The death of a young 26-year-old snowboarder on Saturday evening in Bromont has greatly shaken the ski community, which doubts the effectiveness of the measures put in place on Quebec ski slopes to ensure the safety of users.
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Although downhill skiing and snowboarding are risky sports, the ski slopes are governed by safety standards that must be respected. For Josée Cusson, director of communications for the Association des stations de ski du Québec (ASSQ), there is no doubt that the slopes are safe.
“All ski resorts respect safety regulations and signage rules,” she said, without however being able to comment on the tragedy that occurred Saturday evening at the Bromont ski resort.
snow cannons
According to station personnel, the young snowboarder collided with a light pole, which could have led to his death. Early Sunday morning, however, a rumor circulated on social media that an unprotected snow cannon was the cause of the incident.
While some trail users have requested the installation of cushions on unprotected snow cannons, Ms. Cusson has ruled out this possibility.
“Would we put cushions on all the trees? There is no obligation in the safety regulations of ski resorts to protect snow cannons,” she pointed out.
Whose responsibility is it?
Ski resorts must comply with the safety regulations that have been established. But it is also up to skiers to be careful and not take unnecessary risks, said the ASSQ’s director of communications.
Wearing a helmet, for example, can be a good way to protect yourself in a collision. Moreover, this measure seems popular with skiers.
“It is mandatory to wear a helmet in snow parks, but not in ski resorts. Anyway, with the promotion of safety in ski resorts, there are more than 90% of skiers who wear a helmet,” added Ms. Cusson.
The investigation into the death of a 26-year-old snowboarder at the Bromont ski resort is still ongoing.