o Skiing Races

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Sporting activities were an important part of Lilliland’s attractiveness to vacationers. Sailing, hiking, skiing and horseback riding were all very popular.

The Baron, in meeting with his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, and his fiancée, Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, discussed ways to keep the outdoor sports interesting and safe for everyone to enjoy.

The ski slopes were both attractive and inviting. Sometimes a novice skier tried to over extend his abilities and act in a competitive way such as racing a friend or two to the bottom of the run. When they took chances, they often misjudged a turn or slope and ended up running into a tree. Broken bones resulted and the skier’s vacation came to a quick halt.

To avoid any such catastrophic results, ski racing was discouraged. Skiing was strictly for fun and outdoor enjoyment. Showoffs were quickly spotted by the alert ski patrol. They received a warning for the first infraction and if a second warning was needed, they were asked to leave the slopes for the rest of the day.

The Baron said, “While we don’t want to be accused of spoiling people’s fun and act like Father Protector, we do want people to enjoy every day of their vacation. Nothing is sadder than to learn of a person who had planned to spend an entire week skiing, only to have a mishap and have to be hospitalized with a serious injury.”

There were three ski runs; the first was for beginners, the second was for the average skier, and the third was for the advanced skier. Most skiers were first checked out on the first run and then usually told to stay on the second run. The third run was usually where the most accidents occurred. Skiing instruction was available free of charge for everyone.

The Baron felt that no matter how many safety precautions were in place, skiing accidents would occur, but it was important to keep them to a minimum. When accidents did occur, excellent medical attention was close at hand.

Fun and safety were what the Baron wished for everyone.