So fed up of stories like this every single year. Stupid bloody Skiing.

Because we usually don’t pay for our accommodation, being lucky to have generous friends.

There’s no point in trying to point someone like you in the direction of some facts about the physiological nature of obesity, considering that you think it’s ok to call human beings lardy.

How have you been able to afford 25 weeks of skiing for yourself, school ski trips for your children (plural?), as well as separate summer holidays, if you're not wealthy?

People must have really different ideas on what constitutes wealthy

I imagine bike riding on roads is far riskier.

It’s terribly sad but if nobody took risks life would be rather dull.

Yes definitely all of the above still taught in lessons it's also part of the assessment system both in Scotland and ESF in France.

I know we are fortunate where we are as skiing is seen as another activity because its council prices so same as swimming lessons etc and that's definitely not true elsewhere in the UK.

We have met a few bravado dad's on shared accommodation holidays who are surprised at DS1 ski level but I point out that he does it week in week out!

I have skied for 20 years and I still take lessons every few years because the style of ski changes and its always good to brush up on techniques etc.

Second best . We are a professional equestrian household and to us the “risks” of skiing are as nothing compared to what DH (former international) takes every day, at work.
On the point of skills, I didn’t learn to ski until adulthood, but have gone from total beginner to top intermediate/ early advanced (grade 8 or 9 depending which scale you use) in around 20-25 weeks skiing. I have had one to one lessons whenever I have wanted to add a new skill or focus on a particular aspect of technique but don’t have lessons every holiday. We aren’t wealthy and know how to make our holidays as cheap as possible.
We ski off-piste using guides where needed e.g. Vallee Blanche, Mont Fort backside and also ski-tour. We also hike in the Alps in summer.
Our children started skiing with their schools and for one of them, this experience of the high mountains and being in a family with a high tolerance of risk, has led to a career in outdoor education.

As others have said, the beauty of skiing is that if you don’t want to do it you don’t have to, and other people doing it doesn’t affect you in any way.

Second letter E and last letter A?

I mean, people in my social circle do exactly that. I actually don't know a single person who has been skiing, it's just not on the radar for many people

You can have a safe and boring life, and stay away from any potential risk.
And you end with life-changing injuries falling down the stairs, or slip on rocks during a safe and low key family walk and drown because you're wedged in.

Or you can have children - for a woman that's physically risky!, and do the sports you enjoy respecting the safety rules.

Just don't have kids because they do need a life and a bit of fun.

Yes this. Have the people posting about the horrors of skiing even tried it? There is no feeling like racing down the slopes. It’s exercise, fresh air and freedom. It’s expensive so I don’t do it now but I did as a teenager.

Sitting at home on a screen eating junk food doing no exercise is 100% more dangerous than going skiing. I’d also hazard a guess that skiers contribute much more money to the NHS than they take from it.

Yes!

Won’t be too outing but does the company begin with an L?

While this accident is awful, it does not make skiing as a sport universally awful.

This poor family have suffered, but there are accidents in every part of life. Skiing can be done responsibly and safely and as skiers we can ensure we are fit before we take part, and that we ski safely once in resort.

Done responsibly it is an amazing, life enhancing sport. It is not about being a yuppie or an idiotic dare devil, it is about being out in nature and experiencing it in a unique way.

There are lots of people on here sharing horror stories, but I have to say out of all the skiing holidays my family and I have ever been on (including the kids on their school and uni trips) I only know of one broken arm and one broken wrist. I don't believe that skiing is inherently more risky than any other active sport.

Starts with 'treacherous conditions' when a bit of snow falls down and drivers being warned not to drive.
I remember it was c 2010 and about 5cm of snow fell down in London. Everything was shut. Trains/tube, people told to stock up. It was bonkers. Lasted about 3 days!

Thank you so much for that really kind post. It's given me a much-needed lift today. There are periods when the back pain flares and is definitely worse than others - now is one of those times - and I've just last week had confirmation that my consultant will remove the metalwork that's still causing these issues. So now perhaps at least an improvement is in sight and so I'm feeling a bit emotional today. I intend to frame those rods and screws and hang them in pride of place in my study at home - goodness knows they're causing a lot of pain and restricted mobility now - but they are what saved my mobility in the first place and I will never not be grateful.

Of course, everyone's risks vs. benefits assessments will differ. I've also taken some really crazy and unacceptable risks when I was young and stupid, and been fine. The bad accident happened well into maturity.

The positive side is that I will always find alternative passions!

There's no mandatory training for horse riding - anyone can buy a horse and get on.

As for driving, well, yes, ideally everyone should have a license but we all know that isn't true!

I go to the gym and do plenty of walking

Agree with this.

My kids have severe food allergies. They also ski race train every week.

I worry far more about sending them to school than the skiing.

Life involves risk and it's all about assessing and managing that risk.

HOWEVER, I don't necessarily disagree re skiing.

There is a reason why travel insurance always specifically asks "will you be skiing?"

Agreed, @Louisetheroux.You don't go skiing, you're kid's going to become obese: that's quite the leap.

There are myriad other physical activities which kids undertake regularly, and holidays don't have to involve two weeks' lying on a lounger.

As for grooming and dangerous online content, if the recent story of the two teenage killers didn't alert every parent to the kind of material their kids might be consuming online, it should have. The internet is one area in which, as a parent, I'm extremely risk averse and for this I make no apology. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

This strange attitude to dangerous winter is prevalent in the UK - take ice-skating rinks popping up every winter - they invite novices to put on skates and proceed, without any training - shocking! The amount of injuries.....

@SerafinasGoose I'm really sorry to hear about your accident. I've seen some nasty accidents including a rotational fall where the horse came down on a child. Fortunately there was no lasting damage to the child (or horse), but that was only down to luck really. I love horses, but they do also terrify me! I'm very thankful that none of my DC got into serious riding and competitions and so forth.

I think our risk assessments are often based on what we know, rather than statistics. Every accident statistic I can find points to riding having a higher risk of death and serious injury compared to alpine skiing. Perhaps because your skis don't have a mind of their own, unlike horses!

I hope you get your operation soon and manage to get back to some of the activities you love - you sound like a really lovely, fun person!

People take risks every day.

What triggers you so much about skiing in particular? Why be so angry about other people’s choices that have no bearing on your life?

Well if we're going to go down that road...how about insurance for smokers, the overweight, alcohol users, or even the elderly... All huge users of the NHS.

It's a slippery slope when you start demanding charges from some parts of the population. Especially when those who do these sports are probably statistically most likely to use the NHS the least because of their level of fitness.

It's not a binary choice is it? Unless you are on a skiing holiday 365 days a year, your children could still be getting groomed over the internet.

As for childhood obesity...that's more prevalent in deprived areas. I wonder whether that's because they can't afford to go skiing, or if the reasons are a little more complex?