Skiing with Tunes -- Good or Bad? - Page 2

I have always found, if your trying to get by someone who is standing blocking a route and they can't hear you asking them politely to move,  a small  accidental pole whack works wonders. Other than that whatever is your choice is fine with me. Earphones help keep bad taste internal. Much better than  cranking the tunes in the parking lot for the enjoyment of all. My own bad taste in music stays in my head. 

I'm a ski with music type.  Single ear-bud on one side only, leaving the other ear open to hear other skiers near by.  And, as stated before - I don't seem to hear the music on the decent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart 

Apparently, in CA it IS illegal to drive or bike with earbuds in.  But, you are OK because one ear is fine, two is illegal hahaha..

 

 

I can't agree more. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeUT 

That's what I'm claiming, yes. Except that I've never skied, so I'd call it my snowboarding life.

Well, Poop, I guess you win then.

I'll stick with my Defensive Driving analogy, tho.  I also always try to remember to glance over my shoulder before cutting to the left or right.  I may not actually DO it every time, but I try to remember to do so.  Skiing/driving defensively won't eliminate collisions, but it will reduce their likelihood. The ability to hear what is going around you is part of that, although I suppose how significant a part could be debated until the cows come home.

I'm just saying it's my own personal preference, since I believe it makes the slopes a wee bit safer.  I'll admit that I think it would be nice if everyone else shared that preference, but I was in no way suggesting any sort of mandate.  To paraphrase Charlton Heston, I don't wish to go so far as to pry anyone's earbuds from their cold, dead hands. 

Edit:  Geez, my 300th post!  This is what happens when one is laid up with a back injury during the summer.  

So I'm a bad person, I love to ski with music. I've got a couple of friends that i leave the music off when with, but I spend more days alone.

The terrain I ski or the weather I ski in, most people don't want to so the music is nice company. Skier code says the skier being overtaken has the right of way, but on cat tracks I am pretty observant (actually far more observant than most people I see whether playing music or not) same on crowded groomers.

Some of the issue here goes back to another thread about how people get mad at skiers who like to make nice big radius turns and won't get out of Mr. Speedy's way. like that is my responsibiltiy to cater to them. I wear a nice big pair of headphones, rather retro, so it is pretty obvious that If you yell at me to get out of your way, you can just stuff it.  Calling out "on your left" does not make it the reponsibility of the skier ahead of you to get out of your way, but it is a courtesy to do so. The music is not super cranked and because I have the music going I do take an extra effort to be aware of the people around me when back in the masses. 

Last but not least, if you watch the idiots on the hill who are not listening to music and are still oblivious to what is going on around them (especially in the lift lines, damn lemmings) listening to tunes is a small factor in the stupid syndrome. 

Dropping down through the spring corn over off of Cow's Face into the trees and gully's with some good music playing, nothing like it in the whole world. There are a few songs that when I hear them at work or something I am instantly back to that spring day or winter blizzard powder, eyes closed and a smile, if at work and the boss see's me he says maybe I ought to do a pee test.   

(P.S. if you whack me with your ski pole from behind I'll shove my fist through your face. That is not something that anyone should ever do)

If you wear one earphone you will hear something but won't be able to identify it directionally as we need stereo for that much like judging speed and distance with 3D vision.

I've witnessed a couple pretty bad catwalk accidents that were caused by someone coming up on another skier then barking commands for them to expect a pass.  When you come up on someone that isn't all that experienced they sometimes panic and over correct.  In a catwalk that can result in serious injury if they veer off in to the woods trying to get out of your way in a panic.  Just like on a trail, the best way to pass someone is to pick a spot where you can swing around them with enough room so as to not impede any possible unexpected move on their part.  You may still startle them some, but at least they are in a comfortable position and you are past them before they realize it. In fact, I will leave the catwalk and go in the woods myself to pass someone on a catwalk rather than make them feel crowded.

I don't care if people listen to music while skiing.  We'd have to ban deaf skiers or make them wear special vests if we want to remove the ear buds or speaker helmets from skiers.

Would those opposed to it be OK if all music listening skiers wear some kind of visible ID so you can steer clear of them just like I suggested for deaf skiers?

Now as for phones and cheezy iDevices on the lifts??  That should be banned hahaha...

Purchased this for next year,seriously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

I like it, from time to time. It is like skiing with my own soundtrack. I use bluetooth headphones (in my helmet) but at a low volume. The headphone design vs. in the ears still allows ambient sounds to be heard. I don't favor in the ear type buds due to the fast that they shut off other sounds. 

Quoting Phil because he and I have used the same blue tooth set up, and with a similar mantra about using it. 

With the Sena Blue Tooth, you don't have the ear buds in your ears, but instead you get an ambient sound, which allows you to hear outside voices, and other sound. 

Beyond that, the Sena has a good intercom system which we used when taking video for MA.  

That being said, I don't tend to use the music much unless I'm having head games.  Then I tend to find something that will get me out of my own head, which works very well. 

Skiing with ear buds or helmet speakers is dangerous to the skiers around you while you are skiing

and irritating to the skiers who get stuck next to you on the lift.

So the missing box to check in the poll is "dangerous for yourself and others"

Quote:

Originally Posted by skejunky 

So I'm a bad person, I love to ski with music.....

 

 

 

 

(P.S. if you whack me with your ski pole from behind I'll shove my fist through your face. That is not something that anyone should ever do)

Let's rock

If you don't give a damn about the skiers around you and you can't hear me ask you to move once, a whack is just what you'll get

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossi Smash 

Skiing with ear buds or helmet speakers is dangerous to the skiers around you while you are skiing

and irritating to the skiers who get stuck next to you on the lift.

 

 

So the missing box to check in the poll is "dangerous for yourself and others"

This logic means car stereos should be outlawed too.  I get it being annoying being in the lift line and someone is oblivious.  Annoying but shouldn't take more than a tap on the shoulder.  I strongly recommend not not whacking me or anyone in my party, especially my daughter though.

Remember, the intent of the downhill skier having the right of way, applies on cat walks too doesn't it.  Because you yell/bark something to me from behind,  whether I hear you or not, doesn't mean I'm require to comply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by L&AirC 

 

This logic means car stereos should be outlawed too.  I get it being annoying being in the lift line and someone is oblivious.  Annoying but shouldn't take more than a tap on the shoulder.  I strongly recommend not not whacking me or anyone in my party, especially my daughter though.

 

Remember, the intent of the downhill skier having the right of way, applies on cat walks too doesn't it.  Because you yell/bark something to me from behind,  whether I hear you or not, doesn't mean I'm require to comply.

I love this attitude.

"whether I hear you or not, doesn't mean I'm required to comply" 

Quote:

Originally Posted by L&AirC 

 

This logic means car stereos should be outlawed too. 

 

Car stereos are outlawed at certain ludicrous volumes.  Though deaf people are allowed to drive, music/noise inside a vehicle can not exceed the driver's ability to hear the sirens of emergency vehicles over it.  Ear buds are illegal while driving or biking in some states, but I did confirm that CA bans two but not one ear bud while driving.

So, there is precedent for banning some forms of music in the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossi Smash 

Skiing with ear buds or helmet speakers is dangerous to the skiers around you while you are skiing

and irritating to the skiers who get stuck next to you on the lift.

 

 

So the missing box to check in the poll is "dangerous for yourself and others"

While I tend to agree about ear buds, because I have a difficult time hearing anything but the sound in the ear bud when its "in" my ear, I would like to suggest that.....

Skiing with  helmet speakers "may be" dangerous to skiers around you while you're skiing, and can be irritating to skiers who get stuck next to you on the lift, when used irresponsibly and/or at a loud volume. 

Trust me when I say, I have no problem being social on the lift, even when I have the blue tooth speakers turned on, and I have no problem hearing skier traffic noise with the low volume that my speakers are on, on the rare occasion that I use them. 

Of course, you'll never use the Sena Blue tooth because you'll never wear a helmet. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossi Smash 

Skiing with ear buds or helmet speakers is dangerous to the skiers around you while you are skiing

and irritating to the skiers who get stuck next to you on the lift.

 

 

So the missing box to check in the poll is "dangerous for yourself and others"

It's actually not. What's dangerous is skiers expecting that everyone in front of them can hear them as they pass unsafely.

As for it being annoying on the lift, people talking on the lift can be pretty annoying too, depending on what they're talking about. It might annoy some people if they have a coughing or sneezing episode, too.  Expecting them to stop to make you more comfortable is pretty self absorbed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossi Smash 

 

Let's rock

 

If you don't give a damn about the skiers around you and you can't hear me ask you to move once, a whack is just what you'll get

So it's unsafe for skiers to listen to music, a passive activity that doesn't have anything to do with you, but it's somehow okay for you to ski around like an idiot and assault people that aren't connected to your brain (i.e. they may not hear you, and even if they do, they may not react in time). What horrible, horrible hypocrisy.

Are you seriously this self centered or are you being satirical? Do you really think that others have some kind of obligation to jump out of your way because you barked at them?

I am with SkeJunky.  I love to ski to fairly loud music. My head is always on a swivel and I look each way prior to a turn where others may be. Usually, I am on my own lines, with few if anyone around, so really, I have never got close to hitting someone. I have a volume adjustment outside my jacket, so I can always adjust the volume as needed and don't have it as load in crowded areas. I find it odd that so many of you have a big issue with this. IMO, I am an adult and I can manage what I am up to without some dipshat trying to whack me with a pole because they don't have a little patience on a cat track, of all the dumb places to get agro. Chill out people and enjoy the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slider 

Purchased this for next year,seriously.

This vest is entirely too LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!   I won't be able to hear anything if you're wearing that anywhere around me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeUT 

It's actually not. What's dangerous is skiers expecting that everyone in front of them can hear them as they pass unsafely.

 

As for it being annoying on the lift, people talking on the lift can be pretty annoying too, depending on what they're talking about. It might annoy some people if they have a coughing or sneezing episode, too.  Expecting them to stop to make you more comfortable is pretty self absorbed.

What makes you assume that the scenario is me passing from behind? Was that stated somewhere?

So you can't think of any situation where being able to hear what's going on around you might be a good thing? Short sighted on your part....

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart 

Car stereos are outlawed at certain ludicrous volumes.  Though deaf people are allowed to drive, music/noise inside a vehicle can not exceed the driver's ability to hear the sirens of emergency vehicles over it.  Ear buds are illegal while driving or biking in some states, but I did confirm that CA bans two but not one ear bud while driving.

 

So, there is precedent for banning some forms of music in the car.

I agree wholeheartedly and that is my point.  The precedence isn't for banning some forms of music but for certain levels of the music's volume or interfering with the operators ability to drive safely.

Speaking as someone that used to drive around in a car with a stereo that would  make your ears bleed (yes, I too was young once), I get it.  I once was playing the music so loud, the guy on the motorcycle behind me, was able to tell me each song I listened to on the drive.  He was wearing a helmet and I had the windows closed and the ac on! The irony is I moved to the country for the quiet and my kids don't like it loud.  Whoddathunk!

I don't think people have the right to be distracted to the point of endangering others, no matter what they are doing.  That isn't fair to others and I'm all for fairness.  To that end, racers inconvenience others skiers (trails closed, no nastar because of the J3 race etc) yet we learn to get along without hitting each other.  Wasn't that long ago that snowboarders were an "inconvenience" but without them, the industry wouldn't be as strong.  Through common courtesy we can educate proper etiquette while intermingling with the public.

I do listen to music sometimes while skiing.  Not crazy loud though there have been a few times running nastar I cranked it when I was in the gate for a little more "tude".  On a chair lift, while listening to music, I can carry on a conversation without turning it down,  just like I could in a car.  This isn't wrong, illegal, immoral, anti social or unethical. 

It might be different from what others want out of life, but I love music and I love skiing.

If I am skiing solo the I-Pod is probably on.  Started skiing to tunes in the early 70's, I-Pod is way better, still listening to a lot of the same music.  

Got hit 3 times last season from behind at Deer Valley while doing short radius turns down the edge of a trail.  Once had a ski knocked off, and twice the assailant ate it without taking me out.  Music was never playing.  I fear the people trying to ski at mach 3 without the skill set way more than the loss of auditory sense.  If the tunes are on will probably be someplace rather uncrowded anyway.

All of life has music if you listen for the rhythms and melodies; what is so wrong about enhancing it a little bit?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossi Smash 

 

What makes you assume that the scenario is me passing from behind? Was that stated somewhere?

Yeah, it was. A trip down recent memory lane:

You responded directly:

Was there another way to interpret that line of conversation?

I'm happy to listen to your reasoning as to why music is so incredibly dangerous to others around, but bear in mind that it's been established that you can still hear things around you while listening.

Skiing with tunes is great!  Helps me to calm down the "yamma-yamma" in my head. (Many women are not adept at getting to the nothing box that seems easily attainable for most men)  I use a single stereo ear bud made by Scan Sound.   That way I can hear the snow boarders sneking up on me from behind! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewilde1 

Skiing with tunes is great!  Helps me to calm down the "yamma-yamma" in my head. (Many women are not adept at getting to the nothing box that seems easily attainable for most men)  I use a single stereo ear bud made by Scan Sound.   That way I can hear the snow boarders sneking up on me from behind! 

Amen to that! 

BTW, you need to come for a visit soon. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart 

Quote:

Originally Posted by slider 

Purchased this for next year,seriously.

This vest is entirely too LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!   I won't be able to hear anything if you're wearing that anywhere around me.

Does Camo work for you?

I love music but not while skiing.

1) If I'm on groomed trails I prefer being able to hear everything around me to know where everyone is.

2) If I'm sidecountry I want to be able to hear if someone else is in trouble - or someone warning me to stay away from same.

3) On the lift it's fun meeting and talking to other snowsports enthusiasts. I've had great skiing experiences with both local skiers and snowboarders in BC that I've met on lifts when I'm solo.

Plus, I love the sound of the snow on skis and the "ambience" (if that's the right word). There's the experience of being on top of a ridge, out in the open when the nearest peaks are miles away. Then there's the hushed, recording studio silence you get when you stop in the middle of a tree run. For me it's very meditative and the ambient sounds are part of the experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slider 

Does Camo work for you?

WHAT??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used to, but never again after reading here about how dangerous it is.

Any statistics on injury rates of hearing impaired skiers vs. skiers with hearing in the normal range?

Should ski areas be held liable for injuries caused by hearing impaired skiers?

Should skiers' hearing be tested  before being allowed to ski?

Should helmets that cover the ears be allowed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart 

 I did confirm that CA bans two but not one ear bud while driving.

As much as I prefer that others be able to hear what's going on around them while skiing, a legal ban such as the one cited above strikes me as "Nanny-State" overreach.  As such, you can color me opposed to any such regulatory effort.

I much prefer to reach out to the thoughtful, discerning, and exceedingly reasonable denizens of internet chat rooms through the use of measured persuasion in order to gently bring them around to something approaching my view on the matter.  How can such an approach fail to be anything but entirely effective???  

I think the argument regarding deaf skiers is a bit of a red herring, as the hearing impaired have no choice regarding their inability to hear.  Most of the rest of us do have that choice.  Besides, as I understand it, those who have lost the use of one of their senses typically develop some degree of compensatory enhancement of their remaining senses.  

On that note, does California plan to ban the deaf from driving?  I kinda doubt it...  

As to driving with music, drivers have the advantage of multiple mirrors, marked lanes, roadway arrows, a multitude of traffic control signs, stop & go signals, and emergency vehicles with emergency lighting.  Skiers have a brief, bullet-pointed Responsibility Code and a few marked "Slow Zones," so it's much more of a "free-for all" on the slopes.

I wouldn't go so far as to say skiing with earbuds is flat-out "dangerous," just that it's not quite as safe as skiing without them.  Some of those who appear to be posting otherwise must agree with my take on the matter at least to some teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy extent, else they wouldn't ski with one ear free of restriction, with special headphones that allow in some outside sounds, or similar measures that prevent complete loss of auditory awareness.