Know What Lies Beneath: The Risks Of Injury Can be Obscured
The risk of ski or snowboard injury is currently around 1 in 1,000 skiers per day. Like many statistics this hides a lot. The risk of injury is significant, but actually half what it was twenty years ago. But it’s my firm view, since skiing with many groups of people, that there are still those people who are much more likely to be involved in injury than others. You probably know them.
This article is about avoiding injury, and much less about the gear you can buy to protect yourself. Wear a helmet — for sure. But engage what’s inside it to save you, much more than relying on the plastic surrounding it.
My interest in sports injury goes back to the days not long after I took up paragliding. It has therefore been for twenty years that I have studied and learnt the importance of one’s own mental state for enhancing personal safety. Our thoughts take on a critical significance when managing risk. Ignore the high risk factors and eventually it will lead to injury, or fatality. This is true in all adventure sports from base jumping to motor sports.
Applying risk assessment sounds as dull as ditch water — eapcially when you are focused on maximising ski holiday fun. But if you invest a few moments to ensure that the most fabulous days of our lives in the mountains are low risk — you could save pain and hours, or months, being patched up in hospital.
The recent higher number of accidents, and fatalities, in Bulgaria this season highlight the risks that some expert skiiers choose to take. But were they chosen in the knowledge of the full facts available? Expert or beginner we should assess all the risks — from weather conditions and weather forecast, our physical condition to snow type, avalanche warnings to survival equipment.
Please invest a few moments reading my top eleven ski and snowboard injury avoidance tips:
1. Positive Mental State
Has your partner pressurised you to ski? Are you anxious about the thought of hitting the slopes? If this is you, then only go skiing when you are relaxed. Never ski when overly stressed — and certainly not when over tired. Recognise your mental state. Best to have one day off, than spend the next six months out of action. Always learn from a professional instructor. Is this your ever enthusiastic partner? Almost definitely he/she is unlikely to be equipped with the skills to help you progress you. The psychological process of learning to ski or snowboard should be based on desire — not coercion.
2. End Of The Day “Last Run”
Make your last run of the day a really good one. One where you could do more. Not a time where you are struggling and wishing that you were safely ensconced in the apres ski bar… rather than half way up the mountain. Pushing yourself outside safe limits, causes your risk of injury to soar. That last ski run is proven to be one of the biggest risks of the sport.
3. Fitness
Be honest with yourself and your own fitness levels. If you are reading this, and you still have a week or two to go before leaving for the resort, then it’s not too late to go jogging or cycling. These are both effective exercises that will increase your on piste stamina and enjoyment.
4. Learn The Technique for Different Snow Conditions
Most skiiers and boarders are scared of ice. The psychological and physiological tension that the piercing screech of skis and snowboards on ice fill most with fear. This need not be the case: grab a good instructor and you’ll learn how to deal with the different types of snow. Remember that most professional downhill competitions are held on ice. You too can learn to not fear the ice.
5. Have The Correct Gear: Keep It Serviced
If your boots are over ten years old, you should be seriously thinking of confining them to the plastic ski boot graveyard of the past. Wear a helmet. For snowboarding; protective back, wrist, head…. protective everything is best for learning.
Service your board and skis every seven days for maximum control, and fun. You’ll find waxing means less need to walk or poll on the flat bits. It means much more feel. Freshly sharp ebededges increase control. Any damage should be repaired immediately. Don’t lie about your weight when hiring skis! The weight setting affects how your skis will come off to avoid injury.
6. Don’t Show Off For The Camera Or For Friends
If you are naturally competitive, you could feel peer pressure to take the lift to pistes that you are not yet ready for. Politely decline the offer. Want to show off making jumps for the camera? Check out you tube videos for the crashes that so inevitably follow action for camera ready friends. Carshes happen because the camera is there. Also see point 2 above.
7. Learn How To Fall
Relax and if on skis, keep your knees together. Cruciate ligament kness injury is the biggest problem in skiing. Fractures are a lot less common these days with modern skis, boots and bindings.
8. Understand Piste Etiquette
Rest at the side of the piste. If you snowboard, avoid resting just on the fall line, in the middle of the piste. You are risking collision. Look up the hill when joining a piste lower down. Overtaking skiier/boarder keeps clear.
9. Ski Like A Good Motorcyclist
Anticipate the worst. Leave a wide margin in case the person near to you falls. Look ahead and around, rather than at your skis. It will help your skiing too.
10. Off Piste: Understand The Risks
Never go of piste in a new resort without a fully qualified guide and then only with all the gear such as shovel and transponders. If a piste is closed, it’s for a good reason.
11. Trees: Avoid Them
A helmet is all good. But avoiding the risk of hurting your head is the priority. Most serious injuries and fatalities, outside avalanches, involve hitting trees or a fixed object. Think about the terrain and what you’ll hit if you fall.
Conclusion
Bansko is not the ideal off piste training ground. Try the US or the Alps to gain experience. Arguably Pamporovo, Borovets and Panichishte are better for this. Stay safe. Inspect the qualifications of anyone acting as an off piste guide. Take responsibility. Check weather forecast carefully and heed avalanche risk warnings.
Stay safe this winter season. If you have any comments on ski/board safety please make them below.
Tip Of The Day
It’s BanskoBlog’s first birthday party on Friday 19th February. I’ve teamed up with JJ Murphy’s in Bansko — who are also one year old. We have the amazing Ani Lozanova and her band rocking us through the night. Get there early and subscribe for a free beer that evening and your 15% off family dining at JJ Murphy’s.
