Board Crazy?
We’ve all seen the videos and been seduced by the no rules glamour of snowboarding: huge drops off gargantuan cliffs, massive air, big crowds and wild spinning combinations involving big ramps, fashionable clothing and top class sponsors, but according to recent surveys, in excess of 50% of all beginner snowboarders will damage themselves significantly within just fourteen days of taking to the slopes to learn the basics, well before getting their board even clear of the ground. Most of the accidents are likely to result in some kind of arm related injury–secondary to that are injuries to the back and head–the commonest being fractures in the wrist joint. Below are a number of ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones while pursuing this awesome activity!
1) Head protection: the snow may look fluffy and fun to land in but be warned; most snowboarding accidents occur through a lack of experience in dealing with crash landing, rather than the direct impact of hitting the snow itself. There are a number of quality products on the market to keep your head in check–the latest being a line of ergonomically designed helmets which feature an inflatable liner which moulds around the head. Prices for the Helmeter Air-System® start at £64.99.
2) The next part of the body you need to seriously think about saving is your coccyx, otherwise known as the tail-bone. The snowboard beginners natural reaction to falling backwards will usually be to put the hands out to save the fall, first damaging those wrists, then punishing the backside faster than you can say “rad!” A number of companies offer tail-bone protectors, and several offer shorts designed to protect the hips and buttocks, too. One such example is the McDavid Hexpad Thuddshort (between $30 and $40).
3) How can you minimize injuries further? Well, avoid going snowboarding when fatigued or intoxicated, look out for small bumps that might throw you off and always keep your eyes peeled for less than adequate snowboarding conditions.