Where did the season go?

I can hardly believe that for many of us here in the east, the season is either over or just about over.

Warm temps and rain have really put a dent in the snow pack. I know the season's still going strong in the west -- and for that, I'm truly envious -- but today may have been my last day. The snow has the consistency of wet sand and is a gloopy mess after an hour or so, much of it is melting, and more rain's in the forecast.

All in all, it's been a great year. I skied 66 days -- a record for me, especially since the season seems to be ending a bit early. Still, there are things I didn't get around to doing; areas I meant to visit and never made it to. I guess I'll have to leave it for next year.

An Untimely Death.

I'm sure all of you have heard of the tragic death of actress Natasha Richardson. Talented & beautiful, out for a day of fun with her children, fatally injured by a fall on the bunny slope. Sad. So sad.

There's considerable debate on whether or not her death would have occurred if she'd worn a helmet. I'm not going to go there. I'm not a doctor or an expert in these things, so I'm certainly not qualified to judge.

All the same, people continue to argue about whether or not helmets are necessary. Some people say they're useless in a high speed crash, so why bother. Some people say they never fall, so they're not needed. And some people just don't like being told what to do.

My opinion? It's your head. So if you don't want to wear a helmet, be my guest. I'm a helmet wearer. I just don't see how it can hurt. I wear one for biking, and I wear one for skiing. I don't fall much, but it doesn't take a big fall to cause a bad injury, as the Richardson death makes plain.

My hustand, Jon, and I started wearing helmets a number of years ago after my daughter got a concussion while snowboarding. And I'm glad we did. Last winter Jon was skiing on a very easy connector trail when he caught an edge, went down, and hit his head so hard his helmet acually cracked. I shudder to think what might have happened if he didn't have one on.

I do think kids should wear helmets. They shouldn't have a choice. When you're adult, you can engage in all the risky behavior you want. That's why only adults are legally allowed to smoke and drink. It should be the same with helmets.

I also think helmets should be required for ski patrollers and instructors, while they're on duty. To set an example for everyone else.

None of this brings Natasha Richardson back tolife. But if it gets you seriously thinking about helmets, that's a good thing.

Think about it.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

The Diva Summit

Sorry I've been out of touch lately. You see, I've been at the Diva Summit. What's that, you ask? It's a gathering of women from TheSkiDiva.com, the leading internet commuity for women's skiing. The site has more than 1,400 members, and some of us came together in Summit County, Colorado, for fun, fellowship, and great skiing.

We had attendees from as far away as The Netherlands and Norway, and as close as Denver and Frisco, Colorado. The site has members from all over the country -- actually, all over the world -- and it was great to make new friends and see others we'd met before. Part of the reason I started TheSkiDiva.com was to connect with other women who enjoy skiing as much as I do. It was great to have others make those connections, too.

We hit five resorts in seven days: Breckenridge, Copper, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Keystone. Conditions were -- well, to be honest, they could have been better. But that didn't matter. We still had a blast.

I'm hoping to make this an annual event, and I'm already thinking ahead to the gathering for next year. Snowmass, anyone?

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.