Press Release

Contact:
Lisa Yates (916) 552-2650 or Cell: (916) 215-9550
lyates@acsquantum.com

1/29/2009

Memorial Fund Established for Olga Stepakova of Walnut Creek on Anniversary of Skier’s Death

Family Hopes Funds Raised Will Prevent Further Tragedy with Research into
Ongoing Safety Risks and Hazards at California Ski Resorts

Walnut Creek, CA — One year ago this week, 26-year-old Olga Stepakova, a popular Walnut Creek hair stylist, embarked on an annual ski trip with a group of her friends from the Contra Costa area. They skied together at Heavenly Valley Ski Resort but split up in different directions while on the mountain. Olga, an average but cautious skier, chose to go down an easier run while others in the group branched out to more difficult terrain.

While making her way down the hill, Olga picked up speed on a run that was unexpectedly slick. She tried to veer off to the side so she could fall in the snow to slow down but instead, entered a danger zone filled with boulders not visible from the run. Olga crashed into the rocks head on. Hours later on January 26, 2008, she was declared brain dead from massive injuries suffered in the accident – an accident her family believes could have been prevented had there been protective fencing and signs warning of the danger ahead.

This past Monday, many of Olga’s friends who were with her that day, gathered at Dan’s Bar in Walnut Creek, a regular hangout of the close-knit group, to reflect on the close friend they lost.

“Olga’s energy for life could light up any room. Her smile was contagious and you just couldn’t help being in a good mood whenever she was around,” said Brian Good, her longtime friend. “Since Olga’s accident, each of us has changed and become protective of each other. Whether you’re an expert, intermediate or beginner skier, the resorts have a responsibility to protect their patrons whenever they can and yet they continue to be unresponsive to calls for more tightened safety controls. We are all for helmet use and have pledged to never ski with anybody who refuses to wear a helmet.”

Olga’s sister, Julia Kozberg, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her younger sibling, has vowed to keep Olga’s memory alive through the establishment of Olga’s Fund. Donated funds will be used to support the SnowSport Safety Foundation in projects focused on data collection and analysis that provide insights and guidance to individuals and families who are interested in assessing safety factors at specific ski resorts.

“While Olga lay dying in the hospital, I noticed a poster with tick marks of the number of major head injuries and deaths that occurred at various ski resorts,” said Kozberg. “Heavenly had the most marks. When I asked a doctor in ICU about that, he stated, ‘I would never allow my kid to go on those slopes.’”

Kozberg said the pain will never go away from the devastating loss her family has suffered.

“Olga may be just a small statistic to someone counting ski injuries, but she is no statistic to my family or to the 1,000 friends who attended her funeral or the visitors to Olga’s Web site and MySpace page who continue to be touched by my sister’s story. Through Olga’s Fund, I hope to honor her legacy and potentially stop unnecessary harm to come to others as it did to Olga,” concluded Kozberg.

To contribute to Olga’s Fund, visit www.snowsportsafetyfoundation.org/donate.html and click on the second donate button. Checks can be mailed to the SnowSport Safety Foundation (Olga’s Fund) at 1215 K Street, Suite 2240, Sacramento, CA 95814. Please write Olga’s Fund on the check. The SnowSport Safety Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) public benefit organization whose mission is to improve snow-sport safety and injury prevention through research, data analysis, information access and education.

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