Featured Image: Ron LeMaster
Written by: Richard Rokos
Today, November 30th, folks are gathering at Eldora Mountain Resort to honor Ron LeMaster, who sadly lost his life on the mountain three years ago in 2021. He tragically passed away due to a collision with another person.
Richard “Richie” Rokos, the former coach from the University of Colorado, was close to Ron and will be celebrating his life during the anniversary event today. Richie reflects on the third anniversary of his loss by penning an article about the lessons he’s gained from the accident. He emphasizes the need for greater awareness among different sports on the slopes, especially between skiing and snowboarding.
Remembering the Accident
It’s possible that after three years, the emotions have calmed down a bit, and the pain isn’t hitting as hard for those who were most impacted. But that awful and pointless accident still leaves a ton of questions unanswered. Even though everything has been settled by the court of justice and there is not a recourse, the biggest irony is that Ron dedicated his life to teaching about controlling movement and equipment (like skis), the science behind skiing, and the importance of safety in the sport.
On the morning of the accident, Ron was testing a new camera in preparation for the upcoming Beaver Creek World Cup race. When we finished filming, we parted ways at the parking lot. Ron was going to take a couple runs before going back to Boulder.
As a standard precaution, he was taking a helmet to comply with an unwritten safety standard. However, a couple of minutes later he became a victim of reckless behavior from someone who enjoyed a snowsport as much as himself. He died in the place that he loved and where he skied most of his life.
The Legacy
Several articles outlined a tribute to his work. Stocks of his film footage are benefiting future generations, yet all his work did not prevent the accident.
Perhaps one positive lesson could be drawn from the accident, and I am sure Ron would agree and support the concept. The physics and mechanics of snowboarding and skiing are different. To generalize would do a disservice to both sports on many levels, including safety.
There are several articles comparing the two sports with less or more “educated” justification, with some arguments lacking substantial merit.
The Fact of the Matter
An average snowboarder demonstrates less control when they are facing certain directions and is more prone to the component of downhill gravity. This force is equal to both the snowboarder and the skier; however, due to the skier’s stance, it is easier to resist the force and change direction.
Due to the nature of snowboarding, the sport is at the mercy of gravity unless the athlete is technically strong and well-equipped. I understand many would disagree! However, a simple observation on the hill supports this statement.
Novice or average skiers usually glide from side to side along the trail, whereas beginner snowboarders tend to follow a straighter path to fully embrace the ride. Thus, the snowboarder, due to a one sided stance, has semi-restricted control of the ride.
Conclusion- Maintain Awareness on the Slopes
Anticipation is absolutely necessary when on the slopes. Looking ahead and predicting the situation is critical to being aware of different speeds and movement across the hill.
Similarly, the rhythmical pattern of skiers turning ahead can change and become unpredictable.
Skiers must be aware of the fact that snowboarders have a tendency to rest on the backside of the bowl, posing a low or invisible obstacle.
Also, the thrill of speed in both sports should be reserved for empty hills and spanning runs with a lot of room.
As we are always trying to learn several lessons from tragic accidents, this could be a simple conclusion. After all, we have to coexist on the same trails, so the understanding could contribute to our mutual safety.
“We are apples and oranges in the same basket! So, for that reason we have to understand and tolerate our differences.”
About the Author: Richard Rokos
