Dear Dr Ski

As you can see from the enclosed photograph even us supremely talented skiers can have an bad day, that's me in the canary yellow outfit, cool or what? In retrospect some might say I didn't heed the warning signs, the very first day I took to the slopes I had a funny feeling in my knee, made worse when I laddered my tights putting that gross knee support on, grey's just not my colour worn next to the skin. Next thing, bugger me, I pull a shoulder muscle shampooing my recently acquired curly locks, God I could hardly put my mascara on straight it hurt so much.
Anyway, I digress, my question to you relates to safety, would you consider it safe to ski off piste when you can't see past the end of your nose? Perhaps more precisely, would you consider it safe to ski off piste when the person behind you can't see past the end of his nose or you lying prostrate in a wind scooped snow hole?

Yours, nursing an almost terminally bruised wrist and an ugly laceration to my new suit.

JB

Dear JB

Safety is a subject close to my heart these days, too often I see reckless behaviour both on and off piste, however there is no reason why you shouldn't ski in limited visibility provided you follow a few golden rules.

1. Never follow someone else's tracks into unknown terrain, those tracks may belong to some freerider looking for a drop off to jump.

2. Always ski well within your capability, never feel you have to push the bar, just to impress your friends.

3. Make sure you ski behind anyone who looks like they might scythe you down at the first opportunity.

4. Never wear Canary yellow, it makes you an easy target.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, those shampooing injuries can linger, it could be weeks before you have full use of your hairdryer again.

Dr Ski