Thaw and alcohol

Melting ski slopes are a deadly danger

Three winter sports enthusiasts were injured in the same place.(Bild: zoom.tirol)

The current weather conditions, overconfidence, overconfidence: hardly a day goes by without a winter sports enthusiast ending up in hospital seriously injured.

"Three skiing accidents in ten minutes in the same place." This headline has once again sparked a debate about how safe our ski slopes actually are. Whether winter sports enthusiasts are overestimating themselves, whether there is perhaps too much partying and drinking in the huts before the final turns or whether climate change is melting the slopes and turning them into a deadly danger.

The fact is: Full slopes are guaranteed in Austria's ski resorts during the semester break. But beware, the ski runs are often as hard as a rock and due to the high temperatures and rain, the important fall zones are often missing. Experts therefore advise skiers and snowboarders to slow down.

It was only at the end of January that a 46-year-old skier from Poland had a fatal accident in the Carinthian ski resort of Bad Kleinkirchheim. The winter sports enthusiast went off the piste and hit his head against a tree. Even the helmet couldn't prevent it. "When there is little or no snow away from the slopes, you simply hurt yourself more than when there is a lot of snow," says alpine police officer Horst Wohlgemuth.

The slopes are currently suffering from the temperatures and the rain: during the day it is far too warm for the beginning of February, the snow becomes soft; at night it freezes again and the slopes become icy. Away from the slopes, more and more stones and roots are sticking out of the snow cover.

Safety nets are no guarantee
Although those responsible in the ski resorts put up safety nets to catch athletes in the event of a fall so that they don't fall into the terrain, these are not a 100% guarantee, as the current case in Tyrol shows. Three skiers and snowboarders (32, 34 and 49) fell on Saturday between 7 and 7.10 pm in Söll-Hochsöll - independently of each other!

"They slid across the piste, under a boundary fence and fell over an approximately one-metre-high embankment onto the asphalt parking lot below," says a police officer. Fortunately, all three survived.

You are on the safe side if you adjust your speed so that you don't fly off the piste if you fall.

Alpinpolizist Horst Wohlgemuth

The rescue services and hospitals are also reporting an increasing number of skiing accidents in all other Alpine regions. Expert Wohlgemuth therefore advises all skiers and snowboarders to exercise absolute caution: "You're on the safe side if you adjust your speed so that you don't fly off the piste if you fall." So, keep your wits about you.

So you're always safe on the slopes
Ski vacation at last! But: when many winter sports enthusiasts are on the slopes at the same time, the risk of accidents increases. AND - there are a few things for winter sports enthusiasts to bear in mind.

Here are the ten FIS piste rules from the ÖAMTC:

• Consideration for other skiers and snowboarders: everyone must behave in such a way that they do not endanger others.
• Control your speed: Everyone must ski or snowboard on sight. They must adapt their speed and skiing style to their ability and to the terrain, snow and weather conditions.
• Choice of lane: Skiers and snowboarders coming from behind must choose their lane in such a way that they do not endanger those in front of them.
• Overtaking: You may overtake from above or below, from the right or from the left, but always keep your distance.
• Entering, starting and driving uphill: Anyone who wants to enter a downhill run, start up again after stopping or swing or ride uphill must look up and down to make sure that they can do so without danger.
• Stopping: Everyone must avoid stopping in narrow or unclear places on a descent without need.
• Ascentand descent: Everyone who ascends or descends on foot must use the edge of the descent.
• Signs: Everyone must observe the markings.
• Assistance: In the event of an accident, everyone is obliged to provide assistance.
• Identification obligation: Everyone must provide personal details in the event of an accident.