are people really this stupid?

[danger_dan]

2 Russian Men Take Deadly Zorb Ride from Hell Down a Rocky Mountain Slope
One man died and another was badly injured after the Zorb they were strapped into got away from handlers at the Dombai ski resort in Abkhazia, and rolled into a gorge....cont'd

How stupid do you have to be, to not think ahead and think of the possibility of rolling down past the "end point" of the slope?

[abbasgirl]

I've never been on a Zorb ride or looked into how safe it is, but my thinking is that if the ride was run by a company, the responsibility would rest entirely with them to make sure that the ride is safe. I wouldn't put the blame on the 2 guys who trusted them to do their jobs.

[sweet sparrow]

I think the answer to questions like that is "if you have to ask... you're generally not going to like the answer."

Usually, if you've ever rented ski or snowboard equipment, you need to sign a waiver absolving the company of any responsibility in your untimely death or something to that effect. I imagine this is no different.

[abbasgirl]

You sign a waiver, yes. But you do it with the expectation that the people running the operation are professionals and are taking necessary precautions to ensure your safety. Accidents happen, but a waiver wouldn't protect the company in a situation where they are neglegent.
When you look at the video, the zorb went over the banks not once, but twice. So obviously the track wasn't safe. I don't know what the people who tried to stop it were doing on the mountain, but they seemed to be really randomly placed. If they were there to keep the zorb on track, they should have been lining the track.
Who knows what the regulations are like in Russia, but it appears the government is holding the company responsible and they are being charged with criminal neglegence.

[Natalka]

So very sad... and I'm sure regulations are few and far between there...

They weren't following the manufacturer's rules
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8161...ter-man-killed

[xox2010]

Very sad... he had two daughters.

Not to sound cold but I am the only one who would not get in a plastic ball? Just seems dangerous from the get go.

[abbasgirl]

Very sad... he had two daughters.

Not to sound cold but I am the only one who would not get in a plastic ball? Just seems dangerous from the get go.

No, you're not the only one! I think I would puke!
They did make it look kind of fun when they did it on the Amazing Race though.

[abbasgirl]

So very sad... and I'm sure regulations are few and far between there...

They weren't following the manufacturer's rules
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8161...ter-man-killed

Thanks for the link. The translation of what they were saying in the background is very telling. It sounds like the operators didn't have a clue what they were doing.