Ski lift accident in Georgia (looks horrific)

[Rockerfeller]

We went skiing last year and I hated the lifts so much.

Anyway. This looks horrific, apparently the power went the brakes failed and gravity just did it's job with horrific results.

Aibu to think a more up to date system would have stopped it from
Happening? Or was it inevitable when the power went?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/16/tourists-flung-control-ski-lift-malfunction-georgia-resort/amp/

This thread is completely bonkers.

I actually thought it was going to be worse when I saw it. It wasn't high and seemed pretty easy to jump off. Admittedly I'm a good skier so I presume beginners might be more scared?

What a stupid thing to say- the chairlift ride is not any part of the 'dangerous thrill' of skiing. Would you say pensioners riding a gondola for mountain views are taking their lives in their hands? Yes snow sports can be dangerous if participants engage in risky behaviour or meet with misfortune on the slopes, but the lifts should be in safe working order.

I can't imagine the pain of jumping off a chairlift (the heights shown in the video) with long unwieldy skis stuck rigidly to my legs :( anyone seen the horror movie 'frozen'? Ugh.

The first time I saw it I didn't think it was too bad. I snowboarded in my 20s and the chairlift could also be a bit hairy if the people in front didn't get off right etc. But this one I looked again and they are being flung off backwards at speed.

Regardless how good you ski that's going to be a shit landing.

Filming is more natural to younger people. It's really helpful to accident investigators, too. The observers wouldn't have been able to do much- there were already people encouraging others to jump, and helping them up.

the whole thrill of it is the danger I watched the clip and my immediate thoughts were how with only seconds to make a decision to jump, would I get my children off? I'd forcibly push them first, or hold them and jump I suppose. That's not the sort of "thrill" I like when I go skiing and it's utterly ridiculous to think it's somehow a deserved part of the experience.

People ski from 3 to elderly. Lots of people who live near slopes buy season passes and go every weekend. Why not? It's healthy, active, and cheaper than eating out or going to the cinema instead. It's definitely not an elitist sport to those who live near one.

I have been on lifts that have had power failure. They normally just stop and you get cold for 40 minutes while they fix it and get it moving again. This happening makes me shudder. Just how!?

I am going to find out about how new these lifts were and it will be interesting to read reports about maintenance, etc.

I am thankful and almost in disbelief there weren't more injuries.

Ten minor injuries is remarkable

Is it, pickle?

Is it international headlines remarkable?

It looks very frightening and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone but it does seem like a slow day in the news room.

Power failure I can understand but the lack of emergency breaks stuns me. I wonder when it last had a safety inspection?

Chairlifts should be safe and suitable for all ages. I've had babies in chairlifts (Not skiing)

@Keilninnock, those comments are patently ridiculous. People are paralysed horse riding and playing rugby. Presumably by your rationale anyone who does anything more risky than sitting in front of a TV is not worthy of sympathy if they injure themselves? Have you ever been skiing?! It's not a 'daredevil' sport. It's safe if you keep to the marked pistes and ski within your ability - and most people do.

Ah, sorry pickle. I need more coffee.

We are at the airport on our way back from our skiiing holiday - lots more people this year with Go-Pros so I imagine that is how the footage was captured.

I am far from being a daredevil and happy to potter on the blues and reds, the children were off-piste when it was safe to be and did a few blacks. Very little risk if you are a competent skier, although my friend was taken out by an out of control child on a snowboard.

KeilNinnonck - skiing is far from a privallaged sport, you can get fairly cheap deals, not much different to a package all inclusive to Spain for a fortnight. Your analogy to the the homeless is quite ludicrous - I am assuming that you never go on holiday?

Looks horrible but seeing as I will probably never afford to go skiing so will never go on a ski lift I can't worry to much.

Bloody hell the poor things! One more reason why I'm never going skiing. Joking obviously.

Yes, remarkable there were so few injuries!

It is in the news because it is spectacular, of course, and there is a lot of footage from different angles.

Sometimes news is 'interesting' rather than worthy.

Would have thought the film would be invaluable for any inquest

I can't believe there wasn't a brake system?! Usually if a lift breaks down you just end up suspended in the air freezing your arse off for half an hour until someone fixes it (but maybe that's newer equipment in France, Austria etc?).

To be fair, it's actually quite useful footage for anyone who skis. If (god forbid) this ever happens to me, at least I know to jump off rather than wait to be flung off. So lucky nobody was killed or seriously injured.

I’m not a skier, but no it’s totally not a “daredevil” sport. And depending on where you live, it’s not necessarily the preserve of the privileged few or anything (not that that should matter when it comes to empathy, tbh).

So some people/families go skiing and a rickety old lift breaks and hurts them, and your first instinct is to announce that you’ll reserve your sympathy for others? that’s so ... mean.

Skiing is dangerous in comparison to many holidays, though. It isn't covered under standard insurance, along with various water sports and hiring a moped, iirc.

It depends if you are rating it against sports or against holidays, I think.

All those posho skiing twats deserve everything they get, eh keilninnock?!?!

You might say you don’t mean to be horrible, but your posts tell a different story.

This is news because anyone who has ever been on any kind of ski lift or rollercoaster always has a fear of something going wrong. It’s also news because it’s a rare occurrence thankfully.

I’m amazed there were so few injuries.

How awful, those poor people - it must have been terrifying. It's a miracle that so few had injuries as it could have been so much worse.

But this is a very privileged sport and the whole thrill of it is the danger.

@Keilninnock What utter fucking clap trap.

Georgia is 1) not a place the western privileged go to ski. Try Lech-Zürs, Zermatt, Verbs or Courchevel for privilege.

And 2, the thrill is not 'the danger' What an absolutely moronic thing to say.

I can't even believe you are saying you think privileged skiers deserve to get hurt, you sound like a dog awful person being happy at other people getting hurt

What woudl you say if you saw a traffic accident? "Oh, look, a minibus crash. Private school children tho, so.... give a shit."

I can’t see the issue with filming tbh. It’s helpful for the experts to see exactly what happened rather than relying on witness statements.
It would be different if the only witness was stood filming instead of helping.

Anyway it’s totally put me off ever skiing. I’m anxious enough!