Deadly sledding? Article in today's Edmonton Sun

[Crazy8]

Deadly sledding?

Few snowmobilers have avalanche skills training to safely ride in mountains
Despite a record deadly sledding season last year, most snowmobilers still don't have adequate training to be safe in the mountains, according to the Canadian Avalanche Centre.

"I'd guess 10% or fewer" snowmobilers have basic Avalanche Skills Training (AST) certification, said Lori Zacaruk, outreach instructor with the centre.

The Revelstoke, B.C. centre sets training standards and maps avalanche conditions for Canada's western mountain ranges.

"We've got a long way to go with snowmobilers," she said.

At least 25 people -- most of whom were snowmobilers -- were killed by avalanches in Western Canada last season, making it by far the deadliest season on record. All but one were killed in B.C.

"It was a spooky season last year, guaranteed," said Zacaruk. "I think there were a lot of fatalities that could've been prevented if people recognized Mother Nature's clues."

Even snowmobile professionals at this weekend's Ride Alberta Snowmobile and ATV Show at the Edmonton Expo Centre said they didn't have training.

"I would like to" take AST training, said Pierre Letourneau, who sells sleds for Riverside Honda and SkiDoo, adding risk is a natural part of snowmobiling in the mountains.

"It's just one of those things. It's a chance you take every time you go."

"One of the guys in our group has it," said Steve Haworth, who builds hot rod mountain sleds for Vernon, B.C.'s Rat Sled. He said he rides every weekend.

"We're riding in areas that are steep with lots of snow," he said. "I will (take the course) ... I just put so much time into building these machines."

A first-level AST course requires at least 16 hours of training and costs about $300, depending on the course vendor, said Zacaruk.

Students learn how to identify the avalanche risk by terrain, properly plan trips and rescue a buried victim.

"(Snowmobilers) don't realize how much there is to know," she said.

Fortunately, she said she's seen an uptick in avalanche safety interest this season.

Each year she gets more inquiries at the Ride Alberta show.

A three-hour avalanche safety crash course is being held tonight at Riverside Honda and Ski-Doo, 15 Inglewood Dr. in St. Albert, starting at 6:30 p.m.

 

[maxwell]

im not even going to comment on this. oops. well maybe..what an adevertisement

take all the training you want your still at the same risk as everyone else. as long as you use your head. thats the most important training.

i dont like the way that article is worded. they should be advertising there classes with snowmobilers not making us look bad in public we have a bad enough rap already.

like mentioned you take the same chance every time you go. play it safe. no amount of training can make you look at a slope and decide it its going to slide. sure it will give you a good idea. but its mother nature. ive taken a couple avalanche courses and i have seen slopes slide last year that "shouldnt" slide.

point is..

dangerous sport

play it smart dont be stupid and tell your buddies that too.

take the courses by all means but its not going to make you god.

get the proper gear.

 

[shoppingcart111]

Every thing we do in day to day life is dangerous to some degree, crossing the street is as dangerous as mountain sledding cause you don't know when a car is going to hit you, does anyone offer a course for that? no, its called COMMON SENSE, maybe that article was more advertizement based but the early season conditions also played a huge factor in the amount of avy's last year.

 

[JaySimon]

crossing the street is as dangerous as mountain sledding cause you don't know when a car is going to hit you, does anyone offer a course for that? no, its called COMMON SENSE

You took the don't cross the street 'course' when you were a wee lad. Your parents taught it. It's info you still use.

An avy course is never a bad thing. The more people that have it, the safer everyone is.

 

[Summit X]

i agree with maxwell, i don't like how the article is worded. especially, from somebody who earns a living from us.

however, somebody else wrote the story, not Lori Zacaruk and so it could have easily been spun by the reporter. however, if you are talking on such a touchy subject to the media, you should really choose your words wisely so that things can not be taken in the wrong context.

and a lot avalanches are unpredictable. there have been a lot of very experienced and professionally trained people who have lost their life too. just cause somebody takes her course it doesn't make them invinsible.

 

[DRD]

I agree, two days training does not an expert make.

I've taken the course but it just highlited how little I really know about predicting avalanches.

 

[snochuk]

Advertising-maybe, required-absolutlty! Just a matter of time until it is mandatory like the boaters licience. I'm personally OK with both- to many stupid people in the world with no common sense that can't cross a road safely. Stop and look around the next time you're riding the populated sanctioned areas and take some notes on what you see, the gene pool cleansing is far from complete! More training = a better chance of staying alive, some need it more than others.

 

[SLEDJED]

one thing I've learned in my profession is that common sense is not that common, educate yourself.

 

[Sledderglen]

Goes to show how a interview with the media can seem to go wrong with snowmobiling issues. Lori was probally pushing the importance of proper training and reporter used the stats against snowmobiling (seem to me). No matter how you answer questions in a interview the reporter has total control on what gets out and what direction the topic will head. Must be careful on what you say.

 

[maxwell]

one thing I've learned in my profession is that common sense is not that common, educate yourself.

its true. but also educate others. whenever i see someone in my riding group doing something i see is unsafe i let them know. everyone should.

awareness is good...but people are people do you really think this is going to change. just like anything whether it be driving or atving or whatever. theres some good and some bad. and unfortunately sometimes it takes a hot close to home for people to realize the severity.


something along the lines of " sledders are realizing the danger and are beginning to seek training" might have worked better lol.

 

[NosRX1]

one thing I've learned in my profession is that common sense is not that common, educate yourself.

I am sorry but I have found that a course doesn't help with common Sense. Common sense, and good judgment is really the two things that will keep you alive. You can have all the courses in the world but if you don't have common sense and the mind to stick to your judgment then your no further a head! :d

 

[SLEDJED]

I am sorry but I have found that a course doesn't help with common Sense. Common sense, and good judgment is really the two things that will keep you alive. You can have all the courses in the world but if you don't have common sense and the mind to stick to your judgment then your no further a head! :d

Sorry but this type of comment proves my point exactly. Its having the knowledge, training, skills and judgement that make up "common sense" that will keep you alive.

 

[Riverjet]

I had an avy course years ago, everyone should. Having said that, it hasn't been the avy course that has allowed me to survive the last 20 years sledding in the mountains. Knowing what the conditions are before going out and avoiding potential slide areas has kept me alive all these years.

 

[Foxstar45]

I don't think avalanche skills are common sence at all. Those courses teach a lot more than some people obviously think. Its more than just telling people to be super careful in the mountains. Its a lot to do with how to read avalanche reports in depth (not just recognizing that it is a low, moderate, or high avy conditions) And lots about the ingredients that make bad avalanche conditions (hoar frost, deapth hoar, etc) and what to look out for (windward slopes, lee ward slopes cross loading, how the sun affects snow) So if you are one of those people that thinks avalanche skills are common sence check out one of the 3 hour beacon courses. Its quick, cheap, and teaches you stuff.

Peace

 

[Scrambled]

You can never be 100% sure of when or were an Avvy will happen but the more you know the better the odds,My instructure put lots of emfises on recovery,so if and when it happens you know what to do in what order to get your buddies out as fast and safe as possible without risking yours or anyone elses life.

 

[maxwell]

you guys are missing the point. obviously avy skills are not common sence. there is ALOT to know so learn it. but also knowing when the danger is high. ... to not point your sled at a steep highly loaded slope and start sidehilling and cutting horseshoes will save you.

 

[RaspberryNytro]

some people will take the courses and still go out and play with their lives & the others around them!! Plain & simple, it does'nt matter how much training you have, common sense may not be there.

RN

I've been riding for 11 years(with no training.....YET) and never been in an avalanche & have been in areas that have had them slide. Just pick my hills & spots to ride. That being said, I want to learn more and get the training for rescue more than anything else

cheers

 

[Powertool29]

Bottom line people are going to get hurt or worse even killed without using common sense. Just this morning someone got hurt by walking into a parked car !! Either not paying attention or just brain dead.. and someone will probably turn the story around and it will end up being the drivers fault.

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

Sorry but this type of comment proves my point exactly. Its having the knowledge, training, skills and judgement that make up "common sense" that will keep you alive.

If you're saying that you can teach "Common Sense"...I have to strongly disagree. All the training in the world doesn't make a person smarter, it simply makes a person "Informed". Whether or not they have the sense to apply that training depends solely on that person and their make up. I'd like to see stats on how many sledders that were killed last year had avy training. Common sense will tell you, "I shouldn't go there". Avy training will tell you "Chances are that slope may not slide because conditions are indicating it may be safe to do so". No matter how you slice it, you're still taking a risk. I realize the sport of sledding comes with inherent risks. I bought a set of beacons this year because of that but I hope to use mine to assist when required not to save my own A$$ because I just don't go on those slopes.

 

[maxwell]

yeeep...the white monster...doesnt care what you know if your in its way.