Skiing - hidden dangers!

A snowHead

VAIL — Matthew Bourke was teaching a ski lesson Monday when he saw someone pointing a gun at him from the chairlift, police say.

The incident happened Monday at about 12:15 p.m., when Bourke, 26, a ski instructor for the Lionshead ski and snowboard school was with his class of 12 children on a trail above Lionshead, Eagle County Sheriff’s Deputy Gianni Robinson said.

“(Bourke) had observed a person on the chairlift hold out what appeared to be a rifle. So he dove into the snow in anticipation of being shot,” Robinson said. “He was afraid for his life when the firearm was aimed at him.”

Bourke did not return calls left at the ski school Tuesday. But Robinson said Bourke was shocked.
From the distance, Robinson said, Bourke couldn’t tell the weapon pointed at him was a BB gun. One of the BB gun’s pellets hit Bourke’s left shoulder, but didn’t pierce his jacket. He told the deputy he felt pain in his shoulder, and he also suffered a large welt and bruise.
The shooting is believed to be an isolated incident, Robinson said.
“He’s dumbfounded,” Robinson said of the instructor. “He doesn’t have any idea who would try to hurt him. He said he has no enemies.”

Bourke told police the suspect, who is still at large, was a man on skis.

“What’s concerning is that we don’t have any leads or identity,” Robinson said.

Jen Brown, a spokeswoman for Vail Mountain, also said the shooting was very unusual and an isolated incident.

“We’ve made every effort to locate the individual involved based upon the description that was given. We will continue to work with the Sheriff’s Office,” Brown said.

Robinson said police were called about an hour after the shooting. “Anyone in a similar situation should call 911 immediately,” he said.

Bourke, who had noticed the suspect was on Chair 8, called the chairlift operator to tell him to stop the lift, Robinson said.

“By the time the chair operator stopped the chairs, it was too late, the suspect had already left,” Robinson said.

Vail Security and Vail Ski Patrol were informed but they were unable to locate the suspect. Bourke continued his class with the children until 3:30 p.m. and didn’t go to the hospital for treatment.

A pellet gun is considered a firearm, Robinson said.

“We don’t know what kind of weapon this was,” he said. “It was a short-barrel firearm.”

The suspect could be charged with aggravated second degree assault and the use of a deadly weapon, which is a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 16 years in prison, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said.

Veronica Whitney can be reached at vwhitney@vaildaily.com

Vail Colorado

I'm not sure that my insurance would cover me for that!
Is WTFH still in Vail?

A snowHead

Nope. I left on Sunday, and I have witnesses.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

The only gun WTFH would point at anyone would be a snow gun. It all began with water pistols.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I don't know, you go to enormous effort and expense to rid the planet of the World’s greatest code mangler and the idiot you hire gets there a week late!

OK Epic . . . it’s your turn to try next.

Maybe we should call him Wear The Cat Hat, t’booger seems to have nine lives wink

You'll need to Register first of course.

Wear The Fox Hat, I've always assumed that you could turn water into wine, but water into seth is pretty impressive too.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

What's seth, by the way, and is it safe to drink?

After all it is free

Masque, some say that dogs are more effective than guns, when it comes to dispatching foxes.

David Goldsmith, it's the same as pith, just a different colour.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

skanky, It'd be worth it!
What a magnificent sight, Fuxup being pursued down the piste by a baying pack, the pink clad riders thundering at their heels, the keen descant of the whipper-in’s horn . . . God, it brings a tear to your eye and makes you proud to be part of this culture (sic). Twisted Evil

snow reports

Masque, I thought a dog had hold of him at this years ESA wink

Saas Fee charges 1/4 fare for "large dogs".

You know it makes sense.

Somewhere in the Bish household I have a photograph of Bish jnr riding a shetland pony and wearing full skiing gear and skis at the same time. Would this be suitable for the chase? I don't have any dogs though, but would a pack of 3 badly behaved cats do instead? Tally oh oh oh......here pussy!! Laughing