KillingtonZone.com

I was hit from behind by a very fast moving snowboarder on Monday Jan 9 while approaching Cascade. When I started my run, there were no other skiers or riders in sight. I was skiing directly under the K1 Gondola heading toward Cascade and had just about cleared the Great Northern section when out of nowhere BAM!!!! As I lay on the ground I heard someone declare “Yard Sale” because my equipment was scattered all over the place; and someone asking me if I had the wind knocked out of me. My injuries were much worse than that. Somehow I managed to right myself onto my knees. The snowboarder and his buddies were still there and we got into a heated discussion about responsibility. They claimed that I made a turn to the right and had failed to look uphill before turning. I don’t remember making a turn to the right since I was sking a fairly straight line directly under the K1 Gondola. Even if you accept that I should have glanced uphill, all he (or they) needed to do to avoid me was to look DOWN HILL. I never saw or heard anything until I was walloped. I believe that excessive speed and failure to yield to downhill traffic are the factors that are at fault here. This group of riders objected to my pissed-off attitude, kicked snow in my face, and took off. Another group a skiers nearby did not inquire about my condition either and also took off. This left me pretty much where I started, on the slope without any other skiers or riders in sight but in no condition to ski down myself. I suspected that my collar bone was broken. Fortunately, an Ambassador came along and asked if I needed help. I did. I was transported down by Ski Patrol sled which was extremely painful. Next I was transported by ambulance to Rutland Regional Hospital and given morphine in route. I am still in Rutland Regional and expect to be here a few more days. My injuries included seven factured ribs in my back between the spine and shoulder blade, a bruised lung, and the broken collar bone. Fortunately there was no damage to my spine. I was wearing a helmut and I think that protected my head. I am still in a lot of pain. I am not sure if I’ll get back to the slops this year but I am left wondering if I need to stop every ten feet to peak uphill to see if some idiot is rocketing down the slope. Don’t get me wrong; have a good time, speed is part of the thrill – just make sure that you are clear of downhill traffic before you let ‘em rip.

kicked snow in your face after taking you out. pretty fcked ... hopefully you'll be 100% soon.

jimmywilson69 wrote:

skiadikt wrote:kicked snow in your face after taking you out. pretty fcked quote]

karma is a bitch. Those dudes will get theirs...

hopefully you'll be 100% soon.

Unfortunately, karma never seems to set things right with bad people. Hmm, time to carry the camera more often and have it ready for any such incidents, if I am able to move enough to take the picture. If this person or persons could be identified I wonder if they could be charged with battery and leaving the scene?

Sorry that happened to you KnobleOne. Get well soon. I hope these A-holes get what they deserve.

I am so sad that this happened to you. Get well soon.
Please take care of yourself.

Being hit by any one in general a boarder or a skier is terrible. They should have stayed to help you.
I can't tell you how many times during a ski day when I see anyone on the ground, I always check to see if they need assistance.

Also maybe this area needs to be marked with slow signs and an ambassador as it is a major intersection..I have seen near misses as well.

If he hit you from behind- it is his fault!!

finn wrote:Also maybe this area needs to be marked with slow signs and an ambassador as it is a major intersection..I have seen near misses as well.

If he hit you from behind- it is his fault!!

Finn, it is the area under the GONDOLA on Cascade, a so called double black diamond. Yes there are intersections there but expect people to be skiing a bit more aggressively due to the nature and steepness of the terrain. We have enough signs that no one pays attention to, and an ambassador has no control over the public.

Sounds like it was before Cascade

NobleOne...Best wishes for a complete recovery !

Totally in-excusable low-life dregs...just disgusting.
The pack-mentality behavior is growing, and not just here.

It would be terrible to lose the essence which binds us all here.
Ambassadors and/or excessive signage will have little impact on this.
We all can advocate for sensible conduct on the hill. I surely do.
Carry a whistle ... Stops people in their tracks !

Noble, once again, get well and rest assured those slugs will get theirs.

brownman wrote: Noble, once again, get well and rest assured those slugs will get theirs.

Sadly, that is very unlikely. There's no way they're going to catch the yahoo during college week who did a hit & run.

Vermont changed their negligence statute in 2006 so Killington has no liability at all for this kind of thing. With no liability, there is no policing of the slopes.

Well yes, it's unlikely they'll be prosecuted.
However...The One above is keeping score.
...just sayin'

From the gondola to just where you turn right and head to Cascade is a F'n racetrack especially on weekends! Sooooo many times I've had lunatics buzz me on that 20 foot wide section of trail after making the switchback turn. I had someone clip me and the front of my board hit those boulders to the left and trashed it a few years ago. He just kept going. Luckily I wasn't going too fast. Sorry to hear about those a-holes running you over knobleone! That sucks. It's always amazing that the person who causes the mess never seems to get hurt? How can someone cause that much damage and not get hurt himself? Maybe he checked into the emergency room or Killington Medical, but they won't (can't) tell you if you asked them anyway.

So sorry to hear about this incident Knobleone. Those guys were in the wrong as you were the downhill skier. It was their responsibility to avoid you.

Are we suppose to have eyes behind our head now so that we can avoid people who don't know how to ski/ride in control?

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and please keep us updated.

Really sorry to hear about your injuries Knobleone. I hope you are feeling better soon! I was pretty spooked skiing K last week. There were too many close calls of people flying by with minimal control. I was spooked enough not to ski at all on the weekend. Is it my imagination or is it getting to be the wild west at K? I know ambassadors can't pull tickets and ski patrol folk don't patrol much (I suspect they are stretched pretty thin). Don't know how that law was written Geoff - but even if K has no liability - is there a clause for gross negligance?