All news

Drink and Speed : This is the slopes not the road!

3/9/2011 3:10:42 PM

The number of deaths at ski resorts has increased across Europe. Early season avalanche problems and overcrowding and an extreme drinking culture are to blame, according to new research. Experts say that excessive speed and skiing under the influence of alcohol were the dominating cause of crashes.

This season may have not been a great one for snow, but skiers and boarders have been indulging in plenty of Après-ski and that is the reason for the increase in fatalities, experts say. One bizzare death this week included that of  British Ski instructor who was jumping between two chalets, drunk for a dare!

Also because the snow has been poorer than in previous seasosns, the pistes have been been overcrowded - and that, too, has been a major factor as many fail to control their speed.

Researchers in Austria have determined that the number of deaths at ski resorts in their country is more than double last year's tally with over thirty skiers and snowboarders having lost their lives and thats with two months of the season still to go. The current death toll is more than twice as high as last season’s number of skiing fatalities (14).

The same number of deaths was recorded in the 2008/2009 season and there were 11 fatalities in the winter of 2007/2008 and 18 in the 2006/2007 season.

Between 56,000 and 60,000 people have to be hospitalised after skiing and snowboarding injuries in the Austrian Alps every year and too many were out of pocket having chosen not to travel without ski insurance.

Paul Quigley

UK travel insurance