The untimely death of a 14-year-old skier at Breckenridge so early in the season reminds us of the inherent dangers of one of Colorado’s favorite pastimes.
Last Friday, Haley Rose Gans of Colorado Springs hit a tree while skiing fast. A coroner’s report indicated she died of blunt force trauma to the chest.
The young skier had taken the laudable and intelligent precaution of wearing a helmet, but in this case, standard protection wasn’t enough.
Still, that shouldn’t dissuade skiers and riders from using helmets. Rather, the accident should remind us that nothing serves you better on the mountain than riding in control.
Vail Resorts this year for the first time is requiring its employees to wear helmets as a part of their uniform. We think that sends a strong message to call skiers. Helmets also are now required for ski-and-ride lessons for children, and for rental packages for children — unless parents sign a waiver.
The new rules by a major resort operator also go a long way toward settling the long debate over whether helmets are necessary.
As the death of actress Natasha Richardson on a bunny slope in Quebec last spring showed, helmets can be a life-saver. Medical officials later said that if Richardson had been wearing one, she may not have died due to the blunt impact to her head.
We advocate helmets, wear them when we ride or ski and make sure our children do as well. They cost relatively little, come in fun designs and offer plenty of worthwhile features.
So please be safe, wear a helmet and ride with the goal of returning to the slopes year after year.
