Dangerous sport

[shepherd]

Another slalom skier killed after his head got caught in the handle. I read about it on the Waterski forum, but more details are here: http://www.schnitzskis.com/newsflash.html (click on link and scroll down to the story). You probably heard about the guy at Ski Paradise who had the same thing happen last winter.

This guy skied the course with only one arm and a mangled hand. I never heard of him. That is awesome...... but tragic that his life ended that way.

I think about this stuff every time I go out and try to be careful with the handle.
Everyone, be careful out there! :(

[h2oskifreak]

Sad to see a fellow skier die in that way. I would have to think that the fact that he had his handicap and placed the handle in the elbow area had something to do with it. Every other bouy he would have the rope across his body. That being said, he passed doing something he loved. I love this sport, have had broken ankles (2), busted ribs. 22 stiches in my head and I'm sure I am not done. I tell my friends if something happens to me while I am skiing; I died doing something I truly love. Most people can't say that, so if it happens...my number was up and I will die happy. I hope this gentleman felt the same way.

[jixxxer]

Very sad. Never heard of anything like this before? How is it even possible?

[coz]

That being said, he passed doing something he loved.

This is tragic, and he certainly didn't want to die doing what he loved, I personally hate when I hear someone say this. RIP

[h2oskifreak]

This is tragic, and he certainly didn't want to die doing what he loved, I personally hate when I hear someone say this. RIP

No offense intended, but how would you rather go...crossing the street, or in your arm chair. Being active is where it's at and it has it's perils. I'm sure he didn't WANT to die, very few of us do, but if it happens to me being active, my number was up.

[coz]

No offense intended, but how would you rather go....

85, in my sleep so I don't see it coming or feel anything :D

[h2oskifreak]

85, in my sleep so I don't see it coming or feel anything :D

85 is a good number, to much later and the quailty of life just isn't there.

[JohnE]

Wow, what are the chances of that happening twice in a year?

My condolences to his family and friends.

[Craig]

It does sound like his handicap made him more susceptible to this, but it still seems like a lot of these types of accidents in a year.

The more of these accidents I hear about the more I consider an Arm-Guard type device for my handle.

[TX.X-30 fan]

No offense intended, but how would you rather go...crossing the street, or in your arm chair. Being active is where it's at and it has it's perils. I'm sure he didn't WANT to die, very few of us do, but if it happens to me being active, my number was up.




I like Richard Pryor's old joke will be in the looooooooooooooong line. :D

[ski_king]

Very sad and something we all need to look out for.

The first I ever heard of this happening was in this thread (http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=3887&highlight=neck+handle) almost 4 years ago. It happened to a PA State Trooper in the opposide end of the state from where I am.

[shepherd]

I've read/heard about other guys hurting their arms when their hands go through the handle in a wipeout. I've almost done that several times, where my hand/handle goes down and hits the water first during a wipeout. If I didn't have a good grip and let go of the handle, my arm would have gone right through the handle. It definitely wouldn't be as bad or tragic as a head through the handle, but it could be a crippling injury. Ouch.

[JohnE]

And I thought last year's incident was the first it had ever happened....

Scarey sheet.

When I was with some guys skiing last month at csm one of them said "don't ever let your head get in front of the handle" as a comment to someone else's skiing. I think that will be in my head during every set now.

[bcampbe7]

Tragic accident

One our very own members stuck his arm through the handle at MM this past year. Good thing we were only surfing.