JMU Student From N.Va. Dies in Snowboard Crash

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jan15.html


By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page B05

A James Madison University senior from Springfield died this week
after he crashed his snowboard on an expert slope at the Massanutten,
Va., ski resort, authorities said.

Kevin Eckerman, 21, a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Fairfax
County, was spotted from a chairlift lying about 10 feet into a wooded
area about 4:30 p.m. Monday, shortly after he began what was supposed
to be his last run of the day. Massanutten officials said no one
witnessed the accident on the Dixie Dare trail, and they don't know
what caused Eckerman to lose control on the groomed snow.

Eckerman was airlifted from the mountain with skull fractures, and he
died Tuesday. Relatives and friends said he almost always wore a
helmet while snowboarding, but he wasn't wearing one Monday because he
wasn't planning to take risks, said his girlfriend, Lisa Ha of the
District.
.....

Eckerman, an avid snowboarder who had been active in JMU's
snowboarding club, was a computer sciences major and was described as
a quiet, witty, creative thinker who loved to paint and invent and
tinker. He was a volunteer firefighter and a member of JMU's caving
club. His interest in snowboarding meshed with his interest in
computers, as he helped create the snowboarding club's Web site.

"Our whole family skis, and he had to be the one who had to be a
little different and had to board instead of ski," said Eckerman's
father, Donald Eckerman. "He would try some tricks, but he had a
helmet. He wasn't wearing it this week because he said he wasn't going
to do anything like that. . . . If you're going to ski, wear a helmet,
even if you're not planning on taking any risks."
.....


Links to JMU and snowboarding:
http://www.google.com/u/jamesmadison...oard&sa=Search

"Beloved Leader" wrote in message
om...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jan15.html


By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page B05

A James Madison University senior from Springfield died this week
after he crashed his snowboard on an expert slope at the Massanutten,
Va., ski resort, authorities said.

Kevin Eckerman, 21, a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Fairfax
County, was spotted from a chairlift lying about 10 feet into a wooded
area about 4:30 p.m. Monday, shortly after he began what was supposed
to be his last run of the day. Massanutten officials said no one
witnessed the accident on the Dixie Dare trail, and they don't know
what caused Eckerman to lose control on the groomed snow.

Eckerman was airlifted from the mountain with skull fractures, and he
died Tuesday. Relatives and friends said he almost always wore a
helmet while snowboarding, but he wasn't wearing one Monday because he
wasn't planning to take risks, said his girlfriend, Lisa Ha of the
District.
....

Eckerman, an avid snowboarder who had been active in JMU's
snowboarding club, was a computer sciences major and was described as
a quiet, witty, creative thinker who loved to paint and invent and
tinker. He was a volunteer firefighter and a member of JMU's caving
club. His interest in snowboarding meshed with his interest in
computers, as he helped create the snowboarding club's Web site.

"Our whole family skis, and he had to be the one who had to be a
little different and had to board instead of ski," said Eckerman's
father, Donald Eckerman. "He would try some tricks, but he had a
helmet. He wasn't wearing it this week because he said he wasn't going
to do anything like that. . . . If you're going to ski, wear a helmet,
even if you're not planning on taking any risks."
....


Links to JMU and snowboarding:
http://www.google.com/u/jamesmadison...oard&sa=Search

Very Tragic,

This just confirms my question about helmets earlier in the month, i shall
definatley be getting one, you just never know what can happen.

Max

Very Tragic,

This just confirms my question about helmets earlier in the month, i shall
definatley be getting one, you just never know what can happen.

Max

Absolutely. I just started wearing one again. I bought a $15 used
Boeri. Old school, no air vents. Very comfortable. I promptly
landed on my noggin twice the week after I bought it. Once in the
pipe, and once on a beginner jump in front of a regiment of ski school
grommets. :-) You never know when you could lose an edge, or hit an
icy spot.

(Beloved Leader) wrote in message . com...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jan15.html


By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page B05

A James Madison University senior from Springfield died this week
after he crashed his snowboard on an expert slope at the Massanutten,
Va., ski resort, authorities said.

Kevin Eckerman, 21, a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Fairfax
County, was spotted from a chairlift lying about 10 feet into a wooded
area about 4:30 p.m. Monday, shortly after he began what was supposed
to be his last run of the day. Massanutten officials said no one
witnessed the accident on the Dixie Dare trail, and they don't know
what caused Eckerman to lose control on the groomed snow.

Eckerman was airlifted from the mountain with skull fractures, and he
died Tuesday. Relatives and friends said he almost always wore a
helmet while snowboarding, but he wasn't wearing one Monday because he
wasn't planning to take risks, said his girlfriend, Lisa Ha of the
District.
....

Eckerman, an avid snowboarder who had been active in JMU's
snowboarding club, was a computer sciences major and was described as
a quiet, witty, creative thinker who loved to paint and invent and
tinker. He was a volunteer firefighter and a member of JMU's caving
club. His interest in snowboarding meshed with his interest in
computers, as he helped create the snowboarding club's Web site.

"Our whole family skis, and he had to be the one who had to be a
little different and had to board instead of ski," said Eckerman's
father, Donald Eckerman. "He would try some tricks, but he had a
helmet. He wasn't wearing it this week because he said he wasn't going
to do anything like that. . . . If you're going to ski, wear a helmet,
even if you're not planning on taking any risks."
....


Links to JMU and snowboarding:
http://www.google.com/u/jamesmadison...oard&sa=Search

A lot of thing stare out at me from this article. I was pretty much
exactly like Kevin - a computer science major in college who was very
active in my school's snowboard club (the website is virtually
unchanged since I last edited it a few years ago).

One thing I learned from others on was that last runs are very
dangerous as many people kept getting injured on the last run
(specifically after they called "last run"). In addition to snow
conditions getting wore and being physically fatigued, I think
everyone unconsciously stops paying attention to proper technique on
their last run and are less careful, or they make the mistake (i.e.
taking greater risks) of trying some out at the end of the day that is
less then prudent ("oh lemme try that 360 before I go").

It got to the point that we would never say "last run," we would stop
at "second to last run" as our code word for "last run." Or you can
only call last run AFTER you've done it, to avoid that tendency to go
one step past what you should have.

In addition to last run... I really don't like not wearing my helmet
because again, like doing your last run... you still have a decent
chance of crashing even when you are supposedly "not trying anything
new" could be a patch of ice, or an out of control rider/skiier... you
never know.

In general, I find the whole idea of "taking it easy" a little
difficult... hence why I have a self-imposed ban from the park and
pipe for another month or so while my knee sprain continues to heal. I
found the best way to "take it easy" is to not even put myself in such
a position. This has come from years of riding and paying the
consequences... when I was Kevin's age (heh... only a few years)
ago... I basically was exactly like him in perspective. However now I
see things different (from events like this).

--Arvin

Definitely a testament to the importance of head protection.this is not a
difficult mtn to ride.very small with short steeps and lots of ice all
around (especially after a day of beginners sidesliding down the hill).



He probably lost an edge and ran off into the woods - Sonny Bono style.
Everyone should be wearing a helmet - you never know what could happen and
head injuries are never fun. There's a few videos of Kevin and others at
the terrain park at Massanutten on the JMU snowboarding club's site
(http://www.boarderline.cjb.net) .sadly out of date as the victim seemed to
be one of the webmasters...RIP




"Beloved Leader" wrote in message
om...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jan15.html


By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page B05

A James Madison University senior from Springfield died this week
after he crashed his snowboard on an expert slope at the Massanutten,
Va., ski resort, authorities said.

Kevin Eckerman, 21, a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Fairfax
County, was spotted from a chairlift lying about 10 feet into a wooded
area about 4:30 p.m. Monday, shortly after he began what was supposed
to be his last run of the day. Massanutten officials said no one
witnessed the accident on the Dixie Dare trail, and they don't know
what caused Eckerman to lose control on the groomed snow.

Eckerman was airlifted from the mountain with skull fractures, and he
died Tuesday. Relatives and friends said he almost always wore a
helmet while snowboarding, but he wasn't wearing one Monday because he
wasn't planning to take risks, said his girlfriend, Lisa Ha of the
District.
....

Eckerman, an avid snowboarder who had been active in JMU's
snowboarding club, was a computer sciences major and was described as
a quiet, witty, creative thinker who loved to paint and invent and
tinker. He was a volunteer firefighter and a member of JMU's caving
club. His interest in snowboarding meshed with his interest in
computers, as he helped create the snowboarding club's Web site.

"Our whole family skis, and he had to be the one who had to be a
little different and had to board instead of ski," said Eckerman's
father, Donald Eckerman. "He would try some tricks, but he had a
helmet. He wasn't wearing it this week because he said he wasn't going
to do anything like that. . . . If you're going to ski, wear a helmet,
even if you're not planning on taking any risks."
....


Links to JMU and snowboarding:
http://www.google.com/u/jamesmadison...oard&sa=Search

Scary...went to school with him and his girlfriend when I lived in
Fairfax County. I'm the same age, CS student as well...I think I'll
keep my helmet a while longer.
Eric