The Michael Schumacher Career/Injury/Recovery Thread

^^^ wow that is starkly alarming!

 

Keep in mind that The USA has a different view on Safety than Europe

 

What would that differing view be?

 

Best wishes for him and his family, especially his son, who was with him. We can't ignore the fact he was taking unnecessary risks by skiing off-track. But he has taken unnecessary risks all his life. Problem is at some point your luck just runs out. But whatever happens, at least he was doing what he has always enjoy doing: taking risks.

 

It's all good! Gentleman's handshake indeed!

Let's keep sending positive thoughts for his speedy recovery. 'If anyone can come back, we KNOW it's him!

Cheers,
Ian

 

+1 Sober and realistic viewpoint.

 

I don't think that there's much doubt about how dangerous that spot is.
I think that people should be allowed to make informed descisions about their safety. While I don't see it as making any difference in this case, some sort of warning there seems to be in order.

I've traveled extensively and love escaping the US Granny State but I do want to know, literally and figuratively, where the rocks are.
Godspeed Michael and a Happy, safe New Year to all.

 

Great. And thank you

 

I'm glad you guys buried the hatchet. I was feeling like a kid whose folks were arguing.

 

I just have to add that it is obvious to skiers that you're not a skier and do not comprehend the typical skiing terrain and conditions. There was nothing unusual or unsafe about where Schumacher's accident occurred. It is up to each skier to ski within their abilities and limits, and there are likely 30% of skiers on any ski hill for whom that terrain would be not only no problem, but sought out.

Just as there are not guards posted at the top of every expert run to evaluate your latest ski school ability check report card to prevent beginner skiers from straying on to an expert run, that area should by no means be cordoned off.

If that freaked you out, try this - do a google image search for "rock garden lake louise", here's one such image:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3130/3158139190_3dceb62a78_o.jpg

this is a regular expert ski run at Ski Louise ski resort at Lake Louise in Banff National Park here in Canada (where I was on the ski patrol for 15 years). It's on the trail map, it's skied by hundreds if not thousands of skiers every day. Yeah, there's rocks. That's normal, that's why it's called Rock Garden. My kids were all of 7 or 8 years old the first time I took them in there (and we all wear helmets). Lots of kids ski Rock Garden, they love it. It's a normal expert ski run. In every ski area, there are groomed runs, and ungroomed runs. There are designated glade skiing areas, through trees, that aren't groomed either. Some skiers have accidents and hit the trees. Most do not. That's skiing. Skiers understand and accept that.

Please let's not over-react and go after the sport of skiing, just because Michael Schumacher suffered a freak accident.

 

hahaha
I'm always amenable to reconciliation particularly when texting can often impart misconceptions on both sides. That and I was never really mad at him

 

I take my family skiing 2 weeks every year. The kids (5 and 7) only ski with us or an instructor or as part of ski school. Living in South Florida, it's the kids chance to have winter fun each year and they love it. I would never take it away from them.

For the last 2 years and again this year,... we're going to Whistler, BC. Lots of trails so never get bored. Excellent ski patrol. Great conditions. And in my experience, the trails we ski are less crowded than the Colorado resorts. I feel as safe as possible there,... and that's part of the reason we keep going back.

We'll be there mid Feb this year if anyone is going.

 

You must not have any more of my prior posts as follow up. It seems you're now implying that I think all kids should be deprived of their ski trips? LOL!

i'm not overreacting nor freaked out by sports injuries per se. We all assume the risk. And I'm not a skier as prevously mentioned, and who cares. I've done things far more dangerous than skiing and assumed the risk and didn't care about the dangers either. Read my other posts please.

 

I did. You (and others) were still suggesting that area should be cordoned off. That's a huge over-reaction.

Skiers and ski resorts don't ignore the dangers, they are well aware of them and work diligently to manage and minimize danger. However, there are always going to be risks in a physical activity that involves sliding at speed on natural wild terrain.

 

Looks simply like bad luck.
There is very little danger there and the reporter actually skies right through the powered spot himself. It's barely 50 yards long.

Michael Schumachers Ski-Unfall: BILD zeigt Schumis Unglückspiste - Briatore glaubt an Schumi-Genesung - Formel 1 - Bild.de

 

Starts at 3:20

Damn, this doesn't look difficult or dangerous at all. What incredible irony. The guy races for 20 years, has 18 severe accidents and then has the worst injury ever on this rather gentle slope. Unreal.

 

*Exactly* what I've been trying to say for hours!......

**** happens! In this case, particularly bad **** unfortunately.

Godspeed Michael.

 

On that run skiing through the rocks is safer than dodging all the other skiers stoping in the middle of the run and darting across the run!

 

I agree. And some of the signs and posts in the middle of the piste.

Yes, technically he was "off piste", but c'mon. Off piste to me is something different than the 10 yards in between two prepared pistes.

 

I've skiied my wholelife; it's an exhilarating sport, and very difficult to describe the allure of venturing off groomed trails; even for a brief instance for fresh powder. This is an accident though; a terrible one. But knowing the trails, and seeing that; i would have skiied right through it as well.
Really hoping he makes it. Can't imagine the torture his family is going through.
Ironically, didn't his Mom die after hitting her head also? Can't remember the year; only both MS & Ralf looking somber on the podium...
Kevin

 

Agree completely. The resort may want to back off the "off piste" verbiage. I would have referred to it as "skiing off of the groomed portion of the piste".

 

Just looked it up; was April 2003

Elizabeth Schumacher had been in a hospital in her hometown of Cologne since April 10. Media reports said she fell in her house and suffered internal injuries. She was operated on, then put into an induced coma, the reports said.

In a sign of mourning for his mother, Schumacher wore a black armband over his red Ferrari racing suit.

 

Indeed. She fell down the stairs.

Spring of 2003. I remember this as I attended the Imola GP and watched the grim podium. MS wore a black band around his right arm.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That was the race you were at? Wow....
Really miss Imola onnthe schedule

 

Couldn't agree more!.... Much safer to get off the groomer and into the pow!