Introduction
This field of expertise involves the popular winter sporting activities of:
- Skiing (downhill, cross country, heli-skiing)
- Snowboarding
- Tobogganing
- Ice skating
- Ice climbing
- Snowmobiling
Participants in these activities can range from people of all ages on family outings to professional athletes training for the Olympics. Due to their nature, there is a substantial degree of risk associated with them, made manifest in recent times by high profile celebrity accidents such as Michael Schumacher and Natasha Richardson. Falls and collisions result in the most common forms of injury: knee damage, sprains, dislocations and strains.
Experts in these winter sports have a detailed understanding of the skills required, training methods and also the safety procedures to be followed by participants, instructors and
operators of ski resorts.
At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.
Expertise in Action
Experts are often required to provide their opinion and evidence regarding training procedures, operating procedures, and safety procedures that are to be followed by ski and snowboarding instructors, lift operators, equipment hire staff and other personnel employed by ski resorts.
Sample Reports
For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.
Cost
The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:
- The need for a view or inspection of a location
- The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
- Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
- Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype
Relevant Articles
Downhill Skiing Fact Sheet (Sports Medicine Australia)
In 2004 the major cause of downhill skiing injury was falls (73%), followed by collisions with objects or persons (18%). The most common injuries to downhill skiers are fractures (61%), dislocations/sprains/strains (14%) and head injuries (7%).
Relevant Cases
Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Nair-Smith [2015] NSWCA 90
On boarding a moving chair forming part of the appellant’s triple chairlift, the respondent was struck from behind by the armrest of the chair. She claimed for damages in negligence and for breach of contract.
Inspector Martin Constable v Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Limited [2003] NSWCIMC 82
The defendant failed to implement and maintain a system ensuring all skiers riding a chairlift would wear a restraining device. The resort also failed to include instruction and training on all appropriate control measures in its staff manual.
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