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hi_vis360
November, 2024

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Ski damaged due to Park Crew negligence

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Getshifty
Posts: 347 - Karma: 2,126
Hey guys, so I was at the Woodward Mt Bachelor park trying this challenge rail which ended up severely damaging one of my skis and was hoping to get some advice on the best course of action. I've attached a video that shows when it happened, a close up of the rail setup, and the damage to the ski. I think it obvious that it was built in a way that wasn't safe or ridable at all, and unfortunately I didn't notice the offset of the second rail until it happened. I talked to the park crew manager after it happened, gave him the same videos and explained the situation. He said he would talk to his higher-up and see if I could get compensated, but in the end he said they can't do anything but offered to try and fix the ski.

Do you guys think the ski is even fixable? Also I understand there's an inherent risk to riding park and having your gear get damaged, but I feel like in this scenario it was easily avoidable if park crew had built the feature correctly or closed it until it was safe to ride. I'm a college student with not alot of money and was hoping to have those skis last till the end of the season.

Bit of a rant and maybe there's nothing I can do but just sucks to have that happen when it wasn't really your fault, especially at a place like Woodward where you would think they would build quality features. But anyways, what do you guys think I should do?

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch
Mar 17 2024 12:51PM
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Getshifty
Posts: 347 - Karma: 2,126
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1089713/My-Movie-3-mp4
Mar 17 2024 12:52PM
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21CABBAGE
Posts: 236 - Karma: 1,419
That sucks, but none you can do about it. hopefully they fix that before it happens again
Mar 17 2024 1:38PM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
Honestly it really sucks when something like that happens and it’s probably not what you want to hear but but I don’t think they are gonna cover any costs for that incident. I’ve had a similar situation happen to me in the past where I snapped my ski on a pvc setup at my local hill but I think at the end of the day when it comes to equipment damage the responsability falls on the skiier side most of the time, especially in the park because as soon as you slide on a rail or something like that your warranty is pretty much done.

hey, at least you got a good excuse to buy new skis!
Mar 17 2024 1:47PM
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mrk127
Posts: 1804 - Karma: 16,328
Nah don’t put that on park crew. Yes that rail was set wrong but it’s the skiers responsibility to check the features too. I hit that rail first day after the set and noticed that too. Park crew already reset and fixed the dfd

but rest in peace those ON3Ps 😭
Mar 17 2024 2:56PM
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Static
Posts: 8558 - Karma: 4,118
This is 100% on you dude, It's never going to be perfect when you're butting two rails up against each other.

That'd be like somebody not making a transfer and blaming the part crew that they weren't connected. People like you that bitch about shit make it harder for cool things to be built.
Mar 17 2024 3:11PM
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Getshifty
Posts: 347 - Karma: 2,126
StaticThis is 100% on you dude, It's never going to be perfect when you're butting two rails up against each other.

That'd be like somebody not making a transfer and blaming the part crew that they weren't connected. People like you that bitch about shit make it harder for cool things to be built.

I don’t disagree with what you are saying, on a transfer or something similar that makes sense. The gripe I have with that setup is they offset the dfd to the left, and to last curve of the s curves to the left too. Which if you’re sliding the rail to the end it’s practically impossible not to catch it as you have to lean into the last curve. I shoulda just scoped it before I hit it
Mar 17 2024 3:17PM
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Getshifty
Posts: 347 - Karma: 2,126
mrk127Nah don’t put that on park crew. Yes that rail was set wrong but it’s the skiers responsibility to check the features too. I hit that rail first day after the set and noticed that too. Park crew already reset and fixed the dfd

but rest in peace those ON3Ps 😭

Ya facts, I’m just sad about those skis they had allot of sentimental value to me lol
Mar 17 2024 3:18PM
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CatdickBojangles
Posts: 6203 - Karma: 62,979
Paging everyone’s favorite customer service agent @skierman
Mar 17 2024 4:19PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
That sucks but it’s the risk we all take when we enter any park. If it was warm could have shifted from people leaning the opposite way which is probably what happened since it’s a s rail. If it’s a small local spot that’s janky it’s to be expected but large parks like woodward or well known places should have noted it especially since features get raked multiple times a day normally. I’m assuming it’s going to go along the lines of you assume all risk sorry we can’t help you. However that thing looks pretty messed up so they may give you something it’s worth a shot.
Mar 17 2024 4:30PM
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 11,367
this whole thing is a bummer. They did sort of set you up for failure (assuming the rail didn’t shift unexpectedly) but I really doubt they’ll compensate you in any way. If they do, however, big shoutout to them! Interested to see how this plays out. Keep us posted
Mar 17 2024 5:13PM
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BallClapper
Posts: 2938 - Karma: 12,203
CatdickBojanglesPaging everyone’s favorite customer service agent @skierman


Ah fuck.
Mar 17 2024 6:20PM
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Christian_Bale
Posts: 1962 - Karma: 21,953
bennwithtwonsThey did sort of set you up for failure (assuming the rail didn’t shift unexpectedly)

i think they set it up assuming your weight is gonna be toward the inside of the curve, which makes sense to me but its also not surprising that this happened
Mar 17 2024 6:59PM
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Christian_Bale
Posts: 1962 - Karma: 21,953
Genuinely sucks that this happened. If they compensated you it would be a precedent for other people asking for compensation for wrecking their skis in the park. Whenever you ride a park you're assuming all responsibility for what happens to your skis. From what i can tell, it's not in their interest to compensate you nor are they obligated to. It's nice that they offered to fix the ski. I'm far from an expert in ski repair but I think they can be rideable again, minus the edge.
Mar 17 2024 7:06PM
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scratchskier321
Posts: 2579 - Karma: 1,340
not negligence, its just park skiing. actually your fault not assessing the risk properly.
Mar 17 2024 7:29PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 20,779
Gonna disagree with everyone and say that should have 100% been caught by hand crew during opening rake and closed until they could fix it, that’s an absurd amount of offset especially for the inside of an S rail. I’d expect better from a Woodward park. That said op should have also inspected the rail so it’s not an immediate case closed type deal though




**This post was edited on Mar 17th 2024 at 7:37:07pm
Mar 17 2024 7:35PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7501 - Karma: 36,313
a_burgerGonna disagree with everyone and say that should have 100% been caught by hand crew during opening rake and closed until they could fix it, that’s an absurd amount of offset especially for the inside of an S rail. I’d expect better from a Woodward park. That said op should have also inspected the rail so it’s not an immediate case closed type deal though




**This post was edited on Mar 17th 2024 at 7:37:07pm

yea I think it's kinda wild that everyone seems to be putting no blame on Park Crew. That is not set well at all and it doesn't look like shit is melting so would be surprised if it shifted.
That being said I would call it a learning experience and deal with it myself. Complaints like this have potential to make higher ups freak out and go overboard with cautionary measures. You are also responsible to check features before hitting them, I only do that if stuff looks sketchy can't say I would have or not for this combo rail.
Mar 17 2024 7:48PM
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JmckR
Posts: 1282 - Karma: 5,905
I would 100% be contacting head office at Woodward... just be polite, you don't get if you don't ask and you've got nothing to lose by asking
Mar 17 2024 9:03PM
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bingingboulders
Posts: 52 - Karma: 124
woodward moment
Mar 17 2024 9:12PM
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Getshifty
Posts: 347 - Karma: 2,126
TOAST.yea I think it's kinda wild that everyone seems to be putting no blame on Park Crew. That is not set well at all and it doesn't look like shit is melting so would be surprised if it shifted.
That being said I would call it a learning experience and deal with it myself. Complaints like this have potential to make higher ups freak out and go overboard with cautionary measures. You are also responsible to check features before hitting them, I only do that if stuff looks sketchy can't say I would have or not for this combo rail.


Ya for sure a learning experience, and definitely not trying to cause higher ups to freak out. Seems more like a lapse of diligence by park crew if anything. I say that because it happened at 3:15pm, meaning they raked the lip of that feature twice and didn't notice it. If you look at their instagram they posted a clip of the setup after they built it, and you can see the offset in that too: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4iyyKLRAEb/



I will say I've been riding Bachelor Parks for the past 8 years and I can't remember a previous time where they've built a feature with such a serious flaw like that.
Mar 17 2024 10:26PM
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mrk127
Posts: 1804 - Karma: 16,328
CatdickBojanglesPaging everyone’s favorite customer service agent @skierman



Mar 18 2024 2:38AM
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5072 - Karma: 51,470
I think you’re both to blame for this one, park crew should’ve set that better but you should’ve looked at the feature more closely before hitting it, especially considering how big of a feature that is
Mar 18 2024 6:51AM
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darthlobster603
Posts: 102 - Karma: 928
unfortunately, as stated before, this sort of thing usually always falls on the rider. this day in age, every decent park has a disclaimer somewhere saying you assume all risk just by entering the park and you have a waiver agreement on the back of your pass. Being that this is woodward im sure they have this disclaimer in full view in five different places between the parking lot and the first feature. always do a drive by and check out features before you hit them, especially if its multiple rails or a new setup etc.

as far as the skis, since its underfoot on a park ski you can probably find a shop to repair them. they might bone you on labor but some heat and epoxy can at least get you taken care of until you sell enough feet pics to get another pair of mangos.
Mar 18 2024 7:33AM
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Mainah
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,106
a_burgerGonna disagree with everyone and say that should have 100% been caught by hand crew during opening rake and closed until they could fix it, that’s an absurd amount of offset especially for the inside of an S rail. I’d expect better from a Woodward park. That said op should have also inspected the rail so it’s not an immediate case closed type deal though




**This post was edited on Mar 17th 2024 at 7:37:07pm


Was hoping you saw this. I was reading it thinking I'm pretty sure we replaced a kids board when he ran into the front of a tube thinking it was a ride on feature and trashed it back in like 2019. I remember thinking that was BS when it happened and he should have known... but this thread is definitely not like that. An offset like that on a challenge rail is putting the "look before you leap" bar a little too high - especially for a woodward park. You wouldn't even notice that skiing by it unless you stopped and really got close. I'm on team OP dude I would want new sticks for that. Also as someone who made a living fixing skis, that ski is not fixable.
Mar 18 2024 9:12AM
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Zteezegod
Posts: 128 - Karma: 713
Rip the skis but idk if that’s full on park crew but that sucks dude sorry
Mar 18 2024 9:31AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7831 - Karma: 22,009
a_burgerGonna disagree with everyone and say that should have 100% been caught by hand crew during opening rake and closed until they could fix it, that’s an absurd amount of offset especially for the inside of an S rail. I’d expect better from a Woodward park. That said op should have also inspected the rail so it’s not an immediate case closed type deal though




**This post was edited on Mar 17th 2024 at 7:37:07pm


I 100% agree with this. No way I would have let that open if I was on that park crew. Glad you didn't get hurt OP. That ski is for sure fixable though!
Mar 18 2024 11:55AM
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silent_giraffe
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 2,116
Happened to me on an up flat at Breck 5 years ago, but the flat was only a quarter inch above the end of the up so it wasn't easily noticeable. They didn't replace the skis or anything, but it is always a good idea to let park crew know. That S rail is so far off tho and on the inside of the S, pretty lame and dangerous. Probably legally not park crew's fault, but they know deep down they fugged up.
Mar 18 2024 12:17PM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
My 2c is that this was clearly an accident, and could've been prevented by either park crew checking their work or you checking features before you hit them. Letting park crew know is definitely the move (so they can fix it) but I personally wouldn't ask for compensation here.

As far as fixing the ski goes, that ski will never be the same again but that doesn't mean its completely trashed. Tognar sells replacement edge sections and screws (plus has a video on how to use them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzC4kj7-HX4) BUT you're pretty much doing full on ski surgery and this will be a lot of cutting, filing, sanding, clamping and filing again to get anything that looks halfway decent
Mar 18 2024 12:42PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12518 - Karma: 116,303
Too much of the performance enhancing drug went around the park crew
Mar 18 2024 1:02PM
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3632 - Karma: -12,064
StaticThis is 100% on you dude, It's never going to be perfect when you're butting two rails up against each other.

That'd be like somebody not making a transfer and blaming the part crew that they weren't connected. People like you that bitch about shit make it harder for cool things to be built.


how is a dfd being offset from an s rail by about 3 inches "cool"
Mar 18 2024 2:00PM
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1831 - Karma: 19,041
As someone who works park crew, this definitely should have been caught by the crew and closed, especially if it was at the end of the day. Getting compensation or anything prolly wont happen but you're definitely gonna get that park crew in hot water if you go to the higher ups.

As for the ski, that shits definitely fixable. Not gonna be mint but they have plenty of life. I had a similar thing happen on a challenge tube last year and fixed it. This thread is basically what you need https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/How-Fix-Broken-Edge, I didnt follow every step but gives you a good general idea of how to do the repair.
Mar 18 2024 2:58PM
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skierman
Posts: 8360 - Karma: 7,499
LOL one less insta-swerve jackass in the park. Good job, park crew!
Mar 18 2024 3:25PM
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skiermen
Posts: 134 - Karma: 927
You are a jibbing Karen. Not kore.
Mar 18 2024 3:26PM
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EvanMeyer
Posts: 3822 - Karma: 3,454
Eh I wouldn’t necessarily blame park crew you still went to hit the feature. bach park crew is pretty notorious for setting up rail features poorly though. Flat to rainbow setup last year had a bad offset that worked me on my first lap
Mar 18 2024 9:05PM
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percs
Posts: 2280 - Karma: 5,793
Op i think asking newschoolers to crowd fund new skis isnt a bad idea. Ill throw 5$ for this unfornuate situation. whats your cashapp or venmo?
Mar 18 2024 10:43PM
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michael_bc
Posts: 1388 - Karma: 733
Those rails aren't continuous. Even if they had been aligned perfectly there would still be potential damage if you don't skip. I wouldn't blame the park crew - but maybe take them up on their offer to try to fix the ski.

Either way, damage is always more likely when riding rails. Clamp with component glue and just trash the skis more during spring sessions.
Mar 19 2024 5:58AM
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WoFIowz
Posts: 9791 - Karma: 72,402
Skis are fucked beyond repair. Mail them to me. I'll dispose of them for you.
Mar 19 2024 7:28AM
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skyhigheli
Posts: 19 - Karma: 144
get a heat gun, epoxy, clamps, and a small piece of wood.

first, pull any broken pieces of edge out, heat the base material up with the heat gun, fill it with epoxy, clamp the wood to the base to keep it flush with the rest of the base, leave it for a day and hope for the best
Mar 19 2024 9:05AM
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1831 - Karma: 19,041
skyhigheliget a heat gun, epoxy, clamps, and a small piece of wood.

first, pull any broken pieces of edge out, heat the base material up with the heat gun, fill it with epoxy, clamp the wood to the base to keep it flush with the rest of the base, leave it for a day and hope for the best


one of my skis is currently in this exact process lol. Sitting in my vice sandwiched with a block of wood. Tho this was for some sidewall separation. Whats the purpose for the heat gun? I've never done that step/dont own a heat gun
Mar 19 2024 9:55AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7831 - Karma: 22,009
Dlonettione of my skis is currently in this exact process lol. Sitting in my vice sandwiched with a block of wood. Tho this was for some sidewall separation. Whats the purpose for the heat gun? I've never done that step/dont own a heat gun


Thorougly dries the area, promotes better adhesion.
Mar 19 2024 10:58AM
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1831 - Karma: 19,041
skiP.E.I.Thorougly dries the area, promotes better adhesion.


hm maybe I'll use a blowdryer or something next time lol
Mar 19 2024 11:01AM
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EvanMeyer
Posts: 3822 - Karma: 3,454
EvanMeyerEh I wouldn’t necessarily blame park crew you still went to hit the feature. bach park crew is pretty notorious for setting up rail features poorly though. Flat to rainbow setup last year had a bad offset that worked me on my first lap


forgot to add that if you bring your skis to the tune shop at bach I’ll hook you up on a repair job. just will need a few days to do it, I work Friday-Mondays.
Mar 19 2024 12:37PM
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C.R.E.A.M
Posts: 2987 - Karma: 4,577
Here is an idea:

Find a B rate personal injury attorney who will take your case for free. Sue the mountain and allege that you suffered personal injury AND material damage to your skis. Don't settle and take it all the way to court where your attorney can rack up a huge legal bill for Mt. Bachelor's terrible park crew that personally set that rail up to fuck you.

THEN, once you win your case the mountain will take the entire park crew out back and dispose of them, and never set up a park again out of fear some underpaid park crew might set it up wrong again. Your B rate attorney will take 90% of the winnings since you had no money to cover them in the first place, and you'll get a couple bucks and can enjoy skiing with no park whatsoever.

Jokes aside, take this experience as a lesson and pre ride the park before you hit it. Pretty sure there is a sign at the top of every park explaining the steps to safely ride park with a clever acronym or something. You're lucky it's just your ski that got damaged. Stay safe out there.
Mar 19 2024 12:57PM
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1831 - Karma: 19,041
C.R.E.A.MHere is an idea:

Find a B rate personal injury attorney who will take your case for free. Sue the mountain and allege that you suffered personal injury AND material damage to your skis. Don't settle and take it all the way to court where your attorney can rack up a huge legal bill for Mt. Bachelor's terrible park crew that personally set that rail up to fuck you.

THEN, once you win your case the mountain will take the entire park crew out back and dispose of them, and never set up a park again out of fear some underpaid park crew might set it up wrong again. Your B rate attorney will take 90% of the winnings since you had no money to cover them in the first place, and you'll get a couple bucks and can enjoy skiing with no park whatsoever.

Jokes aside, take this experience as a lesson and pre ride the park before you hit it. Pretty sure there is a sign at the top of every park explaining the steps to safely ride park with a clever acronym or something. You're lucky it's just your ski that got damaged. Stay safe out there.

pre ride, re ride, free ride? Ive seen that at bike parks but never actually looked at a sign in a terrain park lol
Mar 19 2024 2:41PM
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1055 - Karma: 5,797
rip.
Mar 19 2024 3:05PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 5,748
for what's it's worth, you were looking good on the rail til then!
Let us know what happens. As stated above, you have nothing to lose by contacting the mountain/park. Just be polite. Ask if they knew the challenge rail was a bit offset the other day... and ask what they would do if they were you... (question based selling is a serious life hack)

But scope that shit next time! Ultimately it's on you. You also have nothing to lose from trying to fix the ski. Maybe they'd even help you at the factory if you ask...

**This post was edited on Mar 19th 2024 at 11:21:02pm
Mar 19 2024 11:20PM
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HeathR
Posts: 4359 - Karma: 1,382
That sucks. The T&Cs you accepted when buying your ticket means the resort doesn't have to do anything. However, park crew should have seen that when they first set the feature (if it didn't tip from use), on the the daily morning inspection, and during the day. You can write it into your T&Cs but you can't really expect people to check every single feature before they ride it. That's one of the reasons why we have park crew.

From a Mountain Managers perspective. If it's our fuckup I will always cover gear fixes even if we don't technically have to. It's just the right thing to do. Over the years most of these were from screws that have popped up. This is pretty rare, and we always try to do the repairs ourselves. We have had to replace one board because it was unrepairable. Long term the cost to the resort is fuck all.
Mar 20 2024 3:28PM
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deac
Posts: 820 - Karma: 3,741
on bachelors ig they had posted that rail and zoomed in on the fucking on the end of s rail where it doesnt meet properly they knew just didnt give enough fucks to fix it
Mar 20 2024 4:52PM
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skyhigheli
Posts: 19 - Karma: 144
Dlonettione of my skis is currently in this exact process lol. Sitting in my vice sandwiched with a block of wood. Tho this was for some sidewall separation. Whats the purpose for the heat gun? I've never done that step/dont own a heat gun


Someone mentioned that it dies it out and promotes adhesion which is correct. I also like it when the sidewall and base are deformed like in this case, it makes the base and sidewall a lot more playable so that you can bend them back to the desired position. When you heat up the base it will push back into place a lot easier.
Mar 21 2024 10:24AM
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mrk127
Posts: 1804 - Karma: 16,328
deke_skion bachelors ig they had posted that rail and zoomed in on the fucking on the end of s rail where it doesnt meet properly they knew just didnt give enough fucks to fix it


Wut they fixed the rail right away. I think I was only set wrong for one day. The rail is perfect now
Mar 21 2024 12:36PM
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b0ss
Posts: 796 - Karma: 6,275
Thats a feature not a bug. Always inspect and prerun.
Mar 23 2024 9:59AM
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