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

Just about everywhere has the ski code with about 10 rules on safety, inc not stopping in the middle of a run, and what to do in event of an accident.

I am older. Everyone I know who has skied has injuries relating to it, usually knees. Some which mended after the initial injury, but are now causing problems.

I agree, OP. I wouldn't ski again, although I've been a keen rider which also comes with risks. But the differences are that the slopes are ridiculously crowded (which either leads to collisions or else people being tempted to go off piste), and you don't get many people riding who can't ride (outside of a riding school or other closely supervised environment), whereas ski resorts are absolutely packed with people who have only the most basic ability at skiing, which again leads to collisions and poor decision making. The riding equivalent would be if you got hundreds of people who had been on a horse once or twice a few years ago, put them all in a field together, gave them a few drinks at lunch and then suggested they do whatever they fancy. It would be carnage.

Per hour I think riding is more dangerous (although it depends exactly what you're comparing) but I find it much easier to gauge the risks and decide whether to take them- it's dangerous because it's an inherently dangerous sport. Skiing doesn't seem to have any of that- it's an inherently dangerous sport but it's also (as practised at a typical ski resort by a typical skier) a chaotic free-for-all in which people with almost no ability are encouraged to take substantial risks. Crackers.

What an interesting topic. I grew up abroad, in an area where you would go skiing from very young, every weekend in winter. All my friends ski, and their children too. We now live in England and we go skiing 2-3 times from December to March on average (typically when we visit family). We brought DS since he was very young, and now at 6 he's quite good.
Across all my and DH's family members and many friends, we never experienced a serious ski accident. Children normally learn to ski in very safe areas, where the slopes are not steep and adult don't go, so it's pretty safe. We also go skiing as a group, with one adult in the front, children/teens in the middle and more adults following, so speed is controlled and you keep an eye on each other and what others are doing.

Not sure my post makes sense, but it's to say that despite the horrible accidents making the news, I don't think statistically it's such a risky sport. I feel way more at risk when we go snorkeling or diving.

Recreational skiing is to ski racing is what regular driving is to motor racing. The comparison stands.

It may have already been said - I have not rtft - but OP you are vastly overstating the risks here and completely ignoring the many benefits that literally everyone who skis enjoys.
"When it goes wrong it's brain damage" - no. Only a vanishingly small number of accidents result in brain damage. So that's a small portion of an already small minority. I get that it can be devastating were one to be so incredibly unlucky, but more likely, if you hurt yourself, it'll be bad bruising, torn ligaments or broken bones, nasty but survivable.
Meanwhile, everyone who skis benefits from the exercise, fresh air, change of scenery, and social scene.

If someone is comparing ski racing with skiing and saying they are equal, then it is a perfect comparison of race driving to everyday driving. It's disingenuous to think otherwise.

OMG 😲 I didn't know he had a Go Pro on.

I did know they weren't recommended for putting on helmets when I bought DH his I read and found alternative like having it on his chest or on the strap of his backpack.

I think there is a difference for things that cause risk to other people. Driving does. Gymnastics doesn’t. Skiing does.

I think there’s a case for having to get your “skiing licence” before you’re allowed up the mountain without an instructor. Not sure how this would work practically but I can see the benefits

Risks exist for most things - if you ban skiing for say under 18s - where would you draw the line? Is horse riding more or less risky statistically? What about gymnastics? I went to visit someone in a specialist spinal injury unit and every single person in there and they all had life limiting conditions were there as a result of a motorbike accident.

This is like saying you've been put off driving for life because you saw what happened to Ayrton Senna. Reinstadler died during race training and was going at over twice the speed that the average recreational skier would be going.

Safety nets are only used in races, and the design has been much improved over the 30+ years since Reinstadler's death.

Wearing a helmet with a go pro camera attached - which pierced his brain when he fell. He likely would have been ok if he hadn't had that on his helmet - a pretty dumb thing to do but was common back then - you see much less of it now.

It is true it will cover the UK. But only any additional costs over the NHS.

Thats good to know - wouldn't have ocurred to me

Do you allow your children to cross a road, ride a bike, go swimming or perhaps you wrap them in bubble wrap and fear everything. Sound like you are loads of fun

don't worry, even if you are caught in an avalanche, I doubt you'll ever manage to reach his speed

I’d agree with you I think the poorest in society often turn to cigarettes, alchohol, drugs. All relatively cheap methods of escapism when life is shitty.

I saw a documentary in Eastern Europe where they were drinking some crazy poisonous concoction that’ll make your teeth fall out and you become really shakey and eventually kill you. It’s a cheap high though as it’s a couple of euros. What’s more thrilling than Russian roulette?

Ive never heard of Gernot Reinstadler but Wikipedia says the holes in the safety netting have been reduced after his accident.

Like every sport has got safer over the years usually after soon poor sod has had a horrific accident.

That's not really comparable to someone on a ski holiday.

For example:

After seeing footage of professional driver Anthoine Hubert sustaining unsurvivable injuries, I've been put off driving for life. I'm sure accidents are few and far between but I'll never get that image out of my head

Gernot was racing.

Yes, skiing accidents happen. Yes, it's good to constantly review our attitude towards this risk. However, we need data not hyperbolic anecdotes if we are to draw any conclusions.

We have just come back from skiing with two children (age 10 and 12) yes there is a risk, as with everything in life. Again, like all aspects of life you get the crazy person who doesn’t follow rules and skis far too fast with no control, I see this every time! I was thinking why can’t there be a compulsory online course that all adults have to take, in their native language, similar to a speed awareness course, to highlight the dangers, making sure skiers are looking ahead, how to make a judgement on speed (or even there should be a limit on speed) knowing where to stand in a safe place if waiting for someone, basic rules on the slope etc etc. Consequently a ski pass can only be bought if this course has been completed! At the moment it’s a free for all… I can’t believe something like this doesn’t already exist. It is then up to the parents to educate their children on skiing safely. It can be done. I am an extremely cautious person but I too worry about fast idiots skiing into me. I always ski at a pace I can stop at if needed! Very upsetting for the parents of this poor boy.

I've never had winter sports cover in Scotland. It's no different to hill walkers, climbers, horse riders, car accident in a rural area. You'd be transported best way possible and treated under the NHS.

Winter sports cover is just an additional premium because the insurance companies recognise you are more likely to be injured. And if you need hospital care or have to rearrange flights home etc

He was skiing off piste and a hit a big rock. Off piste always comes with much higher risks. He was not pootling down a leisurely green.

Michael Schumacher. 😔An experienced sportsman at the peak of his strength, health, flexibility, and reflexes. Wearing a helmet.

Bless her. It's just so sad when someone dies so young for no good reason.

You can't life like saying you're not going to do something incase of accident, it would cause a crippling level of anxiety