Keeping my ski-helmet on in Val Cenis – France
May 15, 2009 by admin
After hearing about the tragic death of actress, Natasha Richardson in March, I was taking no chances and rented a ski-helmet on my family ski-ing holiday in Val Cenis. Natasha Richardson died after a fall on the nursery slopes while taking a ski-ing lesson – it seems that the most apparently risk-free situations can go wrong if you’re unlucky.
Despite having spent 3 months in my 20s as an au-pair in the French ski resort of Meribel, I can’t say I’m an expert ski-er, having spent more time in the resort’s night-clubs than the ski-slopes. I prefer to go cautiously down the red and blue slopes while my snow-board addict sons zoom past me impatiently, only stopping long enough to blague some euros for a hot chocolate and crepe in the mountain cafe.
The week after we returned I was shocked to read that an avalanche had swept the piste at Val Cenis, only days after we were there, but luckily being at lunchtime and at the end of the season, the slopes were deserted and no-one was hurt.
Which goes to show that you just can’t be too careful…
This is posted as part of Photo Friday – see all the other Friday photos over at Delicious Baby.
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jen laceda on Fri, 15th May 2009 10:32 am
The Natasha Richardson tragedy happened in my country–Canada. It really is so tragic! Personally, I always think about plane crashes. That’s the only downside of travelling.
marina k. villatoro on Fri, 15th May 2009 8:19 pm
Yeah, don’t take any chances at all. I lived in the Colorado Rockies for a while, where I pretended to be a ski bunny, however, I was up staged by the insane skiers all around. And maybe they aren’t as famous as Natasha, but we had some brutal deaths with professional skiers hitting trees and boulders.
Be safe!!!!!
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Beth Whitman on Fri, 15th May 2009 11:03 pm
Well…. take chances but make sure they are calculated risks. Wear a helmet but don’t stop doin’ what you’re doin’.
Dominique on Sun, 17th May 2009 9:54 pm
That was a sad story about Richardson, but as Beth says, you just have to be smart about things and keep experiencing life!
Phil on Tue, 18th Aug 2009 9:52 am
Like all sports there are risks, you can minimize that by wearing the basic gear and a helmet is a must. Some basic survival training is also a good idea, the skiing teachers should help you out with this too.
admin on Tue, 18th Aug 2009 8:24 pm
Hi Phil – you’re right there’s risks in everything. I don’t mind taking a few risks, but I wish the resorts would insist on holmets, then my 17 yr old son who needs the helmet far more than me would wear one.
I see you ski in Meribel – I was an au pair there in Meribel Mottaret many years ago now. Sadly spent too many nights in the nightclubs and could never get up in the morning so didn’t really do the ski-ing justice.
Jakub on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 7:22 am
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