My husband bought a helmet last year for skiing at Purgatory Resort after several times of almost being hit by other skiers. This year on his first day, he was indeed struck hard from behind by another skier and got a concussion. Had he not had the helmet on, he would have likely been hospitalized with a brain injury.
His physical therapist mentioned having a substantial increase in patients who had been injured specifically from being struck by other skiers. Our local online “Nextdoor” has reported other stories about skiers being hit by speeding skiers. One lady was hit so hard, her leg was broken, requiring surgery. The skier who hit her never stopped to see if she was injured. Another report referred to a skier who ran into multiple people on a single run. Some locals have even given up skiing at Purg altogether because of this.
Purgatory needs to do something to stop this. It seems little is being done to alleviate this hazard. There appears to be a lack of Ski Patrol up there. These idiot speeding skiers should be caught and held, and not only banned from skiing there, but made legally liable for assault and the injuries they have caused to others. Purgatory should be made accountable as well for allowing this unsafe situation to continue and get worse.
Like its namesake, Purgatory has indeed become a hellish place to ski.
Kathy Turner
Durango
