Where to Ski And Snowboard - Skier fined for speeding in Verbier

Skier fined for speeding in Verbier

12th February 2016, by Abi Butcher

A skier in Verbier has been fined for hitting a German tourist

A skier has been fined and found guilty of causing “simple bodily injury” for skiing too fast and hitting another skier in Verbier in 2014.

The skier — who has not been named — was fined CHF1350 (about £950) after skiing into the back of a German tourist. While every skier, snowboarder and witness is duty bound to exchange names and addresses following an accident, the German tourist went one step further and took it to court, says Swiss newspaper Le News.

Bas-Valais prosecutor Patrick Burkhalter found the skier “…was skiing faster than his visible stopping distance allowed and did not give priority to the skier ahead of him”.

Burkhalter based his findings on a code of conduct (see below) set by the International Ski Federation (FIS), saying: “These rules spell out how we must behave on a piste.”

Nearly 40,000 accidents are recorded in Switzerland every year — but many more must go unreported. Of this number, nine per cent are collisions and only four or five incidents end up in court each year — the rest handled by insurance companies.

In January, ski resorts in Colorado ran a “Ski Safety Week”.

The 10 FIS rules for the conduct of skiers and snowboarders:

Rule 1: Respect for others
A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

Rule 2: Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding
A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

Rule 3: Choice of route
A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.

Rule 4: Overtaking
A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

Rule 5: Entering, starting and moving upwards
A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.

Rule 6: Stopping on the piste
Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

Rule 7: Climbing and descending on foot
A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.

Rule 8: Respect for signs and markings
A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.

Rule 9: Assistance
At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.

Rule 10: Identification
Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.