wasn't until I was nearly on top of them that I could see them. I have to confess to being a bit concerned at the time. A good reason to wear dayglo orange?
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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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The accident happened at 7.35pm and the piste closed at 4.30...
Dreadful.
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Absolute awful. Tragic.
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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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A week ago, I was skiing in a clear day. I was too busy looking up the hill at a trail merge. I failed to pay attention to this giant machine coming from BELOW me!!!
Yes, they do make sounds. But with certain snow condition, the ski made so much noise I couldn't hear them coming!!!
30 seconds difference between live and die.
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as I noted when there was a previous death (during piste opening hours) the piste bashers are not allowed on the slopes during the day round here. If it gets churned up, you just get some practice at skiing less than perfect conditions. That seems a good policy to me. We sometimes have to wait for a piste to open after heavy snow, while they piste it; never, ever, are the machines and the skiers allowed on the slopes together. I feel very sorry for the driver of this machine too; the snowboarder had presumably got lost and just managed to stumble back onto the piste. I wonder if it was dark?
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I have heard of a few piste users flying around with a MP3/iPod and loud music in the ears claim they have no problem of avoiding running into other piste users.
Just wonder if that applies to a piste basher.
If I am not mistaken the machine emits a loud warning beep continuously if on the move. Accidents do occur though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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an awful accident and I agree with Pam W you have to feel so sorry for the piste basher driver he couldn't have been expecting anyone on the piste at that time of the evening.
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They're not the easiest things to see out of either. I think you have to be responsible for your own safety around these machines i.e assume the driver cannot see you and keep out of its way! A bit like crossing the road. Some people rely on cars avoiding them, rather than the other way around.
Very sad in this case that someone got killed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| saikee wrote: |
If I am not mistaken the machine emits a loud warning beep continuously if on the move. Accidents do occur though. |
Optionally, like when on an open slope during the day. Not 3 hours after the resort shut.
The real question is, why was the guy, who was 50 years old, up the mountain at all.
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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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| Ronald wrote: |
| saikee wrote: |
If I am not mistaken the machine emits a loud warning beep continuously if on the move. Accidents do occur though. |
Optionally, like when on an open slope during the day. Not 3 hours after the resort shut.
The real question is, why was the guy, who was 50 years old, up the mountain at all. |
He was driving the basher....
the snowboarder was 23 who was run over. I think perhaps you need to re-read TFA
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| Ronald wrote: |
The real question is, why was the guy, who was 50 years old, up the mountain at all. |
Is there an age limit for going up mountains then?
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You know it makes sense.
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Tragic accident but you are back to personal responsibility if you ever look at the bottom of a lift station there are plenty of signs warning about the dangers of after hours skiing in resorts! Other than piste bashers you have tow cables and pipes from the snow cannons!!
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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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| Ronald wrote: |
| saikee wrote: |
If I am not mistaken the machine emits a loud warning beep continuously if on the move. Accidents do occur though. |
Optionally, like when on an open slope during the day. Not 3 hours after the resort shut. |
Even with the warning beeping off, at 7.30pm I would have thought it would have been dark? The bashers I've seen crawling over the mountains have all had incredibly bright lights.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Is it really likely to be dark at 7.30pm at this time of year? It's not going dark until after 8.30pm over here.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Perhaps. In that case even the lights (had they been on) could have been missed I suppose.
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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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Maybe she was injured and stranded. I guess suicide could also be a possibility. All too horrible.
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laundryman, she wasn't alone.
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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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Hurtle, ah ... I should've taken the trouble to wade through the French.
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I was at Les Collons earlier this year. I would guess that the lass in question was at Thyon (eating and/or drinking) then went back to Les Collons via the slopes. I almost did the same, having a drink at the Thyon, and noticed the the slopes were almost empty, quickly boarded down just as the slopes were closing (4:30). Dreadfull 
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She was a local and so, presumably, was her companion (whose story had not been heard at the time the article was written) so they should have known exactly what they were doing, and the risks they were running.
Incidentally, although Ronald had misunderstood the story, in thinking that the victim was 50, I'm intrigued to know why he thinks a 50 year old has any less business to be up the mountain than someone of any other age.
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| pam w wrote: |
| Incidentally, although Ronald had misunderstood the story, in thinking that the victim was 50, I'm intrigued to know why he thinks a 50 year old has any less business to be up the mountain than someone of any other age. |
Playing Devil's Advocate, maybe he was simply implying that a man of that age ought to have sufficient sense to assess the risks (ie they were not a 13 year old separated from their parents)
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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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| pam w wrote: |
| although Ronald had misunderstood the story, in thinking that the victim was 50, I'm intrigued to know why he thinks a 50 year old has any less business to be up the mountain than someone of any other age. |
Damned right!! I still ski at 60, just taught my partner and she's nearly 58 and many resorts give free passes to anyone 70+.
Irrelevant agist comment! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I read Ronald's comment as asking why someone was up the mountain at that time of night. Oh, and by the way, the guy was 50.
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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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Tatra Man, absolutely no apology necessary or required. Quite a justified comment if the perceived sleight was genuine IMO.
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You know it makes sense.
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Tatra Man, welcome to Snowheads, youngster.  By the time you're 60 the age for free passes will be 80. Mark my words.
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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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One thing the report says which no-one has commented on is that the boarder and her companion moved from the right where it is reported that the driver had spotted them to the left behind the machine where he didn't see her and reversed over her.
The problem with boards, of course, is that it's so much more difficult to move about in an emergency.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Tue 15-04-08 17:26; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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bertie bassett....
Wow the friendlyness....
So i misunderstand the french... If it were greek to me i'd have more chance to get it right... Geez...
Why the sneer, simply correct me like others did... I'd only expect such a sneer from someone native French to be honest...
Elizabeth B, thats right, thanks.
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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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Ronald, see it as a compliment to your written English! It is so good that, unless he had met you, he would never know that you are Dutch! (Well, I didn't  .)
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| I read Ronald's comment as asking why someone was up the mountain at that time of night. Oh, and by the way, the guy was 50. |
Exactly how I read it. Ronald, your English is terrif.
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Frosty, Hurtle, maggi, Reminds me of the time I asked in "Franglais" for salad in the French alps "sans preservatif" hoping to get a salad without dressing, the waiter giggled his head off as I'd just asked for salad without a condom. Mrs F'y still LOVES to tell people this story...
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Frosty, you can can get an STI (Salad Transmitted Infection) that way!
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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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Frosty, was it a female or male waiter?
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FAQ
(and anyone who has heard me speak Dutch will def know I'm English 
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