WEST VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s believed to be a first for Cypress Mountain. It’s planning to send a bill to the snowboarder who was rescued after two nights in the backcountry
The fine could be up to $10,000, according to Cypress Mountain’s Joffrey Koeman, who says they had 50 employees helping to find Sebastien Boucher and now they are looking to recoup their costs.
“It’s taking a harder line on people that are going out of bounds,” he says. “The amount of effort that this has taken to get him back and he made several mistakes.”
Mistakes, he says, including ignoring warning signs, going into the backcountry by himself, not staying in one spot, and not calling for help in a timely manner.
If Cypress gets any money back, Koeman says it will be donated to North Shore Search and Rescue.
Boucher spent two nights in the wild before being found late Tuesday in a remote area 10 kilometers from where he went out of bounds.
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Where does Cypress get off trying to “fine” someone? And why the neat round number “$10,000″? Was this proposed by a news editor to drive the story forward? The reality is that it is an absurd position by a corporation hungry for some money and a bit of PR. Someone leaves their commercial, for-profit, ski area and enters the Provincial Park, as they are allowed, and of course they are going to scream! There is nothing in it for them, and they must hate that their land tenure agreement with the province requires them to let people ski outside their commercial area.
I nominate Sebastien Boucher for a Darwin award. I guess he’s lucky enough to be able tocollect it in person! Anyone feel like seconding?
OK enough with the “he should have died” comments. It’s still a human being. Fine him. At Mt Baker there is a clear sign as you leave the in bounds, I think it should be the same in Canada.
http://www.mtbaker.us/index.php/mtn-safety/backcountry-policy/
If you go out of bounds, have the appropriate gear and training.
And it’s not NSR doing the fining it’s Cypress which is why the dog didn’t get fined (I guess if Seymour wanted to fine they could) however I think asking for donations for being an irresponsible dog owner is ridiculous. You know your dog is sketched out easily yet you choose to walk them off leash on a mountain. Bad call.
Signs are only for responsible, intelligent people. This moron is one of those “special” people that is above the law and regulations so why would he read it?
I guess you know him? Or do you make snap judgments with little evidence? Or maybe you think press releases from corporations are a good source for thoughtful judgments.
After watching the lost snowboarder being interviewed on CBC I wished they didn’t rescue him.Rather than being apologetic/grateful/humble over the ordeal he was very handy with a sob story and excuses as to why he got lost.No sympathy for this jackass whatsoever.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/BC/ID/2319062627/
Rambo gets fined! Justice is served!