Skiing is arguably one of the most popular winter sports, with millions of skiers taking to the slopes each year. Skiing is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of any age, and is easy to learn with the proper instruction. However, as with any type of sport, it is possible to become severely injured if the proper safety procedures are not followed. Here are some skier safety tips that will help to keep you and your family safe this ski season.
Ski Safety Tip # 1 – Renting Equipment
If you aren’t a regular skier, you will most likely decide to rent ski equipment. This is much less expensive than purchasing your own ski equipment, especially if you live in an area where the ski season is fairly short. However, there are some safety tips that you need to be aware of about rental equipment. Though many ski slopes will have you fitted by a trained ski equipment professional, this doesn’t mean there isn’t margin for error. Be sure that the boots fit snug around your ankles, without any excess room to shift inside the boot. If necessary, adjust the fasteners on your boot to be more comfortable. In addition to this, when you attach your boots to the ski binding, there should be no shifting of the boot inside the binding. A loose binding can cause a ski to pop off mid-slope, which can potentially cause serious injuries.
Ski Safety Tip # 2 – Safety Helmets
Since head injuries are among the most common injuries for skiers, it’s highly recommended that you purchase a safety helmet to wear while skiing. A safety helmet will help protect your head from impact trauma, which may occur in a ski accident. In addition to this, many safety helmets have built-in visors, which replace ski goggles and help increase visibility in the snow. This also helps to protect your face from being injured during a spill.
Ski Safety Tip # 3 – Winter Clothing
Even if you are skiing during a warmer winter day, it’s still important to dress in protective winter clothing. The weather conditions on ski mountains can change rapidly, often times within only a few minutes. To deal with changing weather, the best method to use is to dress in layers. The layer closest to your skin should be a lightweight layer made of a material that draws moisture away from your skin, such as polypropylene. Fleece is a good insulating material, and can be worn underneath a waterproof light or heavy jacket, depending on your preference. Always wear highly insulating socks and gloves, since fingers and toes are prone to frostbite. A thermal hat is also very important, since you loose a high percentage of your body heat from your head. To protect your face, you may choose to either wear a scarf, or a baklava, which covers most of the nose and lower facial area.
Ski Safety Tip # 4 – Physical Condition
Skiing is a very physical sport, and does require that you are in good shape. Skiing is intense enough to take a toll on your body, especially if you are not conditioned by regular exercise. Even if you have never skied before, you can still prepare by doing simple cardio and muscle training. If you are not in good shape and plan to go skiing, be sure to stick to the easy slopes designed for beginner skiers.
Ski Safety Tip # 5 – Ski Instruction
To help increase your skiing skills, you may want to enroll in a skier instruction class. This can help you to gain a better control over your skiing, and enable you to be able to ski more difficult trails. Most ski slopes have many instruction programs, which can usually be found by speaking to the front desk attendant. Be sure to enroll in a class that is appropriate to your current level of proficiency. If you have never skied before, you may want to ask about “adult” beginner ski courses, in order to be in a class with other beginner adults. There are often separate beginner ski classes for adults and children.
