New data shows California ski slopes are becoming more dangerous for skiers and snowboarders as an increase in serious and deadly accidents continues surging.
According to data from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, in 2022, 6,000 skiers and snowboarders were sent to emergency rooms with injuries sustained on the slopes.
That number of ER visits is up 50% from 2016 through 2022, the Los Angeles Times reports. However, during that same period, the number of skiers and snowboarders hitting the slopes remained mostly the same in California.
“It’s a wonderful sport, but if you ask me, I notice a bit of a difference in courtesy,” said Joann Shimizu Wood, a Southern California resident who has been skiing since 1976. “We used to say, as we were coming downhill to whoever was downhill from us, ‘On your right! On your left!’ as we’re passing them.”
Wood said she now hardly ever hears that verbal cue or courtesy despite skiers and snowboarders barreling down the slopes, many of whom may be less experienced or capable.
Former ski patrollers, hospital staff and emergency medical technicians in California mountain towns told the Times the rise in accidents and injuries on the slopes was noticeable.
Reckless behavior was made worse by skiers using marijuana, magic mushrooms or getting drunk before hitting the slopes, locals said.
“You’re sitting on the lift and it smells like a skunk up here,” skier James Travers said of smelling weed. “It should smell like pine trees.”
“Today, I’m skiing down one of the slopes and I see a little bottle of Fireball [whisky], so that’s the thing you have to worry about,” said Candice Paragone.
Another major contributor involves people so focused on taking selfies or capturing videos for their social media page that they become unaware of who or what is going on around them.
Dr. Luke Samson, who works at the trauma receiving center at Loma Linda University Medical Center, said he has seen a few trends when it comes to patients who were injured on the slopes being hospitalized.
“I would say those are the two major things — it’s either, ‘I lost control’ or ‘Someone else lost control’ and there was a collision,” Samson said. “I would just advise to work within your limits. If you think you’re out of control, you probably are.”
Officials recommend knowing your physical limits and skill level before attempting to navigate a trail beyond your capabilities. Riders should also put away their cell phones or recording devices so they can fully concentrate on heading down the mountain safely.