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#1
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
I just ran across an item about a young rollerskier in Maine who got
killed rollerskiing (I believe it happened last month). At the same time, I saw a Len Johnson post that Bjorn Dhaelie's ski career was ended by a rollerski accident. Len makes a convincing case that we all need breaks and speed reducers (along with helmet and visibility vest). I'm curious though, if there is any objective data on how dangerous a sport rollerskiing is. Seems like I hear about one U.S. death a year. There just can't be that many people who rollerski regularly, so I'm not sure that I'm comforted by the idea that that's a low number compared with byciclists, etc. Jon |
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#2
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
If you get enough responses here, perhaps, you can come up with your
own statistics? I would think the risks are comparable to road cycling. I.e. there is risk of getting but it's not as insane as base jumping. When I used to rollerski regularly (may be ~4-6 hrs a week?) I would have about 1-2 crashes per season. Those were only deep bruises, no bones broken. Most of them have left deep scars. I was a relatively conservative rollerskier, i.e. no 50 mph decents. Most crashes occurred while traveling ~10 - 15 mph and were caused by stumbling on a rock or catching my own pole. Sure, people get killed, and we sure hear about it. People also get killed road cycling, m.biking etc. Many road cyclists' careers were destroyed/delayed by crashes. On Aug 29, 6:25*pm, Jon wrote: I just ran across an item about a young rollerskier in Maine who got killed rollerskiing (I believe it happened last month). *At the same time, I saw a Len Johnson post that Bjorn Dhaelie's ski career was ended by a rollerski accident. * Len makes a convincing case that we all need breaks and speed reducers (along with helmet and visibility vest). I'm curious though, if there is any objective data on how dangerous a sport rollerskiing is. *Seems like I hear about one U.S. death a year. There just can't be that many people who rollerski regularly, so I'm not sure that I'm comforted by the idea that that's a low number compared with byciclists, etc. Jon |
#3
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
btw I concur with Len on the necessity of helmets. Speeds reducers
help in hilly terrain and I think work best with inflatable wheels. For rail-to-trails flatland rollerskiing (or slightly hilly terrain in an area which I am very well familiar with) I like lighter weight rollerskis with no speed reducers. |
#4
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
On Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:25:13 -0700 (PDT), Jon
wrote: Len makes a convincing case that we all need breaks and speed reducers (along with helmet and visibility vest). Yeah, Daelhie hurt his back, so a helmet is important. |
#5
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
On Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:00:18 -0700 (PDT), runcyclexcski
wrote: When I used to rollerski regularly (may be ~4-6 hrs a week?) I would have about 1-2 crashes per season. Those were only deep bruises, no bones broken. Most of them have left deep scars. I was a relatively conservative rollerskier, i.e. no 50 mph decents. Most crashes occurred while traveling ~10 - 15 mph and were caused by stumbling on a rock or catching my own pole. Sure, people get killed, and we sure hear about it. People also get killed road cycling, m.biking etc. Many road cyclists' careers were destroyed/delayed by crashes. In terms of minor injuries, I am doubtful cycling is anywhere nearly as dangerous. Apart from racing, I almost never crash or hurt myself -- maybe not in ten or more years of riding 500+ hours a year. And maybe one crash every two or three years of 40 races/year. I'm certainly a much more skilled cyclist than rollerskier, but on a bike there is all sorts of stuff that is non-issue that is tricky to ski over: small rocks, gravel etc. |
#6
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
I skate rollerski with the slowest wheels possible on a relatively
flat 2 mile park loop closed to road traffic. No speed reducers but I never get faster than 10 mph. I don't wear a helmet but based on the times I've fallen due to trip-ups or the occasional unseen small obstacle, I do wear armored shorts that protect the coccyx and the hips and I do wear elbow pads. These are areas I've landed on in the past. Chris |
#7
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
That's a good point about Minor/Medium-Minor injuries being the main
problem. I still haven't overcome a wrist injury from roller-skiing that prevents me from playing tennis (happened 10 years ago). I forgot to ask specifically about Jenex's brakes (i.e., does anyone have experience with them? Heavy?). I can see, theoretically, that being able to stop quickly could avoid a catastrophic collision, but most of my close calls have been when a small stone causes a fall (by instantly locking up the front wheel) during a ski with traffic. (This happened to me on the roads around Waterville Valley, which seem to becoming more popular for rollerskiing, even though they seem dangerous, in terms of traffic, to me. Ditto to the road in the Mtn. Washington Valley.) |
#8
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
Short of someone in vehicle or on bicyle not paying attention or
deliberately coming after you, rollerskiing is usually as dangerous as you make it. I've found the most dangerous places to rollerski are shared trails with bikes and rollerbladers, since typically more than 50% of cyclists don't call out or make dangerous silent passes, sometimes without even cutting their speed. I say trails because rollerskiers tend to choose less traveled roads and be extra cautious and aware on any road. In addition, trails can be cleared along the way and speed adjusted (In the Twin Cities, there was a shared hill trail I often swept before starting). Still, there are distracted or sun-blinded drivers traveling too fast for conditions, and those we sometimes read about. The key is to choose terrain, wheel speed and trail/road type and traffic to match your abilities, nerves and training needs. Brakes are helpful where they are needed. Helmets are most helpful when and where the chance of landing on one's head in an accident is highest. That could be a fall or being hit. Most skin-cut injuries are to fingers, elbows, hands, knees and rear/hips. Probably as many if not more injuries are internal - elbows, wrists, shoulders, back. Gene On Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:25:13 -0700 (PDT) Jon wrote: I just ran across an item about a young rollerskier in Maine who got killed rollerskiing (I believe it happened last month). At the same time, I saw a Len Johnson post that Bjorn Dhaelie's ski career was ended by a rollerski accident. Len makes a convincing case that we all need breaks and speed reducers (along with helmet and visibility vest). I'm curious though, if there is any objective data on how dangerous a sport rollerskiing is. Seems like I hear about one U.S. death a year. There just can't be that many people who rollerski regularly, so I'm not sure that I'm comforted by the idea that that's a low number compared with byciclists, etc. Jon |
#10
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So Just How Dangerous is Roller-Skiing?
On Aug 30, 9:52*pm, wrote:
I should have said that rollerskis with brakes are helpful if you choose terrain or streets where they are needed. *I've avoided such terrain for the past several years and learned to control speed by stopping or slowing before the downhill, using the snowplow, standing up to increase resistance, learning to stop with a telemark type stance on the side of the trail, and to break up a scary downhill when a side road offers bail out (or walk). Gene On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:46:48 -0600 wrote: Short of someone in vehicle or on bicyle not paying attention or deliberately coming after you, rollerskiing is usually as dangerous as you make it. *I've found the most dangerous places to rollerski are shared trails with bikes and rollerbladers, since typically more than 50% of cyclists don't call out or make dangerous silent passes, sometimes without even cutting their speed. I say trails because rollerskiers tend to choose less traveled roads and be extra cautious and aware on any road. *In addition, trails can be cleared along the way and speed adjusted (In the Twin Cities, there was a shared hill trail I often swept before starting). Still, there are distracted or sun-blinded drivers traveling too fast for conditions, and those we sometimes read about. The key is to choose terrain, wheel speed and trail/road type and traffic to match your abilities, nerves and training needs. *Brakes are helpful where they are needed. *Helmets are most helpful when and where the chance of landing on one's head in an accident is highest. That could be a fall or being hit. *Most skin-cut injuries are to fingers, elbows, hands, knees and rear/hips. Probably as many if not more injuries are internal - elbows, wrists, shoulders, back. * Gene On Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:25:13 -0700 (PDT) Jon wrote: I just ran across an item about a young rollerskier in Maine who got killed rollerskiing (I believe it happened last month). *At the same time, I saw a Len Johnson post that Bjorn Dhaelie's ski career was ended by a rollerski accident. * Len makes a convincing case that we all need breaks and speed reducers (along with helmet and visibility vest). I'm curious though, if there is any objective data on how dangerous a sport rollerskiing is. *Seems like I hear about one U.S. death a year. There just can't be that many people who rollerski regularly, so I'm not sure that I'm comforted by the idea that that's a low number compared with byciclists, etc. Jon A risk reduction tip I picked up at an XC Oregon camp is to roll on a park path next to a grass lawn. If you have to bail because a rock lock-up or not being able to slow, you can run/jog off onto the grass with your skis slowing to a standing stop. And if you don't stay upright, grass is a lot more forgiving than pavement. Edgar |
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