The chaos on France's ski slopes is so sad, says retired instructor

To the Editor,

As a recently retired professional ski teacher - my main source of income for many years - I have worn a helmet for the past several seasons and refused to teach children without one. 

I also strongly recommended that all my students wear helmets. I have been knocked over several times in nursery slope queues and have hit my head on very hard snow.

The statistics are not entirely clear about all skiing accidents and whether a helmet would prevent serious injury, but I am old enough to remember similar arguments being made about seat belts in cars.

What I can say is that in most crashes a helmet will help to prevent concussion, and in serious accidents - such as crashing into a rock off piste - it may save your life. 

I do not particularly enjoy wearing one, and trips to a small ski area such as Col d’Ornon, where one feels safe enough not to need one, can feel liberating. 

That said, I would not dream of skiing without a helmet in a major resort, especially during busy holiday periods.

As for wider skier safety, there is now a significant problem worldwide with inexperienced skiers and snowboarders travelling at speed in inappropriate areas, colliding with other slope users, sometimes injuring them and then skiing off.

I do not know the complete solution. We probably need more ski patrollers, with greater powers to stop dangerous slope users and remove lift passes - something not currently permitted in France. 

More education is clearly required, although those who cause problems are often the least receptive. It would be difficult to restrict the use of GoPros or mobile phone apps, however desirable that might seem. 

Requiring everyone purchasing a lift pass to confirm they have read and understood the FIS rules might at least provide authorities with greater leverage in the event of accidents.

It is a great shame that this wonderful activity is becoming sufficiently dangerous that some are giving it up. 

I have skied since the age of three - nearly 70 years - and have witnessed a profound change. When I began teaching, it took six weeks of ski school to ski parallel; now many achieve this in their first week. 

In those days there were no piste machines and therefore no perfectly groomed runs, so a reasonable standard of technique was essential simply to get around.

All very sad.

C. by email

Have you stopped skiing due to safety concerns? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com