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

Can I ask, what constitutes 1 skier day? Is it literally 1 person skiing for a day?

If so - then, for arguments sake, 1k people on the slopes in one resort on a given day = 1k skier days. 1 million skier days would be hit pretty quickly considering how many skiers there would be across the world every day?

Like, what would that be, a death every couple of days? At least one per week?

The likelihood of it being you may be small, but the likelihood if someone dying is high?

Trouble is all the lessons in the world won't prevent you being involved in an accident with an over enthusiastic Frenchman barrelling down the slope (something that has just happened to a friend of mine who has returned from a ski trip with a knee injury). Tho of course lessons are a sensible mitigation.

Question is have the kids had proper lessons and not just Dad trying to teach them?
Do they use a dry slope here?

But sometimes falls just happen. I pulled a muscle a couple of years ago, on a simple fall where I landed like Garfield.
But I've also done similar falling of a kerb that didn't notice.

I guess the trouble is we take calculated risks everyday otherwise we wouldn’t do anything.
just getting out of bed and walking downstairs is risky, driving in perhaps the most dangerous thing we all do, yet most of us do it.
skiing wouldn’t be for me but we have to all have to take risks & allow our children to too… I’m sure if we all sat and researched the risk factors involved we wouldn’t do anything though..

So why do you have such a negative opinion about the people who enjoy a sport that you have never partaken in yourself? I'm assuming you have never been to a ski resort and are basing your opinion on stereotypes and people talking about their ski trips?

Skiing in places like Bulgaria is extremely popular and super cheap, do you think everyone who skis there is entitled and a certain type of person? Every time I have skiied, there has been a wide range of people from many different backgrounds, it is not exclusively for the upper middle-class. It is wonderful to go away both in the winter and the summer, a trip to the mountains really breaks up the dreary winter months in the UK.

Sure , but you may well end up with all those disabilities from a stroke or other cause of brain injury. At least he did something he enjoyed.

For a small proportion of Brits, perhaps, but for everyone else that skis, its just something they do because its fun and they enjoy it. The winter half term in Finland is called 'ski holiday' because that's what almost everyone does for the week, whether downhill or cross-country, for decades. People of all classes.

I am not a skier and think it's dangerous but that said, each to their own. Smoking is dangerous. Hiking can be dangerous, walking alone at night is probably the most dangerous but we are adults and allowed to make our own decisions.

I'm also a firm believer in big society. I pay for the treatment of ski injuries (through taxes) and nurseries (no small
Kids) and old people care (no elderly people in one ) and much more but I also was happy that others paid in when a loved one had cancer and another hiv. I also support medical care and support for drug addicts and alcoholism and smokers because life isn't always peachy and I truly believe with all my heart that we should look out for the most vulnerable and sick and old and young members of our society and I abide by my own code
Give what you can
Get what you need

I couldn’t agree more! Two of my DC are currently away skiing, with their Dad, step-mother and step-siblings. DD has had two fairly bad falls in three days trying to keep up with it all and has damaged her knee and hip. It is entirely at the wish of the step family that they have all gone skiing and do so every Feb half term, because it’s ’what we do’. Pretentious T**ts.

This is an interesting thread. I love skiing but it is expensive if you want to go during the February half term - there probably are ways to do it more cheaply but, realistically, if you want to ski in Val d'Isère, St Anton, Zermatt etc. it won't be cheap. You need to love it to make it a worthwhile holiday. Even the lift pass will be several hundred pounds for a week.

I think it has become a much safer sport than it used to be. I remember seeing extremely long skis in the 80s - now, most people of my ability use much shorter carving skis. We also wear helmets (only for people who were doing stunts when I learned) and largely stay off the booze until we are off the mountain.

The thing that is very dangerous about skiing is the coach to and from the mountains. Those roads are often treacherous.

No, I don't have a chip on my shoulder about not being able to afford skiing 😂 We've got a 2 week holiday abroad booked in the summer holidays, and are also paying for DD to go on a week's holiday abroad with school in the Autumn (not skiing obviously haha). If we wanted to go skiing, we would.

YABU

Most of us who do more dangerous sports are aware of the risks- who are you to decide what risks others should or should not take? Lots of people take part in dangerous sports- skiing, horse-riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, water sports - even hill walking/hiking can be very dangerous. Statistically, you are far more likely to be seriously injured or killed travelling by car or crossing the road. More people are injured or die because of accidents relating to cycling or alcohol use. Should we all just hole up in our house and never leave to be “safe”, or only take part in “safe” sports and activities.

Between the members of my immediate family, we all take part in several “dangerous” sports or activity. We enjoy it, they keep us active and fit, we have learned skills and all sorts of benefits in terms of physical and mental health. Yes, there are risks- but honestly, you minimise what you can (proper training, ensuring appropriate safety equipment and working within your skill levels etc) and carry on. Bad things happen sometimes, but we accept that. I don’t understand why you’d be so angry about what other people chose to do with their own bodies and time.

You only have to look around at any motorway service station to realise the mortal peril you put yourself in driving down the M1. There’s always SOMEONE you’d rather not be driving near!
Skiing is great. Like anything else you just need one person behaving like an idiot, or one bad mistake.

Not race horses but my kids have been breaking and bringing on young horses/ponies since they were pretty small so not too different. People do what they love and often there is a risk.

Absolutely ridiculous post !! So many dangers in life , many of them unpredictable.
We ski every year - best week of the year !!

Do you have the statistics on the ‘high chance of getting hurt’?

Skier and horse rider here. Horse riding definitely more dangerous due to the 4 hoofed animal with a mind of its own. Yes there accidents and catastrophic ones but few and far between. Get a grip you are bashing skiing because you think it’s a middle class sport - it’s not. You can ski cheaply or expensively. Would never ski without insurance though. Kids go on school trips, buses crash lots of deaths injuries- where does it stop?

I read about a woman who had two hands bitten off by a shark recently. And there are ‘loads’ of people killed every year by sharks ( using OP terminology). Let’s ban people from beaches NOW!

OP you can make the choice to deprive your DC to learn to ski but they won’t thank you for it and you can’t stop them later. Your choice but don’t come on MN with your exaggerated claims bashing skiing as a high risk sport.

It’s definitely something some people like to show off about.

Same can be said for horse riding?…….
or many other sports that are dangerous

You don't need to do any of those sports to be fit and healthy. I don't do any sports (single mum) but I walk everywhere, have to pick up and carry my hefty baby around, and do workouts in my living room.

Of course some people just love it for the purity of the sport but lots more go because it’s a lifestyle choice. Skiing holidays are not usually for the ordinary person on a council estate. Get real. I’m ‘middle class’ and have been on a few skiing holidays when younger. I see what I see. It’s just the truth sorry!

I'm Scottish. I live an hours drive from a ski resort. I've been skiing since I was a child.

Same.

A "middle class badge of honour"?!

Isn't it allowed to just be something people do for fun? Like all the other sports and hobbies that people do (that also carry risk) Do you just have a problem with it because it's an expensive sport?

I learnt on a crappy little dry ski slope in Scotland and had a few days to the Lecht with second hand ski suits on the rare occasion there was actual snow in Scotland. I didnt go abroad until my mid 20s. There was definitely nothing middle class about it. But despite the sleet, mud, ice and rain that is skiing in Scotland I absolutely loved it.

Now we ski every year (thankfully not in Scotland) it's our favourite holiday, my kids have zero concept of "middle class badges of honour" and they absolutely love it. Because it's fun. If you don't fancy it, that's fine but don't claim others are doing for some sort of random kudos.

I've ski'd for decades. Never had an accident. Nobody I ski with has ever had an accident. Nobody I know who skis has ever had an accident.

It is fun, good exercise and I'd rather ski than run.

What about people who smoke? Or drink more than their 15 units a week? Or don’t do the recommended amount of exercise? Of don’t eat enough vegetables? Or are overweight?

School ski trip 70 kids, half never seen a ski slope- amazing experience, fresh air and exercise for a week, bonding, fun, no injuries… no deaths… everyone fine.

Should we also stop sea swimming, off-road biking,
rugby… what about football? I know a fit health guy who dropped dead in the middle of playing…