The difference between mountain biking and zip lining is that it takes zero skill to zip line. It's like a carnival ride. I don't recall the actual facts of the zip line accident. I understood that the first woman did not get to the end of the zip line for some reason and the next woman was allowed down. Did the first one do something that left her out there? Did the second woman jump the gun? Did one or both of the contribute to the cause of the accident?
Similarly both activities involve some risks to participants but biking sees the participant with much more control of risk. The participant decides on which trail to take, speed, steering, braking etc. More often than not they bring their own equipment too. To me though the zip line case was somewhat surprising as I think the general public see it as a low risk but high thrill activity.
I know of two accidents that occurred on Whistler skiing. Same friend. Once he was skiing on a powder day, skied between two runs in a cleared legitimate opening where he struck a terrain park rail that was left in the opening but was covered by new snow. My friend was warned at the last second by the guy skiing in front of him so he got his skis up and hit it with his tails. Still he blew his achilles and something else. Whistler settled with him. Second incident was on Symphony chair. We pulled down the safety bar and one side let go and hit him on the head. Dented helmet and blood from his mouth. No lasting injury and Whistler bought him a helmet. Those types of ski area negligence are not what waivers are intended for.
June 26, 2017, 12:58 p.m. - Andy Eunson
The difference between mountain biking and zip lining is that it takes zero skill to zip line. It's like a carnival ride. I don't recall the actual facts of the zip line accident. I understood that the first woman did not get to the end of the zip line for some reason and the next woman was allowed down. Did the first one do something that left her out there? Did the second woman jump the gun? Did one or both of the contribute to the cause of the accident? Similarly both activities involve some risks to participants but biking sees the participant with much more control of risk. The participant decides on which trail to take, speed, steering, braking etc. More often than not they bring their own equipment too. To me though the zip line case was somewhat surprising as I think the general public see it as a low risk but high thrill activity. I know of two accidents that occurred on Whistler skiing. Same friend. Once he was skiing on a powder day, skied between two runs in a cleared legitimate opening where he struck a terrain park rail that was left in the opening but was covered by new snow. My friend was warned at the last second by the guy skiing in front of him so he got his skis up and hit it with his tails. Still he blew his achilles and something else. Whistler settled with him. Second incident was on Symphony chair. We pulled down the safety bar and one side let go and hit him on the head. Dented helmet and blood from his mouth. No lasting injury and Whistler bought him a helmet. Those types of ski area negligence are not what waivers are intended for.