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B.C. ski hills do not require a law making helmets mandatory for all skiers and boarders.
That according to Michael J. Ballingall, executive vice-president at Kelowna's Big White ski hill.
A coroners report issued this week recommended the province make helmets mandatory as part of its inquest into the death of 16-year-old Luca Cesar.
Cesar was killed two years ago in a ski accident at Grouse Mountain outside Vancouver. He was not wearing a helmet.
Ballingall said the industry is self-regulating meaning there no need for a provincial law.
"We are promoting the safety of skiing, we are promoting the use of helmets and, at this time, over 95 per cent of kids are wearing helmets. It's very seldom you'll see a kid under 14 not wearing a helmet," said Ballingall.
He said 70 to 80 per cent of all skiers and boarders use a helmet.
"The days when it's sunny and nice are the days when people tend to take their helmet off because they want to get a tan. Then they ski and ride accordingly."
Ballingall also wonders who would enforce such a law if it were enacted.
He said that responsibility should not fall on the ski industry.
"We have young, energetic people that run the lifts, that check for your tickets.
"To give them the extra responsibility of stopping someone from getting on your chair lift because they don't have a helmet...nine times out of 10 that will lead to a confrontation of an uneasy atmosphere."
In Nova Scotia, where there is a mandatory helmet law in place, Ballingall said it's the local municipality which is paying someone to check for helmets.
Ballingall adds the rules of the hill are quite clear, you must ride or ski in control.
"You buy a lift ticket you have an agreement with me that you are going to live up to the alpine responsibility code. If you live up to that, wearing a helmet or not is not going to make a difference."
Ballingall also pointed out that ski helmets are not required to be certified by the Canadian Standards Association.
