Nagano ski resort to bill 3 lost snowboarders for rescue
NAGANO —
A ski resort in Nagano Prefecture will ask three snowboarders who became lost and spent Monday night in the mountains near Nozawa Onsen ski resort, to pay for the cost of their rescue.
On Monday afternoon, the three snowboarders—a 44-year-old man, his 35-year-old wife and a 38-year-old female acquaintance—ignored signs asking snowboarders to stay on designated courses and became lost, NHK reported. The three were unhurt when they were found on Tuesday morning about one kilometer from the resort.
A ski resort official said the trio went under a rope and made their way into an off-limits area. He said the resort has put up many signs warning snowboaders and skiers about the danger of going off designated courses, NHK reported.
Since 2010, the village has enforced an ordinance under which any skier or snowboarder who ignores warning signs and gets lost has to pay for the costs of their rescue.
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0
Seawolf
Saw it on TV last night. While I would agree in most cases, these persons (one man, two women in their 30s-40s) looked well prepared, helmets and snow shoes with them. Did they actually wanted to be rescued? Or did they think it to be safer to return the next day?
3
sillygirl
they ignored warning signs
0
some14some
how much?
-5
mitoguitarman
This is SOP around the world. No big news here. Move along, move along, nothing to see.
-2
Elbuda Mexicano
These 3 stooges are just lucky they did not freeze to death!!!
0
Elvensilvan
I didn't see the news, but how did the resort know this group was lost?
0
Wanda-kun
Not nearly enough details in the article (surprise!). But there are a few universal issues with an situation like this.
The first is the stated ages of the boarders. In general, the Japanese don't pursue snow sports with much regularity. Ski Magazine years ago decided that for one to be considered a real skier that they must put in at least 7 days are year. Same would apply for snow boarders. Simple to accomplish in NA but few Japanese, unless living near an area, manage that many days a year.
Unless the rescued all live in Nagano, I doubt that at their ages that they were avid boarders or they would have known where they were going (by probably having ducked the rope before) and could have hiked out. My goodness, they were less than a mile from the base area! ("Go into the light!")
Second, the article makes no mention of whether they had avalanche equipment with them (shovels, probes, Avalungs, transponders), the possession of which is neither here nor there - when you've ducked the rope you've broken the area's rules. But having had that equipment would have suggested some familiarity with the precautions typically taken by sensible back- and sidecountry skiers and riders.
Japan is about 20-years behind the West in ski area management and avalanche science and control. Much of the terrain beyond the ropes in Japan isn't even prone to avalanches (there really isn't all that much double diamond "riding" in Japan to begin with) or are closed off because the areas are poorly managed and they simply don't want to pay for extra patrol staff.
Here in the States many areas (not all) are now charging when rescuing people who go beyond the ropes. I think it's perfectly legitimate as the mobilization for this is intense and can be expensive. And, depending on the area, if you are a season pass holder, you get this pulled.
0
sakurala
I am glad that they will have to pay for their own rescue. Hopefully it will deter others from doing the same. In my home town, we have a huge ski hill (now resort) and their are always some people that go out of bounds and have to be found before they do something stupid like cause an avalanche or unknowingly ride off a cliff. Their have been deaths because of people ignoring the rules. I am not sure how bad the terrain is at the hill that these boarders got lost, but they should have used their snowshoes and followed their train back to where they came from.
-2
Hategobo
Perhaps if people who take part in hazardous sports such as this, sailing, leaping canyons on bikes etc were required to have an Insurance policy to cover any cost of rescue , and being presented with the bill was the norm, they might be more likely to take more care to protect their premiums. The Insurance industry would soon find a way of not paying if they discovered that their policy holders had been negligent. It would also save money for the local communities afflicted with these popular tourist resorts. Ignoring warning signs would equate with drink driving making policy null and void.
-2
MaboDofuIsSpicy
I would claim drunkenness and not wanting to be rescued.
0
jojo_in_japan
I guess you've never read the disclaimer on back of ski ticket prohibiting those under the influence of alcohol?
1
timeon
on the slopes I've been to, they announce every 30 minutes or so that getting off limits will cost you to be rescued. nevertheless, hordes of snowboarders do it, as they do many other stupid things they believe it's cool. I say fine them before getting lost. wonder why almost no skiers do the same
0
Darren Brannan
This is just common sense.
0
jforce
They are very lucky to be alive. At this point in the season the base is not safe, especially in the trees. Being strapped to a snowboard is tough when you're not experienced and going into dangerous areas. Nagano patrol are pretty lax, and I'm happy to see them stepping up the penalties.
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