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"SKIING IS A SLIDING SPORT":
Slope Safety
by Bill Jones, Ski Instructor
Certified Professional Ski Instructor (Registration #110478)
I fear that I will
break a leg if I ski" is a commonly heard concern about the ski sport.
What is the real risk?
How does skiing compare to
other sports and activities?
We are searching for studies that make
such comparisons. One we have found is a few years old, but does offer insights
that may still be valid. Some of these may dispel commonly held notions. It is
presented by the National Ski Areas Association, an industry group and salient points
are below:
"Skiing and snowboarding are no more dangerous than other high-energy
participation sports, and less so than some common activities. However, they are
challenging and require physical skills that are only learned over time with
practice. The sports involve some inherent risk, but in some measure, it is that
risk that entices most skiers and riders to pursue the sport."
"the rate of collision accidents is not on the rise."
"the number of collisions accidents with other skiers or
snowboarders accounts for only 6.4 percent of reported accidents."
"The overall rate of reported alpine ski injuries as of the year
2,000 remains essentially the same as 10 years ago—2.63 reported injuries per
1,000 skier visits."
"recent research has shown that the use of helmet reduces the
incidence of any head injury by 30 to 50 percent, but that the decrease in head
injuries is generally limited to the less serious injuries such as scalp
lacerations, mild concussions (Grade I) and contusions to the head, as opposed
to more serious injuries such as concussions greater than Grade II, skull
fractures, closed head injuries and the like. There has been no significant
reduction in fatalities over the past nine seasons even as the use of helmets
overall has increased to more than 33 percent, and to as much as 40 percent
within the population at greatest risk—experienced young adult male skiers and
snowboarders."
"Snowboarders don’t appear to be making the slopes less safe for their skiing
peers, either, says Dr. Shealy."
Go here for the complete article.
"SKIING
IS A SLIDING SPORT"--a skiing web manual:
Skiing Web Manual Contents Why Read
This Skiing Web Manual That First Lesson
A Little Skiing History
Motion in Skiing
Conventional Skiing Wisdoms
Skier Excuses Fear
in Skiing
Conditioning for Skiing
Equipment and Technique
Skiing Equipment
How Skis
Work
How
to Develop Balance on Skis
A Skiing
Turn Simplified Tactics for Terrains and Snow
Textures
Skiing Tips and Tales--a potpourri
Children
and Skiing
Age and Skiing
Gender & Skiing Culture
& Skiing
Skiing Ethics & Slope Survival
SLOPE
SAFETY Skiing
Environment Glossary Acknowledgements
SkiMyBest Website Contents
This "Slope Safety" page last modified 03/26/2010: \SkiMyBest\skislsaf.htm.
Copyright © 2010 William R Jones.
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