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Ski areas: Use heads on helmets
By John Hitchcock - September, 10 2003
Ski area operators throughout Massachusetts are rushing on two fronts as they work on improvements and programs to attract more visitors this winter.
The second campaign is to defeat a proposed state law which would require helmets for all kids 12 and under.
Brian H. Fairbank, president and CEO of Jiminy Peak, admits that he is in a perhaps contradictory position. He is overseeing construction of the $5 million Village Center, with one of the two buildings featuring facilities for up to 350 children.
On the other hand, he is working with other Bay State resorts to prevent passage of Senate Bill 1376.
“The helmet law would not improve safety on the slopes, but it would hurt Massachusetts ski areas and the local communities which depend on them,” said Fairbank, past chairman of the National Ski Areas Association.
The bill is also being opposed by the national ski association, as, if passed in Massachusetts, similar action could be taken in the rest of the nation.
Michael Berry, executive director of the Denver-based association, said, “One of our best arguments against a helmet mandate is, of course, that mandates are not needed, as the ski industry is already proactive on helmets for kids.”
Fairbank said the statistics show that only 2.5 percent of ski and snowboarding accidents involve the head, unlike in biking.
Jiminy, and virtually all winter resorts, have helmets for sale and for rental use.
“Our staff will advise parents to use their own judgment on helmets, but we will provide relevant information on their use,” said Fairbank, who suffered a major knee injury when hit by a 7-year-old girl on the slopes a few years ago.
Fairbank said the helmet mandate would see groups heading to adjacent New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to avoid the $100 to $200 cost of helmets.
In addition, the mandate would require extensive training of ski area personnel, with the resort being liable if a child wearing a helmet were injured.
“A helmet mandate would be counter productive,” said the association’s Berry. “The primary safety consideration for all skiers and boarders should be responsible conduct.”
He said there were 37 accidental deaths on the slopes in the United States last winter, down from 45 the previous season.
By comparison, Berry said, there were 800 bicycle deaths and 1,200 swimming deaths in 2001, as well as 701 recreational boating deaths in 2000.
And he said, while helmets are increasingly used in biking, head injuries have actually increased in the past 10 years. He also said ice hockey studies have suggested a link between the wearing of helmets and the sudden rise in aggressive behavior and neck injuries.
Berry also stressed that the nation’s most prominent student of alpine sports injuries, Dr. Jasper Shealy, has statistics on the sport covering more than 20 years and does not support helmet mandates.
Not all resorts follow the ski association’s line, however, as the nation’s most favored resort, Vail in Colorado, last winter announced that all kids 12 and under must wear helmets while in ski school.
At Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, Vt., one of the East’s top resorts, there are no requirements for helmets, although all publicity photos of kids shows them with helmets.
“We don’t discourage helmet use, but we are against a mandate,” said Okemo public relations director Pam Cruickshank.
In other ski safety news, the National Ski Area Association Journal reports that shorter, shaped skis could be linked to the sharp decline in recent years of knee injuries.
On the other hand, the rate of lower-leg injuries has increased in the last 10 years.
Despite various improvements in release (not safety) bindings and a major increase in price (up to $400), there are still risks in skiing.
And while Dr. Shealy reported that present helmets are not effective at speeds over 12 miles per hour, a recent study shows the average speed for adult skiers and boarders was 27 mph.
The NSAA Journal for August also reported that the past season was the best ever, with 57.6 million skier/snowboarder visits. The Northeast count was up 14.8 percent.
Fairbank stressed that the ski industry is not against helmets but opposes helmet mandates.
The helmet bill was filed by state Sen. Charles Shannon, D-Winchester, on behalf of the parents of an 11-year-old Medford girl who suffered brain injuries after hitting her head on the frozen granular surface at Nashoba Valley Ski Area four years ago.
The National Ski Patrol has a “fairly neutral” stance on the subject and feels “it’s a matter of personal choice.”
Although skiing and boarding could start as early as late October at resorts such as Killington, there’s several weeks of fall or Indian summer weather for outside activities.
Sunday will see the 27th annual Great Josh Billings RunAground in South Berkshire, and golfing conditions are at their peak on every course.
Tennis has tapered off, but the North Adams Community Tennis Association is holding competitive matches every Sunday evening at 5 through Oct. 12. Call 663-5380.
All events hold somewhat of a risk. Look at former tennis great Jim Courier. He was a commentator at the U.S. Open with a broken arm — suffered in a golf cart accident.
John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene.
Your article is misleading in stating that not all resorts agree with the association position and citing Vail's ski school requirement as an example. First of all, I think you mean Aspen and not Vail (a parent can opt out of a helmet requirement at Vail.) Second, there is a big difference between a legislated mandate and a resort requirement for ski school. There is not a single resort that supports LEGISLATED mandates for ski helmets.
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