If you’ve ever been skiing, then you may have some idea of how crowded and potential dangerous the slopes can be. People of various skill levels from beginner to expert are hurtling at high speed down steep, slick slopes on skis and snowboards. Under those conditions, Ira Riklis wants to emphasize just how important it is to practice courtesy and caution and follow the “rules of the road.” Failure to do so can result in painful and sometimes deadly collisions.
The most important rule, one that Ira Riklis thinks everyone needs to keep in mind is knowing who has the right of way in any given situation. It’s simple and easy to remember: The downhill skier has the right of way. The logic behind this is clear. While skiing, your attention is always focused on the slope ahead of you. Skiers don’t wear rear-view mirrors and can’t really keep turning around to assess what’s going on behind them. Therefore, it’s always the responsibility of the uphill skiers to monitor the situation and allow the skiers below them the time and space they need.