There are a number of general precautions you can follow
to minimise your risk of a skiing or snowboarding injury:
Fitness
Make sure you're fit to ski. Prepare for your winter sports
trip with a conditioning programme to improve core stability and strength.
Leg strength and endurance is particularly important to help prevent injury.
Warming up and cooling down
Warm up and cool down, just like any other
sporting activity.
Before
you get on the slopes spend a few minutes warming up and stretching to help
prepare your body for activity.
Clothing
Wear appropriate layers of clothing, that don't restrict your
movement.
Wrist Guards
Snowboarders should wear wrist guards as they significantly
reduce the incidence of wrist
injuries during falls.
Crash Helmets
Helmets are effective in reducing the incidence of minor
concussions during low velocity collisions.
Equipment
Don't borrow equipment from friends it significantly increases your risk of
injury.
If you are hiring equipment make sure you hire from a recommended store. Ensure
that all the equipment fits properly.
Bindings
Use 'multi-mode' release bindings if possible. The superior release available
in modern bindings is just one factor that has helped prevent injuries. Rear
release boots can significantly reduce the risk of ACL
injury.
Self-test your bindings every day. Self testing of bindings is simple. Step into
the binding and then twist to the side to release the toe-piece under the control
mechanism. The heel can be tested by stepping into the binding and leaning forward,
to release the heel-piece. Both the toe and heel should be able to release if
properly adjusted.
Walking in Ski Boots
Don't walk on your ski boots too much. It can affect the fit with the binding
and interfere with the release mechanism.
Ski Poles
Don't put your hands inside the ski pole loop when skiing. This
greatly increases the risk of sustaining a
'Skiers
thumb' injury in the
event of a fall.
General Conduct
Follow the FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski) Rules for Conduct in Winter Sports Centres.
FIS
Rules for Conduct
Risk
Factors 