Parents suing Skibowl for death of daughter

[Nate Dogg]

The father of a 17-year-old Sandy girl who died after snowboarding into a tree at Mt. Hood Skibowl last winter filed a lawsuit against the resort Wednesday for at least $1 million.

Harry and Grettel DeWolf – the parents of Taylur DeWolf – believe that Skibowl improperly marked the 38-degree slope their daughter was on as intermediate level when it really was for experts only. They believe that caused her to lose control and speed down the run, known as the Dog Leg trail, said the parents' Lake Oswego attorney, Jeff Merrick. Merrick said. Merrick said intermediate-level slopes are more often 19 or 20 degrees.

"If they'd labeled it a black-diamond run, she wouldn't have been on it," Merrick said, referring to the symbol for experts only.

What's more, the fall line – or the path a ball would naturally roll downhill – led directly into the tree that DeWolf fatally struck on the evening of Jan. 27, Merrick said. He filed the suit in Multnomah County Circuit Court.......

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamas...died.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

I'm still pondering why these snowboarders don't wear bicycle helmets.

 

[Haakzilla]

I'm still pondering why these snowboarders don't wear bicycle helmets.

...some of them do. I wonder how long before they try and make it a "mandatory" thing?

 

[PapaG]

I wear a helmet skiing, and I skied competitively, as did my wife.

BTW - a 38 degree pitch is not that difficult, and is often intermediate or 'blue' so long as it is a brief pitch on a flatter run. Hike to the top of Heather Canyon at Meadows and you can ski a 60+ degree pitch that stretches over 500 yards. I caught an edge a few years ago hauling ass and slid all the way to the bottom from about half-way up, digging one of my poles into the snow behind me to try and slow down as I headed toward some trees. Bounced my head off of a tree a bit, but had on my helmet.

Save the "now we know why you are crazy" jokes because of the head slam. I am miles ahead of you.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

No crazy remarks, no. But you skied competitively? Makes so much sense.

 

[Nikolokolus]

This lawsuit will go nowhere ... and it shouldn't. If you ski/snowboard/hike/climb/hunt/whatever in the great outdoors, there is always the possibility that you could have a nasty accident and cash out your chips for good.

 

[speeds]

I ski quite a bit and the majority of people on the mountain wear helmets, both sides of the border. Snowboarders are close to 100%. Mostly old skiiers that still don't, the Craig McTavish's of the slopes.

Diamonds and circles are really just a guideline.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why is it that every time parents lose a child, they have to sue someone? How about they take responsibility for not having their child wearing a helmet?

 

[Masbee]

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamas...died.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

I'm still pondering why these snowboarders don't wear bicycle helmets.

Lots of them do. So many do, that you see the "cool" kids wearing them too.

Even so, you can still die with a helmet. It is not an airbag suit. If you ski off a cliff or ski fast enough into a tree, there isn't a way to protect from that.

Helmets actually offer decent protection from something more dangerous than trees - other skiiers and snowboarders.

 

[Masbee]

Why is it that every time parents lose a child, they have to sue someone? How about they take responsibility for not having their child wearing a helmet?

MONEY!!!!!!!!

 

[Natebishop3]

MONEY!!!!!!!!

God I hope that's not the reason. I realize that some people do try to cash in on their loved one's death, but I think in this case it's probably looking for someone to blame, because it's too terrible to think that you could have prevented your child's death..... and you know relatives are probably all screaming, "sue them! You should sue!"

 

[BlazerWookee]

Was Sonny Bono wearing a helmet?

 

[Boob-No-More]

As sad as it is to lose a child, for any reason, it shouldn't be like winning the lottery. I know the family is looking for someone to blame and wants someone, anyone, to pay (literally) for the death of their child, but I hate to see them exploit the loss of a loved one for a financial windfall. Accidents happen. Sad, but true.

BNM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't know about Skibowk, but Meadows has a shuttle from Ptd to the mountain for those who don't want to drive. It has basically turned into trasporting kids up to the mountain on weekends. I would hope meadows is taking some precautionary steps to help decrease the risk of injury or death to these kids.

 

[PapaG]

I ski quite a bit and the majority of people on the mountain wear helmets, both sides of the border. Snowboarders are close to 100%. Mostly old skiiers that still don't, the Craig McTavish's of the slopes.

Diamonds and circles are really just a guideline.

Go to Bachelor. It amazes me how few boarders there wear helmets. I don't get it, but then again, I didn't wear one when I was in my 20s, either, for free skiing.

 

[Further]

When I was 14 my brother gave me a high end $250 Sony Walkman, it was by far my prize possession for the two weeks I owned it. I went up skiing and had the Walkman in my breast pocket, listening to some Guns N Roses when I smacked into a tree. Smashing my Walkman into pieces against my chest. I had a bruise in the shape of the Walkman on my chest, but aside from that I wasn't injured. At the time, I would have preferred a broken arm to my broken Walkman. Sucks for the family that lost their kid, but nowadays there are iPods, so they can at least listen to "Sweet Child O Mine".






I'm an ass

 

[speeds]

Go to Bachelor. It amazes me how few boarders there wear helmets. I don't get it, but then again, I didn't wear one when I was in my 20s, either, for free skiing.

I'll take your word for it. Maybe West-coasters don't bother as much. I also didn't used to wear one.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I skied competitively

three dudes go to a ski lodge, and there aren't enough rooms, so they have to share a room, and when they get up to it, there is only one bed...so they decide to all share it

in the middle of the night, the guy on the right wakes up...his stirring wakes the others "wow man, i just had this intense dream about getting a handjob, im really sorry guys"

the guy on the left unbelievably has had the same dream... he didnt cum everywhere, but the EXACT SAME DREAM...

they ask the guy in the middle what his dream was... was this some sort of lucid group fantasy? were they at the forefront of some futuristic homoerotic mindmelding? did someone slip them ecstasy at the bar?

but the guy in the middle just sits up and says "you guys are fucking weirdos, i was just having a great dream about skiing"

 

[PapaG]

three dudes go to a ski lodge, and there aren't enough rooms, so they have to share a room, and when they get up to it, there is only one bed...so they decide to all share it

in the middle of the night, the guy on the right wakes up...his stirring wakes the others "wow man, i just had this intense dream about getting a handjob, im really sorry guys"

the guy on the left unbelievably has had the same dream... he didnt cum everywhere, but the EXACT SAME DREAM...

they ask the guy in the middle what his dream was... was this some sort of lucid group fantasy? were they at the forefront of some futuristic homoerotic mindmelding? did someone slip them ecstasy at the bar?

but the guy in the middle just sits up and says "you guys are fucking weirdos, i was just having a great dream about skiing"

The character Squirrel in Hot Dog was based on my life.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I never wore a bike helmet as a kid, either. In fact, I didn't start wearing one until two years ago. I remember when cars didn't have seat belts, let alone airbags. Technology has make many high risk activities safer, but there is still risk of injury or death. It is a shame when someone doesn't avail themselves of that technology and pays the ultimate price.

Although no mention of a helmet is mentioned in the article, one poster in the comment section says she was wearing a helmet. Not sure if that's been verified.

I feel bad for the parents and their loss, but I still don't understand exactly how Skibowl is responsible for the accidental death of their daughter. Well, I guess that's why we have courts. And, of course, we don't have all the facts at this point. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

BNM