 Poster: A snowHead
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Zermatt has put a 30 km/h speed limit on four of its pistes to give slower skiers a safer and more pleasurable time. The scheme came in on 1 January.
This report by Matthew Campbell for the Sunday Times.
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| A speed limit of 30kph (19mph) applies to the “slow slopes” although it is hard for skiers, let alone those monitoring them, to know exactly how fast they are going. Unlike America, where “ski police” with flashing helmets have powers to chase, fine and press charges against reckless skiers, Europe has shown little zeal in pursuing offenders. |
Indeed, the impression given by the article is that the scheme will not be enforced, at least initially.
Anyone seen an American ski policeman with a flashing helmet? A free 'respect the law' wristband for the first person to post the requisite video.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 11-01-10 6:46; edited 1 time in total
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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 love hearing about these ski speed limits, you can't enforce a speed limit when the person "speeding" has no idea how fast they are going.
Also no luck with finding a video, I wanted the wristband 
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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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anotherproblem, Mate due think its just another way to get people to slow down. If you become aware of a speed limit most normal people would slow down just in case.
Just like entering a 20 MPH in your car do you look at your speedo first or do you slow down first then look?
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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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blytht, that isn't comparable, I have some idea of what speed I'm doing in my car. I know what certain speeds feel like, whereas on skis I have no idea at all
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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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blytht, slow down whilst looking at the speedo?
In saying that, if I entered a slow speed area I would probably slow down from whatever speed I was doing but wouldn't necessarily be to 'under 30kph'.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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they should put up speed cameras so you can check how fast you are going to see if you need to slow down 
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| Ernst Goldsmith wrote: |
| Unlike America, where “ski police” with flashing helmets have powers to chase, fine and press charges against reckless skiers, Europe has shown little zeal in pursuing offenders. |
[/quote]
Strange. That behaviour might otherwise be considered unAmerican - a Euro/Commie denial of fundamental freedoms, like socialised medicine. Skiing seems to be an exception. Speeding fines for US drivers often seem to be a localised income generating racket.
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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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| anotherproblem wrote: |
| I love hearing about these ski speed limits, you can't enforce a speed limit when the person "speeding" has no idea how fast they are going. |
Exactly what I was thinking. Where I used to sail there was a harbour speed limit of 8knts and sailing a high performance sailing dinghy I would peak 20knts in a good amount of wind. The harbour people said they didn't care because we had no way of knowing how fast we were going.
Not sure where the law stands on cyclists but suspect it is the same.
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Which pistes are they on?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I can't find any info on which pistes they are either. Would be unfair to have a limit on red or black runs and there are not many blue runs in Zermatt. Was thinking maybe Gandegg but you need a lot of speed towards the end of that so maybe not. I guess Standard and Easy Run in Rothorn, maybe 1 or 2 of Gornegrat, Rifflehorn or Rotenboden???
Can anyone confirm ?
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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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| Quote: |
Would be unfair to have a limit on red or black runs
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Maybe not in a resort where there are loads of them. Some skiers might like to ski more challenging terrain in security, without having faster (but not necessarily very good) skiers hurtling past. But yes, it seems more logical to have some blue runs designated as "slow runs" - especially as it's often on blue runs that some people ski too fast (ie faster than they can 100% control) just because it's easy to do so (you have to be rather good to ski fast down a black run, after all). I wouldn't give much time to arguments that "I don't know how fast I'm going". surely any competent skier can understand an instruction to ski slowly, give slower skiers plenty of room, not show off, and generally take it easy?
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You know it makes sense.
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Lots of places have a slow zone. In Spain I think it has a kph limit low down the mountain.
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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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| bertie bassett wrote: |
| There's this guy who was on patrol in La Plagne for a while last season |
Peculiar pose, and he's experiencing partial strangulation, though there's no orange. The angle of the flagpole is interesting.
Was he just pleased to see you?
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