(Not) Arresting Falls

I'm very surprised at the number of long sliding falls I've seen this season. It happened again last Thursday afternoon at Alta. A guy biffed about 4 turns into Spring Valley, a black diamond that is occasionally groomed and about 2.5 cats wide. On Thursday it was moderate sized, well spaced bumps that were quite soft in the 45F and bright sun. This guy slid almost the entire length of the run, coming to a stop just above the Saddle (aka Tower 10) Traverse. It would be akin to sliding down most of the steep section of Catamount Bowl at MRG (or from one trail intersection to the next at Smuggs ;-) Not a huge distance, but more than I'd want to slide uncontrolled.

What I found surprising is that he went down like a rag doll and did absolutely nothing to arrest his slide. No turning over or around, no attempt to get his skis under him, nothing. He just rode it out uncontrolled - and it wasn't even a high speed fall or slide. I saw the same thing on Sunspot (also Alta) last week and three times I can remember at the Bird this season. At Solitude last Monday this happened to a 5 year old kid on the groomed blue square Sunshine Bowl. His (or her - couldn't tell) parent was at the top of the run and just watched. Someone else skied down in front of the child to arrest the slide. The kid had gone a good 100 yards.

I can understand a child not knowing what to do, but all the others I mentioned were older, obviously more experienced skiers. I just don't get it.

Our Wooly Friends
For some reason this just fractures me! In particular, the quote from our unlucky concertgoer.

Sheep Head Breaks Music Fan's Skull

March 10, 2003 12:23 PM EST


OSLO, Norway - A flying sheep's head hit a concertgoer and fractured his skull at a concert of metal band Mayhem.

The band, part of Norway's death metal music scene, was carving up a dead sheep as part of its stage act when the animal's head flew off lead singer Maniac's knife and struck Per Kristian Hagen, 25.

"My relationship to sheep is a bit ambivalent now. I like them, but not when they come flying through the air," Hagen told The Associated Press Monday from his hospital room. "I have a headache now." He is expected to recover.

Hagen, a Mayhem fan, filed involuntary assault and battery charges against the band. The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

Mayhem member Rune Eriksen, whose stage name is Blasphemer, said the incident was unfortunate.

"The whole thing was an accident, but maybe it would be an idea for another show," he said.

Eriksen promised Hagen a free ticket to the group's next performance.