While skiing is considered a safer sport than many other forms of winter recreation, it’s still a dangerous activity. Between 1950 and 2018, there were 476 fatalities recorded in the United States alone. That makes skiing the fourth-deadliest sport behind only motorcycling, snowboarding, and water sports. The risk of death increases significantly with every decade of a skier’s life. In fact, one out of every five deaths on American skis occurs to people between the ages of five and nineteen.
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The Numbers Don’t Lie
The most concerning statistic to come from the American Association of Retired Persons (A.A.R.P.) is that one out of every five ski-related deaths occurs to people aged between five and nineteen. That makes it the demographic with the highest risk of fatal injury from skiing. Overall, the risk of death in the U.S. is about 0.0007%. That’s a seven-fold increase from the risk of death for the general population.
To put that in perspective, consider the annual death toll if all sports were considered together. In 2018, there were 3,366 deaths from all forms of winter recreation in the U.S., making it the most lethal winter sport. The numbers for skiing are as follows:
Fatal Skiing Incidents By Decade
The first recorded fatal ski accident was in 1950, and since then, the risk of dying on the slopes has increased significantly. During the 1970s and 1980s, the ski industry began making significant safety improvements that have reduced the risk of death by 96%. For example, ski helmets, neck protection, and improved ski apparel have all played a role in reducing fatalities. Additionally, more people are skiing than ever before, so more people are getting injured or killed.
The following are the most fatal skiing accidents in U.S. history. The first column shows the year and country of the incident, the second column shows the age of the victims, and the last column shows the number of people that died in the incident.
The Most Fatal Skiing Accidents
The most fatal skiing accident was the 1998 Tyrolean avalanche disaster, which killed 23 people in Italy. In the U.S., the fatality rate for skiing has increased by 77% since 1997. Since 2010, there have been 18 fatalities on the slopes. That’s despite the fact that ski equipment has become more protective and affordable.
Skiing Deaths By Location
According to the A.A.R.P., the risk of death from skiing varies by region. The southern portion of the U.S. has significantly higher rates of mortality than other parts of the country. That’s largely due to the fact that the southern part of the country is closer to the equator than the northern part, so more people are getting hurt by running into trees and other objects on the slopes.
Here are the regions of the country with the highest risk of death from skiing:
The South East
The South-eastern region of the U.S. has the highest rate of mortality due to skiing. It’s largely because of the steep slopes and high elevation of the area. The region has a lot of trees and shrubs, so skiers hit those things harder than they would on a flat surface. That means more injuries and more fatalities.
The West Coast
West of the Mississippi River, the terrain is mostly flat, so the incidence of fatal skiing accidents is relatively low. However, the coast has a lot of hills and mountains, which makes for some exciting skiing. Since 1991, the annual rate of deaths has more than doubled on the West Coast. That’s likely because the population is increasing, people are skiing more, and they’re hitting things harder.
Northern California and the surrounding areas have the highest rates of mortality. Oregon and Washington State have similar rates of death, and the risk is also high in most of the Midwest. The northern part of the country has more forested terrain, which means more places for trees and other objects to hide. That makes it a bit more dangerous compared to other regions.
The Mountain West
The Mountain West has the second-highest rate of mortality due to skiing. It’s mainly because of the large amount of trees and the high elevation of the area. Since the 1970s, the region has seen a large influx of people who want to live a more adventurous lifestyle, so outdoor activities including skiing have increased. However, the risk of death is still high compared to other parts of the country, especially the southern region.
The Far North
The Far North has the third-highest rate of mortality due to skiing. It’s because of the cold and the long winter nights. The region also has some of the most terrifying slopes found anywhere, which means more injuries and more fatalities. Additionally, the area has a lot of steep slopes and high elevation, which makes it more dangerous. That’s not taking into account the biting cold, which can cause hypothermia or otherwise incapacitate a person.
To get a better idea of how dangerous skiing can be, let’s take a look at some of the most memorable fatal accidents. Below, you’ll find a brief history of each event along with a photo (when available) to give you an idea of what happened.
The Chatterbox / Wintergreen Resort
On December 30, 1970, 17-year-old Debbie Chatterbox of New York State was killed in a skiing accident at Wintergreen Resort in Upstate New York. She was skiing with her 14-year-old sister, Kathy, and her brother-in-law, John. The accident happened as they were descending the mountain, when a ski instructor spotted them and shouted “trail braking.” That’s when Debbie lost control of her ski equipment and skied directly into a tree. She suffered head trauma and was declared dead at the scene.
The three other people who died in the accident were John’s parents. Their deaths were also attributed to head trauma.
The following month, 17-year-old Nancy Loughran of Connecticut was killed in a skiing accident at Killington, Vermont. Loughran was also skiing with her younger brother, Steve. Both lost control of their skis and crashed into a tree. Steve suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene. Nancy Loughran died two days later from her injuries. In the weeks and months following the tragedy, people from as far away as Australia sent condolences to the Loughrans’ family, and more than 120,000 people attended the couple’s funerals.
The Ketchum Spill
In 1964, 19-year-old Rick Ketchum of New York State was skiing with a friend on a warm and sunny afternoon at the Ketchum Spill ski resort. While skiing down a gentle slope, Ketchum hit a patch of ice, lost control of his ski equipment, and fell. He suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him comatose. The friend with whom he was skiing witnessed the accident and called for help. After a long period of time in a coma, Ketchum emerged from his vegetative state. Unfortunately, the young man who hit the ice and became comatose was unable to resume his active lifestyle. He died a few years later from pneumonia infection. The Ketchum Spill tragedy is considered one of the the most horrific accidents in the history of American skiing.
The French Alps Disaster
In 1961, 19-year-old French Alps native Georges Nasseri was skiing with a friend at Arpique in the French Alps. While skiing down an intermediate slope, Nasseri slipped on some snow grapes that had been washed down by heavy rain, and he fell. He suffered head trauma and was killed instantly. In the months following the tragic accident, newspapers in France reported on the case, and people made pilgrimages to Arpique to pay their respects to the young man with the stunning alpine views.
This was the beginning of a deadly trend for young Georges. In the years that followed the first accident, Nasseri would suffer multiple skull fractures, suffer massive intracerebral hemorrhaging, and die in each subsequent incident. Arpique’s ski and tourism officials later installed a plaque in the youth’s honor.