SKI DEATHS BOOST AWARENESS; BONO, KENNEDY TRAGEDIES ILLUSTRATE DANGERS OF SNOW SPORTS.Byline: Anne Burke Daily News Staff Writer Steve Caton of Studio City didn't need the deaths of Sonny Bono Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (January 16 1935 – January 5 1998) was an American record producer, singer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades. and Michael Kennedy
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy (February 27, 1958 – December 31, 1997), was the sixth of eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy. to alert him to the dangers of downhill skiing. He learned the hard way four years ago when he slammed into a tree and broke four ribs on a steep run at a Taos, N.M., ski area. ``It was at the end of the day and I was really tired. I just lost control,'' said Caton, 40, a professional musician and avid skier. At ski areas in California and across the nation, the death of the second celebrity skier in less than a week raised awareness about the dangers of the sport and has prompted some skiers to wear helmets. ``I think it will start making people a little more cautious on the slopes,'' said Jay Reed of Snow Valley Mountain Sports Park. Bono, the singer turned congressman, ran into a tree and was killed Monday at Heavenly Ski Resort Heavenly Mountain Resort is a ski resort located on the California-Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe ( 38°56'7.40"N, 119°56'24.29"W). It has 95 runs and 30 lifts that are spread between California and Nevada and four base facilities. The resort was purchased by Vail Resorts, Inc. near South Lake Tahoe. On New Year's Eve, the 39-year-old son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died when he hit a tree in Aspen, Colo., while playing touch football on skis. Last ski season The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , 36 skiers or snowboarders died on the slopes and 45 people were seriously injured, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the National Ski Patrol The National Ski Patrol (NSP), founded in 1938 by Charles M. (Minnie) Dole, at the urging of Roger Langley. The NSP has become the largest winter rescue organization in the world. USA. The ski industry maintains that the sport is relatively safe and expects no decrease in business. ``There are indeed inherent risks to skiing and snowboarding. They're high-energy sports, and it's the challenge and risk that entices people,'' said Stacy Gardner of the National Ski Areas Association in Lakewood, Colo. ``But skiing and snowboarding are no more dangerous than any other kind of sport,'' she said. The fatality rate fa·tal·i·ty rate n. See death rate. fatality rate see case fatality rate. last season for skiing was 0.69 per 1 million skier and snowboarder visits, Gardner said. Meanwhile, in 1995, water sports water sports Urophilia, see there claimed the lives of 17 people per 1 million participants, while bicycling killed 7.1 people per 1 million participants, she added. Still, many medical professionals and ski enthusiasts are urging helmet use, particularly among the young. The Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Ski Education Foundation, which hosts events at New Mountain High Resort, now requires all snowboarders to wear helmets during competition. An American Medical Association American Medical Association (AMA), professional physicians' organization (founded 1847). Its goals are to protect the interests of American physicians, advance public health, and support the growth of medical science. committee urges all young people to wear helmets, and is considering pushing for legislation to require them for skiers of all ages. Most resorts allow skiers to go through the trees, and several said they had no plans to restrict such access. However, ski areas such as Northstar-at-Tahoe post signs urging skiers to stay on groomed trails until the snowpack snow·pack n. An area of naturally formed, packed snow that usually melts during the warmer months. snowpack 1. increases. SAFETY TIPS FOR SKIERS Always ski in pairs. Stop before you become fatigued. Don't ski beyond your abilities. Wear proper clothing. Make sure your bindings are adjusted correctly. Get in shape before you hit the slopes. Take a lesson. Drink plenty of water; avoid alcohol. Source: National Ski Areas Association FATALITIES ON THE SLOPES Here's a look at skiing and snowboarding deaths over the past 13 years: SKIER DAYS RATE SEASON FATALITIES (in millions) (per million) 1996-97 36 52.50.69 1995-96 35 54.0 0.65 1994-95 49 52.7 0.93 1993-94 41 54.6 0.75 1992-93 42 54.0 0.78 1991-92 35 50.8 0.69 1990-91 28 46.7 0.60 1989-90 24 50.0 0.48 1988-89 26 53.3 0.49 1987-88 31 53.9 0.58 1986-87 29 53.4 0.54 1985-86 38 51.9 0.73 1984-85 28 51.4 0.54 SOURCE: National Ski Areas Association CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, box, chart BOX: SAFETY TIPS FOR SKIERS (see text) Photo: (1) Tim Schultz of Northridge helps son Garrett put on his skis while wife Lisa and daughter Holly get ready for a day on the slopes. (2) Snowboarder Ed Pineda of Anaheim started wearing a helmet last year after falling and hitting his head. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News Chart: Fatalities on the slopes (see text) |
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