Less hit and run skiing last winter!

The number of hit and run offences on slopes in the Austrian Alps has dropped dramatically, figures presented reveal.

The Austrian Committee for Alpine Safety (KfAS) and the federal interior ministry’s Alpine safety department announced that 195 such offences were registered in ski resorts across the country between 1 November 2010 and 15 January 2011. Interior ministry official Hans Ebner said 242 hit and run accidents happened in the same time period of the previous winter sport season.
Austrian police have reminded tourists ahead of each skiing season that it is a criminal offence to continue skiing without checking the condition of the other person involved in a collision. Hit and Run offenders face fines and jail terms depending on whether they are found guilty of causing a crash and on the severity of the other person’s injuries.
The increased number of calls on holidaymakers by officials saying that hit and run skiing is a breach of the law has been made mainly responsible for the decline in such incidents.
Long-term figures reveal that only 10 per cent of all skiing and snowboarding accidents are collisions. Wrong estimation of one’s abilities, the consumption of alcohol and excessive speed have been identified as the major reasons for winter sport accidents. More than 50,000 skiers and boarders end up in hospitals in Austria each winter.
Figures presented by the interior minimiser today show that 13 men and two women lost their lives in accidents on the slopes this winter before 7 February. Twenty people died in skiing and snowboarding accidents in the same period of the previous winter season.
The Austrian Alps are one of the most popular winter holiday destinations in the world. Around one out of three vacations booked in European countries in the cold season are skiing trips to the country.

Thumbs Down

Just got back from the boot room in our hotel after using Gaffer tape to make water-proof an English skiers new thumb plaster cast, he told me he would be paying the doctor in cash if the bill was less than 100 euros, his bill from the doctor came to 740 euros "Ouch" I wonder which hurt the most his broken thumb or the bill!
Mervyn.

Slope Rescue Card

What a good idea!
All ski insurance covers you for personal injury & third party liability but usually does not cover the cost of actually getting you off the mountain at the time of injury, its more likely to have to stand that cost out of your own pocket/credit card and then claim it back from your insurance company at a later date.
The ski resort of Sölden offers a solution to the problem as shown below (information taken directly from the Sölden website):
As we read it you pay an extra 10 Euros when you buy your lift pass and you are covered.
Gail & Mervyn.

The "Sölden Slope Rescue Card" is available at the ski area's ticket offices and only in conjunction with a valid ski pass. The Rescue Card does not have to be bought together with the ski pass, but it must have been purchased before the insured event occurred. The Mountain Rescue Card's validity expires on the same day as your ski pass and cannot be prolonged.


Sölden Slope Rescue Card per person and ski pass € 10,00


The Slope Rescue Card includes the following:
Rescue service is free for injured persons within the entire Sölden Ski Area (Gaislachkogl, Giggijoch/Hochsölden and the Glacier Ski Area). Depending on the gravity of the injury, the rescue card includes transport by ski lift, Akja sleds, ambulance or the Sölden Rescue Helicopter (Alpin 2) to the nearest doctor in Sölden or if necessary to the next hospital.


Tip:
Should your insurance not cover mountain rescue services and you do not have any complimentary insurance (e.g. credit card insurance or accident cover offered by automobile associations, etc.) we strongly recommend you to purchase the Sölden Slope Rescue Card in order to avoid paying the cost of rescue services:

Rescue service from zone 1
(Gaislachkogl-mid-station, Giggijoch-station, top-to-bottom runs) € 100,-
Rescue service from zone 2
(Heidebahn, Gampe, Golden Gate) € 150,-
Rescue service from zone 3
(Glacier Ski Area) € 250,-


2. Sölden Rescue Helicopter (Alpin 2) transport to the valley and ambulance service to nearest doctor in Sölden:
all zones € 1.360,

Did it Hurt

Hello Ylena,
Your many fans in the UK have asked these questions?
(1) At what speed did you hit the ice when you were making your getaway from the bank?
(2) Which was the most painful, breaking your arm, or having to let go of the bag of Euros?
(3) Why did they not allow you to pick a plaster- cast with pretty pictures on it?
(4) Is this the best you could think of to have time off work?
We are only joking and we hope you are now getting better and have worked out how to stop the itch under the plaster-cast. Cutting your arm off works OK but we think it's rather drastic!
Best wishes and get well soon.
Love Gail & Mervyn.
PS: Hello Zandra & Dominik.