Shame on Ski Instructors not wearing a Ski Helmet
By Matt Sampson – SkiHelmets.org Director
ARVADA, COLORADO – As a Colorado Native and long time lover of skiing and the outdoors, I was very excited this season to get my three kids (7,5 and 3) on the slopes again. My wife and I decided this year to put our two older boys in weekly lessons and we committed to bringing our daughter (3) to the slopes a few times this season as well to start getting used to the idea of skiing before she starts lessons next season.
After researching the various options, we decided to try out the programs up at Eldora Ski Resort (Eldora.com) for a number of reasons: We don’t have to drive I-70, the lift tickets are reasonably priced and the resort is small and welcoming like the resorts my wife and I grew up skiing at (a-basin, hidden valley, etc). To top it off, they have a fantatic kids ski school program.
This past Saturday was our second week of a six week program. I have been very impressed with the quality of organization, instructors and facilities up at Eldora, but I have one issue that is driving me nuts.
My boys’ ski instructor doesn’t wear a ski helmet.
Eldora Ski Resort (as well as many other resorts) doesn't require Ski Instructors to wear ski helmets.
When we signed our kids up for ski lessons this fall, one of the very first things we did was go out and purchase three good ski helmets for them. My wife and I already own ski helmets and would never ever ski without them. We spent a lot of time talking about the importance of wearing the helmets with the kids and they really seemed to understand that a ski helmet is part of skiing. It’s not an option, for us as a family at least. The kids ended up all selecting Giro Ski Helmets, which is what my wife and I wear as well.
It seems to me that in this age of “ski helmet awareness” a ski helmet should be habit, if not a requirement, for all employees of ski resorts, but ESPECIALLY for the ski instructors. I can’t believe it’s not a part of their uniform.
What kind of message are resorts like Eldora sending to our children by allowing their instructors the option to skip putting on a ski helmet when he or she starts the day? Do they not realize that these instructors are role models for all these young kids? Do they not understand the statistical proof that ski helmets do in fact reduce the number of serious injuries on the slopes? Are they more concerned about being “politically correct” than doing the right thing?
I don’t know the answers to these questions. Yet. I plan on speaking with management as well as individual instructors next weekend while I’m up there to find out exactly why they have not adopted a ski helmet requirement for employees. Look for a follow up article next week.
I think it is a shame that Eldora Ski Resort (as well as many other resorts, Eldora is not the only one by any means) are not requiring their ski instructors and staff to wear helmets. What’s it going to take to change that law? The death of an employee (like at Jackson Hole last spring)? Or god-forbid the death or serious injury of one of their students not wearing a ski helmet? I find it ironic that the documentation that Eldora provides for parents talks about the importance of a ski helmet, but they don’t even require their instructors to wear them and set a good example.
I’m glad that Eldora is a small, local resort. I love skiing there and recommend it to anyone looking for a low-stress ski day in Colorado. It’s a phenomenal place to ski. I don’t want them to turn into a mega-ski-resort at all, but I do think that when it comes to Ski Helmets and the safety of their employees, students and visitors, Eldora should consider taking notes from Intrawest’s decisions to require ski helmets for employees, ski school students and other visitors. It’s no different than wearing a seat belt. Put it on. Get used to it. Ski Helmets are not going away and the sooner we can embrace that, the better off we will all be.
If you would like to express your opinion about the Ski Helmet debate, especially as it relates to Ski School, please feel free to comment below or better yet, send an email directly to the resorts and let them know how you feel. Eldora can be reached at info@eldora.com.
Source: http://www.skihelmets.org/2010/01/shame-on-ski-i…g-a-ski-helmet/
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Great article! My husband and I were just discussing this very topic tonight. We also have two kids in ski school at Eldora (love eldora btw!) and wondered the same thing. We haven’t been to what you refer to as a mega-resort for quite a few years, so I don’t know if it is different there, but we noticed the very first day that our instructor wasn’t wearing a helmet either. We look forward to hearing what Eldora has to say in response. I respect the right to choose whether to wear a helmet as a visitor, but I do agree that all employees, particularly instructors, should be setting a good example for the next generation of skiers and wearing a ski helmet. There really are “no more excuses”. Thanks for the article. Keep up the great work!
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I must admit I’m a bit torn on this one. I do not agree that wearing a ski helmet should be a law, but at the same time knowing that these folks are teaching kids how to ski and not wearing a helmet bothers me. I don’t have kids, so I don’t really have room to talk, but it just seems like an issue of right and wrong. I’ve never skied at Eldora (I’m an Oregon resident) but it sounds like a great place to ski. I’ll have to check it out if I ever make it to Colorado during the winter again. Considering you are fristrated about their helmet policy, you certainly had nice things to say about the mountain. Thank you for your article. I’ll be back to read the response from Eldora.
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i’m a middle aged brit skier, and i don’t give a sh#t about your helmets cr#p , i would rather be wiped out in a crash ,than say end up in a wheelchair…. go think
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