MOUNTAIN SAFETY: ALPINE SKIING |
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Setting your ski bindings |
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| Having properly adjusted ski bindings is a must for your safety. If you're not a pro, have them set by a professional. Keep in mind nonetheless that the different settings correspond to a particular norm and do not vary from brand to brand. |
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International skiing etiquette guidelines |
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The skier has to pay attention to the others.
He should ski under control (speed and way of skiing).
When skiing down, he should not endanger the skier in front of him.
Overtaking a skier is allowed above, below, to the left and to the right of the skier on the condition that the skier you're overtaking has enough room to move.
When entering a run or crossing a ski field, the skier should first look uphill and downhill to check that he will not be endangering himself or others while doing so.
Try, as much as possible, not to stop while on a slope, especially in narrow passages or when there is little visibility. If a skier has fallen in such a passage, he should try to clear the spot as soon as possible.
When going uphill, the skiers must stay on the side of the pistes and leave them when there is little visibility. This goes as well for skiers going down the slope by foot.
All skiers must pay attention to the pistes' signs.
When an accident occurs, every one must try to assist.
All persons that are involved in an accident or that have witnessed one, whether they are responsible for it or not, have to identify themselves. |
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Children |
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The helmet is absolutely indispensable for children that ski. Make sure the helmet is in accordance with the EN 1077 norm.
Young children are especially vulnerable to cold. When in a mountain setting, one must be very careful when they are inactive (those carried in a back pouch for example): a simple outing in the cold can have dramatic consequences. |
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Speed |
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| Control your speed! If you think the worst that can happen to you is a broken leg, you're wrong: a lot worse accidents occur on ski runs because the skiers were speeding too much. Being able to ski fast doesn't mean you're able to ski well and you'll improve a lot more if you ski at a speed corresponding to your level. |
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