Ira Riklis continues discussing the seemingly lost art of courtesy on the ski slopes
Let’s for a moment give this other skier the benefit of the doubt and suppose that he, quite mistakenly, thought that he had the right of way and that I had been in the wrong. Even then, the correct thing to do is to inquire as to how I’m doing? Am I injured? Do I need assistance? Should they call for the ski patrol and a toboggan?
None of this occurred to this person who yelled out his insult, flipped me the bird, and then skied off. I certainly wasn’t going to get an apology from this person for causing me to take a hard fall, but you would think that simple courtesy and concern for another person would dictate that he ascertain that I’m alright before he skis away.
So, in conclusion, it is important that all skiers and snowboarders know the rules of the road, exercise courtesy and caution, and that is still not enough to protect you from a wild, crazy and inconsiderate person. It is necessary to ski defensively as well. My usual approach to skiing obviates this problem because I’m usually on the slopes when they are empty and off the slopes when they are crowded.