Coroner calls for helmet rule on B.C. ski hills
A B.C. coroner is recommending ski helmets become mandatory on all provincial ski hills after an investigation into the 2013 snowboarder death on Grouse Mountain, even though there was no conclusive evidence a helmet would have made a difference in the accident.
Sixteen-year-old Luca Cesar, an exchange student from Brazil, was not wearing a helmet when he fell into rocks below the Heaven's Sake run after becoming separated from his friends.
"Though it remains unclear if the use of a helmet may have prevented life-threatening traumatic brain injury in Luca's case, it is clear that traumatic brain injuries continue to pose a significant risk to skiers and snowboarders." wrote Coroner Timothy Wiles.
Wiles notes that Cesar was a novice snowboarder going down an intermediate run, and that speed and weather conditions could have contributed to the accident.
Ski hills oppose new rule
David Lynn, president the Canada West Ski Area Association, says his group is against the recommendation.
"We don't support mandatory ski helmet legislation," he told CBC. "We promote an education based approach and have been pursuing that strategy for many years with considerable sucesss."
"There's a number of challenges associated with ski helmet legislation, including the cost and resources associated with developing and enforcing that legislation," he added.
Lynn claims ski helmet use has increased from 32 per cent in 2003, to 86 per cent this past ski season.
He also says legislation to make bike helmets mandatory hasn't worked, noting only 65 per cent of cyclist wear a helmet.
"The best science that has been done on this subject...indicates that ski helmets are not an effective means of reducing fatalities in alpine sports," said Lynn. "They potentially can reduce certain types of injuries like lacerations."
Thirty-seven skiers and snowboarders died on B.C. ski hills between 2007 and 2013. Head injures were responsible for 20 per cent of the snowboarder deaths, and 26 per cent of the skier deaths.
