The Denver Post article Ski deaths prompt look for link tries to make sense of the terrible tragedies of 17 deaths at Colorado Ski Resorts this year. This article really isn’t about the skiing deaths. It’s really just a classic display of ignorance (both explicit and implicit) of trying to explain the intrinsically random nature of life - with a little sensationalism mixed in. For example, the headline itself is misleading: “Ski deaths prompt…” Who’s “prompting” here? The newspaper. No other source is quoted in the article as calling for an investigation. What’s the “kicker”? “Do manicured hills encourage unsafe speeds?” The implication? There must be some cause and effect relationship. Let’s pick this one. Despite all of the “questions” that are raised every time a spike happens (again by the newspaper) - Lack of helmets, lack of snow, snowboarders, young males, terrain parks - let’s pick this one. Why? Because 13 of the 17 deaths occurred near groomed trails. Has to be the groomed trails. Couldn’t possibly be because THIS IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE SKI. It’s just another case of someone who doesn’t understand statistics (17 is a sufficiently large sample size - not) or who misleads us into thinking that he does as the article states that there is “rarely statistical proof supporting one theory” - care to point to ONE study that has drawn a statistically significant correlation? These deaths are horrible. Each of them a singular loss for family and friends. But that’s just what they are. Singular losses. Stop disparaging them with deluded attempts to see patterns that aren’t there. Or blame it on the Spaghetti Monster. Either way, show some respect and some clarity of thinking. BTW, I know of that which I speak. I’ve been part of Slope Watch at Copper Mountain the last 7 years. A terrific program started by the legendary Ward Jackson, Slope Watch has evolved from a few intrepid folks cutting crosses out of old Ski Patrol uniforms to a 100+ professionally managed organization that’s an integral part of Ski Patrol at Copper Mountain. We’re dedicated to helping Patrol provide skier and rider safety and education. We’re out there every day doing what it takes to make the hill as safe as possible in conjunction with all the other teams on the mountain from Lift Operations to Park Crew. There are no patterns - trail, rider, helmet, age. Each incident is unique. Tragedy is random. Write about that.