Butternut Death

[Greg]

Connecticut man, 81, dies in ski accident at Butternut

I was skiing at Butternut yesterday and didn't know about this. So this question has been raised many times this season. Have there been more fatal Northeast skiing accidents this season, or is there simply media coverage? I wonder if anyone has any stats on this and how we compare this year to the 'average'...

 

[GadgetRick]

Don't know...

Haven't seen any stats so I can't say for sure. I do know the media is starting to cover, what they consider, extreme sports more actively. They consider skiing (in general) an extreme sport. This may have something to do with us being more aware of skiing-related fatalities.

I'd be interested in hearing if this is true though...

 

[riverc0il]

it might not just be media coverage, but rather media consumers being more aware of coverage. especially as the new england based/related forums have grown over the past few years, i've noticed more and more stories get picked up and posted. so perhaps we're just 'seeing' the stories more?

i don't have official stats, but i think the death toll on skis this year was only around 6 or so? maybe a few more if you count NY. not that many at all considering how many skier visits there were. i don't mean to cheapen the effect a death takes on a family and social circle, but statistically, it's such a very very small number.

 

[noreaster]

it might not just be media coverage, but rather media consumers being more aware of coverage. especially as the new england based/related forums have grown over the past few years, i've noticed more and more stories get picked up and posted. so perhaps we're just 'seeing' the stories more?

Good point rivercOil. Typically skiers deaths are printed in local papers sometimes no where near the resort where the accident occurred. Now with google search engines and online newspapers its very easy to find the article on the internet and post a link in a skier forum. A few years ago this technology did not exist or was not being used.

I think you will find that the skier/rider death total will be about the same as other years with an average of about 38.