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Show April 1996 Dave Kopasz, Alta and Snowbird © - Veteran, injured in fall© “March experience that every ski ~-bum dreads: a life-flight. Not. only has he suffered terrible injuries but he was under-insured and will — soon, probably even before he is fully healed, be facing those collection from the vultures out-of-control medical conspiracy in this country. Here’s what happened. David decided to ski Little Superior with four friends, Jim Jack, Chrts Emmrick and a man called “Fish.” Everything was fine until the crew was almost at the bottom and David skied off to the edge of the chute, up onto the spine. The snow where he stopped gave way and sent him tumbling down thirty feet of rock. Jim, Chris and Fish skied down to him and found him in the snow with severe injuries. He was disorient- ed and his jaw was shattered on both sides as well as being up. pretty well beat ; Fish went for help while Jim and Chris tried to figure out how to get David off the hill. David was not gung-ho on being moved ICU. In addition to the broken jaw, David suffered tions; for one near you. Prizes trauma to his kidney and thigh as well as general bruising all over. He has already weathered one — call 090 21 include Dinners two, - Tunes, Prints for Ski operation and will have had a second on his jaw by the of time you read this. Photos by Now come the bill collecLocal tors.. , Shutterbugs, David did have some med- _ T-Shirts ical insurance, which is betand the list ter than a lot of us, but he | is still growhas a cap of $5000 per inciing. The dent. While Powderbirds would ‘the drawing will give be held at 4pm on Good Friday you about 72 rides for that, Life-Flight gives you only one. How (S April) the you can help: Vote for national health care, but I digress. How you can ct tDavid: Since the bills will probably total in the tens of thousands, it is unlikely what they can. Tickets are 1997 Alta Calendar Lew Moore (Alta Java) and Jerry Oyama (Blackjack) longtime Alta residents are producing the Alta Calendar in | for 1997. Copies will be available April 1996 at Blackjack and Alta Java and by mail from: | The Alta Calendar Goldminer’s bar. You need not be present... Box 81 13 Alta, Utah 84092 - The cost is $12.00 per copy. Please include 86¢ for Jack Utah sales. Postage and handling is an additional $2.00 wants per copy. Personal delivery is available to the lodges by calling 801.742.2103 or 801.742.2614. To avoid sending our friends to debtor’s prison, please order your cal- Jim also. everyone know | to that this was accident, pure PO to win. that enough can be raised to pay it all. However, David friends at the Goldminer’s Daughter, where he works, _are putting on a raffle to do peArIasal S}USi [fy “UoIsstuied fa pas Tharcday Aja}N0gG [RILOISTH 9}e1S YeIN Ws] On 1996 Dave Kopasz had the simple. “A rumor. was— Jim would also like to thank, on behalf of David, going around that Dave was jumping and I want to everyone involved in the be sure people know that is. rescue - -the Alta Fire Department, Powderbirds, absolutely not the case,” process took about ninety $5 each and are available at Jim said, “It was just a Snowbird ski patrol and all minutes from accident to | _ the Goldminer’s front desk freak accident, it could _ the others who helped that the intensive care unit. and ski shop and should be — have happened to anyone.” day. 7 David spent five days in the available at hospital, the first two in the other loca- - an endars now. ™~ and and that effort was quickly abandoned’ until help arrived - and arrive it did. HEE Rbk HANG et PLACE TALK IN ALTA et ROCK TO ON CEs A MEET ip FRIENDS, oo Terie As it was a beautiful day there were quite a few people skiing on Little Superior who all came to. offer help. Fish was successful in summoning help in the form of professionals _from Alta who hiked up with a sled in which to bring David down. Additionally the Wasatch Powderbird Guides LF SE ey go alg KA CKSTA ND Lo iC used their helicopter to ferry two Snowbird patrollers to the scene who were then able to help get David to the life-flight. The whole June, JULY, AAUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER ‘‘"_ir’s BETTER THAN Goop’’ Page 7 - |